A Bluebird Day~

 This time of year, I'm looking for at least a day to ride each week, where the temperature/humidity are somewhat moderate.  Looking back at the prior year, I try to match the same amount of ride days per month.  I needed one more for the month of June!  (Mowing, weeding & watering take up most of my days & I enjoy being out to do it!) 

Rapidly growing corn~

The corn has doubled in size just since my last ride, mid-month!  From what the farmer's are saying - it's the soy beans that are most in need of rain...  

Mari Jo's shop is closed on Monday's & she rides.  We planned to meet up, but I was delayed.  When I reached Happy Trails, she was nowhere in sight.  I got right on the trail & didn't expect to be able to catch her.  But I was just a short way out, when she came riding toward me!  She'd ridden out a mile, then turned back, just to see if I might have arrived late.  I had & we'd missed each other by only a few minutes.

Mari Jo, we're on our way~

It was good news that she hadn't made the entire ride & I'd have company on my way south to Malvern.  It was a beautiful late June day, lower 80's but a nice low dew point.  We were about half way when Mari Jo pointed out a bright splash of blue in the trees.  A Blue Bird!  He flew onto one of the taller trees & stayed long enough I could dismount to get a good look.  They are a smaller bird than I'd imagined - the color is so spectacular.  About the time I thought about trying for a photo, he flew away.

From the park back to the trail~

We rode on to the Depot & stopped there for a short break.  I'd planned on stopping at the park to call Butch.  Mari Jo had chores to finish, so left on her own.  It was quiet at the park, the pond is still full, a fish or two jumped for bugs.  No one was around, just the sound of the wind in the Cottonwoods.  I called Butch & we talked for a while before I returned to the trail.

Cattails around the wetland~

Even without any rain, things have remained so green.  The wetland is holding quite a bit of water & the cattails look so pretty blowing in the wind.  The trip south had been fast & when I turned to head back north - I soon knew why!  There was a stiff wind coming from the NW & we'd had it at our backs.

The return trip took a little more effort!  The mulberries were all over the trail!  One little family was out trying to collect the last of the ripe ones off the trees.  I stopped too - picking & enjoying the few I could reach.  

Back on the Trestle~

The decking on the bridges is so dry now, the boards are turning up at the ends.  It makes quite a racket when I ride over.  

By the time I'd returned to Happy Trails, Smokey was covered with smushed berries!  Back in Glenwood, the car wash was my next stop!  It's way easier to clean them off with the pressure there, than at home!  Mission accomplished!  We'll see how the weather is the remainder of the month.

Seeking Shade - Lake Manawa ~

 When I decided to ride at Lake Manawa, I wasn't thinking about the Father's Day weekend.  My thought was - smooth trails & a fast ride on hard surface's.  I also didn't consider that most of the ride is in the bright, hot sun.  

Two-miles into the ride~

I parked at the Wabash Trail Head, in Council Bluffs & rode the long east side section, to the neighborhood near the lake.  I was already looking for a spot of shade & had only ridden 2-miles!  By the time I reached the welcome coolness under the tree, I seriously considered turning back.  It was blazing hot, upper 80's.  Thankfully the humidty was fairly low. 

By the old Cottonwood~

Butch had called earlier in the day & was leaving Snowville, UT on his way to an organic dairy in Platteville, CO for a Monday delivery.  Riding is always good therapy & since today was to be the coolest in the upcoming week, I saddled up.  Traffic along the Veterans Memorial Highway was heavy, but it didn't take me long to do the few blocks & turn off into the old campground.  It had been mowed, but otherwise had it's usual abandoned look.

New paving!

The stretch of trail up the west side of the lake was sweltering!  Not too much wind & I appreciated any breeze at all.  As I crossed the bridge at Indian Creek, a new trail surface awaited!  Paving!  It was so smooth, all the old cracks & bumbs gone.  The only problem, was the heat radiating from the fresh black surface.  

A short break~

Taking the trail to my favorite break spot, I realized in short order - the entire shoreline of the lake was heavily populated with weekend visitors.  All the picnic areas were full to overflowing & the covered shelter was reserved for a private baby shower.  The water was full of boats & all types of watercraft were zipping everywhere!  I headed for the big Cottonwood close to the shoreline for a little shade before finishing the ride.  (I decided to take a second electrolyte & was glad I did.)

I was totally discusted to see all the trash!  Trash was Everywhere!  Tiny pieces, big pieces, the ground was completely covered with it.  Such a shame to see a public area that's been relatively pristine, in such a mess...  It would take someone at least a couple hours just to clean up this one area.  There's simply no excuse & it was very sad to see.  

Back to the main trail~

Smokey & I left - anxious to finish the final few miles back to the trail head.  There were no other bikes on the trail, I picked up my pace.  Back at the Explorer, the parking area was still more than half full of cars, so most other riders must have opted for the shade of the Wabash, heading south.

