Goodby to August!

 I have to admit, I'm glad to see August in the rear view mirror.  It's the last day in the month & wasn't as humid as usual.  Leaving Silver City, there was a decent wind blowing from the south. 

On the trail~

Butch had called earlier & has enough time to come home overnight.  I couldn't decide how far to ride, until I was riding & as usual, decided to go to Malvern.

On the Trestle~

It was a quiet day, just a couple Cardinal's crossing the trail & the squirrel's busy gathering walnuts.  The walnuts provide enough nuts on the trail to make it interesting.  As I was putting my phone back on the handlebars, I'd inadvertently hit the front camera & saw the image below.

View of above~

Even though messy, the walnuts are still my favorite trees.  Slow to leaf out in the spring, dropping nuts everywhere in the late summer, then early to loose their leaves in the fall.  Ours in the front yard has grown even taller after last summer's storm & resulting pruning.

Back in our favorite rest area~

I only saw one other rider the entire way south.  I couldn't help thinking, only one other person was crazy enough to ride on such a warm day!   Being on the trail, looking out at the landscape, is almost like being in two different worlds.  With just the thin buffer of trees & shrubs seperating the trail from the surrounding countryside.  Some farmers cut right into the easement, pushing the debri toward the trail & leaving nothing between it & their fields.  Others are a bit more generous & leave a narrow buffer  adjacent to the trail in brush.

From the inside, looking out~

This section is the best in warm weather, with shade almost the entire distance.  By the time I returned to Silver City, I was again soaked & anxious to get home.  Butch has been told trucking schedules will be tightening up again.  That's good for trucking & the economy, but not so good for his stops at home.  

Home again!

The AC in his blue truck was repaired & he picked it up on Monday in UT.  Butch already had another drive tire blow out, in the newer red truck he'd been driving while Blue was in the shop.  Nika & I are happy to have him back in Blue, since Blue sports all NEW tires!  

Sticky & Humid!

 The sound of thunder woke me early this morning.  Then came the welcome sound of rain.  What started as a drizzle turned into a nice downpour & gave us .40 of badly needed moisture.  I'd wanted to get in a ride today, before the upcoming forecast heat, humidity & thunderstorms of the weekend.

Toward a clearing ~

Leaving Happy Trails, the sun was shining, it was warm with a nice breeze blowing.  Mari Jo said she hadn't seen anyone on the trail all day.  I love having the trail to myself & was looking forward to a second ride this week.

Moss on the trestle~

I soon remembered it's a little more difficult to ride when the trail is damp.  Still solid enough Smokey's tires weren't sinking in, but the grit was sticking to the tires & hitting the fenders.

Smokey on the damp trail~

I debated with myself - as I usually do - going all the way to Malvern.  The park is such a nice spot for a break, I opted for Malvern.  After making my loop around the little neighborhood, I returned to the park.

Looking acorss the lake at our usual break area~

My usual break spot at the first of the picnic area's was already taken by a man who'd ridden in while I was in town.  I continued on around the lake to the picnic area on the far side.  While I was talking to Butch on the phone, the clouds moved in.  With the clouds came an almost instant increase in humidity!

Heading back~

By now, I was almost regretting my decision to do the full 17-miles...  When I stopped to take the photo above, the humidity was so thick - it was like being enveloped in a blanket of steam.  I was soaked to the skin.  I received a text from Butch, he was coming home for the night!  

Sticky!

I picked up a little speed & by the time I arrived at Happy Trails, Mari Jo met me with a bag full of ripe tomatoes!  No time to chat today, Butch was by now, under 2-hours out.

Dirty!

Loading Smokey, I couldn't believe how the trail grit & grime covered the inside of the fenders & lower part of the frame.  Once home, Smokey received a good wash!  I had time to shower & put something in the oven for our dinner before Butch arrived home.  His dispatches are including enough time, that he can stop & still easily make his deliveries.  Nice for us both - since we see each other more often!  (I've reached just over 500-miles year-to-date!)

Non-Fun Encounter~

 Another Monday & Mari Jo wanted to get in a ride!  Temperature in the mid-80's & reasonable humidity worked for me.  As usual when riding with Mari Jo, I tried to behave myself & not ask for photo op stops.  

Just as we arrived at the Trestle, we saw one of the trail maintenance vechiles coming our direction from the other end of the bridge.  It was Terry, who stopped to chat with us.  He said the trail was in great shape all the way north from Shenandoah - always good news.  I told him we weren't going That far!  Mari Jo not only knows all of the trail crew, she also knows most of the riders who use the trail on a regular basis. 

