Welcome Break ~

 We received a taste of what the southern part of the country has been enduring.  Our humidity added to the intense heat. Everything had been so green, after the nice rains we'd received in July. It was like a switch had been flipped.  Last Saturday, the 19th felt like someone had turned on the furnace. I spent as much time as I could stand, outside watering.

"Feels like" - Start of the heat~

It was an uncomfortable week at the least & miserable at the worst.  We had a Garden Club meeting on Monday & even with the heat, there was a great turnout, super presentation & we all enjoyed getting together. As the week went on, every day was hotter than the last. Our morning "low" on the 22nd, broke the record - at 80 degrees.

Yesterday, it was such a relief when the heat dissipated. There was the short spatter of rain early in the a.m., enough to raise the humidity.  In spite of that - it was a stunning summer day.  I spent the afternoon mowing the marsh, the one place that stays green without watering.  It has the perfect combination of shade, rich soil & a low elevation on the hill.  

With the cooler weekend forecast - today I was ready to get Smokey on the trail.  After lunch I drove to Silver City, enjoying all the wonderful smooth, new blacktop!

Field of Soybeans~

As the afternoon progressed, the day did heat up into the mid-80's.  I was thankful for the little bit of breeze from time to time.

Welcome shade~

When I reach the heavily shaded sections of trail, where the Walnuts stand tall, the temperature always seems to drop a couple of degrees.

At the park~

The puffy white clouds floating by on the clear blue sky, only accentuated the feeling of a late August afternoon.  Leaving Malvern, the sunflowers growing along the area that had been burned, were in full bloom!  Blazing spots of yellow amidst green foliage.

Standout Sunflowers!

I had again, to my surprise, made really good time on the ride. Every time I ride off the concrete & onto the gravel, the old dead tree below greets me.  I wonder how many more windstorms it will withstand - hopefully a lot.

One of many dead trees~

Butch scheduled home time for Friday over a month ago.  Tuesday the 15th his reset was cut short at 15-hours.  He was told to go ahead & deliver a day early to Kent.  When he arrived, there was a four hour wait to be unloaded.  With his 70-hour clock expired, he was driving on recaps - by way of Port Angeles, Sacramento & Denver.  From Denver, he delivered to North Platte, picked up an empty & made it home!

Butch & Traveler, happy to be home!

His time away from home, always seems to stretch forever, but time at home flies by.  It's always a relief to see Traveler coming down the street! The "Honey Do" list isn't too long & we appreciate our time together more than ever!  

Another Ride ~

 The weather is cooperating this week!  Such nice days, to spoil us before the heat & humidity roll in.  I decided another ride this week would be more fun than mowing.

Wind blowing the corn~

The corn is done growing, has tasseled & now will wait for the harvest.  I should have taken a short video of the wind blowing across it, almost like waves in the ocean.  

Smokey on the trestle~

With a decent wind blowing from the north, I took advantage of it on my way to Malvern.  I knew the trip back riding into it - wouldn't be nearly as easy.  Smokey moved right along; I minimized the stops to see if I could match my best time so far this year.  

Bicycle Tree~

I missed getting a photo of the very top of the new art installation on my last visit.  At least from an angle where you can see the wings on the bike!  Turning back north, I made my usual stop at the park.  The wind was blowing the water & it was another stellar summer afternoon.

Cattails growing at the ponds edge~

This park is such a restful spot - we're so lucky to have the nice public spaces we do.  The campground at the far side, only had one RV.  I've not seen anyone fishing so far this season either.  Our warmest time of day is usually between 4-5 p.m. & I started back after talking with Butch.  When I called him, he said was expecting my call.  Even with all the distance between us, we're still in tune :-) 

North on the Concrete~

The concrete is just so nice to ride on, I wish the entire trail was hard surface.  There are days when the crunch of the limestone gets old to my ears.  The silent sound of the tires on the concrete, is golden!

Small reflective pond~

Last year, the farm near here put in a small dam & created the pond.  It was so pretty, reflecting the green grasses along the edge. Riding into a decent wind was something I hadn't had to do in a while.  

Just as Smokey rolled up onto the boards of the Trestle, I caught movement off to my left.  A Great Blue Heron was taking flight!  He must have been very close to the trestle & the sound of the bike on the boards had scared him.  I instantly stopped & took out my phone, but too late to get his photo.  He flew off around the bend in the river.  It reminded me of a day years ago.  I was riding Jas across a small bridge in WA & we spooked a Blue Heron up from beneath it.  As he took flight, his long legs almost hit Jas in the ears!  

Silver Creek on a warm summer afternoon~

The river is a draw for wildlife in the area.  (In the past few weeks, a neighborhood in Omaha has had Cougar sightings!)  I was so happy to have my sighting last Oct. near this same area.

I made good time the final few miles back to Silver City.  Silver Spokes was open - I stopped for take-out - before heading home.  I have the Explorer back, repaired from hail damage, so made a quick trip to the car wash.  The sun was just behind the trees of the woods, by the time I put Smokey away.    

