Week One of 30 Days of Biking, April 1-7, 2020

 Day 1 of 30 Days of Biking

I began participating in 30 Days of Biking in 2014 and have done it every year except in 2020. Nothing to do with Covid-19, I just decided to take a break. My intentions were good as I started my ride this morning to pick up my CSA share from North Star Homestead Farms at the parking lot of the local library. I had pumped up the tires on my trusty Marin 7-speed with saddle bags perfect for picking up groceries. I got about a 1/2 mile into my approximately one mile ride to the library and my rear tire went flat. I tried to pump it up with the pump I had onboard but the tube wouldn't hold air. I had my cell phone with me so called Mike for a rescue. I didn't want to risk damaging the tire and rim by walking back home. After being stymied by a flat in the morning, I rode my Bob Jackson to see my mom at Aspen Acres in the afternoon. This is the fifth time I've been able to visit her in the last two weeks.

I like to write haikus during my 30 Days of Biking:

First of thirty days (of biking)

Blue skies, sun shining brightly

Nip in the air, cold

 

Day 2 of 30 Days of Biking

Today brought warmer temperatures than yesterday but fairly strong, gusty winds. Mike and I rode to the end of Airport Rd, about six miles round-trip. There's still some snow in places along the sides of the road.

Strong winds, warmer temps

Lots of gravel on the road

Soon peepers will sing

 

Day 3 of 30 Days of Biking

Warm temps feel so good

A glorious blue sky day

Winds calmer today

I rode with Mike to the end of Airport Rd again today. Then, I rode by myself to Spring Lake and back. The lake is entirely ice free. Along the way I heard just a few frogs, I think Spring Peepers, singing in one or two marshy areas. I bet they'll be many peepers heard in the next few days.

 

Day 4 of 30 Days of Biking

After riding with Mike to the end of Airport Rd, I then rode the bike path around Hayward. It was a warm day, 71F, the warmest spring day yet. On Airport Rd I saw the first snake of the season, a small common garter snake that, unfortunately, was not alive. This is the time of year when snakes and turtles start showing up on roads. I always stop to help them get to safety as I hate to think of these creatures being hit by cars. Sometimes, I'm too late and it makes me sad. I also saw my first large flock of Red-wing Blackbirds, gathered in a tree next to the river, singing their musical-sounding notes. I stopped to record them but the video was too big to upload.

 

Day 5 of 30 Days of Biking

My friend Ginny joined us for a ride today and after riding with Mike to the end of Airport Rd, Ginny and I rode the bike path around Hayward. It was warmer than yesterday, around 79F I believe. I still haven't heard any loud choruses of frogs but I imagine it won't be long now.

 

Day 6 of 30 Days of Biking

Another ride with Mike to the end of Airport Rd. Spring peepers and other frogs were heard, we saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers and Mallards on the river and a large Snapping Turtle heading toward a marsh.

Cooler than Monday

Loud chorus of frogs today

Snapping turtle seen

 

Day 7 of 30 Days of Biking

I recently remembered that April is National Poetry Month
(https://poets.org/national-poetry-month) which goes along nicely with writing haikus.

Cool winds cold on face

Rode in time to miss the rain

Bear in yard last night

 

 

Days 8 to 14 of 30 Days of Biking

This was another week of mostly short rides to town as the weather was not very inviting, with temperatures mostly in the mid 30s during the day. After riding to my morning strength training class on my trusty Marin on Day 8 of 30 Days of Biking, I rode to the end of Airport Road in the afternoon. Snow still lines the north-facing side of the road.

Day 9 - A short ride into town to run errands, first to the bank...

...then to Art Beat to check on tickets for the Glenn Miller show and to buy tickets for the Northwoods Humane Society's wine & cheese tasting fundraiser...

...then to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription...

...and finally to Caken' Me Crazy to order cupcakes for a CAMBA event.

Day 10 - A ride to The Park to make some arrangements for the upcoming
Couderay Waters Film Fest.

Day 11 - I was expecting to wake up to a white blanket of snow on the ground on Thursday morning. A Winter Storm Warning had been predicting 8-12" of snow, then 5-8" and then 3-5" beginning on Thursday at 1:00 a.m. If I had ridden earlier in the day, I could have avoided the snow. Instead, I waited until the afternoon to ride after a couple of inches had fallen. I'm grateful that we received only about three inches of snow.

Day 12 - It snowed off and on for most of Friday making for wet roads but not much accumulation.

Day 13 - I expected the roads to still be icy and snowy so chose my fat bike for Saturday's ride to the intersection of Hospital Road and Hwy 63 to check on the construction status of Hwy 63.
Not much happening yet.

Day 14 - The sun finally shown today after a week of overcast, beckoning me out on a longer ride. It was still a bit chilly, with a brisk wind. Spring Lake is still mostly frozen but open water is beginning to appear along the shoreline in places. I took my Wilier out for a test ride with loaded bikepacking bags.

I saw Ospreys today for the first time this Spring! They have returned to their nesting site.
One was in the nest and the other landed on the top of the pole with a fish in its talons.

I wish the Ospreys well and hope they are successful in raising a family.

Seven Days of 30 Days of Biking

Day 1 - Morning strength class at the senior center.

Seven days of 30 Days of Biking have passed. I've ridden every day, not very far, mostly to run errands.

Day 2 - Election day. In addition to voting, I was an election worker.

My longest ride, a road ride, was 15 miles. The mountain bike trails are all closed until the frost comes out of the ground and there is no longer a risk of damaging them.

Day 3 - Spring Lake is still frozen

The lakes are still frozen but the snow is disappearing, especially today when it warmed up to the mid-50s and rained hard in the late afternoon. Glad I went for my ride earlier in the day. I can't believe the long-range forecast is predicting up to 15" of snow Wednesday thru Thursday!

Day 4 - Three short rides. First, to the dentist for a crown.

Day 4 - Ride #2, to the library for book club.

Day 4 - Ride #3, to Out of the Woods Winery

Day 5 - More short rides. To the bank...

...and then to pick up some groceries.

This year, I decided I wouldn't post something each day. Rather, I'm doing a compilation of my rides. I find that when I get on the computer, it becomes a time suck and I almost invariably spend more time than I originally intended sitting in front of it. And this is a waste and makes me feel icky.

Day 6 - To the drugstore to get the Shingles vaccine. Ugh!

Day 6 - Ride #2 to get cupcakes!

I like writing haikus to go along with my rides. My haiku for the first six days:

Six days of biking
Errands, here, there, everywhere
A mix of weather

Day 7 - To the end of Airport Road

Days 24 to 26 - 30 Days of Biking

Three more rides on the recumbent. Two were on the bike path around the perimeter of Hayward.

The bay in Lake Hayward where the Lumberjack World Championships are held is still partially frozen.

This small roadside park with a put-in to the Namakagon River is just a couple miles from our house.

Day-time temperatures have been in the 50s and 60s this week, perfect riding weather.

I saw my first woolly-bear caterpillars today, two of them. I always stop to help them across the road so they don't get squished by a car. Also saw a frog, but no sounds of peepers as of yet. I hope to hear them any day now.

Days 21 to 23 - 30 Days of Biking

Three rides on the recumbent last Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Two rides were to the end of Airport Road and back, with views of the Namakagon River.

There were a large number of Robins feeding along the edge of the airport on one of the rides. With no snow, it must have been a good place to find bugs or worms.

One ride was into town for icecream at West's Dairy, always a treat. West's reopened last weekend for the first time since last October.

The Library Nature Trail was still covered in snow on Sunday. Not for long now!