Driest May on Record~

 It was no surprise when the weatherman said we're experiencing the driest May on record at .14.  Here at home we've received .84.  Watering in May - is indicitive of what I fear will be a battle to keep plants alive as we enter the summer months.  At one nursery I frequent, the owner mentioned many customers coming in with dead plants.  Most having died from a lack of water over the winter.  I watered right up until the ground froze.  I'm watering now too, trying to rotate through a different section, every other day.  The Iowa Drought map - Mills County - indicates we're currently at the moderate level. 

The Walnuts are leafing out!

Sunday, I felt the mistake of riding on Saturday & spent the entire day taking it easy.  Easy has always been hard for me, but it was the sensible choice.  Monday, my knee was feeling much better. Today, our air quality was in the poor catagory - which doesn't happen often.  Mostly due to the smoke coming down from the wildfires in Alberta. 

Once I enter the trail though & drink in the green - I feel the calming effect of nature - full force.  I enjoy the Walnut trees so much, even if they are messy, they are beautiful.

How to Grow and Care for Spiderwort (thespruce.com)

The little flower above stopped me on the trail.  It was all alone & such a bright color I had to take a picture.  I asked on-line & discovered it's a Spiderwort!  

Quiet at the Trestle~

When I'd left Happy Trails in Silver City, Mari Jo said I would have the trail all to myself.  She was right - not a soul going either direction.  I stopped at the Trestle, it's one of the quietest spots on the trail.  I didn't stay long, I'd been a little late leaving due to the paving project slow down, on my route.

Wetland, after the fire~

It's been so intersting to see how quickly this area has recovered from the fire!  The cattails are already three feet tall!  Of course Malvern was lucky enough to get five inches of rain out of one of the only rains we've had.  They were the town too, unlucky enough to have the softball sized hall hit them not once, but circling back & going down the mainstreet of town twice!  The roofing companies are now booked for months.

Gaston Ave. west~

Gaston Ave. has been undergoing a paving project for the last few weeks.  I'd been detouring out to Hwy 34 to get to Silver City, but today since the lead truck was ready to leave, I followed.  The new paving is so very smooth after years of bouncing along over the concrete.  You can see from the photo, the quality of the air was less than good.

Once in town, I went to the car wash & washed both the Explorer & Smokey.  Both were covered with limestone & gravel dust.  The overspray felt good on a day in the low 80's.  Amazingly, we've had very little humidity, there's not enough moisture in the air!

Smokey Goes "Lame" :-)

I arrived at Happy Trails today with Smokey & greeted Mari Jo with the statement; "Smokey is lame!"   After my last ride, I'd come back to town & taken the Explorer & bike to the car wash.  The self-service was the only empty bay & I about froze.  The temperature dropped & the spray from the nozzle filled the air.  The car was filthy after our last rain.  The consensus in town - was that the rain had cleaned all the dust from the air & deposited it All on our vehicles!  (Car washes must make a small fortune in IA).  It's handy though - to have Smokey on the rack.  An easy way to blast the grime off the bike at the same time.

 Once home I found Smokey's  rear tire flat.  Not good...  I've never changed a tire on a bike & decided it would be a good time to learn.  I called Mari Jo & asked if she was available in her off-season to do the repair.  Thankfully, she was!  (It helps to be her riding partner!)

A thorn?

It was a real bear to break the tires seal on the rim!  It took both of us to get the tire off.  We pumped air into the tube to find the leak.  A decent size hole - we could easily hear & feel the air escaping. Mari Jo started going over the inside of the tire. She found the problem.  At first, we both thought it was a thorn, but upon closer inspection Mari Jo discovered it was a very hard sliver of wood.

Wood sliver right through the tire~

I couldn't help but be surprised at how hard & sharp it was!  The sliver had found the perfect spot in the tire to work its way in to the tube.

Almost 1/2 inch~

Getting the rear wheel back on the bike took some finesse & experience with bikes.  Mari Jo has both.  Once it was back on, the trick is to get it perfectly in position for the disc brakes to work properly & the wheel to turn without rubbing.

