First Wreck~

 It had to happen sooner or later...  I totaled up my miles out of curiosity & I've ridden 3,672 since April 1, 2020.  Butch & I had pulled the bikes out of the shed Easter Sunday of 2019 & rode the Wabash for the first time from Mineola to Silver City & back.  By 2020 I had some control over the invasive bushes on our property & time to ride more often, almost always on my own.

Friday was a nice day, not too hot, not too humid & rain was forecast over the upcoming weekend.  It was the first time in forever I've managed two rides in a week.  I decided to leave from Silver City & travel the just over 8.5 miles north to the area I call The Lookout.

Parked in Silver City~

I was looking forward to riding a section I hadn't seen since November 17th of last year.  The trail would be in its late summer lushness.  I like riding this section in the fall for whatever reason.  I guess because the views are more prominent with the foliage gone.

The Bronco waits by the old Jail~

Rather than make the sharp turn up onto the trail in town, I circled around & came back past the Bronco on my way north.  My plan was just to enjoy the ride.  It didn't take long for the enjoyment of the fresh air & green scenery to take effect.

This pond is as beautiful in the Summer as it was in the fall~

The first rise out of town goes from about 1,047 to 1,181 ft.  Even with assist, it's a good gradual grade. Next is the downhill to Mineola.  This area has seen huge improvements over the years I've ridden through.

1,015 ft. Elevation.  Mineola Trail Head~

Leaving town is almost flat across the valley & since the first time I admired this view between Farah's ears, I've enjoyed it.

Across the Valley~

I didn't see anyone out on the trail, which surprised me.  It was smooth sailing to the bridge at Keg Creek.

Keg Creek downstream~

The day had warmed into the mid-80's but it seemed mild compared to the 90's.  It wasn't long before I began the next climb.  I was amazed at how the Wild Grape had literally exploded in this area!  It used to cover the trees & shrubs for a way, but now it dominated the landscape for close to half a mile.

The Grapes, the Grapes!

The buds were almost ready to open & the fruit will be enjoyed by wildlife.  But - it's so invasive!  When I rode further & saw it climbing high into the Walnuts, I was glad I've kept the ones that have started in our woods under control!

Wild Grape climbing the Walnut trees~

Another uphill grade before I arrived at Margaritaville.

Flags flying at Margaritaville~

Again, no one around.  I didn't stay, as it's only a short way to the bench at the Lookout.  It came up so fast I almost rode right on by!

My turn-around spot~

The Eastern Red Cedar in the background have grown enough they're starting to block the view.  I'll be sad when it's gone.  This is pretty much the high spot of the ride at 1,250 ft.  I called Butch & enjoyed the peaceful quiet of the afternoon.

Starting back, I'd mentioned to Butch the trail was in pretty rough shape in several areas.  A couple large, unexpected holes right in the bike track, branches hanging over the trail at rider height & areas where the gravel & grit had washed to the low side.

The downhill to Mineola is always so much fun.  I kept to a reasonable speed, knowing the trail could be rough in spots.

Coming back to the Mineola Trail Head~

Less than two miles out from Silver City, with a moment's inattention, my front tire was pulled into a rut filled in by a fine sandy grit on my right.  So fine & deep I didn't see it in time to avoid it.  A split second later, the surface of the trail came right at me as the bike fell away toward the shoulder & ditch.  The bike went right; I went left - hard...  I threw up my left arm to shield my face as I hit & slid.  I remember seeing my sunglasses flying off to the side.  I'd grabbed the right rear brake as I lost balance.  When the momentum stopped & I stopped, I hurt!  My left forearm was a bloody mess.  My left knee, even though my tights had started bleeding. My right shoulder really hurt, feeling wrenched from holding the brake with the weight of the bike as it fell/slid off the trail.

As I got to a sitting position, my next thought was - Thank you Lord!  Nothing felt broken!  I got the bike up & on the kickstand, then opened my bag.  I had very large band aids & lots of paper towels.  I rinsed all my wounds with clear water, dried them with the paper towels & used the band aids to cover them all up.  (I remember my mentor Dean saying the worst thing about ageing was thinning skin & he was so right!)

Last bridge, Silver City~

Checking out the bike, I didn't find a mark on it.  I cowgirled up, got on & completed the ride back to the Bronco.  I appreciated the assist loading from the Lift Caddy, since my shoulder was giving me fits.  

When I arrived at Doris's to pick up Finn, she didn't miss the bandages!  Doris reiterated what my horse-riding friends have said for years - that my guardian Angel works overtime.  At home, I unloaded the bike & called Butch to tell him my news.  He wasn't happy about it but was kind with his comments.  In the shower, it was no fun at all when the water hit the wounds!  Looking in the mirror, the bridge of my nose had turned black & blue.  

