Finding Motivation to Ride without a Partner - Look for Flowers!

Trillium, Hepatica, Red Trillium, mature Skunk Cabbage among fiddleheads, Wood Anemone, and Bellwort are among the many native wildflowers found in Vermont.

 
I ride daily, seeking local adventures like hunting for spring flowers. It started with the beautifully unique skunk cabbage blossoms, a distinct sign of spring in Vermont. Their purple shells emit heat and protect honey bees pollinating the plant  - who knew such a strange-looking flower was so powerful? I've been studying Mary Holland's Naturally Curious book, a local naturalist. The book provides digestible explanations, enhanced by photos, and categorized by seasons/months, so it's easy to identify common wildlife/plants.

With abundant parks with paved and dirt trails within a short ride from home, they're easy to explore.  Soon I'll be picnicking and toting painting supplies.

My biking partner is recovering from an injury so I'm attending more organized rides. I'm mostly happy doing my own thing, but working from home means socializing occasionally is important.

Get out and ride.

Slow Rolling with Adele - Ottawa During Peak Foliage

After a pandemic hiatus, Adele and I are back at our annual Canadian cycling adventure, this time we visited Ottawa! 

The hotel allowed us to bring our bikes inside our room.

Like our previous adventure during Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, the foliage was spot on. We based ourselves at a downtown hotel for 3 nights, 3 minutes from the Parliament building and the Ottawa River Trail.

This photo says it all about our 4 days of riding - color everywhere.

Ottawa is one of the few places in Canada where I encounter black squirrels. Coming from grey squirrel country, it's a highlight of my visits to Ottawa. Sensing my excitement, Adele would often shout, "black squirrel alert!"

Ottawa (Ontario) and Gatineau (Quebec), divided by the Ottawa River, is bike path heaven. One path links to the next plus the Victoria Bridge provides segregated pedestrian and bike path lanes for easy crossing.

I chose a few loops - no more than 31K or 20 miles. Easy to accomplish, sightsee along the way, plus Adele had been slowing down in recent years. It was the perfect mileage for laughing, backtracking because we took the wrong turn...
 

...Or to gawk at the explosion of autumn colors.

More black squirrels, of course. Or an amazing stone stacking display along the Ottawa River.

We couldn't go wrong with any route.

It wasn't all about cycling. We ate at a 5-course tasting menu restaurant, shared wine and dinner at an Italian restaurant, and burgers at a local brewpub-type place, all meticulously researched by Adele. Our typical symbiotic relationship with traveling: she picks out accommodation and foodie spots; I concentrate on where to pedal.

Of special note: we also went to see Leonard Cohen's movie, Hallelujah - wonderful, by the way. I had misgivings because the theater wasn't in the best part of town, but they made special accommodation to store bikes in the back of the theater.

Cycling in Gatineau Park had been on my must-see list. Beautiful colors, of course, and the cycling paths were hilly. We walked a couple hills, but generally the route was doable.

Purple asters were blooming everywhere, a highlight in Canada as well as in Vermont.

Last day, east of Ottawa as we left to travel home. We pedaled about 12 miles, a portion on the Prescott Russell Rail Trail, looping back on dirt roads, wine tasting at a vineyard. I'm always pedaling with bottles of wine in panniers on any adventure with Adele.

Interestingly, downtown Ottawa (capital of Canada) was eerily quiet. According to a local store owner, most government offices were closed during the pandemic and are slow to reopen. Though it also seemed to contradict the amount of construction going on almost everywhere - some of it vast like new highways, commuter rail lines, and multistory buildings. 

I know our adventurous cycle touring days are most likely over, but we've found a meaningful solution, basing ourselves in one place for fun exploration. We are still adventurous, whether that's eating, slow rolling, walking, or stopping to watch black squirrel antics.

A Floral Bouquet Makes My Day

I was knee deep into a major project at work when two staff members surprised me with flowers, card, and a bag of local chocolate truffles, announcing it was Administrative Professionals Day. The gifts were much appreciated, but it was the messages written in the card, by numerous staff members that let me know how much they appreciate what I do that adds value to the company and their particular projects, that affected me the most.

I couldn't resist bicycling the flowers home, the included box making it easy to attach to my rack using a bungee cord. Too bad I couldn't use this image for the Errandonnee's "You carried WHAT on your bike?" category!

I smiled all the way home.

Flowers are on My Mind

With trees in Burlington awash in color and  fragrance, it's a perfect time to be out on a bike.

 Tulips are blooming. Lilacs are just opening, casting their heady perfume.

So it comes as no surprise that I headed to a nearby garden center, loaded up with flowers (for newly purchased flower boxes), tomato and basil plants, and two packages of vegetable seeds. I gently wound a bungee cord through the stalks and secured the cardboard box to my rear rack, then cautiously rode two miles home without a mishap. Here's to more garden adventures!

Beautiful Bikes at the Boston Flower Show

A yarn bombed beauty.

In honor of the first day of Spring, I'm sharing a few images that my sister-in-law and niece took last weekend at The Boston Flower Show.

