Open Trail!

 Another beautiful day, but the chill wind had returned!  Regardless, when I heard the news the trail was open, I asked Butch if he'd mind making the drive to Silver City.

Barren fields~

Probably not one of my better ideas - the wind was stronger by the time we left the parking at Happy Trails & seemed a little colder too.  It didn't us long to realize the trail surface was still very soft in places.  Soft enough to make peddling a chore.

Butch & the bikes~

We were a couple miles out when I asked Butch if he wanted to turn around.  I wouldn't have minded in the least!  :-)  But no - he kept on & soon we saw Mari Jo coming back from the south.  She was bundled up & did say the trail continued to have soft areas most of the way.

Beaver dam~

I was happy to see the Beavers had rebuilt their dam, better than ever & holding the little spring moisture we've received.  It felt so nice to be out in the country again!  The air was so fresh & clean.

On the Trestle!

We made our goal & arrived at the trestle - more than ready for a rest break!  The smooth trails of Lake Manawa are a piece of cake when compaired to the limestone - when it's less than hard.  It was obvious many riders had ignored the condition of the surface - making deep groves that had hardened as things dried out.  Those ruts make it difficult riding for everyone else.  They take weeks & sometimes months to smooth out.

Silver Creek~

Silver Creek was still running low...  The lowest I can remember seeing it for the time of year.  It seems we're back in a pattern now of rain forecast - but then not materializing.  I hope that changes before the heat of summer arrives!

A spot of GREEN!

On our way back, we were riding into the wind, so we ended up getting a good workout!  Returning to Silver City, Butch loaded the bikes for the trip home.  After dropping off the bikes, we left for Menards & came home with a new portable shed for my potting supplies!  

Butch hadn't anticipated a lengthened time at home, but dispatching seems to have slowed.  It gave us time to complete a couple short projects, including getting my shed built!  It's much nicer to have him home when waiting, rather than sitting out at a truck stop somewhere.  His last day is always the hardest for me though - knowing he'll be leaving soon...

With warmer temperatures around the corner, my tulips have finally broken ground!  I'll be happy to again be spending the majority of my day's outside!

A Perfect Spring Ride ~

 Butch arrived in town mid-day yesterday.  He picked me up on his way by & we spent the afternoon getting the trailer washed out at Blue Beacon in Council Bluffs.  The line was long as usual.  The groves in the floor were full of small potatoes from CO.  Cleaning those out cost an extra $20.  We thought the price was pretty reasonable considering! Traveler had a bath too!  

Slighty bruised potatoes anyone?  

Butch didn't know he'd be coming home until yesterday morning - when he was ready to leave Topeka.  After seven-weeks on-the-road, he had laundry & supplies to restock.  This morning he visited Brianna at the Hair Station in Tabor for a overdue haircut & beard trim!  After lunch, he installed the rear rack on his bike, loaded both bikes onto the Explorer & we were on our way to the park!  It was truly the most perfect day we've had this year-to-date!  Such a gift to be able to enjoy it together!

Butch & the bikes~

The park was busier than I'd seen it in quite a while.  Everyone wanted to take advantage of the sunshine, before the forecast drop in temperatures & rain/snow due for tomorrow.  One cyclist who passed us commented on how wonderful the warm sunshine felt!  Here, a lack of sun seems to be noticed so much more than it was in WA.  We're spoiled in so many ways!

Lake Manawa looking north toward Council Bluffs~

There was some haze in the air.  The only wind was intermittent & not as cold as it has been.  We took the trail out to the picnic area & sat on the bench for quite a while.  I'd stashed a couple fresh oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies in my bag.

Bandit & Smokey at the picnic area~

Every time we ride these bikes, we're so happy we found them.  The level of comfort & ease of riding is great.  I was beginning to think comfortable bikes were a thing of the past.  The Cannondale's proved me wrong.  If Butch can get out of the truck, get on his bike & easily ride ten-miles, it says a lot.

Connie & Smokey, Indian Creek Bridge~

There was a motorized vehicle using the shoulder of the Indian Creek trail.  Motorized are not allowed, but he didn't seem to care.  Otherwise, just a few people walking & a few bikes.

Mid-America Power Plant

We took a road that turns due south off the southern section of trail.  It ends at the public boat launch on the shore of the Missouri.  There's a great view of the power plant.  We stopped again to walk the shore, before riding back to the Explorer.

