A Ride & A Stopover! ~

 Nights have been getting cooler, down to the mid-20's again.  Friday's daytime temp cooled to the 50's but today we were back to enjoying the 60's.  

Very dry~

There was no wind.  It was the second day of perfectly still conditions.  Unusual for this time of year, as is the warm days.  Butch had spent the night in Kansas City & was heading north to Cherokee, IA with a load of water for Hy Vee. He had time in the schedule to come home! 

Smokey in the sun~

I knew I'd have just enough time to get in a ride before he got to town.  I started out in my jacket & vest, it felt chilly once I was on the trail.  It wasn't long though before I'd removed the jacket!  The trail surface is as hard as rock now.  In places you can hardly distinguish the gray compacted surface from concrete.  The going was so smooth, It was some of the easiest riding of the year.

Blissfully Quiet~

There had been no cars parked at the trailhead by Happy Trails & I had only seen one bike rider the entire way to the park.  I was really surprised, since the weather was so perfect & it was the weekend.  Just before I reached the park, a lady was walking a beautiful dog.  A Blue Heeler I'm sure, she moved to the side of the trail.  The dog was So well behaved, made eye contact with me & stayed perfectly calm.  I had to compliment her beautiful & well-mannered companion! 

Milkweed~

Right at the entrance to the park, the sun was lighting up the milkweed going to seed.  Nature shows off its beauty in so many ways. I called Butch & he was just passing Rockport.  He would arrive in Glenwood ahead of me!  I hustled on the ride back north.  By the time I pulled in at home, he had just completed a walk up the hill from the school, where he'd parked Maverick.  Nationwide requires the semis to stay attached to the trailers at all times & I can understand why.  We have room for a trailer, but the ground would Not support the weight!

We drove to Council Bluffs for dinner - it was so nice to have time together!  It had been spring - since Butch has been close enough to overnight at home.  He'll be returning shortly for the Thanksgiving holiday!

Hazy Day - Late Fall ~

 Today was another in a long string of beautiful fall days... If... you can ignore the lack of moisture, third year of drought & warmest October, now November on record.  I was looking forward to taking advantage of the warmth - to enjoy another afternoon ride on the trail.

At the trailhead by Happy Trails, two couples were saddling up to ride their ebikes.  One couple left ahead of me.  I left ahead of the second pair but kept an eye on my rearview mirror.  Soon, I was overtaken in a rush.

Farmer at work~

Happy to see then gone, it was such a beautiful afternoon.  The golden light of the late fall day, was just stunning.

Last of the color~

The last of the colorful leaves looked as though they were lit by invisible flood lights.  The backlighting from the sun highlighted the brilliant, bright orange.  

I hadn't gone far when up ahead, the group of now four ebikes were stopped in the middle of a bridge.  I slowed, hoping they'd move to the side.  They eventually looked up, saw me & did move out of the way.  Now, sadly they were behind me again & again I'd have to watch not to get run down.  It didn't take long & here they came full blast.  No attempt to slow to a reasonable pace as they went by.  I just got off & moved to the side & out of the way.

Just before the Trestle a group of four riders were coming from the south - fast!  Fast enough they were making a dust cloud of their own.  They closed the distance so quickly; I knew these too - had to be ebikes.  Sure enough, no slowing down as they flew past.

Shortly after - I recognized Mari Jo coming toward me.  We stopped on the Trestle for a short chat.  She had been passed by both groups & had noted too, the speeds these riders were traveling. 

Windy at the pond~

It was beautiful at the pond, but the wind had picked up.  I made my usual call to Butch, but didn't talk long, as I wasn't sure how much daylight I'd have left for my return trip.  

More dried weeds~

Riding back north - I was back to enjoying the quiet of the trail.  As the sun dropped lower in the southern sky, the colors became more intense.  By the time I arrived at the Trestle, I had to stop to enjoy the moment.

3:52 p.m. From the Trestle, Silver Creek

Low clouds had partially blocked the sun & turned Silver Creek, silver.  I felt good today, much better than I had on my Sunday ride.  I enjoy the countryside so much.  As I had just crossed a bridge, I checked my rearview mirror to see two of the ebikes right on top of me.  I cleared the bridge, then got off Smokey as they flew past.  They "thanked" me - but I don't think had a clue.  Maybe the polite thing to do would have been to slow down?!

