In Which A Wednesday Meeting Helps Me Ride 20 Miles

What angers geese. A biker passes mama, papa and babies headed south, as I, headed north, photograph them near Cedar Lake. While riding. Probably not the wisest way to ride, but no baby geese were hurt.

The school year is coming to it’s very busy climax, and I’ll be super busy for the next 4 days or so. And then, suddenly, I won’t be busy at all. It’s odd, this academic rhythm. It’s a faculty thing—for staff, the university is more like any business, and summer means an early closing on Friday, but that’s all.

Anyway, I couldn’t ride Thursday due to rain. It wasn’t too wet in the morning, and it was only sprinkling when I came home in the early afternoon (taking a lot of work with me) … but I didn’t know that the rain would hold off, so I drove today.

But I rode yesterday. And we had a department meeting in a bar in Czech Village, so I pedaled down the Cedar River Trail through downtown. And on the way home, I took the 2-mile detour to get on the other side of Brentwood Drive’s hill for a bit of RAGBRAI practice. It seems appropriate, for that purpose, to climb the biggest hill at the end of a 20-mile ride.

Along the way, by Cedar Lake I noticed how “mean” the geese are now. It’s not a surprise, they turn much more aggressive this time of year every year—because late spring is when they have goslings to protect. And I suppose a huge mammal travelling along at 15 mph is a legitimate health risk to even an adult goose, let alone a little one.

So I got hissed at and one goose even spread his (or her) wings and jumped at me. I wasn’t that startled, didn’t have any goose-related accident or anything, but most of the time they’ll just hiss.

Well, even this cool week, it’s been good to get some miles in. After the late afternoon department year-end wrap up, I stopped at campus again and grabbed some files. Wednesday began around 8 a.m. and didn’t wrap up until well after midnight—senior grades were due today. More grading awaits, but I hope the weather allows me to travel to some graduation events as is only fitting in spring.

On two wheels.

Me, after the meeting, just about to head home. It's not THAT late since the sun doesn't set anymore until 8 or so, but it's latish and  cloudy, so I have lights on.

In Which Bike To Work Week Starts Out Too Wet

People leaving Warde Hall Monday afternoon. An empty and wet bike rack is off to the left, with no Francis in it. Maybe tomorrow.

Well, I missed chance at the brass ring today. They have a program at MMU where you can register each day this week that you commute by bike in a prize drawing for a gift card at a local bike shop.

Today, there was the threat of rain this morning following by the reality of rather strong storms this afternoon. I drove and I don’t regret it. “Bike to Work Week” is off to a bit of a slow start, but I’m sure I’ll be riding more as the week goes on.

In Which 17 Miles On A Fine Warm Day Pass Too Quickly

Tulip in my front yard, blooming along with  many daffodils and hyacinth on this warm summer-like day.

The busy weeks are here, and not that I begrudge the world a break, but it’s not terribly convenient to have it so beautiful outside when I have so much to do inside.

Still, I took the longer trail ride home, and before I got there, was waylaid by the siren song of the Lindale and Boyson trails. Near Mendards, a young boy was biking by clutching a bunch of bluebells—for mom or a special girl, I suppose.

Dogs and dog walkers and bikers and joggers were out in force—although I was a bit surprised to see so many more on the Boyson trail than on the Cedar River Trail. Of course, I was there later, and the Boyson Trail is close to lots of residential neighborhoods.

On the Cedar River Trail, I spied a lass who was wearing a Team Joe shirt. It was none other than my little sister Cate, who is doing lots of organizing for this year’s RAGBRAI ride.

Anyway, it was indeed a gorgeous day. I parked inside due to morning sprinkles, but a warm summer-like sun heated up the afternoon, and I drank almost my full water bottle.

The computer said 17 miles .And I did the Bowman Woods hill, too. Not bad for a busy Wednesday.

In Which Sweet Smells Accompany The Ride

Two views of pretty pink Magnolia tree in bloom on F Avenue. I have a magnolia in my back yard, but it's smaller and has darker flowers. Magnolias, whether pink or red, do swell sweet.

Early spring has a particular odor to it, and it’s not always pleasant. It’s sometimes the accumulated winter dog byproduct mixed with decaying worms on the sidewalk.

But we’re weeks past early spring now, and the air has taken a noticeable turn for the better. I was passing a magnolia tree on F Avenue NE, and stopped to snap some photos of its blooms partly due to the sweet smells this pretty pink tree was putting out. The tree is right by the street, so I couldn't help but notice it's flowers and their perfume.

I shot the magnolia in late afternoon light—it was pushing 7 by then. Later, as I was entering my house, I was impressed at how the setting sun made a blooming Rhododendron bush in my front yard positively glow.