The Missouri~

The ride was over almost before we wanted it to be, but I had a alterior motive!  Tastee Treet was - of course - on our way home!  We picked up two smoked beef brisket meals for our dinner & ice cream for the drive home!  Yum!

March Chill!

I'm trying to convince myself this March is normal for us, but it's sure felt cold!  The Robin's returned to our yard on the fourth & the fox came through that same day.  All of last week hosted a string of gray days.  To go along with the cold, we've had a couple wet snowstorms.  The one on the ninth was beautiful, if heavy.

3-9-2023 Wonderland of white~

Mari Jo & I were watching the weather & had decided on today for a walk on the trail.  The original forecast was for about 50 degrees, sunshine & wind.    Well...  It wasn't!  We saw the sun for about 3-minutes early this morning & temperatures in the low 20's. 

Does it look cold?

 By the time I'd made the drive to Happy Trails, it was 28 degrees with a blowing wind & a chill factor of 21.  The sky was the same slate gray, it's been most of the week.  We had rain yesterday morning, turning to snow/slush around noon.  It left about an 1" on the front walk - heavy & full of moisture.  It was even too wet to stick to the trees.

North from Silver City~

Not to be deterred, we were both dressed in layers.  I had two-layers of polar fleece under my Carhart jacket.  We both had our hoods up!  Mari Jo was correct though, once we were a way up the trail, the hills & trees cut the wind somewhat. 

Coon tracks in the frozen slush~

Once we were on the limestone, Racoon prints were everywhere.  It was very difficult without Nika.  I knew it would be.  I'd been putting off a first walk without her - for over a week.  The hand that held her leash felt so empty...  Since it's now too wet to walk the woods at home, it was time I got out.

Snow covered limestone ahead~

No one but the two of us were walking the trail this day...  We walked fast & Gracie was limited on her stops to sniff!  

The road home~

I enjoyed the walk & the drive too.  The Countryside still looks like winter - as does the sky.  I'm no fan of the time change either...  Every year we're promised will be the last & every year it's extended again.  This same date in 2021, my tulips were already over 6" tall!

I Couldn't Resist!

 A stuning day!  Light breeze & mid-50's!  The first day the feeling of Spring was really in-the-air!  We met at the Wabash Trailhead in Council Bluffs right at 2 p.m., both of us happy to be out on such a great day!

Mari Jo & the bikes~

I'd forgotten to turn on my Garmin, but I've done the route so many times I know the mileage by heart.  We rode through the old campground, then along the Veterans Memorial Hwy & turned onto the trail along Indian Creek.  We noticed a man up ahead, off his bike in the middle of the trail.  As we came up on him, Mari Jo asked if everything was OK - to which he responded, "No, I took a hard fall." 

We stopped & offered assistance.  We introduced ourselves & Mari Jo took a look at his bike. The front rim was badly bent & the brakes were jammed between the fork & the tire.  She disconnected the brakes & got the pads away from the tire.  She removed the front tire & the three of us tried to straighten it.  No luck - when he stepped on - he about launched Mari Jo & I into the air!  He was a big guy, well over 6'.  

No way was he riding the bike any further.  Mari Jo offered to ride back to the trailhead, get her truck & meet him at the nearest parking area.  He would still have quite a walk, pushing a broken bike - but he decided it would be a better solution than calling his wife! :-)

We took off, Mari Jo setting a good pace.  By the time we reached the turn-off to the lake trail, I told her to go on without me, she'd make better time.  We split up & I watched her fly off down the trail, with just a few miles to get back to her truck.

At the Lake~

I rode on to the picnic area & called Butch from my rest spot on the bench.  He was happy to be leaving CA, heading back to ID.  It was so beautiful out; it was hard to start back.

Smokey on the trail~

I was finding it a whole lot easier to ride with two properly inflated tires today! :-)  

Long shadow~

The final long stretch back, I did notice we'd left a little later than usual today, since the sun was already getting low in the sky to the west.

I-29 up ahead~

This is where the wind had been so awful the last time I was up here.  Today, was much easier!  Back at the trailhead, Mari Jo's truck was gone, which was what I expected.  I'll touch bases with her tomorrow to hear the rest of the story.

Where am I?  :-)

Tastee Treet has opened!  Happy Dance!  My only excuse is - it's on my way home!  I rewarded myself for a long winter season of suffering without my favorite sherbet!  It was just as yummy as I remembered.  I bought the pulled pork dinner, complete with potato salad & hush puppies!  Enough food to last me two dinners!  