Dust from the road~

Closer to Silver City, a gravel road parallels the trail for a mile or so.  I'd heard a car go by & looking up ahead, the dust was almost as thick as fog.  I waited for it to clear a little before riding through. 

Sunset~

I stopped again to admire the sunset.  All shades of browns & golds.  Continuing back to the Explorer, the last two ebikes returned after I did.  They began explaining to their friends how one of them had wiped out while crossing one of the gravel roads.  I wasn't at all surprised, considering the speeds they travel.  

During my ride, I'd seen eight ebikes & only two cyclists riding traditional bikes.  At this rate, those of us who enjoy a moderately paced, quiet ride will be outnumbered by inexperienced riders on electric motorized bikes, before we know it...  

Return to Lake Manawa~

 Have I mentioned how very dry it is?  Dry?!  Our temperatures are running 15 degrees above normal & no rain is expected at least into next week.  Today, instead of low to mid-50's our high was 69. I decided to ride the smooth trails at Lake Manawa.  I hadn't ridden there since the 2nd of July.

The trail to the park~

I parked at the Wabash Trailhead; the lot was close to being full.  I expected most of the traffic would be on the trail & I was correct.  I had a hard time motivating myself - I felt tired - probably due to the piles of leaves I've been raking off our trails.

Even the weeds are dry~

The textures & shades of brown & tan created by the dry weeds was beautiful in its own way.  It's strange to say but the dryness is getting on my nerves.  Here & there we get a gray day; I look at the sky & hope for the rain that doesn't come. I'm still watering my shrubs & trees.  When I do, I'm amazed they survive.  The soil is as hard as rock.

At the old campground~

I dread riding along the Veterans Memorial Hwy., but the traffic today wasn't bad & it's just a short distance.  I called Butch from the old campground.  He spent the holiday at the Iowa-80 Truck stop.  He had time in his scheduled dispatch to get in a 34-reset.  He was given a very nice Veteran's hat & $15. off his dinner at the restaurant.  He bought & installed a much louder horn on Maverick too!  The one the truck came with sounded like a horn on a passenger vehicle.  It would have disappointed the kids in town who always expect him to hit the horn as he goes by!  :-)

Across the lake to the Mid-American power plant~

At this point, I'm only five miles into the ride, so we didn't talk long.  Next was the long stretch along Indian Creek.  The wind was coming from the side, so not as bad as peddling into it.  

Marker at the Indian Creek Bridge~

I'd forgotten about all the new paving on the trail at the south end of the lake.  So nice & smooth!  Smokey flew along, we even got up to 16 mph on one section.  There were only a few riders out & closer to the campground, a few people walking.  

The Lake, looking across to Council Bluffs~

The gate was closed to my favorite stopping spot - so I had it to myself!  It had been a busy place every time I'd been by earlier this year.  It gets reserved for parties & each year it seems more people are using it.  As I started to sit down on the bench, I saw a folded potato chip package stuck between the boards of the seat.  Just disgusting for someone to take the time to fold it up & stick it there, rather than pack it out!  I looked down & the trash was the most plentiful ever.

Trash I picked up~

I used my empty snack bag, turned it inside out & picked up a plastic fork, two plastic straws, a glue stick, ribbon reel, cigarette buts, the potato chip bag, etc.  Soon the bag was full.  I took it to the dumpster on my way out.  Next time I'll bring a bigger bag.

The late afternoon beauty~

Leaving along my favorite section of the trails, I couldn't help but enjoy the beauty of the fall day.  Heading back, I had the trail to myself.  Once back at the Explorer I looked across at Tastee Treat, hopeful that they might still be open?  No, closed for the season. So much for that idea.  Back in Glenwood, I had a 30-min. wait to wash dust & dirt off the Explorer & Smokey.  One of the farmers had brought his tractor in to one of the two working bays - you can imagine how long that takes!

I made it quick with the Explorer!  The temperature was dropping, our nights are still getting down into the 30's.  I got home after the sun had set behind the woods.  The days are getting shorter by the minute!  Literally!

