Sunshine to Overcast ~

 Butch managed an overnight visit Friday night.  He'd delivered to the HyVee in Chariton, IA that morning.  He was returning west to pick up a load at ConAgra.  (He's not used to traveling across a state at 55!) By the time he'd had the trailer washed out & picked up the loaded one - he arrived home at 9:15 p.m.  By 7 a.m. yesterday morning he was pulling out, on his way to Clearfield, UT.  One of those short but sweet visits where he had a good shower, meal & slept in his own bed. 

2-25-23 Butch ready to leave~

With March around the corner, the winds have moved in.  Sunday dawned with bright, beautiful, sunshine, if breezy.  Mari Jo wanted to meet at Lake Manawa for a ride.  Rain was due for Monday - so today was our choice.  

The Explorer & Smokey~

I'd unloaded Smokey & was riding the parking lot to warm up when Mari Jo arrived.  Today we parked inside the Park to save ourselves fighting the wind out from the Wabash Trail head.

Mari Jo & the bikes~

The sun dissapeared within just the time it took Mari Jo to unload her bike  The clouds moved in & with them, the temperature dropped.  Not that it wasn't already somewhat brisk!  Once out on the trails, we kept moving right along.  Mari Jo mentioned turning back the way we'd come by the time we were ready to do the long stretch along Indian Creek.  I mentioned we were already well past the half-way point & would still have the wind coming at us if we went back along the east side.

The lake through the trees~

It was a challenging little ride, but we both agreed it felt so good to be out & moving!   It had been almost two-weeks since I'd been out.  

Smokey~

The south end is the prettiest part of the trails anyway & I didn't want to miss it in favor of riding back along the streets.  In spite of the wind, we made really good time & ended up riding eight-miles.  We both miss the Wabash riding.  The limestone trail is in the middle of an ongoing freeze/thaw cycle that could last well into March.

Looking east across the Lake~

Driving out of the park, I stopped to get  this photo.  The surface of the lake looking like pale green slush, frozen in place!  With the rain in the forecast - it may melt the rest of the spots of ice.  Our advance weather forecast for the first part of March - is - unseasonably cold!  As much as 20-30 degrees below normal.  Not what I was hoping for!