Finally - some spring weather for cycling

[cjw50310]

We've finally had some decent spring weather roll into the state; so I took advantage yesterday and instead of tending to the yard work, went in for a bit of cycling. A week ago, we were dealing with 15 cm or so of snow, which is fairly unusual this far south.

Grabbed a few photos, as some of the flowering trees were just budding out.





This one's from the top of an Army Corps flood control dam, looking south towards downtown Des Moines (about 20 km off).



And the obligatory shot of the trusty mount:



These last couple are tribute to Mike's wildlife shots. This one was from a few weeks back, when the weather wasn't quite so clement, managed to capture an optimism of pelicans taking a rest in the river.



And a fair collection of deer:



Fortunately, I think the snowy bits are well and truly behind us for a while.

Thanks for looking,
Chris

[airboatr]

nice ride Chris . nice scenery too..


I don't have anything like that around here. but there are a few spots with wood.

[speedbird591]

What beautiful shots, Chris. That looks like such perfect weather and scenery for a ride. You were quite right to dump the chores and get out there. And thanks for posting the pictures - they've cheered me up. The weather here is still awful and my lung problem is still giving me hassle so it'll be some time before I can get out in the big wide world!

Joe - you kept that woodland quiet. It doesn't look like Florida to me - it's more like England! Very nice, mate.

As to the wildlife, it's the domestic stock that is the problem around here and I've mentioned before some of my experiences with cattle on public footpaths and byways. I woke up to this news this morning from a village quite close to here.

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/la ... _Turleigh/

This is on a public path leading to a popular pub and tiny railway halt. A man was badly injured by a cow last year and two more the year before on the same path. The cows react like this if they think there's a threat to their calves. But bullocks can charge towards you out of curiosity. Give me pelicans and possums any day!

Ian

[Tomliner]

Thanks for posting those pics Chris.I think it is interesting to see where some of the locality where others live.You certainly had some nice weather.
I'm only an occasional cyclist and then only on a fine day.A week ago I did manage a ride to North Berwick from here.I listened to the ATIS from Edinburgh airport beforehand and the wind was variable at 2 knots.However,before the halfway point it began to feel a bit harder work.The wind had changed to 10/12 knots at 050 degrees.Right on the nose! I made it but next time I'll wait for a tail wind!
I only took one pic as I already have several taken on this ride.This is the one,it shows part of the harbour at Port Seton on the eastern edge of Edinburgh.I can never resist pictures of boats and harbours.

Best wishes EricT