The Little Red Geranium ~

 The story of my red geraniums began in the early 90's.  (I can't seem to find the exact year.) On a drive through the neighboring community of Lake Stevens, I saw a small booth in front of a farm, with a sign offering flowers for sale.  (We'd moved to the Homestead just a couple years earlier.)  I've always loved shopping for plants & flowers.

March 1998 - "WA Misad Aswad"

The farm belonged to Bud & Jean Wronna.  Bud bred & raised beautiful Arabian horses.  He also sold his own brand of horse feed.  His black stallion Misad was the envy of everyone who'd seen him.  We enjoyed meeting Jean & I admired her gardens & green thumb.  Inside the small booth, two beautiful geraniums caught my eye.  One pink & one red.  Both had tiny tight blooms & the red one was the clearest red I'd ever seen. 

 

Jean explained that her sister had found them years before & liked them so well she wintered them over.  She had gifted Jean with cuttings, that had multiplied enough, for a few to be potted for sale.  One of them went home with me & soon the Wronna's became friends.  Our horses benefited from Bud's feeding program & we enjoyed some great camping trips to the beach.

September 1994~

The first photo I've found is the one above.  We'd just completed the greenhouse a year or so before.  (It acted as a temporary tack room too.)  The geranium is at the far-right bottom corner of the photo.

Over the years, I wintered over the plants from the previous season.  The greenhouse made it easy & by spring I'd have several new starts ready to go into pots.  They were easily my favorite & worth the effort to maintain.  I never considered it to be special, until a friend who had a greenhouse in the area saw it.  She was amazed at how pretty it was & looked to find the variety.  After many calls, she was totally unable to locate a grower or supplier.

By Spring of 2000, I had almost more plants than I knew what to do with!  Butch had brought home left-over landscaping rock from his project at Red Hook.  They were perfect for us to use along both sides of the creek, where it emerged from under the driveway.  The geraniums added a great touch of color.

Spring 2000, by the creek~

I also had them in pots along the privacy wall of our hot tub.  Over the years, I'd given both our daughters starts & one or two friends.  

August 2000

By the time we made our move to Iowa, the geraniums had to come too!  They made the trip as mature plants in the back of the Bronco, which was on top of the car hauler.  

Dec. 24, 2016

They spent the winter months on shelves in the south window of the craft room.  By Christmas Eve I even had blooms!  The first few years, I used them in larger pots of flowers & close to the house.  Later as I developed a flower bed along the woods, they thrived in the Iowa soil.  

As time went on & we set up the Cabin, I had plenty of room to increase the number of plants.  The back deck was the perfect place to harden them off, before moving them out into the yard.  Spring of 2022 all my starts had done so well, I had plenty of flowers for the yard!

6-6-2022

By last fall, I brought the best plants up to the house & potted them in 10" pots to winter over in the Cabin.

9-4-2022 Three of the six pots - ready for winter & still blooming!

I moved them inside just before the first hard freeze.  We'd bought a shelving unit to set in front of the sliding doors on the south side of the Cabin.  They'd have plenty of light through the winter.  

January was a very difficult month...  We lost Nika.  Shortly after, I walked into the Cabin one morning to find my geraniums frozen to death...  We'd had a succession of very cold nights.  It was as frigid inside, as outside... (I had inadvertently hit the outlet where the heat was plugged in a couple days before.)  My poor flowers were so freeze dried the leaves crumbled.  I cut off all the stems & left the pots inside, but there was no recovery.  

I didn't even say anything to the girls.  I hadn't asked either of them if they still had plants from the one's I'd given them years ago.  I couldn't imagine they did.  I looked everywhere on-line & called every nursery I could think of to see if any were available.  None were...

9-25-23 Shock & Awe!

In September, I was browsing Facebook & found where daughter Courtney had posted photos of the flowers on her back deck.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing!  It was a photo of my geranium!  I couldn't call her fast enough!  She was shocked to hear she was now the only person - anywhere - we know of - with this variety.  Her flowers had a banner year & she had not just one, but at least three plants!  

10-5-2023 Heading home!

The only remaining question, was how to get a plant to me?  As luck would have it, Butch received a dispatch going to WA.  Courtney, Mason & Cassidy drove up to North Bend to meet Papa.  The little red geranium was transferred into Butch's hands for the drive back to IA.

