In Which Cold Rain Falls

Pond on C Avenue, morning sun on Wednesday.

I did not ride today, which is mildly funny because it was a warmer day today, and I have been on two wheels during much colder mornings this week.

The difference is that I knew I had to say on campus late into the evening, and rain was possible. As it turned out, a light, cold slight drizzle was falling as I drove home today—justification for not being on two wheels.

I can dress for cold. Neither any of my bikes nor I react that well to getting wet.

Still, I was impressed Wednesday morning, yesterday, with how pretty the partly cloudy sky was on a fine frosty late fall morning in Iowa. I shot the images here on my ride into work, and felt a little guilty, because, as usual in the morning, I was in a hurry.

I was riding the Fancy Beast mountain bike, and I really enjoy that bike even if I don’t like wearing a backpack. The bike itself has wide tyres and shocks in front, and even if it’s my slowest bike and does not have the carrying capacity of my hybrid bike, is still the most fun to ride, as long as the distance is not too great.

And Friday the day should be dry. Back to two wheels, probably using the mountain bike!

Morning shadows Monday on C Avenue near Collins Road.

In Which The Ride Features Flurries

I arrive on campus on a grey Monday morning. Catherine McAuley seems dressed for this winter-like weather. I was hoping to show some flakes in the air, but I don't think you can see them very well.

On Sunday, I had to go to campus to grade some projects and papers. Because it was possible that it would rain, I drove a car.

The storm, which was quite impressive in some places, passed south of us. We didn’t see a flake.

And the winds picked up and the temperature dropped. It was in the upper 20s this morning, which, if the sun is shining and the winds are calm, is honestly not all an unpleasant temperature to be outside.

But, the wind was brisk and the sky grey. Because it was not supposed to snow, I decided I could dress for the weather and bike.

And, of course, on the way to work it began to snow. Is was enough to see some powdery wisps dancing across the cold pavement, but never really enough to cover the ground.

Dressing for the weather mean I didn’t really mind the cold that much. In the early afternoon, returning to my office after class, I noticed a car parked at the University Center. While our ground is bare, this car was caked with wet snow that had frozen to it. It had license plates from a county a bit south of here.

The snow car parked on campus around 12:30 p.m.

We dodged that blizzard of 2018. Based on the forecast, I was thinking I would be driving most of this week, as I waited for pavement to get clear. In fact, I’m thinking of adding a layer and possibly riding Tuesday, when it will be even colder than today.

And, based on what happened south of here, I will not complain about a few random flakes the in the air!

In Which the Bridge is White

Ready to ride--winter bike in driveway this morning. Note snow on car and on pavement.

Snow! Late in the evening Nov. 8, a dusting of powder descended from the sky. Overnight, less than an inch of snow was sprinkled on the landscape.

The pavement was, for the most part, too warm and the snow melted and dissipated. A bit of snow collected on grassy areas and leaves, enough to give this cold November day a decidedly wintery feel.

C Avenue Bridge this morning. Those are not my tyre tracks--I have not crossed the bridge yet, so someone else was out biking, too.

But, with nothing more falling, I felt OK getting the mountain bike out this morning.

The ride to work was fine, although when I got to the Rockwell-Collins entrance, a pedestrian on the driveway to my right did a little disco dance as his feet tried to slide out from under him, and he tossed up his hands to grain balance.

It worked, he didn’t fall, but it was a reminder that not all of the melted snow on pavement disappeared. There were some icy spots.

Well, I went more slowly than usual, and reached campus.

The MMU Bike Club was to have a ride this afternoon, but I’m thinking it’s not terribly likely to happen. The clouds have rolled away into a milky sky, but the wind has picked up and it’s still cold out there.

Despite the chill, I was comfortable this morning—I know from long experience how to dress for cold biking.

So I don’t mind the snow. At least not in November. Don’t ask in March.

Parked in bike rack behind Warde Hall--very Christmasy looking bike picture.