A Change of Time ~

 The last day of Daylight Savings time...  I look forward to moving back to Standard time & wish every year the powers that be would leave time alone!  I'd been hoping to get an afternoon out on the trail.  Another busy two-weeks had gone by!  Today looked perfect.

A beauty of day~

I drove to Silver City, it was quieter than I expected, no cars in the parking area by Happy Trails.  The trail had changed yet again.  The leaves crunched under Smokey's tires; the light was filtered through what was left of the leaves still on the trees.

Healthy tree - cut down~

I hadn't gone far from town, when a newly cut tree drew my attention.  It had been a big, beautiful, healthy tree.  It's mistake I think, was to grow too close to the edge of a cultivated field...  With so few trees here, seeing a nice one cut is sad.

Limbs from the tree, Smokey on the trail~

The trail also has so much deadfall, if someone needed firewood, there would be plenty to gather without cutting another.  What do I know?  The afternoon was just stunning.  Sunshine filtered through the low hanging cloud layer, with only an occasional light breeze.

A trickle of water in the creek~

There is just a little water flowing in the small tributaries.  But when I arrived at the Trestle, the water level in Silver Creek was the lowest yet.  I could see the bottom all the way both up & down stream.

On the trestle~

My favorite kind of day, I took my time & enjoyed being out in the quiet & now open countryside.  I rode on to the park & sat at my usual spot to call Butch.  If not for a long delay waiting for a trailer in Kansas City - he would have had time to spend last night at home...  Instead, he had pulled into Omaha this morning, picked up a load & spent the day crossing the state of Iowa.  He was nearing the I-80 truck stop in Walcott.  

Since the days are getting shorter - I didn't stay too - long before starting back.  The Canadian Geese are gone & the sidewalks around the pond are much cleaner for it!

Green grass, blue sky~

I'd only seen four riders on my way south.  It was so nice to have the trail mostly to myself.  As the temperatures drop & days shorten - I still hope to get in more riding.  Of course, there's plenty of work to do at home yet.  Leaves to rake, blow & mow etc.  I also have branches from the summer winds to burn.

Trestle, looking north~

The light this time of year is so beautiful.  It's easy to peddle along & immerse myself in the rythm of the wheels.  Not quite the same as the sound of hoofbeats, but as close as I can come.  I think of Farah often in the fall months.  That was when we did some of our favorite riding - both in WA & here in IA.

Smokey & sunset~

The sun was setting fast to the SW & a golden glow fell over the landscape. I'd dropped my speed by just a mile-an-hour.  By the time I'd returned to Silver City, I didn't feel as tired as usual & enjoyed the ride more. 

5:18 p.m. Sunset at home~

As I was walking Smokey back to the Cabin, the sun was just dropping behind the trees of the woods.  The bird feeder is just down the hill, from the Cabin. I've caught the neighbor's cats (at least three) stalking the birds almost every day.  When they're not tearing into the trash at the rental house, they come here. I finally resorted to chasing them off with the leaf blower. 

The birds were chattering at me.  I looked at the feeder & sure enough, it was almost empty.  The minute I'd filled it & I'd walked away - it became a very busy place again.  The Downey Woodpecker arrives first, but once he's flown away, the little Black Capped Chickadee's take over!  

When I came in to download my stats, I was just over a mile shy of 600-miles for the year.  Lower than last year, but still respectable for me.  Hopefully the weather will hold for a while yet.

November's Long Shadows~

 Butch was home late Saturday afternoon through today, but after lunch, he was back on the road.  Sunday was such a nice day, we both worked outside.  Butch did the few items on my honey do list & fixed a mirror on the truck while I was busy raking leaves off my trails.

Today, after lunch he was back on the road heading toward MO.  I decided with the wind & rain forecast for the rest of this week, I'd get in a ride.

Leaving Silver City~

It felt really chilly, even in the mid-50's. I wore my lined tights for the first time this season & didn't regret it.  The wind was coming from the SE.  With all the fields down now, they no longer provide any break from the gusts.

Only a few of the trees are still holding onto their leaves.

On the trail~

The surface of the trail has been swept clean of leaves & walnuts too.  Much easier riding than just a couple weeks ago.  Arriving at the park in Malvern, the RV camp was empty, a very quiet afternoon. 

Taking a break~

I love having the trail & the park to myself.  Even though I'd just ridden through the underpass when the train came roaring by overhead!   On the way back, I took my time, enjoying the warmth of the sun, so low in the southern sky.

