First Ride of 2024

 Here it was, the last day of the month of January & I was determined to get in a ride!  Reviews were mixed as to the condition of the trails.  One of my ongoing ride goals is to get in at least One ride every month of the year.  Well...  I made it on the last day! 

My choice is always Lake Manawa's hard surface trails for the wet winter months.  There are other trails in the metro area, but I don't ride roads etc.  Where the trail goes along the busy streets isn't any fun, but there is a wide sidewalk. 

Under Interstate 29~

A train of oil cars was moving slowly under the Interstate.  The wind was blowing toward me, which it always seems to be along here.  I'd parked at the trail head in Council Bluffs.  The E South Omaha Bridge Road was a mess.  Snow from the road was partially covering the sidewalk/trail.  It was sloppy wet, with road grime on everything.  It was a relief when I turned off the road & onto the trail along Mosquito creek.  The full sun had melted the trail clear.

Mid-American Coal Plant~

From there, the trail turns under the rail track & skirts the power plant.  Not too much farther, I turn again & ride along Veterans Memorial Highway.  I cut off that & go through the old campground.  I wasn't sure I'd get through, but I could see enough of it was clear & decided to try.

Snow drifts melting in the old campground~

The drifts were at the south end of the area.  

What's left of the drifts~

Since I could see an end to it, I went ahead & walked through.  By the time I was on the Indian Creek trail, I was glad to close to the southern end of the park.

Indian Creek Bridge~

It was a stunningly beautiful afternoon.  The wind had died down a little, so I didn't have to work as hard as I'd expected.  

The pretty part!

Crossing the bridge & riding onto the southern trail that was re-paved last year, was Grand!  Well worth the miles of riding to get here.

On the way to the lake~

I always cut off & take the road to the lake.  Someone had cleared a narrow section of the trail in the shaded area.  It made it rideable, which I was grateful for.

"My" favorite break spot~

"My spot" has been closed for the season.  I walk around the gate & sit out on the bench before continuing on.  I was sad to see the big old Cottonwoods are being cut down.  They were as straggly as most of the Cottonwoods are - but I had to wonder why they're being cut.  I'll miss them.

Smokey by the frozen lake~

The lake was still frozen over, two ice fishermen walked out just as I was leaving.  I would not have gone out on that ice, but I'm sure they know the lake better than I do.  

My Route

On my way back, I was passed by two men riding ebikes.  Both many years my junior!  By the time I had returned to the Explorer, I'd gone 14-miles & was feeling every single one!  Nothing like the first ride of the season to make me feel all the aches & pains!  With decent weather forecast for next week, I'll have to continue to motivate myself to do it again!  

Blue Skies & Sunshine!

 The last time we'd seen the sun was Saturday the 20th of the month.  From Sunday, until yesterday afternoon at 2:42 p.m. we'd had six straight days of gray skies, cold temperatures & fog.  It seemed to be the longest stretch of gray I can remember to date.  When the sun finally broke through - it was a Haleigha moment!

North from Malvern~

The sky was crystal clear last night & the temperature dropped down to 18.  All the snow on the ground froze again.  This morning though, things warmed quickly.  After lunch, Finn & I drove to Malvern to get in a walk on the trail.  

Parked at the Depot~

I'd planned to park at the pond but had forgotten the area is closed until March first.  I ended up leaving from the Depot.  Even with all the gravel, it was soft & mucky.  I carried Finn over to the hard surface.

Finn hears something~

Finn loves the snow, especially since the temperature has climbed above freezing.  He was out in the backyard this morning, running around on top of the frozen crust.  These past several days would warm just enough to keep the snow at a slow melt.  It was the texture of a slushy - slippery & wet.

Soon to fill with houses~

We hadn't been on the trail since the 7th, when we'd gone out with Mari Jo & Gracie.  We walked at home, but slogging through the deep snow wasn't much fun.  We were moving right along when Finn came to a sudden stop!  He was looking further down the trail at something.

Finn's new friends :-)

I picked out what had caught his attention!  A snowman family!  It was sure cute the way he looked at the faces.  He checked out & sniffed each one before moving on.

