Close Encounter!

It had been six-weeks since I'd ridden the north end of the trail.  Butch dropped me off again in Council Bluffs & I was on the trail by 1.  The weatherman described it as another top-ten perfect day.  There were more people out riding than I usually see mid-week.

Ready to leave~

 This part of town is always a busy place.  Lots of truck traffic & additional parking has been striped along both sides of the drive to the trailhead parking.

Start of the trail~

 Once across the street, the trail beckons.  Lots of signage & the horse trail starts to the far right.  I appreciate it when I get a couple miles out & away from the noise.

Speedy & Naked Ladies  Horse path on the left, main trail on the right :-)

 The tall stems & beautiful pale pink of the Naked ladies are always so eye catching.  Our second year here - I thought the leaves sprouting up on the city easement were daffodils.  I busily planted them in several places - then watched as they died without producing flowers.  By this time of year - the blooms appeared!

Speedy by the huge Cottonwood~

 I had a group of five riders ahead of me, so took a detour to the horse trail.  It is so much more beautiful than the limestone.  This tree is easily missed from the main trail, but dominates the horse path.

By the time I was done getting a photo, the trail ahead was clear.  It's an uphill grade all the way to Margaritaville.  The riders ahead of me had just stopped there, I kept going.  I knew the next four-miles would be all downhill & I love that section!  Speedy hit 17-mph.

Toward Mineola~

 My favorite view here - is from a bench just off the trail, but somewhat secluded by the shrubbery.  A new memorial bench had been installed since my last visit in June.

Mineola Trailhead~

 Maiy Jo's sign for Happy Trails greets riders as they enter the Mineola area.  I took a short break here - at ten-miles.  I was doing good on time & had another 2+ miles of uphill before another downhill run into Silver City.

I stopped there, to chat with Mari Jo.  As I described how I'm using all seven gears now, Mari Jo explained I can have more added to Speedy - without having to buy a new bike. I may look into that.  The day was just so stellar, a few riders passed as we were talking.  I finished off a bottle of cold water before leaving for the last 8-mi. leg to Malvern.

My rock was still on the trestle where I'd left it!

I had passed a Mom & Dad with three smaller kids, so maybe one of them will find it!  Shortly after this - was when I had my encounter!  I saw a small animal come out on the trail quite a ways up ahead.  It's movement was a little different than anything I recognized?  Too large to be a Squirrel & too small to be a Badger or Woodchuck.  As these thoughts were running through my head - I'd closed the gap enough to see black & white!  A Skunk!  By now, he was about in the middle of the trail!  I decided stopping would not be the thing to do, so moved to the far left & put Speedy in high gear!  We flew by Mr. Skunk So fast I don't think he'd realized we were there - until we were gone!  Looking back over my shoulder, I saw him hesitate, then move off into the brush.  Whew!

My timing couldn't have been better.  Butch was finishing his day at Agriland.  I'd gone the 22+ miles with a moving time of 2:50 hrs.  Almost exactly the time it had taken me in June, but my moving speed had gone up a little.  The heat is due to return with a vengeance - now we've all been spoiled for over a week!

& The Rain Came~

The weather has taken a nose dive!  I'd enjoyed a stellar week, working outside every day, hauling wheelbarrows of mulch.  I even played hooky from the Y on Monday.  It was just too perfect & I was enjoying every minute of the sunshine!

By Thursday, we had wind!  Lots & lots of wind.  Friday, a reprieve, but Saturday it returned full blast & continued through Sunday.  The temperatures were amazing, we were in the lower 70's both days of the weekend.

Mulch - along the edge of the timber~

 Today - we've had a 40 degree drop in temperatures.  Late last night, the rain moved in, with just under 1/2" by morning.  The mid-30's with a breeze, feels very cold! I'd moved as much material as I could, knowing the rain would settle it.

8-12-19 Blooms!

 The Naked Ladies are even popping up!  I was totally fooled last year, when I moved bulbs from the city easement, where they were mowed over.  First, I thought they were some variety of daffodil.  Later when the leaves died off, I thought they'd died.  Finally - though - fall came & blooms appeared on long stems!

I only have a few to move this year, one's that I planted too far out from where I've now delineated between yard & Timber.  I'm hoping all the plant starts I received from friends last season will sprout this spring! 

Looking north~

The wind, blew my beautiful antique gold gazing ball off the stand & it broke... I'd used plumbers putty to attach the ball to the base, but it dried out over the winter months. Lesson learned... I've put my copper ball there for now, a new one will be stainless.

NW Corner~

It only took a few more wheelbarrows to finish my trail to the far west end. I managed to get it done this morning before the rain returned. I'm almost out of mulch now, it's very pricey stuff here. Butch used to pick up Cedar mulch - called hog fuel in Washington - by the truck load for $25. I used it to do all the trails through the Homestead Woods. The Cedar smelled wonderful! The honeysuckle has no smell at all. I have no idea how long it will last, but it works for my purpose.
Now that I've been spoiled, I'm trying to be patient while waiting for the sun to return!  Butch had to remind me - it's still winter! 

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!

The joke was on me!  I spent most of a day digging up what I thought were Daffodils from the city's easement across the road.  They get mowed down most years & I thought they would be so pretty along the edge of the woods.  I also put the bulbs around an old stump in the yard & along one section of the east fence.  I waited & waited.  Eventually, the leaves died back, without producing any blooms...  I decided it might take a year for the bulbs to recover.

Naked Ladies

 Wrong!  Wrong on two counts!  A couple days ago, I walked out to find fairy like, light pink buds opening on long, long stems!  These were appearing everywhere I'd planted bulbs!  I recognized them now, for what they were!  Naked Ladies!  The blooms are lasting longer than I expected, we've had a couple beautiful cooler days that helped.  Yesterday was our prettiest day of the summer!  Temperatures in the mid-70's & blessedly lower humidity.  The evening & sunset were stunners!

Japanese Beetles~

 Their are no words to describe the hordes of beetles that come in with the warm summer months. I decided to try picking them off, just one planter of Marigolds.  Of course some of them fly when you try to get them - the above bucket was the result of just one day.  We're told to put a bit of dish-washing detergent in the water.  It works, but what a mess.  Rumor is, they  have now invaded Colorado & are moving west.

Cicada exoskeleton~

The Cicada shells are appearing everywhere! Looking like something from a sci-fi horror movie, they seem to like attaching to fresh wood. I found this one on one of our light posts. No harm, but they sure crackle if you step on one. The blog article I've linked to is an interesting read.

Appleblossom Rosebud

I've been so happy watching the above flower grow & bloom. Another transplant from WA to keep me company.

Editorial help, from under my desk~

 As for Nika, today we have a beautiful rain!  Of course we enjoy the rains so much.  The we - does not include Nika...  Butch & I were having lunch, when Nika, who had been outside, crawled under the table!  I asked Butch if he'd let her in.  No, he hadn't.  She has learned how to jump up & hit the lever on the back door & let herself in.  That's what she'd done at the first hint of the rain.  Knowing, when the rain comes, lightening & thunder follow.  She gets so terrified - we may yet resort to drugs to calm her.  Following my every step around the house & even braveing the vacuum to stay close.  

Just another summer day in Iowa!