First Ride of November ~

 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.

Cannondale SmartSense Garmin Varia Rear Facing Radar~

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.