Corn Stubble in the fields~

It was a simply stunning day!  This is about the earliest in the year I've returned to this section of the trail.  The roads are still a sloppy mess & most nights all the water from the on-going melt re-freezes.

Windswept Snow~

We could both walk out on the crust of the snow in the field above.  Even with the upcoming 40-degree days, it's going to take a while for all of it to melt off.  We turned back at Jahnke Road, but the trail had been plowed further & was as very wet.  I've got to hope no one is trying to ride on it.  Walking on the soft limestone is treacherous enough.

Trail entrance to the park~

The concrete walk to the picnic shelter hadn't been plowed, since the park is closed anyway.  People do walk in from the trail. It's a beautiful spot - any time of year.

Frozen, low pond~

Finn & I walked in to get a photo of the pond.  The water level is still a long way from recovering, after another dry summer.  I like to think all the snow has helped, which it has.  But seeing this makes me realize how much more moisture we need.

Below, we're almost back to the depot.  Heartland keeps an anhydrous tank off to the right & equipment on both sides of the trail.  Agriland, where Butch used to work, is just a way down the road.  By the time we returned to the Explorer, we'd walked three miles round trip. If we'd gone to the end of the concrete just south, we might have gained another 1/2 mile.  I remembered my Garmin today.  Finn has 16 trail miles so far :-)

Small spot of red to the left is the Explorer~

 I haven't been on my bike since December 7th.  A combination of freezing cold temps & snow.  Last year by the end of January, I'd managed four rides at Lake Manawa & one short unsuccessful attempt on the trail.  In February, I also made four rides there.  I've said it before - each year can bring totally different weather patterns - or so it seems.

It was great to feel the warmth of the sun & walk out in the country. With the weather warming this week, I think most of the snow will be clear around the State Park, so I hope to get Smokey's wheels going round & round soon!

Our Little Ice Age~

Watching the noon news today, the weatherman used the term Little Ice Age to describe our streak of bitterly cold weather, wind & snow.  It feels like an ice age!  This all started with sleet & a wet snow Saturday the 6th. The temperature was mild compared to what's followed.  Low 20's warming to 30 degrees in the afternoon.

1-6 In the Beginning

I don't think anyone expected this would lead to days & days of even more bitter cold. December had been deceptively mild & the long-range forecast was for a milder than average month of January.  The following day, the snow started again; cold, light & wind driven.

1-8 Another dusting~

By the 9th, another four inches added to what was already on the ground.  A frozen mix of sleet & snow that adhered to everything.  Especially cars, walkways etc. 

1-9 My day's work~

On the 10th, another inch of light power came in during the early morning & by early afternoon, sunshine!  It was beautiful - sticking the branches of the trees & creating a fairyland effect.   Our high was 24 degrees, but surprisingly - there was a tiny bit of melting.

1-10 Wonderland of white~

The 12th - the blizzard blew in. The winds were ferocious out of the north & west. The snow was so light, the wind blew it everywhere! Drifts started forming & the roads were impassable. Everything was covered again.  I'd had both driveways shoveled clear before this latest blast. I'd also set out reflector poles to mark where the drives started & stopped. As I watched from the office window, a city snowplow came down the street with blade full & deposited it all long our side of the street.  This totally blocked both driveways with a new berm over three feet high.  

1-12 No access to a plowed street now!

It was now impossible for me to get the Bronco out.  My go-to vehicle in this kind of weather.  Across the way is a wide city easement, with no driveways at all.  I sent an email to the city.  I appreciate the work the plows do to keep the roads open, but living on the corner can be a headache. 

1-13 No driveway in sight~

The wind driven snow continued for several hours, but the sun returned the following day.  With it, more of the bitter cold.  Zero degrees all night & when the wind came up, we dropped to -2.  It was a world of untracked white. I was back to shoveling & shoveling.  Just getting off the front porch & through the drift there was tough.  Next - clearing down just one side of the driveway!  The drifts got even deeper the closer to the road I shoveled.

1-14 Off the porch & on to the driveway!

No one would have known & I'd had all this completely clear just a few days ago. It didn't take me long to realize I would not be moving all that snow on my own!  I called a friend who gave me the number of the person she used to clear her driveway.  Lucky for me - he agreed to come that night. 

