In Which Sun, Rain, Flags and Critters Come from the Sky

Side trail that leads to park in Robins (above), headed back to Cedar River Trail. Clouds appearing in the west in what was a sunny sky. The clouds have moved in (below) as I ride south on Cedar River Trail. Sprinkles about to start.

Memorial Day weekend Saturday—the sky was cloudy in the morning, with a threat of rain, that arrived in force late morning. Rain pelted down hard, and I stayed at home.

I took a nap around 2, and by 3 the sun was shining. I decided to try to get some miles in today, so I planned to head up to Center Point on the Cedar River Trail—that round trip from my house would be about 30 miles.

Mother Nature had over plans. As I rode north of Hiawatha, the sunny sky kept getting darker and darker. By the time I got to the parking lot at County Home Road, it was cloudy and darker.

Cedar Memorial Cemetery on the way home

I turned back. Sprinkles began as I headed south. It began to lightly rain, and I pulled under the shelter of the restroom building at the Hiawatha Trail Head. The rain toyed with me for a while—I would think it was easing, get ready to ride out, and it would pick up.

But it was a passing shower nonetheless, and the wait was not all that long.

Sunshine and rain—both were features to this afternoon’s ride. I saw and managed to make an image of a goldfinch—not a rare bird to see, but not an easy one to photograph.

Goldfinch by Cedar Valley Nature Trail

I headed south and decided to ride around a bit to make up for the miles north I was lacking. I rode down the trail to 42nd street, and then turned back. I rode through Noelridge Park, and then headed over to the eastern leg of 42nd Street to catch the C Avenue bike lane.

The lane goes along Cedar Memorial Cemetery, which was bright with American flags for Memorial Day weekend. I went south a bit even though I live north, just so I could pass by the west end of cemetery.

Flowers are in bloom, the air is warming up, each day seems to feature rain or thunderstorms, a biker in the Social Distance biking group posted images of a tornado that was just a bit east of my area of Iowa. There was a tornado warning south of us, too.

Ride summary

In the end I did not get my 30 miles in, but I well topped 20 and don’t feel that it was a bad afternoon’s ride. And here are galleries of the many sights that 20 miles was packed with, Flowers, Birds, Flags and Sky:

Flowers—late spring beauties:

Late tulip under birch tree in my front yard at end of ride.

Iris along street in Hiawatha, seen on the way to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail early in ride.

Lilacs, above and below, growing at edge of Cedar Memorial Cemetery, late in ride.

Birds—in the sky and on the water, plus a butterfly:

Side trek down part of Lindale Trail--butterfly (above and below) suns itself on trail. Rain has passed and sun has come back out.

Above and below, hawk overhead as I turn from trail towards Noelridge Park. I think he has a snack in his beak.

Mallards in small creek near Harding Middle School.

Flags—what this weekend is all about:

Flags along street in Hiawatha. After rain, sun came out again.

Late in ride, above and below, passing by Cedar Memorial Cemetery, awash in flags this Memorial Day weekend.

Sky—Blue and gray, trail views:

Boyson Trail late in ride

Lindale Trail

Near end of ride, west end of Lindale Trail. Iowa summer sky.

On C Avenue, about to cross Collins Road.

Heading north on Cedar Valley Nature Trail, clouds rolling in.

Waiting at restroom building in Hiawatha for rain to pass by.

Pond at Collins Aerospace on C Avenue

Had to avoid some wet areas in limestone part of Lindale Trail, but trail was in good shape overall.

Sunshine on Boyson Trail.