March ~

Endurance develops strength of character in us~ Romans 5:4 NLT
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps~ Proverbs 16.9

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Wabash Landing ~

 The weather cooperated again with temperatures in the low 70's & hardly any wind.  Since Finnigan made it plain he wanted to visit with Grandma Doris when we stopped by & she was happy for his company - I decided to do another ride!

Arriving at the pond, I turned north this afternoon.  It's impossible to miss the change that continues to happen daily along the east side of the trail - as you ride north.  

North from Malvern~
You can't miss the removal of topsoil from the land that will eventually be 62 new homes, under the name: "Wabash Landing".  I can hardly imagine the difference sixty-two homes will make in what has been up to now a quiet rural area.

Cutting away the hillside, dark line of topsoil~
The planned housing development will have homes available for low to moderate income households.  With Malvern's current population of just over 1,000 people - the impact of growth will be felt in by the community.  Development here seems to take much longer than the speedy process that occurs in Washington State & on a smaller scale.  Even so & knowing affordable housing is at a premium, I'm not looking forward to the change.
Workers on the Silver Creek Trestle~
The proximity to the trail is mentioned in the advertising & the trail will be one of the places I expect to see more impact.  My days of quiet rides are probably numbered.  I went ahead & rode the section of trail that's closed off.  Bad me - just to check if anyone was working on the Trestle.  I was happy to see progress is now being made.
Trail blocked at 305th~
When I had reached 305th, the trail was blocked & the detour sign out to the gravel road was obvious.  I took a good look.
The Detour to Gaston Rd~
There is no way known to man I would make it up the big hill in the distance under my own pedal power!  Kudos to anyone who's ridden this to Gaston Road where you return to the trail & can continue on north to Silver City.
Looking west - Hwy 34~
I turned around at the Trestle, it was another quite beautiful if overcast afternoon.  Today was the first time this season I've taken Smokey out two back-to-back days.  Still no rain, but if the weather report holds true, we're to see the first of the rain move in late tonight.
Looking North - at the Pond~
The clouds seemed even heavier today than yesterday.  I returned to town to find Doris & Finn out working in the backyard.  We chatted for a while, before Finn & I headed home.  Each day seems more & more like spring is around the corner.  Rain would certainly be a tremendous help!  

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

The Smell of Rain~

A warm, 70's but overcast day.  Almost no wind & the slightest hint of moisture in the air!  A perfect day for a ride.  Riding the trail, this time of year, says more than enough about our current drought status...

Ready to leave~
All was quiet both in town & at the park.  I couldn't decide which direction I wanted to go.  Having the trestle out has shortened my favorite ride to half the usual distance.  I decided to Cowgirl up & ride south to take a look at the White Cloud Trestle.

A mile south of Malvern~
The uphill grind starts at the edge of town & continues for miles.  I surprised myself though.  It didn't seem as difficult as I'd remembered.
Heading south~
The last time I'd ridden this way was in July of last year.
10-miles to Imogene~
The old sign is still hanging on to the tree & still legible.  I wished in the worst way I felt good enough to ride all the way to Imogene.  If I'd had Butch to pick me up, I would have gone for it.  With my leg as it is, I seriously doubt I could do the round trip these days - even riding Smokey.
Equipment Tracks~
The limestone surface, as I approached the trestle was a total disaster.  Heavy equipment had rutted the trail to the point it was almost impossible to ride.  When the surface is soft, everything sinks.  Then when it dries, it becomes hard as rock...  I had read where the north end of the trail at Council Bluffs had been dragged - but nothing has been mentioned about this area.
North approach to the White Cloud Trestle~
The old 1910 trestle bridge certainly looks different now...  The work had been posted as complete the 24th of February.  The new decking has a non-slip surface, which will be nice on frosty mornings & probably last for years & years.
Smokey on the White Cloud Trestle~
The new railings though, look so incredibly raw against the rusted steel.  I'm sure it would cost more than the budget provides to stain them.
South approach to the White Cloud Trestle~
All the surrounding trees & shrubs had been severely cut back.  I decided to walk down & check things out from below.
Looking up~
It's quite a view from either topside or at water level.  The clouds thickened as the afternoon advanced.  I actually thought I might get wet on my way back.
Shore view West Nishnabotna River~
The level of the river plainly shows the effect of our three years of drought.  The weather forecast is saying we'll get rain before the end of the week.  Of course, we've heard that many times before these last few months.
Turn around~
Smokey & I continued on to what I call the narrow bridge before turning back toward Malvern.  It seems even quieter out this way than at Silver Creek.  Our way back was fun, since the uphill grade becomes mostly downhill on the return!  

Back at the park, the sun was trying to peek through the clouds as I loaded the bike & headed for home.  I enjoyed the ten-mile ride, even if I do miss my usual route.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Boehner Pond to the Trestle ~

 Without rain, it was another day of blazing, beautiful sunshine & bright blue skies.  Thankfully, the strong winds that have been blowing for days now, had calmed.  It's irritating when the temperatures are so warm, days so bright & yet the howling winds keeps me from riding.