Though feeling a little beat up, my shoulder seems to be just a pulled muscle.  I've worked so hard this season to make improvements to my plantings etc., it would be nice to be able stay on top of things into fall!  I definitely learned a hard lesson!  As beautiful as it may be, staying aware at all times is key.

August on the Trail~

In the month of August, we've enjoyed almost daily changes in the weather.  With off & on-again rain, then heat & humidity, it had been two-weeks since I'd been on the trail.  Today was mid-80's with some relief from the humidity.  The weather forecast for the weekend & next week - is for record breaking heat - possibly in the triple digits.

Following the Pilot car~

Mari Jo had warned me of the paving project on 278th.  Turning north off Gaston, I was first following the Pilot car.  I was also driving the Bronco.  The Explorer has been in the shop for repair from the bad hailstorm in July.  After the Bronco had been sitting for several years, I had the hood painted a few months ago.  Of course - now the Bronco's hood has damage too, just not nearly as bad.  There's a difference in a vehicle made from Steele & one from Aluminum. 

On the trail~

It felt great to enter the green shade of the trail!  Everything is so lush, it's like a mid-west rainforest.  If we had such a place!  The humidity is higher though, with mature corn fields on either side of the trail.  Especially on days when there's not much breeze.   Today was one of those.

Bicycle Tree~

I stopped by Little Red's Automotive to schedule maintenance on the Bronco.  On my way I couldn't miss the Bicycle Tree & new covered picnic area.  The tree was originally in a small park next the grocery store in Malvern.  When the grocery burned down, the tree was damaged.  Now, the artist has repaired the structure & it seems to have found a new home.

Face on the tree~

Colorful, very inventive & somewhat surreal.  Smokey & I weren't quite sure how we felt about it.  I'm sure there are more bikes than I would believe to recycle each year.  At least these make a statement!  I'm sure the covered picnic table will get a lot of use too.

The treetop~

We retreated back to the park.  Having made better time than I'd expected I was ready for my break.  It was a picture-perfect day for the middle of August.  Such a blue sky & the evenly spaced white fluffy clouds drifting by. 

A summer day in Iowa~

I talked to Butch for a few minutes.  Yesterday he was in Oregon & the temperature was 105.  Today, he was passing Red Bluff; CA & the temperature was 109.  

As I turned back north, the little breeze I'd enjoyed on the way out, was gone.  The late afternoon sun felt & looked strong out in the open.

Hairy Sunflower - Helianthus hirsutus

The sunflowers along the trail are in full bloom & add such a bright spot of yellow to the green backdrop!

Wild Grape~ 

Wild Grape is again taking over any area of the trail where it gets an opportunity!  Trees are fair game & many are covered with the vines.  It's beautiful & provides a carpet of leaves that cover all the broken limbs on the ground.

Back in Silver City, I went into Happy Trails to catch up with Mari Jo.  The two-day Rooster Tail ride this last weekend drew many riders from the Omaha area.  Restaurants & shops were busy!  Since it rained on Sunday, I was surprised the trail didn't show more damage.  I understand many of the riders opted for car rides home.  I was happy to have the trail to myself!  

Precursor to Fall ~

A cooler day, after a very light rain at home & I decided to go over to ride the trail.  Speaking to Mari Jo, they had received more rain than we did & she expected the trail to be sticky & soft in places.

Smokey by the field of Soy Beans~

It wasn't bad at all leaving Silver City.  Very nice to have the dust gone & such fresh air.  I hadn't gone far at all though, when I realized I was working much harder than usual.  Sticky was certainly the word to describe it & it got worse the closer I was to Malvern.

Soy Beans - turning gold~

Seeing things turn to the gold's in just a matter of days - was amazing.  There's still plenty of green, but it won't be long until the seasonal change becomes more obvious.  The farmers are already starting to take the fields of corn down.

A wild grape vine happily climbing the Walnut tree~

I had to laugh at the happiness displayed by this grape vine climbing the tree!  I'm surprised I don't see this more often - but most of the vines stay within a medium distance of the ground.

Gorgous sky at the Malvern park~

At the park, the cloud cover returned.  For a while I thought I might get sprinkled on, so started back after talking to Butch.

Leaves turing on the trail~

I didn't get far before stopping for another photo.  The color of the day, the sky etc. was just too grand after all the summer heat we've had.  Silver Creek was running clear, even after the rain, which was nice to see.

Beautiful at the trestle too~

The humidity was up.  I'm so used to riding soaked to the skin, it will be a change when the temperatures do finally cool down.  We're due to break records for heat this upcoming week - 96 on Tuesday.  Following that - we're to drop to a daytime high in the 60's.  I'll believe it when I see it!

