In Which Nature, Humans Create Birthday Beauty

On the road between Ely on Solon. CR Biker does not normally go at this pace, but if you're going to average 11 mph, you have to be moving faster than that between stops.

I don’t suppose there is any requirement that an old biker “ride his birthday,” but I’ve seen posts from others who have done it.

It was humid and hot on Saturday in Iowa, not a good day for biking. As sometimes happens here late in summer, Sunday was in contrast and was gorgeous. There is just a huge difference between temperatures in the upper 90s and the upper 80s. The sun was shining, and by late morning, I had decided it was the day for a ride.

I had gone a bit past Ely on the trail south of town, but had gone no farther this year. And I know from previous rides that a pretty park awaits in Solon—so southern fever gripped me, and I got the road bike out and took off on the Cedar River Trail, headed south. I was making good time, which of course meant there was a bit of a north wind and the ride back would be a little more challenging.

It was my final day of being 62, and it was also a fine day. At Cedar Lake, several herons were in sight, strutting about on their tall legs, seeking fish.

First stop at Cedar Lake--Herons and a pretty little butterfly. The day is getting nice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I rode down by the river, I encountered a man under the bridge by the African-American Museum, busy painting. There is a large new mural there, and the painter said he was Marcus Irving, who had submitted the winning design in a city contest and now was putting final touches on his art. This is the summer of art in Cedar Rapids, in a way—murals seem to be popping up everywhere, in NewBo and Czech Village, even under the bridge.

From natural beauty to the work of humans. Marcus Irving (did not confirm spelling) works on his art under bridge by African-American museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After making some images of the artist at work on his images, I was on my way, ruminating that both nature and humans were conspiring to make my birthday eve a day of visual delights.

I ate a snack at Ely, watering up. I considered the ice cream shop, and though I maybe I would see if it was still open. I had gone about 20 miles, and Solon just was not that far, so off I went.
 

Bird statue in Solon nature park.

Argent by metal birds.

Birds and bike, Solon, Iowa.

Dragonfly by pond in Ely seen on my first snack break.

This group of images is in reverse sequence. Between Cedar Rapids and Ely. Many of these encouraging heart signs seen south of town.

It's not just Cedar Lake. Seen along Cedar River after I cross to the south side.

I reached Solon, circled the pretty nature park there, make some images, and decided to ride back to the rest area where the trail to Solon crosses a county highway. Snack stop number two. In Ely, I had eaten some nuts and an apple. Here, I wolfed down some animal crackers and raisins. I had not been planning a really long ride, and so was a bit informal in my snack planning, as in, I just grabbed whatever was at hand and took off.

I had topped 30 miles by this point, and I new I was over 20 miles from home. It was getting on in the afternoon, but the Sunday ride would total 50 miles if I just went home—50, and on Monday I would turn 63. If I just added a few more miles …

Eating my final snacks, heading back to Ely from Solon. The math is starting to add up. Tired as I am, I would be getting close to a birthday ride. Maybe if the ice cream shop is still open ...

I was convinced the ice cream shop would be closed in Ely by the time I got there. I am happy to report I was wrong. A double scoop bowl—Dutch chocolate for one scoop because one can never have too much chocolate, and birthday cake for the second. Super sweet, I know, but I was starting to think of this as a potential birthday ride.

When I got back into Cedar Rapids, I headed down the little stub trail that leads to the site of the future “Sleeping Giant” bridge whose construction is planned in the coming years. Just adding some distance. I got to Cedar Lake, feeling a bit faded as the afternoon light was fading. Fading—but getting to 50 miles or so. So close.

The lake put on quite a show to boost my spirits. I had been pretty excited to see blue herons earlier, but this time there was a group of pelicans, and white herons. Quite the display.

Second time at Cedar Lake, it puts on quite the show. I circle it twice to gain some distance as I start to commit to the goal. White herons, pelicans, pretty sunset--nice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I headed north, and rather than heading directly home, I headed up to Robins, and circled one of the parks there. In my mind, I realized I was getting close. By going north to this point, I was inevitably going to be close to 60 miles by the time I got home. All I needed was 3 extra miles.

So as I approached home, I headed over to the new Milwaukee Road bridge on the Lindale Trail, taking some post-sunset images of Argent (my bike). When I got back to C Avenue, I realized I would be about half a mile short if I went straight home, so I turned south again and inspected the C Avenue pond at Collins Aerospace. Geese flew low overhead as I approached, honking reproaches. It turns out lots of duck and geese were gathered for some kind of Sunday night party in the pond. I made a few images. By the time I got to Blairs Ferry, my miles were over 62 ½, and I knew it was almost exactly half a mile to home from there.

I pulled into my driveway, not exactly feeling euphoric, but feeling good. My legs were not happy with me, indeed sleep was a bit difficult that night due to some large leg muscles that registered their complaints in the form of cramps.

I had not planned on riding 63.4 miles, nor of averaging 11 mph (blisteringly fast for this old man). Sometimes, the most fun you can have is in the moment and not due to plans. I didn’t plan to meet Marcus, didn’t plan to see pelicans, didn’t know the day would be so gorgeous.

But it was. A nice birthday present on my birthday eve.

Last look at Cedar Lake.

Another look at trail on the way to Solon. Perfect day for a ride.