Well marked Maintenance Truck~

It was a great day to be out!  We were enjoying the trail, the day & the ride.  In Malvern, we stopped at the Depot for a snack before turning back north.

Taking a break!

On the return to Silver City, we stopped on the trestle at the north end.   We heard something & saw a ATV type vechile coming toward us.  It had a makeshift sunshade & a bunch of miscellanenous items attached, including an animal crate.  We stood our ground.  Mari Jo said she did not reconize the person driving or the vehicle.  As he approached she said;  "This trail is non-motorized only!"  The man responded;  "I'm clearing this trail so you can ride, so get out of my way."  Mari Jo asked if he had talked to Terry & it was obvious this person had no idea who Terry was.  We were walking single file along the side of the bridge, when he went ahead & passed us by.  

Both of us had reached the same conclusion - this looked like a homeless person.  It gave me the creeps & I think he was planning to camp.  We'd only gone another half-mile when we saw his ATV parked off to the left side of the trail by the covered area closest to the bridge.  His small dog was loose on the trail & the man was walking around.  As we approached he held up a large piece of broken glass & said;  "See!  I found this on the trail & saved you a flat tire."  Well - as Mari Jo said - thankfully no one brings glass onto the trail & neither of us have ever found even one small piece.  Continuing on, we didn't see him again.  Mari Jo will report the incident to the trail committee.

All my rides on the trail & I've never encountered a situation where I felt unsafe.  Now, I think I'll be adding a can of bear spray to my pack.  

Record-breaking Heat ~

I know of no other way to describe it.  The temperature wasn't too bad, mid-80's & climbing, but when you combine it with a dew point in the mid-60's & not much of a breeze at all - it's muggy!  We had what some are calling a million dollar rain last night.  Town picked up about1.5 inches, but those in the outlying countyside got up to 2.5".  Not having had rain since a light drizzle July first, things were so very dry, it was life giving for crops, lawns, trees & what flowers hadn't burned up. 

This has been the third hottest summer on record.  Since we're so close to Omaha, I'm using those statistics.  The temperature reached 90 degrees on 22 days.  Three more than in 2019.  The first nine days of June were also the longest, earliest stretch of 90 degree days.

Per the Omaha World-Herald -

Omaha set a June record for the average low temperature being the highest since record-keeping began in 1895, according to the National Centers for Enviromental Information.  In other words, nights averaged the record warmest for any June in 125 years.  On two nights, Omaha set individual records:  June 7 & 8, when the overnight low failed to drop below the upper 70's.

On the trail~

The trail had been so dusty the last few times I'd ridden, Smokey would come home covered in dust.  I had to clean the chain for the first time after my last ride.  Today was great as far as the trail surface!  The rain had settled the dust & it made for a wonderful dust free ride.

First of the golden leaves~

There's one tree after the trestle, that always turns color & drops it's leaves first.  I was happy to see that tinge of gold & the word fall has been mentioned by my friends, more than once lately.  The long string of days over 90 degrees, combined with the lack of rain, had us on edge more than we realized.

Smokey under the arbor~

Of course, like I told Butch, fall is the precursor to winter & winters can get very long!  I don't look forward to that!  Each time I stopped, the breeze stopped too :-)  Gee - I wonder why?   I did my circuit around the neighborhood, before returning to the trail.  I stopped at the park, to call Butch.  We were hoping he'd have time in his schedule for a stop at home.  Some dispatches have been scheduled with lengthly, unnecessarily long drive times as the industry has slowed along with the economy.

Silver Creek, with slightly more flow~

I'd been talking with Butch for quite a while, in the shade at the park, when I realized I wasn't getting any cooler!  Time to get on the trail & head back!

Another turkey feather~

I made another stop, when I saw the above feather in the middle of the trail.  It's the third turkey feather I've found!  Butch asked me what I'm going to do with them?  Maybe a headdress?  :-)  I have no idea, but they go on top of the bookcase for now.

Corn still looking good~

I've heard the Nebraska corn is way too dry & the crop may not be what is usually harvested.  From what I've seen of our Iowa fields, I hope our farmers will get what they expect.

Once back in Silver City, I stopped to chat with Mari Jo at Happy Trails.  The cool AC is always so welcome after a long ride!  At home, I heard from Butch.  He'd stopped for the night at the Ameristar Casino in Kansas City.  Depending on how long picking up his next load takes, he might make it home tomorrow!

Bye Ranger - Hello Blue!

 It was somewhat of a surprise when Butch was told he'd be switching trucks with another driver.  Pete's newer truck had come in & Ranger was to go back to Texas to be traded in.  Sad, since Butch really liked driving the big red Freightliner.  