Leaving the Pond~
The upside of our ultra dry conditions - is being able to ride the Wabash again.  The park gates are open for the season.  I was happy to be able to park on a flat surface where it's much easier to unload Smokey.  After a circuit of the pond, I rode out to connect with the trail & turned north.  
Underpass~
There wasn't anyone at all around.  I was surprised, since it was almost a windless day.  Getting warmed up is always a bit of a chore, but once I am, I enjoy every minute of the ride.  I haven't done a section with grades for a long while.  When I look back, I haven't done much at all since my leg injury.  The leg gets stiff & sore enough after riding just a relatively flat section of trail.
Soon to be green fields~
That's part of the reason I've been thinking of an electric bike for a couple years now...  I can't believe I'd turn to the dark side, but I'd be able to travel farther & see sections of the trail I haven't ridden since before 2020.  
No further work on the Trestle~
When I arrived at the Trestle, I expected to see changes from my last visit on 2/25.  If there had been any, I think I would have noticed.  I'm sure it will be done before the next big event June 8th, but it doesn't seem to be a priority to expedite completion for local riders.  I'm sure I'm not the only one missing my usual route.
Silver Creek from the Trestle~
I walked out to see the river shining in the late afternoon sun.  It's such a quiet spot & I enjoy it so much when I have it to myself.  I would enjoy it even more if we had enough rain to raise the level of the water.
Woods~
The wooded area along the creek is so pretty, no matter the time of year.  There's not much green to be seen yet, rain would sure help.  The weather man said yesterday that we've broken a decade long record, going over 53 days without measurable precipitation.
Boehner Pond~
I turned back & made great time, with the little breeze at my back!  The next ride I'm going to have to try a more difficult section of trail & see how I do.  The repair work to the West Nishnabotna Trestle south of Malvern has been completed, but I have to gear myself up to tackle that long, uphill grade.  Otherwise, I'll have to try leaving from Mineola.  Another section that is uphill both directions.  We'll see how that goes!

Monday, March 4, 2024

Second Year OTR ~

 The end of February marked the completion of Butch's second year driving Over-The-Road.  During the past two years, Butch has safely traveled 254,654 miles.

2-20-2023 Corinne, Utah
Butch began driving for Blake Scott Logistics LLC, June7, 2022, pulling D&D Transportation trailers.  He picked up his Freightliner -Traveler in December of the same year. His routes were fairly consistent, taking him from ID to UT, NV, NE, CO, WY & MO.  He was getting home about every three-weeks.
3-1-2023 Hwy 50, CA  26 degrees. 
2023 - Winter driving was, well, winter driving again!  Leaving Wells, NV the morning of 3-1 & arriving in Carson City, NV by nightfall, had been a day of treacherous driving.  My husband though - is an expert at driving the mountain passes & has done them all.
3-5-2023 1:07 a.m. Flying J, Snowville, UT
The morning of the fifth was thick with snow & fog too!  Butch waited until things warmed up a little before leaving.  Several semi's had slid off the road.  On to Hayden, UT the weather improved.
4-4-2023 Arkansas Rest Area~
Arkansas weather was warmer & turning springlike by April.  Dispatches were covering more states, D&D Transport had lost a large contract.  Without that contract, Blake Scott was down to six drivers.
4-18-2023 UT
On April 18th, the day's drive took Butch from Santa Rosa, NM to Green River, UT.  The country was beautiful.  He enjoyed seeing the southwest again driving in NV, NM, AZ etc.
5-1-2023 Mason in the driver's seat! Traveler~
The first of May, when Butch realized how his schedule was going to work out, he called daughter Courtney.  She & Mason were happy to make a long road trip south, through lots of traffic to have dinner with Papa!  Butch had driven 621-miles to make the meet-up happen!
6-24-2023 Oregon~
By mid-June, Jacko Logistics in Vancouver, WA was leasing the six remaining Blake Scott semis.  Butch's home base had moved from north of Salt Lake, all the way back to WA.  When he asked for home time, it seemed impossible for Jacko to get him home anywhere near the dates he needed.  
7-1-2023 Crossing the Hood Canal Bridge, WA
Butch spent the weekend of the fourth-of-July in Port Angeles, WA waiting for a trailer to be loaded. It was also the beginning of his second year driving for Blake Scott.  

8-18-2023 On the way from Beaver, UT to Coors in Golden, CO
In August, Butch sat a new personal best - driving 745-miles in 10:27.  To do those miles on an 11-hour drive clock takes long open stretches, no traffic, a light load & a lot of luck.
9-21-2023 - What happens when a semi takes a curve too fast~
September 25th, Butch was hired to drive for Jacko Logistics who had taken over authority on the Blake Scott semis.  (Butch was the last of the Blake Scott drivers.)  This change resulted in dispatches taking him up & down the west coast.  It wasn't long before he realized why so many drivers refuse to drive in or out of CA.  
10-3-2023 Cassidy, Courtney & Mason~
By early October, Butch had made several dispatches to the pacific northwest.  On one of those trips - he had a layover in North Bend.  Daughter Courtney brought both grandkids with her to have lunch with Papa.  (This was the last time Butch was with our Grandson Mason.)