Dinosaur party at C Avenue Pond.

In fading after sundown light, my bike on Lindale Trail bridge.

Doe checks on my during Lindale Trail ride--last few miles of birthday ride.

Not from Sunday ride--Monday, my birthday. I see this butterfly in the tree over the bike rack as I mount hybrid bike for ride home. Legs a bit sore, but I was still rolling on my birthday.

In Which I Chase the Bright Elusive Flutter Bys

Butterfly rests for a minute on bush by my front door.

I had several satisfying bicycle rides this weekend. On Saturday, my wife and I pedaled to a daughter’s house, a bit over a mile away, where we met her and our 5-year-old grandson. The daughter has a seat and wheel attachment for the back of her bike, and all of us took off for a ride to Nixon Park, in nearby Hiawatha.

Saturday was warm and pleasant. We played there for a while, cycled back to their house, enjoyed lunch with them and then returned home. That was, because I was good and tried to do some work that afternoon, the one ride of Saturday.

Grandson ready for ride.

Family ride to park.

Sunday, late morning, my wife announced she would go on a walk. I decided to take the mountain bike out and cycle around the Boyson-Lindale trail area—mountain bike because we actually had a little rain this weekend and there are limestone portions of those trails.

As I was getting my water bottle, my wife called me because a large swallow tail butterfly was resting on a bush in front. I snapped its image just before it left, and began my ride.

I rode to the end of the Lindale Trail, inspected the construction work starting there for a bridge that will extend that trail over a busy street, and enjoyed the many little skippers flitting about the weeds by the end of the trail.

Crossing new Milwaukee Road bridge on trail, headed to site of next new bridge being built.

Looking down from end of Lindale Trail at construction just staring on new bridge.

Tall crane.

Rebar season in Iowa.

Plants near edge of the end of the trail, where the skipper butterflies fly.

I rode on. My goal was to get more than 10 miles, which would require some looping around and a bit to street riding, since the Boyson Trail is not that long. I got to the end of the trail by Menards, and was mesmerized by some hawks, about half a dozen, circling just beyond Highway 100.

I took out my good camera, hoping to catch an image with more than one bird in it. As I looked through the long lens, something about one of the hawks was “off.” It was a bit too big. It was soaring with its wings straight out at the shoulders—hawks usually soar in a bit more of a V shape. Was it?

Yes, it was. An eagle had joined the hawks for their circle party. It was a bit odd, because the birds were not vocalizing nor flying at each other—it’s not often that I see difference species seeming so placid together (especially big birds of prey like eagles that other birds legitimately try to avoid since predators aren’t that picky about who they eat and even if eagles like to fish, they don’t mind picking off other critters to snack on, either). Perhaps this behavior is perfectly normal, maybe they were all circling a good fishing spot—I had just not seen it before.

Two hawks and an eagle. Note how eagle soars with wings straight out, hawks have wings bent a bit.

Always exciting to see an eagle.

As I prepared to mount The Beast (for an old rider like me, one of the most challenging aspects of any bike ride is just swinging my leg up high enough to get it over the bike), I spied a monarch butterfly flitting about. I got the camera out again, but unlike the eagle, who kindly circled for some time for the convenience of nearby biker photographers, the butterfly was in a hurry and flitted away before I made its image.

Oh well. Sunday was gorgeous, an after-storm sort of Iowa day that isn’t too hot, and I enjoyed chasing the bright elusive butterfly that got away.

Later, my wife and I decided to go on a short ride between supper and dessert. Usually, we just ride our own bikes, but today decided to ride the tandem. Tandem riding is a bit challenging for us—it’s a test of communication skills, but we were in compatible mods today. There were a few “oh my Gods” when she thought I took a corner too close or fast, but for the most part, we were fine. We hadn’t planned to go 7 miles, but we did anyway.

It was a fun ride. Chasing happiness on two wheels and catching it.

From work commute earlier this week--sunrise at C Avenue pond.

I had mountain bike, so rode a dirt path by the side trail to the Boyson Trail. That route ended after a few hundred yards. I try to obey signs like this.

I've not the only critter enjoying the Sunday sunshine. Skittering away on bridge rail of trail.

In Which Early Rides to School Set the Stage

Hosta flowers near bike rack--with my road bike parked in background. Tuesday morning on campus.

Fall 2021—the semester commutes are almost a daily thing. now I worked from home Thursday, but otherwise this was a commuting week.

The weather has been very dry and warm in Iowa, which makes for pleasant morning rides and rather hot afternoon ones. I have been using my hybrid bike, mostly, which is perfect for this purpose, although on Wednesday I rode the road bike.

The mountain bike awaits winter.

As I’ve been riding to work this week, early students—athletes and some first-year students and residence assistants—have been moving to campus. It’s good to see some additional bicycles in bike racks.

Wednesday--my bike parked in rack near Regina Hall.

Maybe, some interested students will want to revive Mount Mercy University’s Bike Club. I hope so. These precious days of bike riding weather should be shared.

Meanwhile, the organizers of a local effort to create a new bridge and improvements to a local lake announced that they have met their goal to raise—via donations and public money—the $20 million to make the project a reality. Construction will take several years, but once again, bike trails are growing and improving in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

I hope they are where you are, too.

Bike lock on campus. Not mine.

Road bike near Warde Hall.