Making Time ~

 Another nice day in June!  All in all, this month has seemed to be a little cooler & less humid than what I think of as normal for the time of year.  The storms have rolled through & we've had wind damage - but we've also had some really perfect late spring, early summer days.

Smokey~

I realized today my Cannondale Adventure EQ Smokey - hadn't had his picture taken in front of Happy Trails!  I hadn't even met Mari Jo, when I took the first photo of Sunny here on my first ride from Silver City.  The concrete patio is such a nice addition to an already cute building.

Sunny, 4-1-2020

The Electra Townie 3i above, was the first bike I bought as an adult in WA.  It had been more years than I want to count since I'd done much riding.  In WA, Butch & I rode the paved surface of the 30-mile long Centennial Trail.  Here, on the limestone with longer grades, it took me two more bikes to find one that works the best for me on the Wabash.

Soy Beans~

The crop rotation has changed this field back from corn last year, to soy this planting.  Beautiful & green, in 2021 Iowa ranked second in the nation, in production of soybeans.  Illinois took first by a narrow margine.

Dappled shade~

Without the shade, I doubt I'd ride the miles I do in the summer months.  Even though the air can get "close" on a warm day, the shade still makes a huge difference.

The cotton was flying through the air like snow at the Trestle.  I ran into Mari Jo coming back north just a mile shy of the trestle.  Our schedules didn't mesh today.  By the time I reached Malvern, I'd only seen two other riders.  I stopped at the park for my break & talked with Butch for a while before starting back.

Silver Creek~

Silver creek is still running full of silt, from the last rain storm.  I was making good time & remembered to turn the Garmin off when I stopped to talk to Mari Jo & when I took photos.  Back at home, I downloaded my stats to find I'd reached my long-time goal!  My third year of biking & after a lot of dust under the bridge -  I'd ridden 16.5 miles at an average moving speed of 10.1 mph.  My best ever!  

With the upcoming forecast of our usual July beginning of the heat/humidity season, ride days will be few & far between.  I'm hopeful I can find at least one day a week where it's decent enough to be able to enjoy the ride!

Gaining Ground ~

 A riding goal for going on two years now - has been to ride the Wabash from Silver City to Malvern & back -  either to exceed or match my best time pre-accident.  July 22, 2020 was my best trip, riding Speedy, my Electra Townie.  It's still early in the season & with the weather it's been hard to get any consistant riding.

Southbound~

I honestly didn't even know if I'd be up to making the round-trip yet this season.  Otober 6th of 2021 was the last time I rode the full length of this section of the trail.  It seemed like forever ago.  

Three-miles south of Silver City

My original plan was just to ride to the trestle & turn back.  Well...  I got to the trestle & decided I'd go on to the Hwy 34 underpass.  It was a beautiful day, temperatures in the low 70's.  The only drawback, was the gusting wind.

New clear-cut & the Trestle ahead~

At the underpass I knew my goal was only a couple miles farther.  The last mile of that is concrete.  Smokey is so much easier to ride, more comfortable & faster than the Trek Verve.  I decided to buck up & go the distance.

Malvern~

Arriving in Malvern, I took a short break at the depot.  The wind wasn't letting up.  It had been mostly at my back going south, so I knew I'd be riding into it on the return.

Someone's idea of "art" on the bridge :-(

Fully committed now, I started the ride back.  I did better than I expected.  I was just a short distance from town when I saw a man walking a golden lab off-leash toward me.  As I got closer, the dog came at me barking & circled behind me.  Next, he came up my right side & tried to grab my foot off the pedal. 

The owner was yelling;  "Milo, MILO!!!" at the dog to no avail.  By now, the dog had cut in front of me & I had to stop.  The owner yelled at me;  "Just keep riding!"  I was furious!  The dog backed off when I stopped & confronted it.  I turned to the owner & yelled;  "I would have kept riding if your dog was on a LEASH!" I hope I don't run into this person again...  My closest encounter with a dog in years & one I don't want to repeat! 

I was tired by the time I reached Silver City.  My leg was sore, but not as sore!  When I downloaded my stats, this ride was 2.7 mph faster than my October 2021 ride & I'm within 1.2 mph of reaching my goal!