By the end of October, Butch gave notice to Jacko Logistics.  He drove one final extended dispatch to get Traveler back up to WA before flying home.  He had been looking at companies in the Omaha area & with a friend's recommendation, settled on Nationwide Transport.  
11-5-2023 Maverick, Butch's new ride~
Butch had a few days at home the end of October while he had orientation at Nationwide.  His new truck, a Volvo VNL860 was not the Freightliner he had hoped for, but within a few weeks he was happy to be driving it. Maverick was more comfortable, had a bigger cab & was smooth ride.  
11-2-2023 Maverick's dash~
The first time I looked in - I was amazed at all the bells & whistles!  Of course, the one problem Butch encountered was the horn...  It wasn't loud enough.  Traveler had a very loud horn that got other drivers' attention.  This truck hardly sounded like a truck at all.  A trip to Iowa-80 solved the problem with a beautiful new horn that sounds off at 175 decibels!   
12-15-2023 - Silver Lake Rest area, IL~
We were both happy to have him based closer to home.  Nationwide is only about 25-minutes away which makes it handy for Butch to come home overnight when he's in the area.  It took a few weeks for the dispatching to smooth out, but it's been very consistent.
12-19-2023 - I-80 Sunrise, eastbound~
The views have changed too!  From the mountains & snow to the prairies of the Midwest.  Butch was very lucky this winter & managed to skirt most of the storms that rolled through.  Not having the passes of CA, CO & WA to navigate has saved me a lot of worry.
1-7-2024 - Great Sauk Trail Rest Area, IL~
It's not that he didn't have some interesting driving conditions.  He's traveling to MI, IL, IN, AK, KS, MO, WI, KY, TN, AK, OK.  Of course, IA, SD & NE too.
1-13-2024 Bosselman Travel Center, Grand Is. NE
Travel in the winter months along I-80 is rugged no matter what state you're in.  NE is almost as notorious for bad weather as WY.  IA saw a record number of accidents during a big blizzard that rolled through.  

It's gratifying for us both to know this second year is in the rear-view mirror.  I won't say it was any easier, with changes in companies, trucks & dispatches.  All's well that ends well & this year ended with Butch home for Christmas & a New Year's Day spent with our closest friends.

This new year, I'm no longer home alone - since Finnigan became a member of our family early December.  His cheery little attitude does wonders to keep me smiling.  I'm happy every evening when Butch calls to say he's done driving for the day & is parked somewhere safe.  

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Malvern Depot to the Trestle~

 We've had a string of simply wonderful weather - if it weren't for the ongoing drought & super dry conditions.  The last few days we've been in the upper 60's, but it did drop to the mid-20's last night.  Tomorrow we're due to possibly break a record for warmth if we reach the mid-70's.  

Butch leaving~
Butch had made it home for an overnight stop on Friday afternoon.  When he left Sat. morning to pick up his trailer, it wasn't ready.  He returned home & took me to breakfast!  We've been lucky - since we've managed time together once a week for the past couple weeks. As usual though - it's always hard to see him go.  Getting outside is about the only cure.
Northbound from Malvern~
Today I was excited to return to the trail & decided to ride opposite direction I usually take.  I took the last available parking spot at the Depot in Malvern.  Turning north toward Silver City - the Trestle is about half-way. 
Smokey~
The trail was completely dry, with only sunken footprints & tire tracks marring the surface.  Most of these were in areas near where roads intersect the trail.  Some people park at these locations to walk different sections.  Obviously, whoever left the deep prints had sloppy going & the trail surface will take most of the season to recover.  Especially if we don't get any rain.
Hopp Creek Bridge~
I was the only one out this afternoon & I appreciated having the trail to myself.  For whatever reason I stopped at Hopp Creek & decided to walk down to get a photo of the bridge.  All the bridges are showing their age.
Silver Creek Trestle~
The Wabash Trace Facebook page had posted that the Trestle would be closed for repairs.  I wanted to see what progress had been made.  Besides the side rails being pulled off & used to block the main deck, I couldn't decern any changes.
Silver Creek Trestle~
I climbed up on the top railing to get a better view of the bridge.  No one would be crossing from the Silver City side & with no one else on the trail, I enjoyed the peace & quiet.
Southbound from the Trestle~
I'd gone 3.85 miles to reach the Trestle & could feel the difference of riding on the limestone, vs. the smooth concrete & paving at Lake Manawa.  I rode around the pond at park, before sitting on a bench to soak in the late afternoon warmth.  
At the Pond~
The geese are back & were all in the water.  The level of pond hasn't recovered at all since my last visit here with Finnigan a month ago.  Even the snow we did receive wasn't enough to make a noticeable change. I rode a loop around town before returning to the Explorer.  

Finn had spent the afternoon with Doris, helping her work in her backyard.  By the time I got there, Doris had done a lot more yard cleanup & insisted I dig up more of the iris in her flower bed.  They spread like wildfire, so I'm planting them on the hillside that drops down to the marsh.  I hope I'll be able to see the tall blooms from the yard. Everyone is complaining about the moles.  It seems every year they just get worse & they've contributed to the erosion on the hill. 

Almost the end of February & it seems like spring!  We'll see if spring brings the rain we so badly need!