10-8-2023 Butch arrives home!

Butch made it home the day before our anniversary & even brought me a flower!  At the top of the stem was the little red bloom!  It was undoubtedly the most beautiful flower he has ever given me!  He said it was very stressful task - being sure the little plant arrived alive & healthy!

10-16-2023 The start of the next generation!

I can't say how very much I appreciate our daughter diligently keeping the start I gave her all those years ago - alive & thriving!  Thanks to her green thumb & kindness to her mother, the next generation of my geranium will again be growing at the Home Place. 

More November Sunshine ~

 Now that Happy Trails is closed for the season, Mari Jo has time to ride.  With the time change, I decided to leave home 30-min. early for Silver City.  I was pulling into town just as Mari Jo was ready to leave.  Perfect timing.  We both commented on the great weather as we started out, but the super dry conditions are so obvious everywhere.  

Mari Jo & the bikes~

Mari Jo, as usual set a good pace, she dropped it down a bit for my benefit.  I feel very lucky to be able to continue to ride the distances I do.  Mari Jo said I might consider, more, shorter rides.  I might - if I were closer to the trail.  But I also enjoy being out longer than a short ride would take.  The feeling of working until I'm physically tired is something of an addiction.  Whether it's from riding a horse, working in the woods, mowing, or riding a bike. I've always looked for a way to burn my excess energy.

Creek~

Being able to physically withstand the activity, of whatever type will eventually be the limiting factor.  My last accident has tried to slow me down the most.  Mari Jo mentioned my left ankle doesn't flex as I peddle anymore.  At least my foot stays on the peddle!

Wide Angle of the Trestle~

A somewhat eerie afternoon, only one farmer out in his field on a tractor.  A huge cloud of dust giving away his position long before we saw him.  Most of the fields have been cleared already.  The moisture content of the crops isn't ideal.

2:08 p.m. Silver Creek~

We made good time going to Malvern & stopped at the Depot for a short break.  It ended up being a little longer, it had been a while since we'd had time to chat.  We were back on the bikes & heading north as the sun moved lower in the sky.

3:33 p.m. From the Trestle~

By the time we'd returned to the trestle, the day definitely had the look of an early fall evening. In Silver City, Mari Jo split for home.  I returned to the Explorer.  Once home, I was amazed at how quick dusk came & dark followed!  Now - we've moved into the shorter daylight hours of fall, like it or not.

A Change of Time ~

 The last day of Daylight Savings time...  I look forward to moving back to Standard time & wish every year the powers that be would leave time alone!  I'd been hoping to get an afternoon out on the trail.  Another busy two-weeks had gone by!  Today looked perfect.

A beauty of day~

I drove to Silver City, it was quieter than I expected, no cars in the parking area by Happy Trails.  The trail had changed yet again.  The leaves crunched under Smokey's tires; the light was filtered through what was left of the leaves still on the trees.

Healthy tree - cut down~

I hadn't gone far from town, when a newly cut tree drew my attention.  It had been a big, beautiful, healthy tree.  It's mistake I think, was to grow too close to the edge of a cultivated field...  With so few trees here, seeing a nice one cut is sad.

Limbs from the tree, Smokey on the trail~

The trail also has so much deadfall, if someone needed firewood, there would be plenty to gather without cutting another.  What do I know?  The afternoon was just stunning.  Sunshine filtered through the low hanging cloud layer, with only an occasional light breeze.

A trickle of water in the creek~

There is just a little water flowing in the small tributaries.  But when I arrived at the Trestle, the water level in Silver Creek was the lowest yet.  I could see the bottom all the way both up & down stream.

On the trestle~

My favorite kind of day, I took my time & enjoyed being out in the quiet & now open countryside.  I rode on to the park & sat at my usual spot to call Butch.  If not for a long delay waiting for a trailer in Kansas City - he would have had time to spend last night at home...  Instead, he had pulled into Omaha this morning, picked up a load & spent the day crossing the state of Iowa.  He was nearing the I-80 truck stop in Walcott.  

Since the days are getting shorter - I didn't stay too - long before starting back.  The Canadian Geese are gone & the sidewalks around the pond are much cleaner for it!