On the Wabash ~

 After a gray & windy Sunday, Monday dawned beautiful!  Just a light breeze & temperatures climbing to the mid-60's.  I hadn't been on the trail south of Silver City for almost two-months.  Both Mari Jo & I were excited to get in a ride!

Bikes waiting for tires to be aired~

I'd tried to air my tires at home & managed to break Butch's pump :-(  That gave me the excuse to buy one of the nice new one's Mari Jo has in stock for the upcoming season.  I had a lesson on how to use it correctly, which I needed.

Fields~

This field, this season will be planted in soy beans, since last year it was corn.  With just a two crop rotation, it's easy to figure out what's going in.  It was a pleasure to be back out in the wide open spaces & quiet of the trail.

Two Beaver dams~

It's been such a dry winter, the Beavers are evidentally planning to retain what water they can.  It's the first time we've seen two dams here.

Another creek, another dam~

Crossing the bridge over the second creek, the dam here too had been modified & enlarged.  The greens are so slow to emerge this year.  

Last year this time, I was still riding Speedy & talking about getting a different bike.  Today, cruizing along on Smokey was great!  A much easier bike to ride than the Trek Verve I'd bought the end of May.  What a mistake that was.  I spent most of last year trying to convience myself it would work...  Getting the Verve sold & finding the Cannondale was a lucky break.

Silver Creek from the Trestle~

It's a relief to ride a bike that's comfortable - I'm enjoying the trail again.  As I told Mari Jo, I am spoiled though, by the hard surface trails of the Lake.  I'd forgotten the Limestone is more of a workout, plus dodging the fallen sticks & branches littering the trail.

Looking North from the center of the Trestle~

Since it's early in the season yet, we rode to the trestle, then turned back.  I'm not yet in shape yet for longer rides.  Hopefully that will come, along with more than one day in a row of good weather!  I think everyone has had enough of the wind!

Clear cut

It's not often I see a clear-cut here in Iowa!  But today I did.  Evidentally the power company had come through & cleared every tree & limb within a couple hundred feet of the high tension power lines running directly above where our bikes were parked.  They'd made a mess of the trail surface & we've lost another section of what had been welcome shade, in the summer months.

These nice days we've been seeing once or twice a week, are just teasers...  Soon, we keep saying, soon, the weather will warm & we'll have more warmer days to enjoy!  The color green would be a wonderful addition too!

My Last Ride on Breezy~

  I was determined to get in a ride, before I leave for Seattle.  Determined too, to reach my 600-mile goal for the year on Breezy.  Mari Jo agreed to accompany me.  It was only due to her encouragement - that I got it done!  It wasn't easy, it was darn chilly low 40's & the wind just kept picking  up...

Breezy, ready to go~

It's a Great husband & a Super friend who don't remind you, of past mistakes.  It was a big mistake to buy a bike without riding it.  But even a short ride at a bike shop, really doesn't tell you how a bike will perform or how you will feel riding it.  That takes time & miles.

Mari Jo, freezing along with me!

I knew I had twelve-miles to ride, to make 600, so we decided on the Hwy 34 underpass.  We were only a couple miles out, when we realized the wind was picking up & the temperature dropping.  

Breezy has been a chore for me to ride...  I was getting so discouraged I was ready to stop riding.  I was thinking my health, or fitness had diminished.  None of my rides on Breezy even came close to matching those I'd done on Speedy.  I blamed my injury, but after a year, I'd hoped to see more improvement.

On the trestle~

It was tempting to stop at the trestle & turn back, but since tomorrow is slated to be in the 30's & I leave Friday, this was the day.

Turn-around point~

The sky looked so ominous.  Mari Jo commented more like December/Winter - than the last of November.  Luckily, we had a lot of news to catch up on!  The conversation sure made the miles go faster!  I don't think I could have accomplished it - without the new low gears.  I was riding in 1,2 & 3 going south.

Looking like winter~

When we turned back...  WOW!  The wind hit us full force!  It was frigid!  We had no choice but to keep on truckin' - but we commented "Crazy" was a true description of us both!  The 12.5 mile ride had taken 2.5 hours.  Not bad when you consider the wind.

I'm excited to announce I'm getting a new bike!  

