The End of May ~

Another perfect day!  I vacuumed the Bronco & loaded my bike on the OutfitR bike rack for the first time.  It was easier than I anticipated, but getting the front wheel over the bar at the back of the front wheel basket was trickly.  The rack itself is a breeze to drop into place, much easier than the pin on our old rack that was always hard to pull out.

I drove to Silver City.  The sign was gone from Happy Trails.  The building looked so drab without it.  There were two cars with bike racks there when I arrived.

A farmer at work~

I couldn't wait to get out on the trail.  We've had such beautiful days this month, I'll be sorry to see the heat & humidity start to climb as we approach the summer months.  When I heard the tractor & saw the spray, I hurried to get upwind.  

The trail~

Riding the trail is like being enveloped in a sea of green!  With an occasional cloud blocking the sun & the light filtering through the leaves, it was perfection. There were a few sections where there was a scattering of green leaf litter on the trail surface & the Walnuts are dropping their flowers.  

Huge old Mulberry~

I was so sorry to see the huge mulberry tree had been uprooted.  We'd had a lot of wind, but it would have taken a big gust to take down a tree this size.  

Just a mile or so further I recognized a rider coming my direction.  Mari Jo!  It had been forever since we'd seen each other.  We stopped & must have spent over half an hour catching up.  Mari Jo had exciting news, the Happy Trails building has sold.  She & Hobie have a new RV & plan to do some traveling.  We're hoping to ride together soon.  

On the Trestle~

I continued on & stopped for a few minutes on the Trestle.  I'd left Finn at home & even though I was sure he was taking a nap, I planned to return about my usual time.

Silver creek was running smooth & quiet ~

This route is so familiar to me, I enjoy every mile.  There was one RV camping at the pond.  The mowing was just finished & the area is always such a pleasant place to stop.  I took my break & called Butch.  It's hard to make the change from having him home, to having him gone, even after over three years.

Boehner Pond~

There are those days when Iowa has such a feeling of deep richness.  I wasn't far north of the pond when a spot of bright white drew my attention!  There were just a few blooms, I didn't remember seeing this flower before.   

Canada Anemone ~

At home, I looked up images & identified it as Canada Anemone.  I would love to find seeds & try starting them at home.

My favorite winter view in the late spring~

One of the top ten days of this year, we had several this month.  The texture of the growing crop of soy looks like a shag carpet.

Last blooms of the Phlox~

The clouds looked a little like rain as I made the trip back, but I only felt one sprinkle.  We're hopeful for the forecast rain in the next few days.  We're at least 3" below normal for the year.

Traveling north~

About two miles out of town, I stopped again to admire the wide-open fields. I know I couldn't live anywhere that wasn't green, at least part of the year.

Iowa view~

Back in town, I loaded Shadow & headed home.  When I unlocked the front door, my guard dog started barking ferociously!  I told him what a great job he had done, sleeping in my chair.  The one he's not supposed to be in, while I was gone :-)