In Which I Anticipate More Shade

April 13--Ride on Grant Wood Trail east of Marion. True sign of spring, Dandelion in bloom by trail.

Spring comes from the ground up in Iowa, and for weeks, the grass has been slowly turning green, insects have started to appear, the early flowers have been in bloom—and now spring is slowly rising up, as it does. Lilacs and small trees such as Redbud and Crab Apple are in bloom. Some larger trees—maples, for instance—have been fuzzy with the new season for a while, but the Oak and Walnut and Catalpa have been snoozing through early spring.

No more. Young Oak are showing tiny new leaves, and even their older, slower cousins have swollen, greenish looking buds.

April 17--Bluebell by trail near Menard's.

Snake on the trail, March 28.

April 17--Eagle glides over bike trail--I'm stopped to make images of the Bluebells beside the trail.

And as spring has slowly been taking hold, my biking is slowly getting better. I have not done any 40-mile nor even 30-mile rides yet, but riding 10 miles is no longer an ordeal for me. On Palm Sunday, I actually rode 20 miles in my most epic ride to date. My first outdoor bike ride after heart surgery was March 17, and in March I rode a grand total of 36.18 miles. April come she will—it’s the 28th so April is not quite over, and I have rolled 144 miles across my small corner of the planet.

My incision still bothers me at times. I do still get more easily winded. But as April has grown warmer and spring has entered its mid phase—well, I can tell I am stronger. I have for many years been an old, slow biker, but I was ridiculously slow in March. I feel that my speed has significantly picked up as April has gone on—not back to where I was before heart bypass surgery in January, yet it is still good to see my riding improve. And it is good to see spring, and I anticipate that shade will be coming soon as the tree canopy gains itself.

April 22--Ride down to Cedar Lake, new construction area.

April 18--Near Tower Terrace Road on Creek Trail--Beaver swims in pond.

Late afternoon sunshine near south end of Boyson Trail April 2.

April 26--On mountain bike trail off of Boyson Trail.

Bike parked near bridge, April 26 ride.

My rides have been mostly on nearby bike trails. Weather and time have not been kind to my work plans, and while I rode to campus Sunday for an art reception, I have not yet resumed regularly commuting by bicycle.

There are only 3 weeks of the semester left. And if weather cooperates, campus is well within my range now. The miles there aren’t as flat as my trail rides near home. Yet, while I don’t want to tackle any big hill yet, I’m sure the small rises between me and Mount Mercy University are doable.

Like spring, I’m warming up. I’m getting to be a stronger biker. And that’s been a nice trend.

Am I ready to ride to campus? Yes. Rode there April 27 for an art reception.

In Which Birds of Spring Squawk ‘Go Away’

Headed downtown on trail, by Cedar Lake.

Cedar River, viewed on ride east on Otis Road.

Lake at Prairie Park Fishery.

Headed north on trail, once again passing Cedar Lake.

I encountered him about 16 miles into a 22-mile ride. A red-winged blackbird sat by the bridge where the Cedar River Trail passes over the Cedar River Trail (a couple of miles north of Cedar Lake the trail does a little loop and crosses itself).

I couldn’t see the red well on his wing because of the way he was sitting, but when wind ruffled his feathers, there was a peek his wing patches. Anyway, he was only maybe 6 feet from me, at the same level since he was in the canopy of a tree rooted at the base of the bridge, and he wasn’t backing down.

The blackbird wasn't singing in the dead of night, he was yelling in the light of day right by the trail. "Bikers, stay away!"

A turn to the left.

Spring. Birds in Iowa get a bit wacko—reproduction induced aggressive. Blackbirds are very territorial and fearless for much of the spring and summer—the reason smart Iowans wear either hats or helmets. Talon protection. A blackbird may dive at you and try to do a quick warning scratch. Luckily, my trail guarder was content to just shout at me as I made images of him.

Well, it is the season. Soon, Geese will get mean. They are usually not shy birds anyway, but they get particularly defensive when babies are around.

Daffodils blooming at Warde Hall, Mount Mercy University campus.