I had to brag to Butch when he called! :-)

Smokey Goes "Lame" :-)

I arrived at Happy Trails today with Smokey & greeted Mari Jo with the statement; "Smokey is lame!"   After my last ride, I'd come back to town & taken the Explorer & bike to the car wash.  The self-service was the only empty bay & I about froze.  The temperature dropped & the spray from the nozzle filled the air.  The car was filthy after our last rain.  The consensus in town - was that the rain had cleaned all the dust from the air & deposited it All on our vehicles!  (Car washes must make a small fortune in IA).  It's handy though - to have Smokey on the rack.  An easy way to blast the grime off the bike at the same time.

 Once home I found Smokey's  rear tire flat.  Not good...  I've never changed a tire on a bike & decided it would be a good time to learn.  I called Mari Jo & asked if she was available in her off-season to do the repair.  Thankfully, she was!  (It helps to be her riding partner!)

A thorn?

It was a real bear to break the tires seal on the rim!  It took both of us to get the tire off.  We pumped air into the tube to find the leak.  A decent size hole - we could easily hear & feel the air escaping. Mari Jo started going over the inside of the tire. She found the problem.  At first, we both thought it was a thorn, but upon closer inspection Mari Jo discovered it was a very hard sliver of wood.

Wood sliver right through the tire~

I couldn't help but be surprised at how hard & sharp it was!  The sliver had found the perfect spot in the tire to work its way in to the tube.

Almost 1/2 inch~

Getting the rear wheel back on the bike took some finesse & experience with bikes.  Mari Jo has both.  Once it was back on, the trick is to get it perfectly in position for the disc brakes to work properly & the wheel to turn without rubbing.

Mari Jo fine tuning~

It was during this process Mari Jo told me to listen!  She explained it was easier to hear if anything was off balance rather than see it.  I had to laugh - as her words were almost exactly the same as my good friend & mentor Dean used to explain regarding horses & lameness.  That it was easier to hear a lameness rather than see it - in the early stages.  

The bike rear wheel - turned smoothly!  Very smoothly - which is one of the things I like so much about these bikes!  They shift smooth, ride smooth & are very quiet. 

We've not added tire liners to these bikes - yet.  Now I've seen the work involved in fixing a flat, I think I may be investing in the newer type liners we'd had installed on the Trek bikes.  Tannus liners advertise even if you do get a flat, you're able to ride the bike back.  Something I think I'll invest in again...  I'm just thankful Smokey didn't leave me on foot far from the Explorer!

Open Water ~

 The first day of a new month - March!  Here in Iowa, it arrived like a lamb!  In just a few weeks we should be enjoying the first pale greens of spring!  We have appreciated a string of mostly nice days, with nights still going down into the 20's.  This day last year was perfect too, I was even riding the trail!

Smokey in the old campground~

Even though the wind was blowing, it didn't seem too bad at home.  I decided not to waste such a nice sunshine day & drove up to Lake Manawa.  Riding in from the Wabash Trailhead, it was obvious the wind was at my back!  Nice!  At least until I made the turn & rode north!  

Along Indian Creek~

The wind was just brutal, no other way to describe it.  I actually thought about turning back, but I'm stubborn.  Either way, I'd have more wind to deal with.  I realized too, at least riding the long stretch along the creek, the wind would be at my back!  It was & Smokey cruised along pretty much effortlessly at over 12 mph.  

A wide-open blue sky~

I do enjoy being out on my own - I always return home with a good feeling - both tired & refreshed.  I miss the quiet of the Wabash though.  Last year, I'd managed two rides on the trail in March.  Butch had returned home the 3rd with his first semi.  I'd accompanied him on my one & only - never to be forgotten OTR trip!

Open Water!  View north~

After my last visit here on the 26th, when the lake was an eerie shade of frosted green, it was great to see the bright blue of open water!  Amazing in just three days - the change!  Sitting on my favorite bench though - wasn't as pleasant as usual...  The wind had not lessened & was blasting straight at me.  I was getting more chilled the longer I sat. I cowgirled up & left - knowing I'd have a tough ride getting back along the dike.  It was tough!  Going up the last hill I got off Smokey & walked!  

After freezing at the car wash, I came home to find the rear tire completely flat!  I knew then, I'd been riding with that tire going down most of the way.  It was undoubtedly the reason I found the ride & especially those last few miles so difficult.  Funny, when you're tired your brain stops working!  Of course, I doubt my hand pump would have made much difference.  I'm lucky it held air as long as it did - to be able to ride back at all!  Thanks Smokey!