Mari Jo fine tuning~

It was during this process Mari Jo told me to listen!  She explained it was easier to hear if anything was off balance rather than see it.  I had to laugh - as her words were almost exactly the same as my good friend & mentor Dean used to explain regarding horses & lameness.  That it was easier to hear a lameness rather than see it - in the early stages.  

The bike rear wheel - turned smoothly!  Very smoothly - which is one of the things I like so much about these bikes!  They shift smooth, ride smooth & are very quiet. 

We've not added tire liners to these bikes - yet.  Now I've seen the work involved in fixing a flat, I think I may be investing in the newer type liners we'd had installed on the Trek bikes.  Tannus liners advertise even if you do get a flat, you're able to ride the bike back.  Something I think I'll invest in again...  I'm just thankful Smokey didn't leave me on foot far from the Explorer!

September on the Wabash~

We're now into the weather roller coaster time of year.  After a scorching hot weekend, today we enjoyed temps in the mid-80's & blissfully lower humidity!  Mari Jo had her shop open over the long holiday weekend, so the closed sign went up today!

Breezy at Happy Trails~

Neither of us had ridden for over a week & not together for a few more.  It was fun to be back out on the trail again & so beautiful.  We'd just entered the canopy of the trees when a Monarch butterfly flew right in front of us!  He stayed either ahead or to our side, for quite a way.  A little further - we had several in the air around us!  What a wonderful feeling to be accompanied by such ethereal friends.  

Dead tree down~

Not far south, this dead tree had come down.  Mari Jo looked to possibly move it father from the trail, but it was too heavy for us both.  It was easy enough to get around & the orange ribbon gave a heads up to anyone moving fast.  (By our return trip, it had been cut up & moved to the side.)

Mari Jo kept me so busy peddling, I didn't take many photos!  :-)

The bikes take a break in the shade~

Once in Malvern, we did take a short break before heading back.  The wind was out of the north, so the return trip took a little more effort.  Mari Jo, as usual, made it look way too easy.  My leg continues to improve, but still doesn't have the strength or flexibility it did a year ago...

Monarch, in the Marsh, last Sept.

The Monarch's are in the middle of their fall migration to Mexico.  One of natures wonders - such seemingly frail creatures can make such an arduous journey.  If you read the above link, their destination's habitat is dwindling year by year.  Several local groups are involved in supporting the migration as they travel through Iowa.  Milkweed balls are tossed by bike riders all over the state.  Most of our local trails & roads have milkweed growing along the sides.

Riding with so many in the air around us, is an experience I won't soon forget.  I hope they continue to survive in spite of the challenges.  I'm looking forward to my first fall rides on the trail!

Where the Tall Corn Grows!

 It had been over two-weeks since I'd been on the trail!  Time goes fast when you're having fun!  We were thrilled to have family visit.  Of course when they leave, I'm sad to see them go...  This day, I drove the Explorer with the new bike rack.  Watching the rear view mirror, Breezy didn't move At all on the rack.  Usually, driving the Bronco & using the older rack, the bike is in constant motion.  I may end up using the Explorer more.  I chatted with Mari Jo before leaving.

At the trail head~

If it looks hot & humid, it's because it was!  As excited as I was to be back on the trail, the heat/humidity was almost stifling.  I was only a couple miles south when I stopped to take a photo of the latest blown over tree.  As I was framing the shot, it settled another few inches.  I decided the best thing to do was to get under it as fast as I could.

Another downed tree :-(

There was, as always, lots of beauty.

I think these are Stinging Nettles in full flower~

Amid all the shades of green, any color at all stands out.  I didn't get walk over to make a close inspection.  My goal is to have as few bug bites as possible this season.

Breezy on the Silver Creek Trestle~

At times, the wind would come up & what a relief it was.  I surprised myself, by making it to Agriland in just under an hour.  I stayed in front of the big fan to cool down, while Butch got our coke & ice.  A busy place as usual, I stayed long enough to see some of the on-going projects.

