In Which I Chase the Bright Elusive Flutter Bys

Butterfly rests for a minute on bush by my front door.

I had several satisfying bicycle rides this weekend. On Saturday, my wife and I pedaled to a daughter’s house, a bit over a mile away, where we met her and our 5-year-old grandson. The daughter has a seat and wheel attachment for the back of her bike, and all of us took off for a ride to Nixon Park, in nearby Hiawatha.

Saturday was warm and pleasant. We played there for a while, cycled back to their house, enjoyed lunch with them and then returned home. That was, because I was good and tried to do some work that afternoon, the one ride of Saturday.

Grandson ready for ride.

Family ride to park.

Sunday, late morning, my wife announced she would go on a walk. I decided to take the mountain bike out and cycle around the Boyson-Lindale trail area—mountain bike because we actually had a little rain this weekend and there are limestone portions of those trails.

As I was getting my water bottle, my wife called me because a large swallow tail butterfly was resting on a bush in front. I snapped its image just before it left, and began my ride.

I rode to the end of the Lindale Trail, inspected the construction work starting there for a bridge that will extend that trail over a busy street, and enjoyed the many little skippers flitting about the weeds by the end of the trail.

Crossing new Milwaukee Road bridge on trail, headed to site of next new bridge being built.

Looking down from end of Lindale Trail at construction just staring on new bridge.

Tall crane.

Rebar season in Iowa.

Plants near edge of the end of the trail, where the skipper butterflies fly.

I rode on. My goal was to get more than 10 miles, which would require some looping around and a bit to street riding, since the Boyson Trail is not that long. I got to the end of the trail by Menards, and was mesmerized by some hawks, about half a dozen, circling just beyond Highway 100.

I took out my good camera, hoping to catch an image with more than one bird in it. As I looked through the long lens, something about one of the hawks was “off.” It was a bit too big. It was soaring with its wings straight out at the shoulders—hawks usually soar in a bit more of a V shape. Was it?

Yes, it was. An eagle had joined the hawks for their circle party. It was a bit odd, because the birds were not vocalizing nor flying at each other—it’s not often that I see difference species seeming so placid together (especially big birds of prey like eagles that other birds legitimately try to avoid since predators aren’t that picky about who they eat and even if eagles like to fish, they don’t mind picking off other critters to snack on, either). Perhaps this behavior is perfectly normal, maybe they were all circling a good fishing spot—I had just not seen it before.

Two hawks and an eagle. Note how eagle soars with wings straight out, hawks have wings bent a bit.

Always exciting to see an eagle.

As I prepared to mount The Beast (for an old rider like me, one of the most challenging aspects of any bike ride is just swinging my leg up high enough to get it over the bike), I spied a monarch butterfly flitting about. I got the camera out again, but unlike the eagle, who kindly circled for some time for the convenience of nearby biker photographers, the butterfly was in a hurry and flitted away before I made its image.

Oh well. Sunday was gorgeous, an after-storm sort of Iowa day that isn’t too hot, and I enjoyed chasing the bright elusive butterfly that got away.

Later, my wife and I decided to go on a short ride between supper and dessert. Usually, we just ride our own bikes, but today decided to ride the tandem. Tandem riding is a bit challenging for us—it’s a test of communication skills, but we were in compatible mods today. There were a few “oh my Gods” when she thought I took a corner too close or fast, but for the most part, we were fine. We hadn’t planned to go 7 miles, but we did anyway.

It was a fun ride. Chasing happiness on two wheels and catching it.

From work commute earlier this week--sunrise at C Avenue pond.

I had mountain bike, so rode a dirt path by the side trail to the Boyson Trail. That route ended after a few hundred yards. I try to obey signs like this.

I've not the only critter enjoying the Sunday sunshine. Skittering away on bridge rail of trail.