And we had a blast

The Big Bike Adventure.

It rained all morning and by noonish, we mounted up and headed out on the Sparta-Elroy State Trail. Sparta-Elroy State Trail. 

My cousin and his wife wanted to ride along the trail where we could go through the most old train tunnels. The trip one way would be 13 miles to the longest tunnel. The tunnels were for trains and some of the tunnels are over 140 years old.

Map below of the out and back route we took:

Photo in Infrared of my bike and at one of our first stops. 

The Kickapoo River near Wilton. Here the river looks more like just a little stream.

[photographed in Infrared with my little Canon ELPH]

Aaron brought his dog Ringo along. Ringo is his Spring Spaniel that he hunts pheasants with in the fall. Ringo is also considered as one of the family. 
Aaron said he hated to leave Ringo with others while he and his wife go on fun biking trips so he thought he'd train him to ride in the cart.

It went pretty darn well. I do have to say that Ringo was an extremely well behaved dog.

Speaking of carts. We saw a little tiny cart with 3 miniature Dachshunds in it! The dog's owners said the little dogs loved going on biking trips!

Hmmm. Wonder if Charlie would like to ride in one???

The first tunnel was made out of bricks. The work to make this tunnel was amazing. This tunnel is a quarter of a mile long . Bicyclist are to dismount and walk with headlamps or flashlights to get through the tunnel safely.

The second tunnel was short, more like an underpass than anything else. It was also full of water from the rains. We scooted through that and then pulled over and had sandwiches.

This last tunnel is 3/4 of a mile. This is where we stopped after peering into the tunnel. It was time to turn around and head back to camp. This tunnel had been blasted and chiseled out of rock.

All the tunnels had water in them and water dripping from above.  They were also quite cold!

On our way back, Monica decided that Aaron and I needed to have a photo together. Hint. I have the green helmet on. [Monica's photos]

Aaron, Monica, and me. Group selfie!

Me -- inside the first tunnel we went through. There were little alcoves all along the length of the tunnel. We have no idea what they would have been for.

The trip was so much fun.

On the trail and at camp, we talked about our childhood and all the adventures we had together as kids. The Tarzan Rope. Arnold the Grump, sledding the big hill, climbing trees, hunting frogs and snakes and all of the things we did while spending time in the summer together.

As kids and teens we were always the best of friends even if our mom's situations changed. We still don't understand all of it and don't dwell on it. 

The important part is we still enjoy each other's company and having adventures together.

I had such a great day. Good food, good conversations. AND a whole day off the farm! I have to thank my good neighbors for keeping an eye on hubby for me and making sure he was okay and had meals in my absence.

Conclusion regarding their E-bikes. They had pedal assist e bikes. Which means if you pedaled, it assisted the rider. I got to try it and I thought it was pretty neat. After all Aaron pulled his rather large dog in a carrier along the trail and I don't think he could have done that without the assist. 

One day I may even consider one. But I did fine with my regular bike. The trail did not have steep inclines in it.

---Oh... FYI: I am not sore today Eddie. 

Hot Humid days

Gosh when the fog in the morning rolls up out of the woods and inches across the land ... you know it is going to be one of those hot and humid days.

Charlie has nagged me each day to take a walk. We are okay as long as we stick to the heavily canopied woods but walking out on the gravel road is like subjecting ourselves to an oven. I imagine more so for Charlie who really is close to the hot ground. It literally takes only minutes for his tongue to drop out and for him to start panting. He gives me a sideways look as if to say "Get me outta here!"

I generally find a deer path and go into the woods.

Now super hot muggy awful icky days are also pretty darned good for Infrared photos.
I don't like walking in the valleys when it is so miserably hot as there is no breeze.

But I've found a way around that. I can create my own special kind of breeze.

I put a water bottle on the bike and one in my waist pack along with my little pointy shooty IR camera and away I go.

Those puffy clouds and blue skies really make for interesting patterns.

Today we had an amazing sunrise with fog.

I took this with no filter but edited the color from bright flaming red to this. I just liked the shapes and tones.