His final trip with Ranger was to what's called;  "The Caves" in Carthage, MO.  It's an amazing place, 60 degrees year around, making it ideal for cold storage.  Butch had been in the area before, but dropped his trailers at another location. 

8-2-22 Driving toward "The Caves"~

This time, he'd be driving inside!  The photo shows the entrance to a place carved out of a rock mountain!  No one seems to know for sure how many loading docks are located inside, but the numbering system goes to well over 100.

Interior of "The Caves"~

Butch said the coolness inside was so nice, compared to the hot day outside.  The personnel who work here though, were bundled up in layers of  jackets.  

8-2 Ranger waits to be off-loaded~

Butch said it was wonderfully cool - on what was a hot day outside.  Loaded by mid-afternoon, he drove most of the way through MO before stopping for the night.  The following day he drove through NE & crossed the border into WY.  By the fifth, he had dropped his load in UT & had a a new load waiting a short distance away.  At 1 p.m. he was again back on the road, heading east.  He'd been notified that Pete would be waiting for him in Rawlins, WY - where they would switch trucks.  

Switching trucks may sound easy - but it's far from it.  I found out when we first loaded Big Red at home, how much work it is getting things up into the cab.  Arriving at 7 p.m. it was time to empty Ranger & load Blue.  Pete had been there all day & had time to get his things in boxes.  Butch had been keeping the wheels turning, so had to toss things into the reinforced bags I'd sent with him.  By midnight - they were mostly done.

8-6  Ranger & Blue

Needless to say, everything has to find a spot, it can't be laying loose in the cab when the semi is under way.  Nika was pretty unhappy about the entire thing!  After trying to jump out & take off again, (Butch caught her in mid-air.) she finally decided the drivers seat was the place to be during the transition.

7 a.m. on the sixth, Butch was back on the road.  Blue's interior had gone through some modifications somewhere along the way & they weren't helpful.  The storage area doors didn't fit correctly.  They'd moved the refigerator from Ranger into Blue & that took a major re-wire to get hooked up, as did the microwave.  

8-6  8:00 p.m.  Home!

Late on Saturday, Butch pulled in at home for the night.  He'd driven from Rawlins, 667-miles & had 3-minutes left on his drive clock!  We had Sunday together - before he had to leave at 5 p.m. 

8-8-2022 Home!

After dropping his load in MO mid-day on  Monday, he deadheaded back to Glenwood.  Arriving at 6:30 p.m. in the evening for his scheduled  three-days at home.  It seemed pretty strange to see a blue truck backing into the Cabin's driveway!  The evening was one of the nicest we've had all summer.  Low humidity & cool temperatures.  We sat out on the deck & watched as Nika checked out her yard.

Blue - 2018 Freightliner Cascadia

Blue does have some positive things going for him.  All new tires & new brakes!  (Ranger had two blowouts in two weeks & putting new tires on a truck that was going to be traded in didn't make sense.)  Tuesday, I enjoyed a ride to the truck wash in Council Bluffs.  We stopped at Freightliner for interior air filters, where I found a really cute semi for me :-) LOL!

8-11 - On the road again~

We'd planned for Butch to have three-full days at home, but a new dispatch changed that & by Thursday afternoon he & Nika were pulling out.  This time picking up a load at Conagra in Council Bluffs - going to Utah.   Trucking has slowed with the downturn in the economy.  We've heard rumors of many, many drivers sitting in Joplin waiting for dispatches that don't come...  Many of the big warehouses are laying off employees which further slows the turnaround time for the drivers.  

Yet to find out what winter weather will bring, Butch plans to keep the wheels turning as much as possible during good weather & has been averaging about 3,000 miles per week.  All drivers are limited by Federal Regulations as to how many hours can be driven in a 70-hour period.  That, along with sometimes long waits to pick up or drop off a trailer (due to staffing shortages) takes time management. 

Blue is the third Semi Butch has driven since he started out on his own the end of February.  He's told he'll be getting a 2021 Kenworth as soon as it's available. He was hoping to stay with a Freightliner but each tractor has it's advantages.  Another tractor swap should happen & hopefully be the last for a long while!  

Learning Bike Mechanics~

 Monday's are the day Mari Jo closes the shop & rides her bike.  Today, our schedules worked & we actually got out on the trail!  It was warm, but mid-80's & lower humidity worked for me.  Mari Jo rides in about any heat.