The first thing I did - was turn on the engine & AC to start cooling off the inside of the Explorer!  I stopped at Hy Vee, made it home & had downloaded my Garmin by the time Butch called for our evening chat.  (I was surprised to see I'd made my fastest ride ever over that route!)  Our temperatures are already running 5+ degrees above normal for the time of year...  I think my hopes of a cooler summer have been dashed~

A Ride & "Dinner" with my Husband~

 Butch had been home over the weekend -  it's never long enough.  I was missing him already & he'd only been gone a day!  The best remedy is loading Smokey & starting the wheels turning.  It used to be saddling up the gold girl & riding her rhythmic gaits. Even so, there's something musical about the slight whirl of the tires on limestone, too.

The corn is growing by the day!

I was amazed at how much the corn had grown just since my last visit here on May 23rd!  We had ended up with just under an inch of rain over the weekend.  So very welcome & obviously the corn took full advantage!

The Walnut Cathedral is fully leafed out!

It was so fresh a day & so great to have a return to the abundant green foliage of the trees.  As usual, the Walnuts draw my attention.  I can't help but appreciate their breauty, even if they do get the award for making riding difficult once the nuts drop!

Gooseberry~

The current shrubs are some of the prettiest.  I have a few small starts in our woods, but I think they need more sun than they get.  Here, they're usually along the edges of the trail, where they get the most of the filtered sunshine.

At the park~

It was a warm day, but with low humidity.  Day's like these will be fewer & fewer as summer approaches.  I still appreciate seeing the water level up in the pond & even watched as a few fish jumped.  This little pond is a popular fishing spot & has a small campground.

Elderberry ~

As I started back for Silver City, the Elderberry caught my attention!  In full bloom - bees buzzing around the flowers.  This is my fourth season of bike riding & I haven't tired of it.  Of course it's taken four bikes to make it pleasurable.  I still cringe when I see E-bikes on the trail, but the day may come.  I would take that, to not being able to go the distances I do.

Sweet!

Happy dance!  The Mulberries were ripe!  Oh my gosh they are so sweet this year!  The trees are just loaded with them!  I picked & picked for quite a while & wished I'd brought a bag to carry some back with me.  They don't travel well though - so I would have ended up with juice - I'm sure.

On the trestle~

The sun is really strong now, I don't waste any time when I'm directly in it.  Even the planks of the bridge were radiating the heat back at me.  

Butch had called earlier in the day.  He'd picked up his load in St. Joseph on Monday & when he tried to adjust the tandems on the trailer, he discovered they wouldn't budge...  He tried everything he could think of with no success.  After a call to Izeak, (Owner of Blake Scott, who called D&D owner of the trailer) he was told to drive north on I-29 to Sapp Bros. near Percival for a repair.  

Arriving at Sapp Bros. - he spend Monday night there - but the wait time for the repair was 14-hours.  

He was told to continue on to the Love's just outside of town, near Glenwood.  He'd arrived there this morning.  They didn't have the correct part, so he'd been waiting all day for the air valve to arrive & be installed.

Traveler at the shop~

I finished my ride & decided I'd drive out to see if Butch was still waiting, since I hadn't heard from him.  As I cruised through the big truck parking area, there was my husband, walking across the lot!  He'd just backed the trailer into the shop & the repair was in process.  We ended up having "dinner" at the Subway!  Shortly after I headed home, he called to say he & Traveler were back on the road.  He managed to make his delivery in Salt Lake on time!

The Thunder Rolled ~

 With the welcome rain, the heat & humidity have soared.  The end of last week was close to miserable.  I'd go out & be soaked to the skin in minutes.  Any exertion felt like I was carrying a heavy pack.  Today was supposed to be a few degrees cooler - if the upper 80's is cool.  The humidity too - had dropped just a little.  

As I left Glenwood & turned onto Gaston Rd., the clouds turned dark & the rain hit hard.  The wipers were hardly clearing the windsheild, even on high.  But just a couple miles later; in Silver City, the clouds were off to the west & it was dry.  

A couple were at Happy Trails & had just come in off the trail from Malvern. They said the trail south bound was in pretty good condition, with only a few soft spots.  I decided to go. 

Lush & wet~

When I left, I didn't think I'd go all the way to Malvern.  But after reaching the Trestle, the sky was clearning & the clouds were to the west.  The rain had dropped the temperature & there was a light breeze.

Silver Creek - west from the Trestle~

Plenty good enough for me to continue on south.  The creek was muddy & higher than it's been in forever, so good to see.  Just as I stopped - I saw a deer standing right in the middle of the creek!  By the time I got my phone out to snap that perfect photo - she'd crossed into the woods.

