Smokey & Cooler ~

Ready to leave from Silver City~

 The first of August, already!  As you can tell, what would have been a perfect day, was enveloped in heavy smoke from the fires in Canada.  Even so, I didn't want to let a day without the usual heat & humidity go by without getting in a ride.

View to the west~

Once I was on the trail, the smoke wasn't noticeable.  It was more like a day with cloud cover.  At the open area's though - the smoke was all too obvious.  I could see through it to clouds above & the sun kept trying to burn though.

Damage from our last wind~

June & July gave us a few days of terrific winds.  This widowmaker was a Walnut limb.  The trail volunteers have to wait for it to come down, before they tackle cutting & removing it.  At least it's still high enough to ride under.

The Walnut Cathedral~

The Walnuts here were undamaged & as beautiful as ever.  It was a very quiet day on the trail.  When the fields are planted, the animals don't lack for cover.  No visitors on the trail, just the squirrels' gathering the fallen walnuts.

Silver Creek~

At the trestle I stopped, as I'm so used to doing, to take a photo.  Then...  I remembered my photo was being taken by the game camera.  I was furious I'd forgotten, too busy enjoying the day & too used to the routine of stopping here.  I left quickly & as I did, spotted the second camera on a tree at the south end.  I won't be riding here nearly as often or stopping on the trestle anymore.

Boehner Pond, someone got stuck~

The north end of the pond is in the photo above.  I think it must have been a riding mower that managed to get too close to the edge of the water & got stuck.  It had to have taken a car or truck to get it pulled out.  What a mess.  I bet the mower was a mess too by the time it was back on dry land. 

It was nice to see a few people camping.  Three kids were riding their bikes on the sidewalk around the pond & probably made at least five loops!  The youngest boy had an unplanned dismount but got back on & kept peddling!

Shadow at the covered picnic spot~

The tree to the left with the green trunk, is covered with poison ivy vine.  I hope whoever is taking care of the landscape notices & gets it removed.  I made a loop around the pond before I left & spooked a beautiful Great Blue Heron!  I wish I'd had time to get a picture of him.

Swallowtail~

I'd started back north, still on the mile of concrete when I felt something swoop over my head!  I hit the brakes in time to watch as the beautiful butterfly landed on the flowers at the side of the trail.  The first large butterfly I've seen this season.  I keep hoping to see a Monarch or two, but so far, no luck.  

Where the tall corn grows~

The corn is tall!  In the many fields where it's planted, it blocks the view out from the trail.  It also blocks the breeze on humid days.  Even with the smoke, it was a beautiful day to be out.  I had ridden a loop around the side of Malvern & finished the ride at just under 18-miles.  I've learned how to use Shadows gears to my advantage & my knees don't ache after a ride like they used to.  The benefit of a bike with assist.  Back in town, all was quiet.  Mari Jo has removed the cute Happy Trails Cycle sign from her building; it looks so plain now.