In Which We Get Some Taste of Summer

Wednesday morning sunrise, C Avenue Pond.

Fall arrived officially this week, but the weather felt rather summer-like. There were a few clouds, but whatever rain there was in this area of the continent stayed to our north. I rode all of the work days this week.

And the rides were OK. At a meeting today at work, I noted that each week seems like a month, something the VP of academic affairs agreed with. “And each weekend seems like 10 minutes,” he said.

Even in this derecho year, however, it was nice to have some warm early fall weather. It was mid 80s as I came home today, but it was a bit breezy, and when the sun starts to go down it cools off a bit at this time of year. Darkness will be longer than the days for the next six months—so it’s good to know I have plenty of lights. I need to change some batteries. Something to do during my 10 minutes this weekend.

Truck clearing debris Monday.

Streets are still largely clogged by tree debris from a storm back in August—but I’ve been seeing plenty of trucks out picking the debris up. I’m used to it, but as my rides in the morning and evening grow a bit dimmer, it will be nice to see the debris gone, and there is progress being made.

The bike lanes on C Avenue, an important part of my usually biking route, are still clogged, but trucks have been working the neighborhood just west of that stretch of C Avenue. The bike lane will open soon, which will make my commute a bit more comfortable and safe.

Monday sunrise on C Avenue. Pond is there just to reflect the nearest star.

In Which Hazy Sunshine Means Pretty Rides

Hazy sunshine on Monday morning as my biking week begins. I rode every day this week.

Sorry, West Coast. I wish you were not burning. Even more, I wish Ruth Bader Ginsburg was OK—but that’s probably a topic for a different blog.

This week was full of disturbing news. At least it was also filled with nice weather for a bike commuter. Our sunrises and sunsets were pretty, even if the reason is sad.

Lots happened this week, at least not all of it was bad. The giant pile of brush in front of my house was cleared away. Many streets on my commute are still constricted by derecho storm debris, but the piles are slowly melting away as trucks trundle away with tons of wood.

This week, I saw an egret and a pelican together on Cedar Lake. I saw the sun prettily reflected in the C Avenue pond. I enjoyed morning glories smiling at me from a yard near Kenwood School.

So here is my week in biking, present in images I made:

Hazy Monday morning sunshine on MMU Rohde Family Plaza.

Tuesday, I think. I have serious morning glory envy.

Geese at Kenwood School, far from any water. Not sure what the plan is.

Street sign on side street--not sure these are official signs.

Favorite place to shoot morning sun--C Avenue Pond at Collins Aerospace.

Bike on C Avenue, waiting to cross Collins Road.

On Tuesday, they had started to cut away fallen ash tree in front of my house. As I leave for morning bike ride to work, trucks pulling up to haul pieces away.

Morning shadow. Note equipment by C Avenue loading brush.

And I get home Wednesday. Sidewalk is a mess and broken in places, equipment damaged retaining wall by my driveway--but the big tree is gone. Progress.

Thursday morning, truck removing debris near MMU campus.

Took long way home Thursday afternoon...low sun at Cedar Lake.

Above and below--I've seen egrets and pelicans before, but not together. Cedar Lake Thursday afternoon.

Friday morning--work closes sidewalk on C Avenue where I usually ride--moved into street before start of bike lane.

Debris removal Friday morning on Prairie Drive a few blocks north of MMU.

Street felt a little small Friday morning.

I pause before riding up The Hill at MMU. Tree rodent on utility pole does not appreciate the company. It was chattering very angrily at me.

Friday morning biker shadow.

C Avenue pond Friday--another day, another sunrise.

Leaving for home Friday afternoon. Interesting sky.

In Which I Go from Sunshine to Rain to Sunshine

Sept. 7--Monday, first day of classes at university where I teach. Bike in driveway before I leave home.

Morning glories blooming in someone's yard, seen on my Monday morning ride.

Monday morning--I have arrived at Rohde Family Plaza, Mount Mercy University.

Odd weather--storm, then heat wave, drought, cooler weather--some spring flowers are blooming. Lilac seen on bike ride.

Sunrise Monday morning at C Avenue pond of Collins Aerospace.

Another view, from another camera, of my bike on campus Monday morning.

The biking week in Cedar Rapids wasn’t much this past week. I commuted to work as usual Monday, Sept. 7, on two wheels.

And then it rained. And Rained. And rained. It was raining Thursday, but I was home a bit early and the weather app on my phone claimed there was a break. So I got out my mountain bike. It was sprinkling, but the weather radar said “clear” so I ignored my senses and trusted the smartphone—probably not the smartest thing to do.

After a quick ride of 3 miles or so I gave in to reality and went home.

Thursday afternoon--mountain bike ready for damp ride.

Heading south on C Avenue.

Heading east on Brentwood Drive towards the hill.

 

I drove to work Friday. As I had Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Man, commuting in a metal cocoon, cut off from the world, kind of ranks high in the suck-o-meter. Now that I’m used to bicycle commuting, car commuting feels very lame.

Saturday was cloudy and damp, but not raining for most of the day. I took a 4-year-old grandson to a park, using my bike and a Tag-A-Long seat. He seemed to enjoy it.

Grandson on bike Saturday. Cool, damp day, but it didn't rain on us.

A finally, today, glorious Sunday—aptly named, as it turns out, for the first sunshine in six days. We had a terrible derecho storm on Aug. 10, and then drought until the rains this week. I rode over to the Lowe Park Trail, then to the neighborhood where my youngest daughter has bought her first house, and then home—about 12 miles in all, enjoying it the whole time.

Well, the weather has cooled. This week should be dry, and I should be able to ride more. Or so says my phone’s weather app. I guess I should also look with my own eyes.

Sept. 13--Bike parked at Lowe Park on, finally, a sunny Sunday.

In Which Rides Slowly Improve

Mount Mercy University campus Sept. 3, 2020. Parking my bike at bike rack, Warde Hall. Classes start Monday and the regular routine of commuting to work by bike is underway.

The wall of tree debris still stands like a gap-toothed barrier between me and the street. Riding a bicycle in recent week in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been both a bit dicey—avoiding flats requires constant attention—and sometimes a bit of a downer. It’s a reminder of how damaged this town is by an August act of violence by Mother Nature in this strange, scary year of 2020.

But the derecho doesn’t have me completely down. In fact, the weather has turned September beautiful, which I appreciate. And the rides are thus getting more satisfying.

I suppose it helps that, although most streets are still clogged, you can see the recovery starting to take hold. As I rode to campus last week, it was almost startling to have some of the streets look, well, almost normal.

Well, good. Here’s hoping that your fall cycling brings some smiles to you, too.

Bike rides Saturday (left) Sept. 5 and Friday (right) Sept. 4. I rode Sept. 3, but didn't bother to record miles--probably 7 to 8 miles, regular commute. Friday I had a meeting, s near campus so a few more miles than usual. Saturday's ride was a just a quick one.