In Which a Turkey Bastes Itself In Sand

Granddaughter who loves fishes is watching them from a bridge while I shoot a biking selfie, or usie. It may be a good thing she's watching her favorite animals--if she paid attention to the camera, her tongue would be out. Gave three grandchildren bike rides today. Maybe being tired after 33 miles is OK.

I worked again on the yard today, but only for a few hours in the morning. The day was mostly a family day—a granddaughter had stayed overnight, so there were pancakes to make in the morning. Then her family came over for lunch.

After lunch, I gave the youngest sibling in that clan a ride home on Francis, and then took the more northern, longer route that leads to the Boyson Trail on the bridge by the Marion High School football stadium to add up some miles.

There were some interesting scenes on the trail on my ride back home. On the side trail that leads to Menards, as I was heading back towards the Boyson Trail, I rounded a bend to find an odd sight. There is a place beside the trail where there had been a fair amount of erosion during spring rains, and the ditch beside the trail is filled with loose sand washed down from the hillside above. In that sandy area, a large turkey was apparently enjoying a warm afternoon sand bath. I stopped and photographed it. The turkey noted my presence and got up to walk away—in not a big hurry, I might add.

Well, a self-sand-basting turkey.

The turkey in the sand, above, and walking across the trail after it is bothered by a biker with a camera. People are so rude.

I also noted one of my favorite June flowers is in bloom—Catalpa are opening up. This showy tree with the huge heart-shaped leaves also produces nice sized, mostly white, pretty flowers. They seem to start flowering pretty early in life, as trees go. I have a tulip tree that is 30 feet tall and a maple that is 15 feet tall, neither of which bloomed this spring. But Catalpa seem to bloom by the time they hit about 8 feet. It gives me some hope for the 5-foot young Catalpa in my yard. Maybe next year?

Along Boyson Trail. Catalpa in bloom.

I went home, took a short nap, and then helped entertain two other grandkids who dropped by. I ended up giving one a ride to Culver’s in Hiawatha for supper, and then transported a child of the other clan home. I was a bit tired by the end of the day. I rode 33 miles. That could dishearten me a bit—a day of RAGBRAI can easily be double that—but then again, on a day of RAGBRAI I would not tote 20 bags of woods chips around and spread them in a new play area of my yard.

Which I did this morning before the bike rides. Plus, over half my miles featured passengers with me on Francis. So maybe 33 isn’t all that bad. And now, before bed, I must bathe my dirty biking body. In water, not sand.

In Which A Long Ride on The Beast Tops 1,000 Miles

The far south end of the ride, the pond at the Ely City Park. Reflections of the way life used to be. You're welcome for the ear worm.

No, not the one ride—that would, indeed, be an epic ride—I mean that I rode about 35 miles today, and that puts me at 1,020 miles and some change for the year so far.

At one point, when I was about an hour into a three-hour afternoon ride down to Ely, I passed a gentleman stopped by the side of the trail. He was doing an odd sort of prance, which I assume, based, on our conversation, was probably due to a foot cramp.

Me: Is everything OK?
He: I’m fine, I just need some new feet.
Me: While we’re at it, I’d like a new butt.

Indeed, the main weak spot, the biggest concern I have going into the Tour the Raccoon Ride next weekend—especially if I ride The Beast—is the soreness of my butt. It was very sore indeed following today’s ride, which was done wearing proper bike shorts. On the other hand, I did do more than half of the length of one day’s ride (the tour is two consecutive days of about 60 miles), and I’m typing this without any serious lingering ill effects.

A train passes under the trail and over a bridge on the Cedar River. It was moving so fast that it made its own wind on the bike trail bridge.

Weakness number two is my back. It gets very stiff and sore on The Beast, and 60 miles will be a trial.

Still, I rode 35 today. I was going to credit myself with 30, figuring I had ridden 4 miles in the morning to get to campus, and then ridden to Ely and back to home in three hours in the afternoon. That would have meant I was going about 8 mph on The Beast.

But, here’s the thing. I was surprised, today, at how fast I was biking. I rode most of the route in 3-7, the fastest gears, because I’m so used to The Beast now that it doesn't feel like I’m “pumping” too hard in that gear. And, while The Beast can’t compete with Fancy Bike for speed, it didn't feel a lot slower than cruising on Francis. And on Francis, on a long trail ride, I go faster than 8 mph.

So I tried plotting my route on “Map My Ride.” And that’s where I came up with the 35 figure. I’ll go with it.

The gnats were out in force, and that was unpleasant, but otherwise it was a beautiful day for a ride. The sky was full of pretty puffy white clouds, the sun shone warmly (but not hot), there wasn't much wind—it was a day for flying on a bike.

I was tempted to do the Sac and Fox again, but decided to go to Ely just because I have not in a while. And so I did.

My butt would like to put in for a transfer. My back is threatening to spasm. Yet, I completed 35 miles at a fairly fast pace (over 10 mph) on The Beast. I think that makes for a good biking day, and it’s a decent omen for the Raccoon ride.

I do hope Francis is back for the ride. Still, if it must be The Beast, I’m starting to be more at peace with that. If the conditions are right, even The Beast can move.

Catalpa near Cedar Lake in bloom. Naturally, I stopped to take a drink and a picture (the drink was from water I carried, I do not subsist, like a bee, off of flower nectar).