Cannondale Adventure EQ

When we were waiting for Breezy's cassette to be installed, we walked through the new bikes.  The Cannondale stopped me in my tracks.  It just had the right look!  They had none in my size on the floor, but Bike Rack is such a great shop.  They offered to build up the only small they had left, even knowing it wasn't the model I wanted.  

The first of the week they called, the bike was ready.  I got on & about a split second later was literally flying around the parking lot!  I rode it down the steep little hill, around the lower parking area & back up the hill effortlessly!  Butch said he hadn't seen me so happy riding in ages.  I felt like I could have ridden all day!

The problem, was finding a bike.  I called Cannondale, they said;  "All gone, no more coming."  Butch got on-line, searching with every search engine.  He found one at Gregg's Cycle in the Greenlake area of Seattle.  We confirmed at least three times - it was the bike I wanted in the size I needed.  

Butch said;  "Call Alaska & see what they'll charge for you to bring it home."  I did & made a reservation.  The charge for the bike, is only $40.  Gregg's Cycle explained their policy was to build up the bikes they sell, but they'll put it back in the box for shipment without a charge.

Two wonderful excuses to visit up north again!  Seeing the Grandkids & picking up my new ride!

Changing Gears ~

 The more miles I've ridden my Verve 3, the more I've decided I'm struggling on the long gradual grades.  It's been hard to compare my speed over the same route from last season - both my due to my leg injury & the change in bikes from the Townie.  Coming close to 600-miles for the year, the grades have become a real chore.  

I seem to pedal, pedal, pedal, then have to actually stop, take a short break & return to pedaling.  Yes, I did that before my injury & with the Townie, but not as often as I have been.  It's hard to compare apples to oranges, or 7-speed Townies to an 18-speed Verve, but it's felt like my work load has increased.

I'm certainly nowhere near the category of a strong rider, but I don't feel like I'm a weak one either.  Maybe more middle-of-the-trail.  I did like longer sections of the trail, but my riding has been more sporadic than I'd hoped this fall.  When it feels more like a chore than fun, my motivation wanes...  Butch, on his Verve 2, with totally different gearing, has been moving out way ahead of me.  Before - on our Electra's - he usually brought up the rear.

We loaded my Verve & visited the Bike Rack in Omaha this afternoon.  We were the only ones in the store & were lucky to find their most knowledgeable tech person on duty.  He too, kindly listened to my complaints (& praise of the Townie) before getting on his computer. 

He came up with a idea he thought might help solve my issues.  A new $45. Cassette Sprocket.  He said it sounded to him, like I was looking for gears I just didn't have.  On the original rear cassette - CS-HG-200-9 - first gear was literally useless.  Second wasn't much better, my feet would spin, but the bike was traveling almost nowhere.  Over several miles, I would end up in third or fourth & then need rest breaks.

The expense to totally change the bike out to the gearing of a Verve 2 would be a couple hundred dollars & there are literally no parts to be had anywhere.  Luckily for me, he found a cassette he thought might improve my ride & actually had one on the shelf!  It was installed in just a few minutes.

New Cassett Sprocket CS-HG-400-9

Butch decided I should try it out on a flat, smooth stretch of trail first.  We drove to the north Wabash Trail-head, where it connects to the  Lake Manawa trails.  I was wearing street clothes & the wind was brutal!  Coming right at me as I headed to the trail underpass.

The first thing I noticed, was how smoothly the bike was shifting.  Going into the wind I quickly moved down through the gears from 6 to 5 & right on down to second!  I still had a decent bite to each rotation of the pedals.  Finally, with a big gust, I moved down to first.  I could still make headway!  It was slow going, but I was making forward progress!

Into the wind~

There's a short but steep hill on both sides, I navigated them easily.  The trail was closed further on, I couldn't see why, but turned back to where Butch was waiting.  From there, we drove to the Mineola Trail-head.

My turn-around - north of Mineola~

Thankfully, the wind wasn't as strong.  It was such a nice day, 70+ degrees & several people were out riding.  Both directions are uphill grades, I decided to ride north.  

(I was tired, Nika had escaped last night & I spent the night looking for her & worrying about her.  No sleep for me :-(  By early a.m. I had finally passed out when we heard a knock at the door.  The local police officer telling us our dog was loose.  Butch finally corralled her...)

