In Which Summer Concludes with 40 Miles

Early in the ride, here and next 2 images--fawns and doe seen in Dry Creek from C Avenue Bridge.

“Go for a ride early before it gets too hot,” she said. Which was not a bad plan—except I did not wake up until 9 a.m. It was 11 by the time I headed out.

My goal was to ride 30 miles. But if it went well, I also thought I might ride a bit more.

I headed down to campus, intending to then take the Cedar River Trail south. I was slightly delayed—there were distracting flowers and students taking part in distracting activities, and I had my good camera with me and spent some time making images.

But I eventually made it to the trail. At Cedar Lake, I saw a heron take flight, which was fun. When I got down past the Federal Courthouse, on to the minor detour at the African-American museum, I stopped at Goldfinch Cyclery. I was riding my road bike Argent, which was recently fixed at that shop, and when I picked it up, the valves didn’t have their rubber caps—the staff member I spoke with was helpful and quickly got me two.

Heron takes off from Cedar Lake.

Here and below, I put on the new valve covers while parked outside the bike shop.

 

I kept going south, taking it easy on a hot summer afternoon—possibly the unofficial last ride of summer as fall syllabi are crying out for editing and lectures for prep. I’m not ready for it, but summer is pretty much over.

I went down to Ely and had passed 15 miles which would make for a 30 mile ride. I ate a snack at the park and then proceeded south, intending to turn around when I reach close to 20 miles to make for a 40-mile ride.

I paused to make some images of a goldfinch, which was cool to see. As I headed south, I thought I was fading a bit. So, I turned back a bit early.

South of Ely, state bird of Iowa, a goldfinch, eats thistle seeds.

I took one final break at Cedar Lake and decided to head back via the trail and Noelridge Park. Because that route is slightly longer than the route via campus, despite the early turnaround, I ended up getting 40 miles.

I have taken far fewer long rides this summer than in the past. Then again, I was not training for RAGBRAI. In a typical summer, I would do some 60-mile days and maybe even a century, so 40 miles is not all that much.

But I got in 40 miles on a warm day when I didn’t even hit the road until 11 a.m., and I rode 10 miles beyond my original goal. All in all, a good day, a good way to celebrate summer’s end.

Lots of images, because, hey, let’s picture summer:

Brief stop at MMU campus. Bikes start to show up in bike racks. Early students arriving.

Heron at Cedar Lake.

South end of town--heart signs start to appear.

Sign near Ely.

Eating snack at Ely Park. Reflections of trail traffic in pond.

Bikers reflected in pond.

Dragonfly on patrol at Ely pond.

South of Ely, swallowtail butterfly.

Yard decoration near south end of Ely.

Tin Man and Witch near ice cream shop in Ely.

Two from Oz in Ely.

Oz never gave nothing this guy that he didn't already have.

A classic vehicle. And a truck. Near Oz figures in Ely.

Wicked Witch of Ely.

She has the red shoes on.

New mural near biker bar (bicycle style biker bar) just north of the river.

Detail of mural.

Near African-American museum, new mural under a bridge, detail.

Another part of mural.

More in mural.

Bike in sand my river.

Sky early in ride--clouds. But it cleared off, got sunny and hot.

My bike parked near library at MMU campus.

One reason some redundant images--these final ones are from a different camera. Mural by bar.

Figure in mural under bridge.

Final look at mural.

In Which Small Yellow Birds Are Chased North

Goldfinch by the trail, at extreme magnification. They did not let me get very close.

The state bird of Iowa—the goldfinch—put in many guest appearances in your correspondent’s biking adventures today.

I left campus around 4:30, knowing that I would take a somewhat longer ride home. I toyed with the idea of heading home and doing the Boyson Trail, and, as fate would have it, that would have been a good idea. Instead, after a trip around Cedar Lake, I decided to head north on the Cedar River Trail until it turned into the Cedar Valley Trail, just to see if it was still closed by utility work.

The signs were not good when I crossed Boyson road headed north. The “trail closed ahead” warning signs were still in place. I was riding up a slight “wind hill,” the chill breeze actually fairly welcome, but I would prefer a nice cooling side wind to a headwind, just in case you’re wondering, universe.

Anyway, despite the clouds and chill, it was a fine day for riding. I think perhaps because I commuted most of the winter, and maybe due to some small training rides I’ve done already, but I felt like I was really moving along (although other bikers still mostly pass me).

There were plenty of birds-lots of robins and cardinals, but also some small crowds of goldfinches, pretty little yellow birds that complained and scattered and fled north before me.

I wasn’t sure where I was going. When I crossed Robbins Road, the fence for the construction zone was open, and I kept going north. I had just passed the 4-mile mark, when my phone signaled a text.

Would I like to go over to Katy’s for supper and see the grandkids? Why, yes I would, except I’m 4 ½ miles north of Hiawatha and 2 ½ miles from home once I get there …

I figured it would take me until 7 to get home. I was wrong—the north wind I’d been battling was a helper on the way back and I made it home around 6:45. After a quick break, I climbed Bowman Woods Hill, and headed over to Katy’s. The ride home was cool and required lights, but still nice.

The grandkids wanted to get their bikes out of the garage at their new house, which we briefly did, but I’ll have to take over some tools and tighten a few seats and wheels up for them. I wish I had put on my toddler seat while at home—but there will be more chances in the future to give grandchildren rides, I’m sure.

So this afternoon was close to a 3 hour training ride. I’m not sure how far I went in that time, but at least I did climb The Hill and also herded yellow birds.

The trail, 3 miles north of Hiawatha. A cool, cloudy, pretty spring evening for a ride.