August on the Trail~

In the month of August, we've enjoyed almost daily changes in the weather.  With off & on-again rain, then heat & humidity, it had been two-weeks since I'd been on the trail.  Today was mid-80's with some relief from the humidity.  The weather forecast for the weekend & next week - is for record breaking heat - possibly in the triple digits.

Following the Pilot car~

Mari Jo had warned me of the paving project on 278th.  Turning north off Gaston, I was first following the Pilot car.  I was also driving the Bronco.  The Explorer has been in the shop for repair from the bad hailstorm in July.  After the Bronco had been sitting for several years, I had the hood painted a few months ago.  Of course - now the Bronco's hood has damage too, just not nearly as bad.  There's a difference in a vehicle made from Steele & one from Aluminum. 

On the trail~

It felt great to enter the green shade of the trail!  Everything is so lush, it's like a mid-west rainforest.  If we had such a place!  The humidity is higher though, with mature corn fields on either side of the trail.  Especially on days when there's not much breeze.   Today was one of those.

Bicycle Tree~

I stopped by Little Red's Automotive to schedule maintenance on the Bronco.  On my way I couldn't miss the Bicycle Tree & new covered picnic area.  The tree was originally in a small park next the grocery store in Malvern.  When the grocery burned down, the tree was damaged.  Now, the artist has repaired the structure & it seems to have found a new home.

Face on the tree~

Colorful, very inventive & somewhat surreal.  Smokey & I weren't quite sure how we felt about it.  I'm sure there are more bikes than I would believe to recycle each year.  At least these make a statement!  I'm sure the covered picnic table will get a lot of use too.

The treetop~

We retreated back to the park.  Having made better time than I'd expected I was ready for my break.  It was a picture-perfect day for the middle of August.  Such a blue sky & the evenly spaced white fluffy clouds drifting by. 

A summer day in Iowa~

I talked to Butch for a few minutes.  Yesterday he was in Oregon & the temperature was 105.  Today, he was passing Red Bluff; CA & the temperature was 109.  

As I turned back north, the little breeze I'd enjoyed on the way out, was gone.  The late afternoon sun felt & looked strong out in the open.

Hairy Sunflower - Helianthus hirsutus

The sunflowers along the trail are in full bloom & add such a bright spot of yellow to the green backdrop!

Wild Grape~ 

Wild Grape is again taking over any area of the trail where it gets an opportunity!  Trees are fair game & many are covered with the vines.  It's beautiful & provides a carpet of leaves that cover all the broken limbs on the ground.

Back in Silver City, I went into Happy Trails to catch up with Mari Jo.  The two-day Rooster Tail ride this last weekend drew many riders from the Omaha area.  Restaurants & shops were busy!  Since it rained on Sunday, I was surprised the trail didn't show more damage.  I understand many of the riders opted for car rides home.  I was happy to have the trail to myself!  

OTR - California Dreamin'

 Butch made it home last week, in time for us to attend the 100th anniversary of the Sidney Rodeo on Veteran's night!  By the time he received his dispatch mid-day Monday the 7th, he was already behind schedule.  He picked up a load in Omaha & delivered to Hillsborough, OR on the 8th - on time! Once he was back in the pacific northwest, it was no surprise when the next dispatch took him to southern, CA.

5:25 a.m. TA in Redding, CA

This morning, he had fueled, picked up a coffee & as he returned to Traveler, stopped to take the above photo!  It's literally never - that you only see one truck at a fuel island!  Especially in CA where there are so few truck stops.  Today was the day.

11:36 a.m. on the way to Fowler, CA

Decent traffic conditions also hardly ever exist in the state.  No matter the time of day, when a wreck happens, any schedule you may hope to achieve is tossed out the window.  Instead of being early, Butch was 20-minutes late.  

Traveler at Maxco Supply 12:34 p.m.

Thankfully, it wasn't long until Traveler was backed up to the dock & the unloading had begun.  The delivery was for 32 lb. Hydro Guard medium.  A roll is 23,357 ft. & 3,827 lbs. The load delivered was 44,000 lbs. 

This is the first time Traveler has pulled a Jacko trailer with the company logo on the side.  Rumor has it - Traveler will be sporting the Jacko logo before long...  Sad, since the Blake Scott Logo gets so many compliments.

Inside Maxco Supply~

Butch said it was impossible to get a picture that accurately shows the size of this building!  Huge, spotless & well managed.

2:27 p.m. North bound Hwy 99 ~

Just two-hours later, he was already on his way to tomorrow's load just outside Stockton, CA.  (Traveler slowed down to admire his image in the mirror! :-)  From there he'll be heading back up to Tacoma, WA.  

Butch's Highest Mileage Day to date~

Earlier this week, on his way to OR, Butch set another personal daily mileage record at 745-miles in 10:27.  He can only drive legally for eleven hours per day & had stretched those hours right to the wire.  With the trailer loaded at 18,000 lbs., climbing the passes didn't slow Traveler down! :-)