Spring Green

Our ride this evening was with only two riders. We covered 18.5 miles and the average speed was 12.1 miles per hour. Each of us commented on enjoying the sunshine. I found two pennies and we were treated to seeing the first red-winged blackbird this spring. They are an ever present sight during the summer, but it was nice to see the first one of the season.

The winter wheat is sprouted and turning green. Those blades, less than an inch in length now, almost seem to explode out of the ground. One comment from a rider was, "Is your yard that green?" He was noticing yards in town that are a strong spring green already. I suspect the addition of chemicals helped some of the yards we saw. Every one of them was not as green. Even algae in shallow pools of water seem to be greener than it was just a few days ago.

Peepers

March 16, 2010 was the first ride our group took this year. 18.4 miles and an average speed of 11.5 mph. The temperature was in the low fifties, on the Fahrenheit thermometer, and there was a noticeable wind from the north / northeast. Found a dime to start the year off right with coin pick ups. The sun shining was what made the ride good, but the best part of the ride was hearing "peepers". At least that is what my family has always called them.

The spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is a small chorus frog widespread throughout the eastern USA and Canada. I have always counted it as a good indicator that spring is soon to be upon us. The Crocuses have popped up, Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) are back circling in our sky, and we noticed the buds on Maple trees swelled up and ready to shed their bud scales.

There was a lot of snow, this year, in March. It was great to be back out in the sun and riding with friends. Weather permitting, we will be back next week at 5:30pm for another adventure.

Sooner Would Be Nice

I finished February with a twenty mile ride. It was still cold, with temperature in the low thirties. This year has been a good one in spite of the fact that my fenders were very useful. Slush and wet roads made having the fenders almost a necessity. Rides have ranged from ten to twenty-five miles every weekend during the year.

There are more and more bird sounds while I ride. The smell of skunk was evident this Sunday. Both the sounds and the smell are good indicators that the weather will warm up. I am ready for better weather and sooner would be nice.