Going back, it seemed in places like the humidity was even heavier than in others.  Of course the water in the pond added moisture I'm sure!

Cattails growing!

Our Verve Facebook page, still has somewhat of an on-going discussion about tires.  The ones on my Verve 3 were an upgrade & so far I'm happy with the way the bike responds to different surfaces.

A typical road crossing~

I don't' go flying across these or make any sudden turns, but it does take a little finesse to cross.

Tall, sweating Corn!

I was amazed at how much the corn has grown since my ride the end of June!  The two or three rain storms really helped.  I slowed down on the way back & took an extra electrolyte.  

New bridge at Silver City~

Wanted to get in just over seventeen-miles, I went past Happy Trails & over to the bridge before turning off my Garmin.  Once I downloaded my stats, I'd matched my last time over this route.  Not too bad after two-weeks.  My leg continues to improve & much of the pain in my ankle has resolved, making it easier to pedal in a more balanced fashion.

Settling into the Explorers comfortable seat for the ride home was really nice :-)

The Heat is On~

Friday, when I usually am looking forward to the weekend & having Butch home, I was in a grumpy mood...  There are those days - I miss my horse friends more than others.  I miss talking horse, smelling horse & riding...  Still... Always...

Farah & I did this bridge a couple times illegally.  She never liked it & was cautious going over.  I think it was the slanted boards.)

The day was to be hot, but the humidity not as high as it will be this coming week.  I decided if I wanted to get in another ride, it would be a good time to see how I'd hold up to the higher temperatures.  Since I like to be out there for a while, today I decided to err on the side of caution & only ride from Mineola to Silver City & back.  A round-trip of eight miles.

Wild Carrot

The plant above starts out as a beautiful frilly, almost fern like looking plant.  Within just a couple weeks it can grow to be over ten-feet high & take over a field!  It has taken over sections of the trail!  The blooms are pretty, but do not smell good.

A high spot on the trail~

I look back at how difficult I used to think this section of the trail was.  Now, I'm just cruising over it.  In Silver City I decided to stop at the little Happy Trails bike shop.  We'd seen the owners sitting out earlier this week.

What a great shop!   All kinds of things people riding the trail might need.  From tubes, to snacks, ice cream, bug spray, bike bags, etc.  Mari Jo introduced herself & we ended up having a nice conversation about biking & bikes.  Not the same as horses, but still, fun.  Mari Jo has been riding bikes for as long as I've been riding horses & was a wealth of information.   She has a book on the counter where customers can sign their name & where they're from.  People from all over the world have visited this tiny town on a limestone, rural trail.

Sheer cuteness!

She said she's had many offers from people wishing to purchase the bike above!  It was loaded!  I'm sure some little girl had an amazing time riding it!

I had plenty of time & decided to stretch my personal envelope & continue for a couple miles further toward Malvern.  Hardly any wind today & with the shade of the trail, it was probably five degrees cooler than out in the blazing sun.  I stopped to take the photo below & got my first nasty bug bite on the trail.

Walnut Trees~

 Once I'd gone another two-miles I stopped for a drink.  Just as I did, a grandfather & his grandson passed me.  I let them get some distance ahead before I started back.  Before long though, I saw the grandfather stopped along the side of the trail, as his grandson peddled on.  He said;  "That kid has more energy than I do!"  I laughed!  I caught up to the boy.  We were both going the same speed - so I told him we were doing ten-miles an hour.  He asked me how I knew that?  I showed him my Garmin.

He told me they had ridden from Mineola to Malvern & now were heading home to Mineola!  That's a 24-mile round-trip!  No wonder his grandpa was tired!  Once back in town, we both parked our bikes at Happy Trails.  He - to wait for his grandpa & I bought a bottle of bug spray!  :-)

At the hill crest, downhill to Mineola~

The day had really warmed up.  My trail buddy had left & I said goodbye to Mari Jo.  The miles back to Mineola went fast.  Happy with myself for saddling up, getting in a fun ride & meeting some nice people!