Well, avian dinosaurs were a theme of the ride today. Although I have too much to do for next week (sis, I should have been grading too and will pay for it now), I couldn’t resist taking my first spring ride of some distance—over 20 miles—on this cool, sunny, windy day.

I headed out at 2:30 in the afternoon, riding first to campus. I wanted to see if flowers were in bloom there yet (did not see any). Campus was also convenient for a restroom break. Then I headed to Cedar Lake and downtown on the trail, intending to go south of the Cedar River.

But there is work going on at the south end of the Bridge of Lions, and I didn’t feel like doubling back to find the detour crossing, so instead I went east towards the Otis Road area on the new trail along the flood dike. My target was the Prairie Park Fishery, so between Cedar Lake, the Cedar River and the lake at the fishery, it was sort of a water-themed, as well as bird themed, spring ride.

Seen on Otis Road before I get to Prairie Park Fishery. Eagle.

Circling back.

The world in Iowa is still a brown place, but spring is in the air. Some new grass is just starting to get green, crocuses are starting to bloom and daffodils are knifing out of the soil, but Iowa isn’t get it’s lush, green growing season self yet. Still, the sky was a beautiful blue, bikers and walkers were out and the winter feeling is leaving my corner of the planet.

Along the Cedar River, I noticed a bit of ice still in some quiet, backwater areas. White gulls in force were gathered at the edge of the ice. Most of the river was open, however, and snow has almost all melted on land. Besides my pal the blackbird, I watched a robin foraging for early spring insects as I ate a snack at the fishery, and I also photographed an eagle that was flying west of me on Otis Road.

Ice at north edge of quiet area of Cedar River--with a gull party, too.

Robin hunts at Prairie Park Fishery.

Selfie at mid-ride break, Prairie Park Fishery.

What a day! There were lots of other nice days this week, but because of a spring break trip to Chicago, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I did not get much bike riding in—one reason for the longer ride today. I rode 22.36 miles today, and a week ago, before the trip, added a few more, so for the past 8 days I have 29.65 miles, 88.33 for March so far, 351.48 for the year.

I’m sure I will ride tomorrow—I have to go to campus to get some work done—but won’t have time for such a long ride. Which is a shame, since it should be even warmer tomorrow. But still, today was a nice spring day, a sign, I hope, of longer rides to come.

As for today, the dinosaurs and I enjoyed it.

Clarence, my hybrid bike, parked at Mount Mercy University.

Sunshine on Cedar River Trail, pretty sunny day for a ride!

Map of ride.

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.

In Which a Hoped-For Eagle Appears

Heading south on C Avenue bike lane early in the ride.

I took an afternoon ride today—no need for lights. It was a fairly quick ride, probably 90 percent on streets with a few jaunts on trails, but relatively quiet ones.

I wanted a ride that was mostly street in nature, and to avoid the busiest trails. I decided to aim for Ellis Park. It was mostly a ride on streets, although the route there does include a trail on top of a flood control levee south of the Cedar River.

Third Avenue bike lane in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Bike trail on top of levee west of downtown area on south side of river.

On the north side of the Cedar River, in in recent years, a nesting pair of eagles have their home high in a tall cottonwood tree.

Luck was on my side. On this nice, sunny day, an eagle sat in a tree next to the nest, watching the river.

Eagle on north side of Cedar River, seen from south side. Below, the nest is in the next tree.

Ellis Park is one of the older city parks in Cedar Rapids. It’s been damaged by flooding in the past, but is still a nice place. The trail that leads there was pretty quiet today—I suppose most people drive to this park. I rode to near Edgewood Road, the west end of the park, paused to lower my bandana to take a drink, and then headed home.

I was enjoying the network of bike lanes in Cedar Rapids. Some have had recent improvements. On the Third Avenue Bridge, barriers separate cars from the bike lane, and water drains, that used to be perpendicular to the street and thus “bike catchers,” have been replaced with covers that have slots perpendicular to the line of travel—not something I would want to ride across, but if by mistake I did, it would just be a rumble strip and not a nasty fall.

