Wednesday the 30th, the day started with morning clouds so black, it was almost as dark as night. As Finn & I left mat making it had started to rain. It was raining so hard I had the wipers on the Explorer going full blast! By early afternoon, the rain had eased up. Early evening the sky was full of lightening & rolls of thunder followed.
Halloween morning we'd received 1.6" of rain! It was like waking to a brand-new world! The air was so fresh you could almost feel nature breathing a huge sigh of relief. The streets had been washed clean of all the dirt & mess from the private sewer project! No dust! Fresh air! I opened all the windows for the first time since early September. After a trip for groceries, Finn & I walked to visit Doris. We hadn't taken a walk (besides at home) for a long time. Finn remembered the way! The injections I'd had on the 25th in my knees & ankles have allowed me to walk with a normal stride for the first time in months.
 |
| Lake Manawa trails~ |
By Friday the first - I was ready for a ride! I expected the Wabash would be at the least soft, so I decided on Lake Manawa. It was a stunning, perfect day! I couldn't believe my luck, no one was at the park! No one on the trails & no other cars in the parking area.
 |
| Along E. Manawa Drive~ |
The area to the west of E. Manawa drive that had been planted fields, is now stripped & under construction. A housing development of some type, I'm sure. I was so sorry to see all the trees along the irrigation canal taken down & piled up.
 |
| Stripped vegetation~ |
I move right along on this section before I have a busy intersection to cross at the light. I turn west & ride another not so favorite section along Veterans Memorial Hwy. I turn left at Tractor Supply & go just about a half block before turning onto Wright Rd. A nice quiet little road with a well-marked bike path along the edge of the golf course. When I reach S.11th, I cut around the gate & ride through the campground. Another blocked access puts me back on the sidewalk along the Hwy. It's just a short way until I drop down to the Indian Creek trail. This is a ride where I really appreciate Shadow's radar detection.
As a car comes up behind me, the top light on the display turns from green to orange. At the same time a white light appears at the bottom as the radar picks up a car. As the car approaches closer, the light moves up the display until it reaches the top. At that point the vehicle has passed me. If there's a string of cars coming, each one has a light moving up the display.
 |
| Cottonwood in the campground~ |
The campground is such a peaceful place. It's the perfect respite from the noise & traffic I've just ridden past. It's where I saw a coyote a couple years ago.
 |
| View from the north end of the Lake~ |
It's a beautiful view from the north end, which is near the west entrance to the park. You can see S. Shore Drive in the photo. Very narrow & no shoulder, not where I'd be comfortable riding.
 |
| Indian Creek Bridge & trail~ |
There was very little wind today, just fresh air & the welcome smell of moisture. After over 600 miles on this bike, I've finally adjusted to it. Today, I didn't even have to think about what gear I was using, it came naturally.
 |
| My favorite spot on the lake~ |
So many of the old cottonwoods were cut out of here last year. It looks barren to me now, but I'm thankful they left a few. The road (closed to auto's) I ride to reach this spot, circumnavigates a small area of housing. It seems any open space is eroded away by development as the years go by.
 |
| Raptor~ |
I took my break on the bench & admired the amazing day. Movement caught my attention. I looked way up in the largest Cottonwood left along the shore, to see the big bird in the photo above. He was enjoying the day & the quiet as much as I was. When he flew off, I couldn't believe the size of his wingspan! He was much larger than he'd appeared.
 |
| The way back~ |
I watched as he flew to the north, toward the Missouri, then started back. The days are already getting shorter & once we suffer through another time change, afternoons will shorten even more! Again, I remind myself I've said for several years, November is my favorite month in Iowa. Cool temperatures, less wind, no bugs & the last of fall's golden colors.
