In Which I March Into Spring

8 a.m.--ready to leave.

OK, after my whiney snow post lament yesterday, March 1 was a new day.

There had been a chance of snow yesterday and a minor chance today—but only for potential flurries.

It was, by the standards of this bitter winter, a relatively pleasant morning. My garage door was embedded in ice and sealed shut by Mother Nature, but I sprinkled some deicer at the edge of the door Thursday night.

Friday, I wondered—would the door open? I pressed the button, and there was a brief noise, and the door stuck. And then I worked my way through the cold garage, gripped the door and gave it a brief tug—and pop. It moved up an inch—just an inch, but enough to completely break the ice seal that had glued it to the pavement, and when I pressed the button again, the door went up.

The driveway is a sheet of ice, as is the first half mile of the C Avenue sidewalk. But I knew from drives this week that streets, in general, while unusually narrow, are mostly bare pavement. Despite a forecast for possible snow, the milky sky was actually sunny. Too nice of a morning to entomb myself in metal, if I could find a route.

I wheeled the mountain bike out of the garage and prepared for the trip to campus—long underwear, two pairs of socks, warm winter boots. But it was not a really the full winter regalia—I didn’t bother with a scarf, didn’t put on three layers under my coat, did not even take a hat, depending on the thin hood of my biking jacket to protect my ears.

Halfway to campus, I mildly regretted that final decision, but still, overall, it was a nice ride.

Milky sunshine behind Kenwood School this morning.

Near the golf course at the end of Eastern--the leaning snow person of Cedar Rapids seen in a yard.

It's looking even sunnier as I climb the MMU Hill on Mercy Drive.

I rode my bicycle 40 yards or so west to the corner of Brentwood Drive and C Avenue. The C Avenue sidewalk was, as expected, in terrible shape, with this corner particularly treacherous because a bit of melting had created a smooth ice rink there. Nevertheless, I rode—very slowly. It’s my one biking superpower. I can’t ride fast, but I can balance at incredibly low speeds.

When I got to the first corner, I decided to cross C Avenue and ride the back streets up by Target—adding distance to my ride, but avoiding the C Avenue sidewalk hill climb on ice.

Once past that one small stretch of sidewalk, the ride was uneventful and, except for uncomfortably chilled ears, quite pleasant. An earworm started, U2 singing about streets with no name, although in my mind the chorus was “streets with no snow.”



And the day, while still too cool for the start of March, turned sunny and pretty. I made some images of campus on my way from here to there today, enjoying the sunshine and, for once, not being a mole person, not going everywhere in the tunnels.

I grabbed a coffee on my way across campus--view as I climb the hill to the library early in the afternoon. Despite the snow, it does look a little like spring.

The ride home was similar. The afternoon sky had turned a bit cloudy, and I did turn on my lights and put away my sun glasses—but the day had been sunny enough and warm enough that the streets were, if anything, in better shape.

Bono left me alone, and maybe I missed him. I took a more direct route home, heading over to C Avenue through the Collins Aerospace parking lots from F Avenue. I knew the C Avenue sidewalk would still be terrible, but figured I could walk my bike for a half mile.

The sidewalk by Collins Aerospace was just fine. And as I neared Blairs Ferry Road, near the pond on C Avenue, a large hawk landed on a street light. I took out my camera, but the hawk flew off—but not far, just down to the edge of the frozen pond. As I neared that spot, the bird looked at me over the snow and took to the air, landing on a picnic table kiosk.

Well, cool.

Hawk seen on the ride home on C Avenue, above and below.

On to home. The C Avenue sidewalk was indeed a sheet of ice, and I did walk my bike. I was glad for the winter boots—if I had regular shoes on, I’m sure I would have slipped more than once, but with a slow old man stroll down the hill, I was fine.

True, an Arctic Vortex will again chill this corner of the world—and it’s very unlikely I will try for a repeat ride Monday. True, the C Avenue bike lane south of Collins Road is pretty much covered right now, and thus my usual bicycle route is unusable. But I didn’t have too much trouble biking today, on March 1.

Let’s hope that’s a sign.

Front wheel on C Avenue, I pause briefly on the final walk home. Lots of slick ice and the bike kept trying to skid away from me, but happily no falls. I think I was wise to walk down this hill.