In Which Phlox Flowers On A 20-Mile Ride

Phlox in bloom this afternoon along Cedar River Trial near Cedar Lake.

Well, I have not matched my Monday total yet. I only rode 8 miles on Tuesday—my regular commute to and from Mount Mercy University. I was hosting a dinner that night for students on the newspaper staff, so I didn’t have a chance to add many miles.

This afternoon, around 4, I loaded a final exam into my briefcase and put it on my bike. It is “bike to work week,” and another faculty member was locking up her bike as I was getting mine ready to go.

Two views of bikes in Warde Hall rack. Francis in the middle.

Rather than head directly home, I went down to Cedar Lake and then headed north on the trail. I also rode briefly on the Boyson Road trails, so that I could climb the Brentwood Drive hill and also reach my goal today.

The goal was 20 miles. And I made it. I probably won’t ride tomorrow, due to rain, but at least it looks like I’ll bike four of five days this week—not too shabby.

No more finals, just piles and piles of grading. And after graduation this weekend, I plan to work most of next week, partly to get caught up on organizing a fall series on the legacy of the Vietnam war.

So it was a pleasant break on this cool, slightly breezy spring day, to ride those 20 miles. Honeysuckle and phlox are in bloom along the bike trails, and many people were out enjoying the trails.

Indian Creek from bridge on Boyson Road Trail.

In Which A Quest For Bluebells Finds Other Flowers

I remember them blooming in a shady area next to Dry Creek on the route to the Cedar River Trail. I like bluebells, so when I planned to ride for several hours today as RAGBRAI training, I was looking forward to photographing them.

And I failed. I could not find the bluebells. Had I imagined them? Is CR Biker seeing images of bluebells that are not there? Hmmm. Have to check on how tight my helmet is …

Anyway, despite the lack of bluebells, and even though it was a cool, breezy, cloudy morning, it was a fine ride. I planned to head north, but was stopped by utility work in Robins, so headed back south and rode the Lindale-Boyson-Krumboltz trail route instead.

I took a fair number of flower photos, most along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail early in the ride, a few later. Wild phlox are in bloom, honeysuckles perfume the air, irises are flowering in many yards—it was a fine day to bike and view flowers.

Even if I missed the bluebells.

Willow seeds--look a bit like flowers.

White and pink honeysuckle.

Closer look at pink honeysuckle.

The scene along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail--I got sprinkled on, but never seriously rained on.

Phlox. Why does it grow all over the trail but won't in my gardens?

A cluster of irises in a front yard along Council Street.

I like phlox, which are largely blue flowers, but come in white and purple, too.

Matt, have you bred sterile dandelions yet? And when you get rich off of them, remember they were my idea first.