Clouds to the West~

When I reached the open section of trail at the dirt road crossing, the clouds seemed to be moving to the north.  It looked like the further south I went, the more rain had been received.

At the Pond~

When I reached the park, the sky had changed!  It looked like the storms were moving in from the east, unusual for us.  The clouds were heavier & more ominous looking than earlier.  I called Butch, but we didn't talk for long.  I had a feeling I'd better move on & start my return  of eight + miles soon!

At the Trestle again~

By now, it was obvious the afternoon had changed!  I could hear the sound of the rolling thunder from both sides of the trail.  No lightening so far, thank heaven!  But the loud booms of thunder were more than enough to keep me motivated.

Silver creek~

Looking down - I saw the strangest pattern in the water!  It looked like rain drops were hitting everywhere, but it wasn't yet raining!  The wind wasn't blowing either, but the thunder was almost non-stop.  I decided standing in the middle of a steel bridge - over water - was not the smartest thing I've ever done!

3-miles to go~

We'd no more than cleared the Trestle when the rain hit!  It was instantaneous & the wind was gusting from the east!  Every stroke of the pedals became tougher as Smokey's tires started sinking into the softening surface of the limestone.  It gets incredibly slippery too, as does the wood decking on the bridges.  It was a long three miles until we reached the concrete at the edge of Silver City.

Looking back the way I'd come~

Mari Jo was standing under the cover at Happy Trails watching for me.  She said they'd received a good downpour while  I was gone & there was a weather warning for another strong storm & hail.  She kindly got out her hose so I could wash the grime off Smokey before loading the bike.  In the few minutes that took - the rain hit town again.

Smokey & the Explorer~

I was more than happy to be inside Happy Trails & out of the rain.  I stayed long enough to wipe the water off, before heading home.  At home, even though we'd received .05 while I was gone, the sun was breaking through the clouds.  The weather predicition is for more unsettled weather this coming week.  No complaints - rain is welcome!

Traveler "Drives" his Point Home!

Traveler waiting at Premier~

Our Memorial Day Weekend was not at all what we'd expected...  Butch had hoped to be home for our yearly trek to Greenfield, but this year it was not to be...  It was the first time in our married career we were in two different motel rooms, in two different states, over 1,200-miles apart!

Hum - what was I to think about this?

On Thursday the 25th, I received the photo above...  I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, so gave Butch a call.  He explained the steering was suddenly gone.  He manhandled the truck fourteen-miles to an exit near St. George, UT.  He was on a return trip from Boron, CA.

Traveler waits his turn~

Traveler is one smart truck!  He'd decided to have a difficulty - his first - as close as possible to a branch shop of the same Dealer where he had been purchased, Premiere Truck Group in St. George, UT. Butch had driven 325-miles since leaving CA.  It was late in the afternoon when they arrived.  Traveler would go into the shop the following day. 

Butch's unexpected abode~

Friday, it was early afternoon before the mechanic's started assessing the truck.  Unsure as to the issue, they closed for the weekend & would return Tuesday.  Butch was one of eight other drivers waiting for their trucks to be repaired.  Since Traveler was now in the shop, Premier gave Butch a ride to a nearby motel.

Butch's Sat. morning walk~

Butch spent a boring weekend, taking walks & finding a restaurant with good food.  He was more than anxious by the time Tuesday morning rolled around & caught a ride back to Premier.  Traveler had recived an oil change, all his scheduled maintenance items were taken care of & the steering wheel was realigned.

Waiting at Southern Tire~

 Butch's next stop was eight miles away to Southern Tire Mart.  Traveler received a new set of very expensive steer tires. 

In the shop~

Since this business did not do alignments, with new tires on, Butch drove toward Salt Lake City.  He stopped at Walmart to re-supply & spent the night at the Flying J in Springville, UT. 

Traveler without tires~

The morning of the 31st., Butch had arrived at Jack's Tire & Oil in Salt Lake City by 7 a.m. Traveler received an alignment of both the steer & drive tires.   After the alignment - Butch drove to Frito Lay.  He found the trailer (now uloaded) he had been bringing up from CA full of potato chip potatoes!  (Another driver had picked it up at Premier & made the delivery.) 

Traveler gets a bath~

After all this - Traveler insisted on a bath!  Since they didn't yet have a dispatch, Butch agreed.  They found a Blue Beacon nearby & took the last spot available at the Flying J in Salt Lake City.

Today, they're on the road again, heading to WA.  So far, Traveler is behaving himself!  When Butch told me how close he had been to the Premier Dealer - I told him Traveler couldn't have been more kind!  Considering the miles they've gone, we both think Traveler has done a great job!

A somewhat funny postscript to this post.  It was almost a year to the day from Big Red's breakdown in Texas, when Butch was hauling a hazmat load for CFI.