Being a total goofball, I decided that I'd just see what I could come up with in Infrared.  This was just before the sun came over the trees.

The shot below is zoomed in. Not sure if it is better or not, I was just intrigued by the fog that was moving through the old pasture.

I wonder afterwards if this would have looked much better in black and white. I can always edit them that way but I think the 'blue' wouldn't have shown up as the 850nm filter wouldn't have picked up the light reflection of the leaves.

Looking at the black and white converted version, I think I like it better. Less distraction of colors and more emphasis on layers.

Off I go. They are coming to put in the new flooring today. I think it will be a dusty mess and it is too hot to be outside for Rich.

I'm tickled pink over the thought of a 'new' floor!

All is quiet...

Can you spot 

Charlie in 

the middle of the photo?

Our morning walks get pretty wet sometimes. Between the creek water and the dew fall, Charlie is usually soaked by the time we get back home.

I actually was able to stay awake the other night past sunset!

I worked on my night 'shooting' skills which need... a bit more work I'd say. It is hard to focus on tiny blinking lights!

However it was fun sitting in the driveway with Nature's Light show all around me.

Hot days are for early mornings in the garden, working on those pasture weeds, yard work, and flower garden work.

Yesterday morning I finished clipping mule manes and got that done for the summer.

So far this summer/spring, the days have been pretty pleasant.

I've spent some time on the porch with Charlie. He watches and naps. I read and listen to the birds.

Today I am meeting with Bill, my hiking friend. To combat the heat and bugs, we are going to bicycle the Old 131 trail like I did with Kristine on Monday.

It will be too warm for yard work with Rich and Bill suggested a Hot Hike.

I suggested we bicycle and create our own wind.

I'm looking forward to it.

The numbers are starting to increase around us so keeping Distant is always on my mind along doing activities that are not considered risky.

Stay Safe.

Romantic Memories of being a kid

Or should I say that the memories of being a kid are not romantic but perhaps bittersweet?

I picked up a red Huffy bicycle from my mom that she had for sale a while ago.
Sunday night promised to be beautiful so after supper I took out the Huffy.

The first bike I rode on was my brother's red Huffy boy's bike.  We rode that bike it seemed like forever.  To this day I recall choosing to ride the red bike over the girl's bike mom got us.

I hopped on and tried to ride up the hill on the skid steer path back to see my husband who was working on a brush pile.  I couldn't make the hill.  However I did ride from the crest down into the pasture where he was and proceeded to exclaim how much fun I was having.
And nearly crashed.  The brakes barely worked.

Husband laughed and laughed and so did I.  I started out by saying, "When I was a kid...!"  Well that caused more laughter as I am not a kid anymore.  Not in body.

The bike needed air in the tires and the chain needed oiling.  Soon I was on my way cruising up and down the flat part of the driveway hitting bumps and negotiating some rough stuff.  
I had the mule/horse/donkey herds' attention.  Some snorted, the horses ran willy nilly, and Sally the donkey stood solid and watched my fiasco.  Soon the red sisters, Sunshine and Sundance joined her.

I rode up to Siera and Fred's paddock.  They bolted and Fred came back.  Siera perked her ears and gave me the stare as if I was a three headed monster.  She watched and didn't move a muscle.  I sat for a while alongside the fence and talked to her.  She just watched me.  Perhaps she thought I'd grown some strange looking legs.

I guess I found something she could use some work with. A bicycle.

I walked the old bike up the steep driveway and hopped on by the mailboxes.  I pedaled and rode the gravel road like the wind.  Well perhaps in my mind!  

I did have a slight downhill to assist me.  I rode along the relatively flat ridge road and then stopped to enjoy the sunset.

My week ahead was going to be filled with many work hours and the construction on our Little House Remodel was supposed to start on Monday.

I took a few moments to enjoy the skies and then slowly pedaled towards home wondering why it was so much easier when I was just 12.

Perhaps I need to get the old Red Huffy out more often, I'd forgotten the thrill of the speed.