Mari Jo on the Trestle~

There were several riders out on the trail today.  I had manged to move the rear gear guard out of positiion the last time I washed Smokey & Mari Jo noticed & showed me how to re-attach it.  Next, my rear break was squeeking!  I think my over zealous cleaning with the hose had gotten water in the disc's.  With a few more miles & breaking, the noise went away.

Arrriving at the bridge, I asked for a short stop.  What I didn't get - riding with Mari Jo - were pictures!  :-)  I wanted to stop at the park for a break, but the picnic area was full of tents & a large group of boys on bikes.  We nixed that for a quick stop at the depot in town.  

On the way back, for the first time ever, my chain derailed.  Mari Jo had moved in front of me, there was an on-coming rider.  I think I'd tried to shift at the same moment & that's when the chain went thunk!   I stopped instantly & was glad I did, since the chain was already tightly stuck.  Again, Mari Jo came to the rescue & got it unstuck.  She said she's seen it happen to the point it was so bad the bike had to be partly dissasembled, pedals removed etc. to get it free.  Thankfully, mine wasn't that bad.

While we were working on that, another rider from Silver City stopped & told me I'd picked the right person to ride with!  So true!  I'm still learning about bikes & there's more to learn than I thought!  With the chain back in place, we finished the ride.

Now, I'm going to be more careful about where I spray water on the bike & pay attention when I'm shifting!  Lesson's learned!  I'm just so used to riding alone.   I ended up talking Mari Jo out of four huge tomatoes from her garden!  Butch arrived home shortly after I did.  We really enjoyed those fresh tomatoes in BLT's!

Fresh Air ~

 The weatherman promised us a cooler morning.  The prevaling wind direction had changed from heat coming up from the south, to cooler air moving down from the north overnight.  The humidity dropped & the air had a fresh smell.  The day was to warm again into the 90's by afternoon, so I loaded Smokey for an early than usual ride.

As I was leaving Silver City I heard the sound of a heilcopter & stopped to take his picture has he flew across the trail.

Heilcopter above~

He seemed to be moving off to the east as I entered the shade of the trees.  It was so cool & so nice, but I knew it wouldn't last long.  About that time, the sound of the chopper became defening!  I was coming to the first of the three clearings with views of the fields, so pulled off & walked over to get a photo.  I didn't expect to see him coming parallel with the trail & SO close!  

Crop spraying soybeans~

I snapped the picture - ran for Smokey & peddled as fast as I could - trying not to breathe while staying  ahead of the sprays drift.  Thankfully, he again turned to the east in just a couple hundred feet.  We have so few days without wind, I'm sure the pilots take advantage of them.

Under the canopy of the Walnuts~

I was relieved when the sound of the heilcopter faded off into the distance!  The quiet of the morning returned.  I passed a few other riders out enjoying what was left of the mornings fresh air.  The trail surface is again - so dry it's cracking open in places.  Of course the ground in my woods at home is cracking too.  At least in the places where the moles haven't dug it up!

On the Trestle~

I took my time today, it's always so refreshing just to be out.  I love the quiet of the Trestle & songs of the birds.  The Cardinals were pretty active too, the last of the ripe mulberries are enjoyed by all  the birds.

Farms & farmland~

On the south side of the Hwy 34 underpass is this beautiful view.  The green, greens of cultivated crops & the blue of the summer sky.

Bohner Pond

I rode in to the Depot, then around a few blocks of town, admiring all the flowers & vegtable gardens!  (I did plant a sad looking tomato this year.  He was the last Earl May had when I was there.  I've babied it & now it's big, healthy & blooming!  I'm hoping for fresh tomatoes before the end of the season!)

When I told Mari Jo of my new rest area at the pond, she informed me the pond has a name!  A family was camped across the way.  A darling little girl was riding her tiny bike with her brother, while the mother pushed a baby stroller with two more small children!  The little girl had flowers on her bike, flowers on her handlebar bag, helmet & was wearing a beautiful floral summer dress!  Talk about style!  I complimented her on her beautiful bike!  Dad was fishing & had just caught a really nice bass!

Back to the trail~

Turning back for Silver City, the day was warming by the minute.  I didn't waste much time & hoped to beat the worst of the heat.  

Silver Creek~

The river is still running at it's normal summertime level, I'm thankful for that, since the creeks that feed into it, are almost dry.

Happy Trails~

I went inside the shop to cool off & talk with Mari Jo before leaving for home. With no grocery store in town, Mari Jo stocks, drinks, snacks & ice cream treats!  A group of kids came in from the library & had a tough time deciding between chips & candy bars!  They were excited that the fire dept. was turning on the hydrant's.  By the time I was leaving, they were splashing in the cold water!  I love seeing kids be kids in small town Iowa!