Walnut Cathedral~

The Walnuts have made quite an obstical course of the trail.  I was walking our woods this evening when I heard a "bonk".  It sounded like someone threw a rock at me :-)  No!  It was just the walnuts dropping nuts!  The trees do make such an impression on the sections of trail they dominate.  I love the feeling of grandeur.

Adaptations~

  There's something about Iowa, a richness you can almost taste...   An earthiness that feels so totally different from the logged wastelands of the foothills I was so familiar with in Western, WA.  You can smell it of an evening - when the heat is lifting off the land.  Even under cultivation forever - it has somehow retained it's soul~

Today was forecast to be the coolest of the week, I couldn't let that pass me by, after the last days soared into the 90's.  Farah was very happy to see me.  She had a nasty, crusty thing the size of a dime under her jaw & the fly's are now out in full force.

On the lush green trail~

After a quick grooming & lots of bug spray, we were on our way to what has become our usual hangout - Waubonsie State Park.  It was a surprise to see one couple there, sitting in the shade & getting ready to leave.  Another gentleman pulled in & they all spoke of the heat, so I didn't feel like such a wimp.

Pawpaw Trees~

We were quickly on the trail & into the most welcome shade.  Farah seems to enjoy our time together, as much as I do.  I think we both appreciate the other more - now that we don't see each other every day.  That has been one of the many things we've both had to adapt to.  Just the out & back to the stable is a 15-mile round-trip & I'm lucky she's that close.  Add the 33-mile trip south, once I'm out on Hwy 29 & riding has become an expensive hobby.

Small slide along a Waubonsie Trail

Looking at this little slide today - it reminded me of the area on the Whitehorse Trail.  The Loess Hills being comprised of wind-blown silt from the glaciers.  The Western, WA soils, volcanic.  Each of different composition, but unstable when the rains come.   Here, the trails become so slick as to be unrideable.

Slide on the Whitehorse Trail, Jan. 19, 2015

We did our first set of loops - what's become our usual direction, it was so beautiful & cool in the woods.  I saw a very large Wild Grape vine, that had wrapped itself up this very tall tree.  I'm so glad I got them all cut away from our trees & shrubs along the creek.

Grape Vine~

After going back to camp for our lunch break, I decided that we'd do the loops in the reverse.  This was the first way I'd ridden the trails here & soon realized it's the way the signage directs & most riders go.  You do have plenty of hill work either direction, but going with the signage gives more downhill.  I had a new acquaintance tell me the other day; she felt the hills here are too difficult for a lot of the horses.

Warning sign~

It is steep, no doubt about it, the short ups & downs so different from the very long downs & very long up's of our old favorite place to ride, Victoria.  There, in just two-more miles, we only had 1,482 in elevation gain, compared with 1,717 today.  It seems a lot more fun with more change in the topography & Farah loves it.

In the greens~

Here, most people call the woodlands, Timber.  The same term used in Western, WA by logging companies to describe an area that they plan to clear-cut.  Cedars, Douglas Fir, Hemlock etc.  The Iowa DNR- uses the word for the same purpose.  A description of what they harvest to; "Meet forest management objectives."  I have to wonder what the objectives are to bring back even a portion of our native forest lands that been lost nationwide.

Maidenhair Ferns~

Forget what I said about the ferns not being up!  This hillside covered with Maidenhair ferns was just stunningly beautiful - my camera didn't want to focus on them for whatever reason.  I'll have to try again!

Shell Bark Hickory~

Neither of us thought the loops were as fun this direction, but our pace was faster than our last visit & it was very warm.  By the time we were back at the trailer & as I started to unsaddle, Farah's belly was dripping sweat.  She again didn't drink during our lunch break - but emptied two small buckets on our return!

Tail on the move~

Another bath - for us both!  The flies are horrible now, they swarm the trailer the minute we pull in.  Even spraying inside the trailer didn't deter them.  I've probably spent a fortune on fly spray now & have three different brands. 

Once back at the stable, I used Equi-spot this time & asked how to turn the fan on in Farah's stall.  I'd also bought Shoofly horse leggings long before we left WA.  I got them out - they were supposed to have been smalls - but no - they were large & she walked out of them...  I don't even remember where I ordered them.  A trip to Council Bluffs to buy more - soon!  Yes, we had annoying pests in WA - but not like here.   Farah - who has never liked bugs & been a prima-donna up to now - is learning to adapt too...

Butch & I decided to bring Farah & go through a year - before making any further decisions.  She's my horse-of-a-lifetime, but here, horses stand more than they're used & I now see why.  Riding as much as I was used to - has not happened.  (Most horse people here, take summer horse camping trips to other nearby states.)  With Butch working & the projects we have at home, our priorities have changed.  Realistically - riding in cooking hot summer temperatures & freezing cold winter ones - even if there is any place open within 50-miles to ride - isn't something I enjoy...  I wonder now what further adaptations we may have ahead...