After chilly but sunny weekend, Monday too, dawned with stellar blue skies & sunshine. The temperature climbed close to 60 degrees, before the wind blew in the clouds. A blizzard is expected tomorrow night with wind gusts up to 50-60 mph & possibly 70 mph.
Finn & I had walked the Wabash Trace from Boehner Pond on Sunday & noticed the limestone was dry. My plan was to be ahead of the incoming weather & enjoy a ride on the trail for the first time since late last November.
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| Leaving from the pond~ |
It was like a switch had flipped, by early afternoon the sky was slate gray, covered in clouds & the wind was even heavier than it had been at home. I decided I'd ride from the pond, to the trestle & see how it went from there.
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| Water & still some ice in the creek~ |
It was just so great to be back out in the countryside! The air was super fresh & the wind was at my back as I rode North. As I made my way along the very familiar trail, suddenly I noticed it was brighter than the rest of the tree lined route had been.
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| So much for trail easement~ |
Along this section, the easement had been heavily cleared for quite a long section. The old t-posts below had been pulled out & the plowing had extended at least twenty feet into the easement. There was no sign of the barbed wire.
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| T-posts from the fence making the trail easement boundary~ |
If I've noticed one thing about Iowa, it's that farmers do put to use every tiny bit of land they can. In this instance, it's hard to believe after all the years the trail has been here, the fence was in the wrong place. Beyond this section, the plowing went back along where it had traditionally been.
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| Shadow on the trail, from the freshly plowed up easement~ |
When I walked up the short hill to the field, I could see cut roots, limbs & small stumps sticking up out of the freshly plowed earth. Every windstorm, when trees along the trail come down it's so sad. During the summer months, it's those trees & the honeysuckle that provide the shade. It takes forever here, for a tree to grow to decent size. (Mom was always so amazed, when she visited us in WA, at how fast the trees we'd planted, grew.)
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| Silver creek on a slate gray day~ |
As I approached the Trestle, I was apprehensive, checking out all the surrounding trees to see if the game cameras were back. Even after an extensive search with my binoculars, I couldn't find any. So, at least for this first ride, privacy was restored to me, the Trestle & trail.
Progress started last year, with the replacement of the decking & side rails on the two trestle bridges North & South of Malvern. Both were in need of repairs. Later toward Fall,
LED lights ("That can be moderated to minimize impact on wildlife".) were installed on the trestle over Silver Creek. These lights change color & are meant to be become a trail
attraction.
A November ride last year, I noticed
game cameras had been strapped to the trees at each end of the bridge. When I asked about the cameras, I was told they were to monitor the lights. (Since game cameras are activated by movement within their range, every rider going across the bridge would be photographed.) This felt like such a violation of privacy. Both to the serenity of the trail & the peaceful experience of the trail users. I responded by mentioning if the bridge was now going to be under surveillance, then a sign noting that, should also be posted.
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| Last bridge before Silver City~ |
I was having such a great ride, I continued on to the edge of Silver City. It's not going to seem the same, with the Happy Trails shop now closed permanently. From here I turned back & faced South, into the wind! The wind was really gusting & when a gust combined with an uphill grade I shifted into turbo & 10th gear to maintain 12 mph. One car came along on the gravel road that parallels a section of trail & the dust was incredible! It was a reminder of how badly we still need moisture!
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| Countryside~ |
This is one of my very favorite views & it only happens in the winter when the fields are down & the trees devoid of leaves. Slate gray, it was an amazingly beautiful winter day! Not a hint of green anywhere, yet!
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| Entering Boehner Pond Park~ |
Back at the park, the wind hadn't let up at all. There was no doubt a storm was brewing somewhere & coming our way. I was still the only one there & really appreciate the park remaining open this season. With the storm coming, the trail will be covered in snow again soon. Riding the trail in March is always uncertain, so I was happy to have enjoyed it at least once so far this month!