Cedar River, on the way back east on the south side.

5-in-1 damn--crossed by four spans (north and south street and north and south Interstate highway) and is also a dam. Rode by it.

Third Avenue bridge crossing the Cedar River.

Bike lanes downtown are in more proximity to traffic, but traffic late on a Saturday afternoon was very light.

As I approached home, I had ridden more than 18 miles. Rather than head directly home, I briefly detoured down the Lindale Trail (pretty much empty) to add the extra mile I needed to get to 20.

A 20-miles ride on a pretty afternoon, and an eagle. It all makes for a nice day to be on a bicycle!

Deer looking at me from woods beside Lindale Trail.

Today's ride, above and below. Map on app makes it seem like I was drawing a bird on today's eagle ride.

In Which I Contemplate Cold Critters and Cracks

Cedar Lake on Tuesday, pretty and pretty quiet. I don't think that the other birds wanted the company of an eagle who was hanging around.

The week-where-biking-would-not-be turned out to be a week of fine, if cool, biking so far.

And also an entertaining set of creature features.

On Tuesday, just because I could, I took the “long” route home where I ride over to Cedar Lake on the Cedar River Trail. It was a pretty afternoon, but as I approached the north end of the lake, where the ducks and geese usually congregate in open water, it was unusually quiet. The usual goose cocktail party was not in session.

And I noticed a figure out on the ice of the lake—dark. Clearly a black bird, but much too large to quoth like a raven. It seemed eagle size to me, but I wondered because it did not have a clearly white head. And then the eagle sprang into the sky.

Oh. A teenager or yearling. An adult sized bird that has not yet grown into its adult colors. But as it circled overhead, its size, the lightening of the its tail (it’s not white yet, but it’s getting there) and the straight way it would hold its wings—this is clearly the national symbol, just without a white head yet.

I snapped some images and circled the lake. The usual water fowl crowd was hanging out in the smaller lake to the south—maybe not so comfortable with the murderous fisher dino cruising around the larger lake.

Many views of a young eagle at the lake.

As I looped around the lake, returning to the north side, my eagle pal was there, sitting high in an old cottonwood tree. I appreciated he or she sitting for some tree portraits before taking off again to keep the riffraff out of the neighborhood.

More images from Cedar Lake Tuesday. Someone has been ice fishing (above). I heard a clatter and lost my sunglasses, which I recovered. And many trees are being cut out on west end of lake, not sure why.

I count that as a pretty good Tuesday ride.

Cedar River Trail Tuesday, some other users on a cool, cloudy afternoon.

Rooster is OK with Bernie Sanders. Bernie is not Colonel Sanders. Seen on ride home.

Gas station at corner of C and Blair's Ferry is going goodbye.

Today, Ash Wednesday, I was fighting the “wind hill” on the way home. Wind chill was a real thing this afternoon. It had briefly flurried in the afternoon, but the sky was sunny with some broken clouds when I rode home. I was well dressed, and despite the cold wind, was comfortable—so, for no particular reason, I decided to head down the Lindale Trail and climb the Bowman Woods Hill on the way home.

As I rode down the trail, enjoying the pretty golden light, a doe stepped onto the trail may 30 yards in front of me. She leisurely ambled across the trail and I snapped on image of her. Then, silently and quickly, a second doe zipped across the trail, and I caught a series of her running.

First deer, above, series of second running deer, below.

I decided not to cross Lindale Drive at a busy time, and turned down the sidewalk to go through a residential neighborhood to the short side trail. I was lucky it was cold—the limestone trail has been mushy lately, judging by all the cracks, tracks and ruts. I was glad to be on the mountain bike, and went slow.

Then again, I always go slow. It’s how I ride.

All in all, the last week of February, which was to be snowy and turned out dry, has been a pretty good week for rides. As long as you dress warmly.

Pretty afternoon light Wednesday, Lindale Trail.

Angry birds. It's late winter, is mating season making them misbehave?

Why a mountain bike was good for Wednesday ride.