Green grass, blue sky~

I'd only seen four riders on my way south.  It was so nice to have the trail mostly to myself.  As the temperatures drop & days shorten - I still hope to get in more riding.  Of course, there's plenty of work to do at home yet.  Leaves to rake, blow & mow etc.  I also have branches from the summer winds to burn.

Trestle, looking north~

The light this time of year is so beautiful.  It's easy to peddle along & immerse myself in the rythm of the wheels.  Not quite the same as the sound of hoofbeats, but as close as I can come.  I think of Farah often in the fall months.  That was when we did some of our favorite riding - both in WA & here in IA.

Smokey & sunset~

The sun was setting fast to the SW & a golden glow fell over the landscape. I'd dropped my speed by just a mile-an-hour.  By the time I'd returned to Silver City, I didn't feel as tired as usual & enjoyed the ride more. 

5:18 p.m. Sunset at home~

As I was walking Smokey back to the Cabin, the sun was just dropping behind the trees of the woods.  The bird feeder is just down the hill, from the Cabin. I've caught the neighbor's cats (at least three) stalking the birds almost every day.  When they're not tearing into the trash at the rental house, they come here. I finally resorted to chasing them off with the leaf blower. 

The birds were chattering at me.  I looked at the feeder & sure enough, it was almost empty.  The minute I'd filled it & I'd walked away - it became a very busy place again.  The Downey Woodpecker arrives first, but once he's flown away, the little Black Capped Chickadee's take over!  

When I came in to download my stats, I was just over a mile shy of 600-miles for the year.  Lower than last year, but still respectable for me.  Hopefully the weather will hold for a while yet.

New Company, New Country & a Volvo...

 Butch flew into Omaha from WA on Wed. the 25th.  After lunch, we drove past Nationwide on our way home.

Entrance~

Seeing the line of Freightliner's all with "Ready" tags in the windows.  There were a couple nice Volvo's too.

Several Freightliners~

Early Monday morning, Butch began his orientation at Nationwide.  Everyone was friendly & he was introduced to the staff & toured the shop, before spending most of the day with the usual videos.  Later, he moved trailers.  Home that evening, I learned he was assigned a Volvo VNL860.  

Maverick comes home~

He had driven the Volvo while he was moving trailers & liked it.  His second day at orientation, was spent learning the company specific ELD system & going over the truck.  I enjoyed the full tour when he brought Maverick home for the first time on Tuesday.  What was left of the afternoon we spent loading some of his things into the truck.  It has a nice table, which Traveler didn't have & a large refrigerator.  

Great color!

The inside was roomy, with just a few small items to fix on the interior.  This truck is a 2022 & has the lowest mileage of any he's driven.  On my first ride, when we left to pick up Butch's Ford, the first thing I noticed was the smooth ride, even bobtailing.  A good thing!

My ride view~

I always enjoy the view from the semis!  The gates at Nationwide were just closing when we arrived.  I drove Butch's truck & followed him back home.  He had his first dispatch & would be leaving at 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Maverick, back home, evening~

Butch was out of the house & on his way to pick up a trailer early.  I didn't hear from him again until later in the morning.  I received a text saying he was back at the shop?!  He had picked up the trailer, picked up his load, gone to scale & had fault codes lighting up the dash.  He called dispatch & was told to return.

Mileage as Butch took the keys - 239,496.

Back at the shop, they found a couple issues that were quickly resolved.  Butch was by now, late getting on his way to IN. Maverick's governor is set at 68, with cruise control at 70.  He was used to Travelers 76 mph & zipping along out west.  He mentioned it would take him a while to get used to the differences. 

By the end of yesterday's drive, he was within a short distance of his first delivery.  He had passed four trucks!  Two getting off on an exit ramp & two more actually slower than Maverick. :-)   As of this morning, he mentioned the bed was larger, but he'll add his foam mattress pad when he's home again.  The seat is more comfortable, which he appreciated.

As of this afternoon, he'd made his first delivery, picked up another load & was on his way to Kansas.  Giving up Traveler - for what we hope is more home time, is more of a change than I expected.  He had waited for quite a while for a good truck.  We'll see if Maverick stands the test of time & miles...