Max

March 12, 2000 - May 24,

You touched the hearts of so many the world over. Rest in Peace, sweet Max.

Windy Ride

The weather this week has not been conducive to riding - very windy. But I had not been on a bike since Sunday, I had to get out an ride yesterday (Friday). By noon, the sky was clear, temperature in the low 60s, and a 10-20+ mph wind from the SSW. I settled for a ride on the Wabash Trace. Besides, I wanted to check out paving progress in Malvern.
As I unloaded the hardtail in Silver City, a young man came over to talk with me. There it a new business opening in Silver City - Austins on the Trail. The restaurant and lounge will be in the old Wabash Bar and Grill building at 405 Main St. Austin's is planning to open December 1st.
On down The Trace. Other than for the wind, it was a beautiful day for a bike ride. At lease the trees along the trail offer some shelter. Stopped at the Silver Creek bridge for water and photos.
Just South of the Silver Creek Bridge there is a deadfall down blocking the trail (about 1/3 mile south - 2/3 miles North of 305th St). It took some effort, but worked the bike through the branches and was able to continue riding down the Trace.
There are smaller branches and limbs littered all over the trail. That is not surprising with the wind we have been having the last week.

At Janke Rd the barricade was down. I could see workers a little down the trail. Rode on the new paved trail to where they were working. I was advised that basically, the new surface was available for riding. They were pouring the last footings for railings at a couple culverts.
Most of the shouldering work is done. Next week (first week of December) they should complete leveling the shoulders, seed the shoulder, and sweep the trail surface.
While the trail is not yet officially "open" through Malvern, it is rideable. Just watch for construction.
More paving photos are on the Wabash Trace Facebook page.

Delays and Boredom

It's doing this today. And it rained all yesterday too. With wind - some. We were supposed to leave to start our grand adventure this morning but... and it's not only da rain. Stayed tuned...
So. We've been very bored. Mom didn't catch our pawesome work last night on candid cam, but we're posting some recycled octopus destruffing activity from a ways back. We did a good job then, and we did a great job on a duck last night.
Don't look at me - check out the great Sammers.
So whattya think? Great job, eh?
We are a great team when faced with boredom! (And it looks like several more days of rain too, not that we don't like waters - we do!)
The other problem that's causing our delay is that the transmission on our towing truck is being replaced - owwwwooooooooooh. We are all hoping to depart by Sunday, but we'll keep you posted!

Hugs xoxoxo

Signs that might be omens

Just after leaving the house, I spied a large kettle of vultures. Maybe someone had left a dead calf again. You know, in that place just down the road where old sofas go to die? But the Purifying Ones streamed out on high before I reached them.
I had a passenger when I spotted the biggest gathering of crows I'd ever seen in my life. Fifty at least, I'm sure, and what in the world were they doing downtown? But once we cleared the next building they were nowhere in sight, leaving me the only witness to the murder.
On the way home I drove towards a sun dog, so bright that it fooled me, until I noticed the other sun.
Back at base, with atmospheric optics too low to photograph, I was on my way to consult some sacred chickens about some eggs. A wedge of Canada Geese flew directly overhead. Not uncommon at this time of year, but combined with the other events of the day, I had a feeling I was going to get bombed from above. Didn't happen though.
Lucky me.
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Links:
Nifty vulture facts.
Roman superstitions.
Collective animal words.

A Trifecta?

The weather started cooperating again this week. Little windy for Tuesday Ride - I was the only one for the slower ride. I rode Valley View trail up to IWCC.
Yesterday was a little better. Went to Trail Center to ride (not sure if Indian Creek trail would be open). Rode Riverfrom trail to Northway and back. Would have ridden more, but it was cloudy and getting cool.
Today, was a really nice day. By noon, it was light wind and 55 degrees. My mountain bike was not shifting right, so stopped by Xtreme Wheels to have it checked out. From the shop, I rode over to Lake Manawa on the paved bike trail. There, I wanted to look at the condition of the mountain bike trail.
Out from the parking lot, the trail looked good to ride. Rode West Sidewinder, frequently the driest trail. Most of the trail was dry, with a couple of slightly soft spots. Coming out of the trail, I hit something that bent the de-railer. Did some work to getting the bike ridable to get back to the shop.
After the second repairs of the day, the wind had been picking up. Decided to ride over the the Wabash Trace. Rode about 2 miles up the Trace to check out the trail conditions. The trail is mostly dry and firm. Some places are a little soft. As usual, the surface has been damaged by earlier riding under wet conditions. There appears to be some horse hoofprints - not as bad as last year. Also, damage from motorized vehicle spinning wheels under wet conditions.
As Zack called it - a Trifecta -- riding on pavement, in the dirt, and on crushed limestone.

Out like a lion

Over the past two days March has gone out like a roaring lion. Blizzards have swept Scotland, closing roads, railways and ferry services. Very tragically, a school student was killed in a coach accident at the start of what was to be a recreational Easter trip.
The back of my daughter's hoodie above should really be re-printed as 'We didn't get to Orkney Music Tour ..'. The school baroque orchestra and chamber choir were due to leave on Tuesday evening, travelling north to Inverness by coach, staying the night in Inverness, then travelling on to Scrabster next day and taking the ferry to Kirkwall. The school decided to cancel the trip on Tuesday afternoon as the weather worsened. Huge disappointment - no concerts in Stromness and Kirwall, no sightseeing of Skara Brae, Scapa Flow, the Ring of Brodgar - but it was a wise decision. The road they would have travelled was blocked by snow in several places. The ferries were only just operating, with many services cancelled and no guarantee that they would be able to cross. And even if they did, the sea conditions were atrocious. Seas 'rough to very rough', winds of gale force 8 to severe gale 9.
In the centre of Edinburgh it was easy to have a false sense of security about the conditions. We had wet snow, with the usual city slush.

But the harbour wall was breached at Leith, and just a few miles outside Edinburgh roads were blocked and the main East Coast line blocked by a landslide. Yes, it was a pity the orchestra and choir missed their trip, but it wouldn't have been worth the risk.

Thanksgiving

Made my annual trip to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving. Spend a couple nights at my mom's place. Was good to see her. Doing well since the broken hip.
Thanksgiving day was the my cousin Sue's place. Packer game is on the TV. Packers won against the Detroit Lions - was not a pretty game. A win, non-the-less.
Lots of good food. I brought bags of Chex Mix and a crock pot of meatballs. We all ate too much.
Then it was off to Sheridan Lanes for the annual bowling tourney. Cousin Allyson had t-shirts made (see photo). The photo is of my Aunt Audrey's family, my Mom, and me.
Was a bit too much activity for my brain. Really tired and had a head ache when i got home to my mom's apartment. Home the next day.
Did not bring a bike with the trip. Too short trip and I have problems sleeping on my mom's sofa.