The rear view~

Here we are - again adjusting to the change to Standard time.  The extra hour of light in the the mornings is paid for by the suddenly shortened afternoons.  I'd managed to get on the trail thirty minutes earlier than usual, but even so, I planned to return to the Explorer by 4:30.

Bright Red!

Watching the lengthening shadows, I still had to stop to take a photo of the bright red foilage on this bush!  I have no idea what it is, but it's beautiful.  The green intertwined is Greenbriar, the bane of gardners everywhere.

Fungus~

Not too much further, my eye was drawn to the contrast of the fallen leaves, with the white of the fungus growing out of the old limbs.  Not the bright colors of some of the varieties I'm familiar with, but very pretty in it's own way.

Cattle in the corn stubble~

I climbed up the small hill between the trail & this field to get an unobstructed view of the black angus grazing in the freshly harvested corn field.  Such a beautiful sight in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun.

Smokey waits~

Smokey is a very paitent bike.  He waits calmly while I take short excursions.  This time of year I can - without being sprayed down top to bottom with bug spray!  It's a relief to be done with the biting bugs for this year!  (Even so, I still ended up with two large bites on the side of my neck last week!)

5 p.m. Home~

By the time I reached home & put Smokey away - the sun had set behind the woods.  What a difference a week makes!  Now I've got the outdoor timers to adjust for the change.  The earlier it gets dark, the more I enjoy having lights out on the deck & porch.  They seem to expand the indoor living space & give some warmth to the cooler nights.  My rides on the trail are now numbered, providing we receive the moisture we need!

November - Gray Card Day~

I love being back to central standard time.  If - please - we could stop resetting our clocks twice a year wouldn't it be nice?  Today - early November -  was a very gray day.  It was the color we were taught of as a middle gray, perfect for a consistent exposure.

Looking toward Iowa from the Nebraska side of the Missouri~

 With a misty rain most of the night, the temperature was mid-40's.  We had an errand to the north of Plattsmouth, NE & decided to stop at Mom's Cafe for a late breakfast.  I ordered the french toast made from a cinnamon roll, topped with banana & caramel syrup!  My meal for the entire day & probably half of tomorrow.

From the Plattsmouth Trestle Bridge - South

  We hadn't been able to go this route, one of our favorites for a while.  Last year, we'd taken it with the truck several times, until one day the gentleman at the toll booth told us the truck was too heavy for the bridge.  Today, the weight signs were posted & we were well under the 20,000 thousand pound limit.   It's the same bridge where my Grandfather rolled his truck load of cattle, on the curve at the bottom.  The bent ignition key is among his mementos. 

Color on the hills~

I asked Butch to stop more than once to get a few photos.  Plattsmouth is such a unique town, so picturesque.  The wreath below was such a perfect blend of seasonal colors, especially against the rich color of the brick.

Guns or Jewelry - you choose :-)

Yesterday, we stopped at Sherbondy's Nursery in Council Bluffs. I've wanted to plant more color & we were looking for shrubs that could grow into a hedge. Almost devoid of stock, it's the end of the season & with freezing temperatures just around the corner, it's no wonder. What was left, was 25% off. We've both been admiring the Burning Bushes & have a small one planted at the east end of the house. I had two in Washington, but they're considered invasive. The few there, didn't have many branches.

New blue pot~

The pot was a real find - just the right shade of blue! Just arrived, they are heavy & I'm told will survive the cold. There's a monarch butterfly on the front & a caterpillar on the back. Inscribed with "Monarch Sanctuary 1939". Made in Vietnam.

In place~

Our Garden Club had a presentation last month on the Monarch Biosphere in Mexico.  Fascinating reading, several states are working to preserve the Monarch butterfly by planting Milkweed along the migratory paths.  We picked up rock for a base & to raise the height of the pot.  Eventually, we'll gravel all the way around & have a path from the parking area.  We're having fun with this little building.

Serviceberry in the ground~

We spotted a bit of bright color & found several Rainbow Pillar Serviceberry. The fall color alone had us sold. When we asked about them, they sounded perfect for the north side of the Cabin. Three more will finish off the row.  They are native, produce flowers in the summer & edible berries.  I'm going to enjoy the great color for as long as the leaves last! The day stayed the same hue of gray right through until what seemed like a very early dusk!