on vacation

I won't be biking for a few weeks as I'm on vacation.  

mar 20

It was a brisk 22 degrees F at 7:53 am, but the winds were calm so it was very pleasant.  And the birds make it very interesting.  So many sounds, so many birds.  I must have seen a hundred robins.   I finally appreciate this time of year when there are no leaves on the trees because you can see more birds.  I used to think it was the ugly time of year with the brown grass and leafless trees.  Here's the start of the bike path.

On the way home I rode by the lake.  Temperature was 31 F and winds 8 mph from the SE.  There's lots of open water now, by the shore line anyway:

The ducks like to hang out at the boundary between the water and ice.  I wonder why.

mar 19

I went to a different exercise class so left later than usual.  Temperature was a cool 34 degrees F at 9:15 am, winds from the north at 10 mph.  I dropped my car off for an oil change so started one large block east of the bike path.  Here's the view of my usual start of the bike path across the field:

And here's the bike path where I caught it 1 large block north.  

On the way home, temperature was still a cool 36 degrees F, winds 7 mph from the NW.  I saw the bird making the noise I've been trying to identify--red wing blackbird.  So now I know 3 birdcalls.  That's 3 more than I used to know.   Oh, I took my winter bike into the bike shop for a tune up.    I should have taken a before picture.   

mar 18

Another lovely spring day (Wisconsin style).  Temperature was 35 F at 7:53 am, winds calm, skies mostly clear, birds chirping away.  I remembered one bird song but couldn't find it on the website I've been checking.   On the way home after just a small batch of groceries (compared to Monday), temperature was up to 48 F, winds 5 mph from the NW, so a slight tailwind.

mar 17

The temperature was 49 degrees F at 6:53 am!  I was a little late because I had to find warmer clothes to wear than my usual.  Winds were SSW at 9 mph.  Here's the start of the bike path about 5 minutes before sunrise (sunrise is now 7:05 am):

The third quarter moon is at its high-point in the sky at sunrise (like noon for the sun):

I was riding a little bit faster than this train, and I took it's picture in motion:

At the gym, I finally see the sun.

On the way home at 8:53 am, temperature was 51 F, winds 11.5 mph from the SSW.  A bit of a headwind for the last half but not bad on my fast bike.  My bike ride is 10 minutes shorter than it was with the other bike on the snow.

The bike path on the long stretch behind Olbrich gardens is great for birds.  I never appreciated this before.  I can now recognize two bird calls (I'm a newbie).  I heard a cardinal, and looked up and there it was:

I heard a chickadee but haven't seen it yet.  They are all over the place though.  And the robins are a dime a dozen now:

This one was singing too but it will take a few times before I remember it's song.

mar 16

Today was a lovely spring day.  Temperature was only 34 F at 7:53 but it was up to 52 F for my ride home!  Winds were calm on the ride out and 7 mph from the SSE on the way home.   The birds were noisy.  I saw another robin and one later in the afternoon.  Here's the start of the bike path (got to record the change of seasons):

Lately, my pattern has been to go to yoga class on MWF and stop at the grocery store on the way home, as it's a short walk away from the yoga studio.  My refrigerator was pretty empty so I had a lot of things on my list.   I was a little worried in the store wondering if I could carry all this stuff home.  But these bike bags are amazing.  Here they are after I got home.  Looks like I could have fit more in:

And here's my bootie:

There's a 5-lb bag of carrots in there, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, broccoli sprouts, a leek, frozen peas, bell peppers, beets, nuts, and tons of greens (a lb of spinach, lettuce, and arugula!).   and sunglasses, wallet and bike locks.  and there were grapes too but they got eaten already.

mar 13

Oh, it's Friday the 13th.  That explains my day.  no no no, I'm a rational person and don't believe in that stuff.  It was 19 degrees F, winds 5 mph from the South, at 7:53 am when I left for yoga.   The start of the bike path:

It was mostly clear this morning.  Temperature was 25 F for my ride home at 10:30 am, winds 9 mph from the South.  Listening to the birds adds a great new dimension to my ride now.  I'm glad I rode my bike this morning because I ended up not leaving the house the rest of the day.  That was not the plan but things came up.