In Which Bugs Still Hang on in November

Nov. 9--Bike parked on Creek Trail beside the Boyson Trail--Sewage project continues, but the trail has been opened again.

It’s November in Iowa, and now definitely looks like fall. The landscape is starting to take on its muted brown hues, and the look of woods beside the trails is different now, as leaves leave and leave us with a different, unobstructed view of the land.

And yet, on the ground, green hangs on a bit. A few later flowers, like Asters, aren’t yet all spent. On Thursday this week, I wandered a bit on my ride to work, riding out the Cedar River Trail via the new western leg of the Lindale Trail and the street that goes by Theisen’s. Along the way, I saw a flash of yellow in the corner of my eye—butterflies are a rarity now, but one was flitting about in the cool morning air. It was gone by the time I stopped and took my camera out, but it was a reminder of how warm this autumn has been.

Fortunately, it has not continued as dry—which has reduced the days I can ride, but I’m OK with that. The soil needs to store some moisture before the winter freeze, especially after the very dry September and October we had.

Nov. 2--Just climbed the hill on C Avenue, while I get ready to go down Lindale Trail, chain shifts off of the front year. Fortunately, I knew enough to stop right away so the chain didn't get lodged--quickly fixed.

Cedar Lake seen on indirect ride to work Nov. 7.

It rained today (I wrote this Saturday, Nov. 9), which kept me inside this afternoon, but I knew from my weather app that there was a chance of a ride this morning. It was sprinkling as I got The Fancy Beast mountain bike out of the garage. As expected, according to the app, the sprinkles ended quickly, so my morning ride was mostly dry.

I went on the Boyson Trail because it was nearby and I knew rain would be coming. I had the mountain bike because I thought I would gamble and see if the new Creek Trail is still closed. It’s not, they have opened it. It’s been wet, the end of the trial near the Boyson Trail is a shallow pond when rain falls. Still, they have replaced the section of trail that they recently dug up, so I rode out to Boyson Road before returning.

Nov. 7--Dandelion fluff near Collins Aerospace on Lindale Trail. Near where I saw the butterfly.

Before heading home, I cycled out to Oak Shade Cemetery and walked over to say hello to my parents, recently buried there.

November has had a few days where I did not ride due to rain, but as of Nov. 9 I have still managed almost 70 miles—66.78 so far, giving me 2,743.99 miles for the year.

And a butterfly! Is it really November?

Nov. 11--Creek Trail--where it used to be closed and is now open.