I'd only planned to ride maybe a mile out, but soon realized pedaling wasn't the effort it had been.  As I again moved down through the gears, I was still making decent forward progress in second & even first.  The low gears had more of the bite - of the lower gears on my Townie.  I rode a little further before turning back.  I shifted into the second set of gears, now on the downhill grade.  The shift was whisper smooth & as I moved up through those gears, found them totally useable.  

New Cassette box - original cassette~

It was a short trial run, but I felt it was successful.  It will take a longer ride to see if the improvement is enough to keep me on this bike.  I've put so much into it & do not like the new version we saw at the store.  Many of the parts are replacements & they do not have the upscale look, or smooth design features of the original 2021 Verve's.  The only bikes left in stock were either large or extra large.  

Breezy on the Keg Creek Bridge~

On the way home, we both commented on our luck in buying our bikes earlier this year, when the bikes had all original components.  I'm hoping to get in another ride this week, though the weather is looking more iffy & the winds aren't due to calm down until the weekend.  Fingers Crossed~

A Different Bike?!

 I told myself I'd ride Speedy for a year, before making any bike changes.  It's been just over a year, Speedy has 673 miles!  That - even though I couldn't ride from Sept. until my first ride in March of this year.  I think I'm ready for more gears & a bike that can do hills.  I'd been looking for a while now & had a folder full of possible hybrid choices.

We were in Omaha, when Butch suggested;  "Lets go look at Trek."  I'd shown him photos of some of the bikes & he knew the top of the list was the Verve 3 Disc.  The store was almost empty of stock, only two Verve's & both where XL.  I decided to go ahead & order one, the wait would be 3 months.  When I called last Friday - to be sure the rear rack was ordered - the date had been pushed out to the end of Sept.

I'd joined the Facebook Verve group.  Someone mentioned looking out-of- state.  After on-line searching, I found a Trek dealer in Lawrence, KS who had a small frame & color I wanted!  Friday, I was on the road by 8 a.m. & driving south.

The drive down was beautiful.  The trees leafing out with bright green foliage.  Just for accents, the Rosebuds were in full bloom, standing out with their bright pink/purple against all the green.  

Trek Store - Lawrence, KS

I arrived just after 11 a.m. & my bike was already being assembled.  All the bikes on the lower right, were Verve's!  Lots of stock, but only one small & it left the store with me.  I hadn't even been able to try out the bike, but Trek gives customers 30-days to make a return.

Ready to head home~

In just over an hour, my bike was ready to go.  The salesperson was 6'2" & helped me secure the bike to the rack on the Explorer.  I stopped by Rumza for lunch before starting the drive back north.  It was 1 p.m. when I left & just after 3:30 when I reached Glenwood. (383-mile round-trip.) I drove over to Silver City to show Mari Jo the bike before going on home.  Butch would be late driving an activity.

"Misty"

For being a style I'm not used to, after almost nine-years of riding Electra Townies, I do think it's nice looking.  Butch gave it the once over Sat. morning & that resulted in a trip to the Omaha Trek dealer, my new bike with us...

The back fender rattled.  The bolt that was supposed to attach it to the frame, had been broken off.  The right-hand shift & break levers were mounted incorrectly.  Once the technician at Trek Omaha looked it over, they also found the disc breaks were improperly adjusted.  The bike spent the afternoon at the Dealer under repair.  When we returned to pick it  up, we were told they'd broken their "easy-out" tool, trying to remove the bolt.  They had to drill a new hole in the frame to mount the fender.

From the Dealer in Lawrence~

Neither of us were very happy with the service I'd received in Lawrence...  There's no excuse for damaging a new bike & not being upfront about it.  Improper installation?  Isn't that the business they're in?  When I received an email from Trek asking about my "experience" in Lawrence, I was honest.  We'll see what they do to "Make it Right".

Next - we'll see how this bike does on the trail!

Back on the Limestone!

 It has been just over six-months since I've ridden on the trail.  I certainly didn't expect it would be more than a few weeks, when I left for WA last September.  I'd been so looking forward to the cooler months.  Watching as the trees turned color & smelling the sweet scent of fall in the air.  But - the natural world had other plans for me.  In spite of it - I set a new goal.  To be back on Speedy & riding the trail by spring.