It, the Rhododendron, doesn't give out an odor. At least it doesn't smell like a pear tree. And more sweet smells are on the way—peonies and lilacs have yet to bloom, and once those lilacs pop, well, the morning and evening bike commutes, already pleasant, will be even nicer.

Rhododendron at sunset. Another biking day comes to a close.

In Which Wet May 1 Ride Pushes Me Past 600 Miles

Noticed this tree in bloom near the gym at MMU on my morning ride. When I walked over to it in the afternoon to take its picture, there were hundreds of bees. Springtime image.

The April rides ended before the month did—the start of this week was just too darn wet for bike commuting.

I don’t quite have the full dedication that Jenion has—she just completed riding 30 days in a row in April. Well, way to go.

Me, I skip the really wet or snowy days. But on May 1, it was sprinkling in the morning and I was really itching to ride. So, I did. And then, after I was at work, had one of those “thunk” moments where I didn’t’ actually strike my forehead because that would hurt and I don’t like pain, but I could have. I had a tour of the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s video facilities scheduled that afternoon and was planning to drive to work that day as a result.

So, mid-day on a day when I didn't really have the time to spare, I found myself biking like a mad man back home to get, of all things, a car. Forgive me, bike gods, but I knew I didn't have time to return for an evening class if I had been on two wheels.

Anyway, while the ride Wednesday morning pushed my year’s total past 600 miles, Friday was much grander. A beautiful spring day. The bee photo was one I shot in the afternoon before leaving campus, but I did notice the sweet blooming fruit tree on the bike trek up the hill Friday morning. The day finished with me meeting grandchildren at a park on Council and 74th streets, and having a pleasant ride home with one 3-year-old granddaughter, and then a short ride on the Lindale Trail with a 3-year-old grandson. (They are around 3, both have late May birthdays, don’t think they are 3 yet).

I don’t think I’m going to take the 31-day challenge—doubt I will ride every day in May. But maybe I could get to 500 miles this month. After all, I did 323.5 miles in April …

Miles in January, February, March and April. Was just shy of 600 until May 1 ride.

What the MMU bee tree was like--the noise in the video, by the way, is just wind on the mircrophone or passing traffic on Prairie Drive--the bees were very numerous and totally silent:

In Which The Bluebells Bloom In Woods By The Bridge

Bluebells in bloom beside a bike trail in Marion.

It’s been getting further into spring in Iowa, the grass is green now, daffodils and tulips coming into bloom. I took a morning ride on the Boyson Trail, just to get on the other side of the Brentwood hill for RAGBRAI hill climbing practice.

Same plant, second view.

I was thinking how much more green it’s looking, but beyond the crocus and daffodils, I haven’t seen many flowers, especially outside of gardens.

And suddenly, they were there. In the low wet soil, a bunch of pretty bluebells. And once I had spotted them, it seemed like flowers were everywhere. Dandelions are suddenly dotting lawns, violets peek out from forest cover, there are anonymous small pink and white flowers among the forest grass.

Small trees are just starting to leaf out. Maples are beyond blooming and showing their tiny first leaves.

The morning ride was a bit odd—I ran into some sort of organized race along the trail that I didn't expect—but in the quiet of the woods it was nice to see confirmation that spring is fully underway.

And today I got in 19 miles--did not have time for more, but that wasn't bad. Just over 300 so far in April, and with rain coming, that may end up being it for the month.

View from the trail bridge is getting more and more spring green.

In Which I Reflect On the Morning Ride Reflections

View of creek beside Cedar River Trail this morning.

It was a bit cloudy this morning, but I took the slightly longer trail route in to work. The Cedar River Trail parallels a creek for much of the way. I was thinking about how water in morning light pleasantly reflects the sky and trees— how pretty that can be, but how hard to capture via a photo.

A photo freezes an instant of time. But part of the pleasure of seeing water as you ride is movement—the water’s and yours. And there is sound. Of course the hum of traffic on nearby I-380, but also the various voices of birds declaring  their territories in the morning light. And the quiet sounds of the bicycle itself, the little squeaks of the pedals, clicks of shifting gears, the mild rumble of tire against asphalt.

On this morning’s ride, one unfamiliar pretty bird darted in front of me. It was red and brown and white with an interesting double V shape to its wings, and I couldn't tell what it was, and then it was gone.

For some reason, a mama duck amused me as she sat in a puddle of a tire rut beside the trail. There’s a creek nearby, dear, and there you won’t have bikes practically on top of you.

Lady Duck in puddle by the trail.

The afternoon ride was not quite so pleasant—it had started to rain, and it was a cool, penetrating, cooling rain.

It must have motivated me to peddle faster. I was home in 25 minutes, and the 4-miles to Mount Mercy usually take me closer to 30 minutes. I guess a faster bike ride is one way to try to stay warm!