1-16 Drive open again~

 It was -17 all night, warming to -6 by midmorning.  Being outside for any length of time at all was miserable.  Even with two pair of gloves, my fingers went numb.

The woods~

The woods were beautiful!  Untracked by even a bunny going through.  The few deer I knew had browsed their way into the marsh area.  My poor little white pine was again eaten.  This time, about to the ground.  I'm going to have to give up on it.

1-16 Cardinal at the Feeder~

The birds are spending hours at my two feeders!  The first time I trucked my way along the west fence through the drifts, to fill the feeders, the snow was up to my knees.  I came back up the hill with my muck boots full of snow.  It's so worth it to have the entertainment from the Cabin's sliding door.  

Woodpecker, Cardinal & smaller birds on the ground~

Several times now I've had as many as six male Cardinals at one time, along with two or three females.  The Downey Woodpecker hangs from the bottom & scatters seed to the ground where the Black-Capped Chickadees & other small birds take advantage!  

1-16 South side of the Cabin~

The north side of the Cabin was swept clean by the winds that deposited all the snow on & around the Bronco!  The south side had three-foot drifts.  I now have most of this cleaned up & Finn can walk from the house to the Cabin without disappearing into a drift!  

Yesterday, Wednesday I ran into a couple of friends at the grocery.  We stood outside in the welcome sunshine talking.  We decided that 20 degrees, (the temperature yesterday) is now the new 60! :-)  Funny how your perception of cold changes after a few days in the negative digits!

1-18 Almost noon~

Today, we're back to gray & cloud cover with another storm on the horizon.  The sun does keep trying to burn through!  Even more bitter cold over the weekend with a Saturday high of 1 degree & low of -15.  By 8 a.m. our feels like could be -25... again!  I'm thankful we don't live further north!  Next week is the promise of warmer temperatures!  30's will feel like heaven!

Howlin'!

 After a week of snow most every day - today - Winter storm Gerri arrived!

Today - Non-stop blasting winds~

Yesterday was anti-climactic. The sun actually came out for a few minutes & we had 16 for our daytime high. Originally, we thought the snow was scheduled to start, but no!  It wasn't until late last evening the wind driven snow came blasting in.  I've spent the week shoveling snow.  It took a couple days to dig us out from the snow we received on the 9th.  I finished the drive to the Cabin yesterday afternoon.

1-9-24, Frozen sleet under the snow~

The frozen sleet made it almost impossible to clean off the Explorer.  I eventually got it to the point where I could get in & start it up - heat blasting.  Early afternoon, the sun came out & we actually had some melting, even though the temperature hovered at 20.

1-9-24 The woods 4:14 p.m. 

By late afternoon, Finn & I got in our walk & went over to the Cabin.  Even though I had the walkways clear, Finn would jump up into the piles of snow!  

This morning, with the winds gusting to over 45-mph, I had to go out to clear the steps off the deck.  I removed some of the over two feet of snow that had blown in between the steps & the house.  The blowing snow hit me in the face & felt like tiny pieces of sand.  With the feel's like in the -20's my cheeks were frozen in no time.  

The deck, after I'd removed 4" of blown in snow...

I'd left the back door cracked open, in the hope Finn would take it upon himself to come out.  I'd just gotten the deck cleaned off when he ran out!  He jumped off the last step & went right into the big snowdrift on the side of the hill!  He disappeared under the snow, but I could follow his progress as he tunneled down the hill to the solar panels!  Even with the wind, the snow there is only a few inches deep & he took advantage of that.  

I did what I could to clear him an area, but before I was done, here he came, back up the steepest & deepest part of the hill!  He managed to keep his nose above the snow!  He reached me, shook & ran for the door!  Talk about a tough guy!  

The Cabin~

I took the photo above from the west bedroom window.  Even through my heavy gloves, my fingers were numb by the time I was done.  The snow is to let up later today, but then the temperatures drop even more.  We're supposed to go below zero tonight & even lower until Tue. of next week!  

The smart thing to do~

So, if you're smart, you curl up in your little bed, by the oil heater & go to sleep!  The wind is roaring outside, the snow is flying by the windows & we're all hoping the power stays on! 