Today was the day!  Earlier, I'd asked Mari Jo if she wanted to ride at Lake Manawa.  Not nearly as quiet, or as scenic, but with today's weather scheduled for sunshine & a break from the heavy winds, it would work.  Yesterday, Mari Jo suggested we ride on the trail.  All the wind had one positive effect - it had dried the surface.  We decided on the Trestle over Silver Creek as our destination.  The round-trip would give us over 8-miles & be an easy start to my first attempt back on the limestone.

Our route~

I was so excited to be going, I forgot my phone & didn't even miss it until I was parking at Happy Trails. Oh well, a post without photos! Just a few miles out, we stopped on a bridge & watched as a pair of Hawks took advantage of the thermals. Mari Jo kept her speed down for my benefit. The trail was littered with small twigs & branches, but no trees were down.

Reaching the bridge felt like a pretty big deal.  The thought of riding there again, had kept me motivated through some dark hours.   

My last ride on Sunny - April 1st, 2020

The photo above, was taken my first ride on the Wabash, almost a year ago.  My next ride, I had a new bike - Speedy! 

On our way back, another rider stopped to talk to Mari Jo.  He mentioned he was just getting started riding again, after surgery on his knee to repair old damage from his Basketball days.  The recovery issues he mentioned, were exactly what I experience!  Getting up in the morning thinking I'll whiz along & by evening hardly able to walk.  It made me feel better to know I'm not alone.  We all talked for quite a while, the warm sunshine on our backs, felt so good.  Jeff was riding a bike with a titanium frame & rides gravel.  He explained Gravel Grinders work for total elevation gain over the course of a year.  His for last year was over 300,000 ft.!  Impressive!  Getting back on Speedy, my leg had stiffened up.  It took a while to warm up.  I was more than happy when we reached town.  

We were out for 2.5 hours & as Mari Jo said, it was the kind of day where we could have ridden on & on.  Not yet for me though - but two rides under Speedy's wheels is a good start.  I achieved my goal with a day to spare!  

2020 - In Review~

Our fourth year in Iowa, January started out mild & beautiful.

Butch's first project of the new year, was to remove the sheetrock off the largest wall in our living room.  He added framing & insulation before installing new paneling, travertine tile & an electric fireplace.  The room looks so much nicer with a feature wall.  

New Years Sunrise~

The snow & cold came mid-month. By the end of January, I made the first of two-trips to Washington.  February in the Pacific NW, usually boasts a week or two of good weather. This year though, was very wet with rain almost every day. The Snoqualmie Valley was completely flooded & Duvall's water treatment plant was maxed out.

2-3-20 Riding at Bracken~

The weather did cooperate enough, I managed to get in some fine rides on Farah.  When I'm with her, it seems like just yesterday, rather than month's, since we've been together.  Our first ride, was at the Bracken Tree farm. The woods, ferns & moss seem so lush to me now!

2-9-2020 West Coast of Whidbey Is.  Ft. Ebey~

One weekend, David was golfing, so Courtney, Mason, Cassidy & I took the Mukilteo Ferry to Whidbey Island.  We shopped, enjoyed fresh seafood for lunch & combed the beach at Ft. Ebey. The rain held off until late in the afternoon, giving us enough time to hunt for agates & wish rocks. We left with full buckets!

2-10-2020 At the Monument~

On my 69th birthday, I was riding Farah! We trailered to the Victoria track of the tree farm, to meet-up with our old riding buddies Charlotte & Fancy. Afterward, Linda met us too. Our little group celebrated my birthday, with dinner in Arlington.  The visit was too short, as usual.  I missed getting to see our youngest daughter's family in Oregon.

3-1-2020 Butch feeding the chipper~

Arriving home to Iowa sunshine, was wonderful.  Late winter was mild & dry.  The end of the month, Butch rented a chipper.  We spent the weekend chipping all the dried stacks of invasive Honeysuckle & Autumn Olive.  The work resulted in enough mulch to cover the ground along the edge of the woods & part of one trail.