Before the Storm~

 After the sunshine of New Year's Day & the following two days, the gray returned Thursday & Friday.  By Saturday, we had our first dusting of snow.  It seemed colder than it was, since the snow was so wet.  

1-6-24  It begins~

Sunday, the sun appeared again.  It felt cold though, the temperature hovering around 30 degrees.  I called Mari Jo & told her we'd be over for a walk.  Finn is always so happy to see Gracie, I wonder if he lived with other dogs in his other life?  When we pulled into park, he couldn't jump out of the car fast enough to greet Gracie.  Gracie was more interested in the cookie she knew I'd have - than Finn!

Mari Jo, Gracie, already dirty & Finnigan

The concrete portion of the trail we walk, was a combination of snow covered, slick, wet & in a few places dry.  Gracie's beautiful white fur coat was dirty in a matter of minutes.  Finn too - sported plenty of mud.  (This was going to make it fun to get him clean before putting him in his new car seat!)

Alpaca's - 

I had to stop to get a photo of my friend Gene's Alpaca's!  He & his wife have always had a couple horses in this pasture, but earlier this year, the Alpaca's appeared.  Mari Jo thinks they have a total of five.  Not livestock you see often in Iowa!

Our turn-around point~

To make just over a full mile going north, we walk the last bit on the limestone.  From this point on through - if there's any snow at all - it covers the trail most of the way to Mineola.  Our sunshine started to disappear too...  High clouds were rolling in & the temperature was dropping.  The walk back was colder than when we started.

Finnigan & Gracie~

Gracie is always attentive to what I'm doing when we stop.  She knows I have those cookies in my pocket.  At one point she used a paw to bat Finn across his nose when he got in her way! :-)  He doesn't care, he likes her anyway.

He's now decided - the thing to do - is bark like a madman at some people who are on the trail!  Especially if it's a bike going by too fast!  There was one man out on a fat tire bike who whizzed up behind us with very little warning & didn't bother to slow down.  Mari Jo mentioned all the barking wasn't good "trail manners", but I see it as such an improvement from the days he was terrified of everyone.

My little tough guy~

He's so much more self-confident!  He owns our place now & lets me know when the Amazon man approaches the front porch!  He didn't let out a sound for weeks after I brought him home.  It was only just before Christmas that he barked for the first time.  So smart - he's very responsive to my tone of voice & likes to please.  We need to work on manners & training.  I'd like to be outside to do it though.  Inside the house is home - a place for him to relax - not train.

January is looking to be a bear of a month this year.  We're to drop into the single digits for days in a row with a possibility of a feels like of -26 over the weekend.  I have one word for it... Burr!

Finnigan's Agility Equipment Arrives!

 Today dawned gray & cold - in the 20's with a nice breeze taking the feels like temperatures into the teens!  There's a possibility of snow for the weekend.  From the long-range forecast, we'll see the teens for daytime highs before mid-month.

We returned home yesterday, to find a big box from Mighty Equipped on the front porch!  As I picked it up, the entire side of the box came apart & poles were sticking out. This morning I finished opening the box & found the parts sheet.  (When Butch was home over New Year's - he mentioned something about having Finn around was like having another child!  Toys are everywhere! :-)

Finn with his new booster seat & box with his agility set!

I started sorting through & counting all the blue & yellow pieces.  Thankfully - everything was there!  It looks easy to put together.  Now, we just have to wait for warmer weather, so we can set it up in the yard.

I have help!

Finn was very interested & thought it looked like fun :-)  

Everything fit in the bag!

I used zip locks for the small parts & all the pieces fit into the bag that was included with the kit.

My supervisor~

Soon though - my supervisor - was sound asleep in his new booster seat for the Explorer!  When I woke him up breaking down the box, below was the look I got.  

Nap time interrupted!

Last night I watched the Netflix movie Benji.  It was very cute & Finn says the dog sounds were authentic!  I didn't realize until I did some reading, that Benji had been rescued from a shelter before he became an actor.  With the cold days of January ahead, I'm just glad I have this little guy to keep me company.  There's not a day he doesn't make me laugh!