4-1-2020 Sunny on the Wabash Trace~

April first, I decided it was time to get back on my bike!  We are so lucky to have the Wabash Trace close.  My first ride was from Agriland to Silver City, eight miles.  A misunderstanding & no cell service turned my ride into a round-trip of eighteen miles!  A stiff wind didn't make it any easier!  With only three gears on Sunny (An Electra 3i) & balloon tires, the ride was longer than I'd planned!

4-15-2020 My new bike!  Speedy~

Butch suggested we go bike shopping!  Speedy is my new Electra 7d, an updated version of Sunny.  (It's a shame these bikes are no longer made in the USA.  The company was sold to Trek.)  Seven gears, smaller profile tires & lighter weight.  We added fenders & I bought a few needed accessories.  Speedy & I were on the trail two or three times a week.  My longest ride, was a round-trip of 24-miles, from Malvern to Imogene.

5-9-2020 City Sign

In May,  with funding provided by the Glenwood Garden Club, Butch took on the task of removing all the weeds & old overgrown plantings from around the city sign.  We planted new rug junipers - for a  low growing ground cover & applied fresh mulch.  Red day lilies will add summer color.

6-23-2020 Trail Signs~

June, I finished painting the trail signs for the woods.  Butch planted the posts & the trails now have names.  Thanks to several friends, especially Clara, I planted many, many starts of ferns, hosta's & sedums.  With such a dry year, watering was non-stop.  I lost almost half of the P.J.M Rhododendron's I'd planted in the spring.  The moles continually dug under them, leaving the roots bare of soil.

7-19-2020 Badlands~

Mid-July, after our visit with family in Sheridan, WY, we drove through Badlands National Park.  An opportunity to fly in a Helicopter is one we never pass up.  Since the pilot's wife was hiking & no one was waiting - we enjoyed an extended flight to find her! 

8-3-2020 Todd & Butch, planting the island~

August, was summertime hot.  Butch volunteered to help dig up a island, in the middle of the parking area, at Glenwood Lake Park.  With monetary donations from Sugar Makery & plants from Hillsdale Lily Gardens, the island will be a show stopper next year.

9-20-2020  Late afternoon~

September, I flew to Washington for the second time.  I needed to move Farah yet again.  This time, to what I hope will be her forever home.  The first week, we stayed with friends & enjoyed some quality, if smoky riding.  Thankfully, I had Farah settled in with her new owner, before the ride that resulted in my injury.

9-22-2020 "Bridge" & leg~

I had a total dislike of this bridge for many years & always refused to ride across it.  This day, I didn't recognize where we were.  When I did, wasn't smart enough to turn back.  Instead, I decided to dismount & lead Farah across.  The result of  that decision - sent me to Skagit Valley Hospital with a shattered tibial plateau.  

10-01-2020 At daughter Courtney's~

What was to be a two-week visit - was extended by six additional weeks. I'm so Very Thankful for our daughter Courtney, son-in-law David & grandkids Mason & Cassidy!  They took excellent care of me during my convalescence.   I was so happy when daughter Jentry brought Skyla & Josie up to see me!  How they could grow so fast - in such a short amount of time - is a mystery!  The Doctor's cleared me to fly home, after my six-week checkup.  By then, I'd missed our 37th Anniversary :-(

11-18-2020 New Owls~

The first week of November, I flew home!  After weeks of rainy WA weather, the sunshine & warmer than normal temperatures were welcome.  I sat out on the back deck with Nika most afternoons.  Thanksgiving was a quiet one, just the two of us, at home.

The remainder of my year has revolved around physical therapy, exercising at home & the YMCA.  At eleven-weeks, I no longer had to use the walker.   My goal remains to be riding my bike by spring!

12-25-2020 Christmas gift from daughter Jentry~

2020 is a year most of us would like to forget.  So much sadness, so many who have lost loved ones.  Seniors suffering in isolation from their families & many kids unable to attend school.  The list goes on...

The virus has made us appreciate all the more - the many things we've always taken for granted.

Together - we pray for the success of the vaccine.  Just in my lifetime, other vaccines eradicated measles, small pox & polio to name a few.  Praying - this one will be as successful!

Past year - 2019~

Happy New Year! 2021~