There is a topiary dog on the rear rack. And a Provencal picnic in the front basket.

Obviously, they thought of me.

Spring biking...bring it on!

Conquer Headwinds, Admire Flowers

I haven't felt much inspiration nor energy lately. Plaguing headwinds haven't helped.

Tucking my head, pounding pedals—like the speed demons that pass me—fails to invigorate my commute. Time to refocus, concentrate on roadside wildflowers.

However, to my dismay, road crews recently mowed. Rats..

However, I spy day lilies bordering property.

Roadside pickings: a brand new mega sponge!

Good timing. I watch a young farmer in shorts and flip flops prepare to let his herd cross the road.

There are many 10-acre lots for sale.

Houses also. Some have been on the market for a long time—so long that the lawn is swallowing the sign.

Hmmm, less traffic. Nice. Must be later than usual. Of course, it's bound to happen when I take photos every few minutes...

Favorite spotting: hay rolls. Much prettier than bales.

Home made signs. Gotta love'em.

Especially this one.

Headwinds? What headwinds?

 I found flowers.

The nicest, however, are in my employers' garden.

I'm counting on a tailwind on my way home.

Spring Fragrance

Pardon the closed eyes.

When a morning shower passed by, the lilac bushes perfumed the whole city. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "heaven sent". In this case "heaven scent" is more appropriate. Add those flowering wonders to the multitude of blossoming crab apple and cherry trees, and it's aromatic bliss.

Because of the early rain, my son and I took the bus to his school. When I met him later we walked home together. At least until he commandeers my bike...

...and rides it like a scooter. I think he missed his skateboard. I wasn't particularly anxious to ride anyway. There are too many fragrant trees to dawdle under, inhaling as I go. The wonders of Spring are fleeting. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Sneak Preview

When autumn comes around and I find myself falling asleep early, my body rhythms adjust to wake before sunrise. The Hub has always been an early riser. Often I step outside, with coffee mug in hand, as he's getting in the car to leave. I wave goodbye, listen for geese, and check the weather for my bike commute. This particular morning the sky glowed pink, casting lovely light on our street. My half dead pot of petunias dangling from our entryway even looked spectacular.

And then there are the flower boxes of scrawny marigolds. It was a treat to have this time alone with my flowers before the ruckus of morning preparations steals the solitude.

Dual Personas

Since I've owned the Ross Mount Saint Helens and decked it out with baskets and flowers, I too have taken on this metamorphosis. I have transformed from a mountain-bike-only commuter into a flamboyant, skirted, swinging-pigtail-loving middle aged mom on a girly bike. I must have this latent artsy side that is bursting through, embracing this love of color and individualism.

On the other hand, while I commute or tour, I'm ever a practical cyclist. I wear breathable clothing, bike shoes, haul rain gear, tote tools, pump, and first aid kit. 

City girl on a step-through bike. Skirt swinging, tootling, visiting coffee shops, flowers on her bag.

Commuter girl in the country. Touring bike or mountain bike, tights, blue jacket, even shoe covers—for goodness sake!

I find this dichotomy quite interesting. And fun. In fact, I was never this way until I fixed up the girly bike. Do you ever feel like two different riders, completely changing your appearance?

Climate Shift

I find it fascinating that the descent from warm and sheltered, brick-lined downtown Burlington to the waterfront takes on this climatic shift. It can easily be 5-10F colder. And, with the wind, oh that biting northern wind that comes unbidden from Canada, well, it feels like another place altogether. While I frequently head to the lake, I don wind protection; headband and gloves are necessities. The flip side of clear, colder weather is the spectacular view of the Adirondacks in New York.

A couple years ago the city sunk the utilities in this block, part of a master plan to redo the appearance and thus appeal of the waterfront. The street lights and cruise boat is an attractive gateway. I'm also taken with the square-shaped sculpture with the hole. This is the symbol outside the ECHO science center. A metal fish is suspended in the circle (not visible here), but mostly it's distinctive in that it allows a view of mountains, water, or sky, apparent in this photo.

I headed into the wind on the bike path, searching for signs of Spring. There are hyacinth and daffodils blooming in my garden. Maples are budding. A rhododendron is bursting fuchsia blossoms. But along the lakefront it still looks like stick season, the only color coming from greening grass. I looked for trillium, usually a common sight in April, but it was clearly too early. In one sunny spot a carpet of blue scilla scattered along a fence line. I pounced on the opportunity for a photo.

A while later the way is sheltered by trees and neighborhoods and riding becomes pleasant. I forgot to turn into a park for a loop that would bring me back home. Instead, I decided to continue and check out a family camp. The driftwood that my husband and I collected last fall remained on the deck rail. They still resemble bleached bones.

The lovely clear view holds the power to entrance. Ski trails on Whiteface Mountain are discernible, reminding me that some resort areas are still open. In the heat of summer, especially when the humidity is cranked unbearably high, we cannot even see across the lake until a thunderstorm breaks the moisture.

I head homeward, retracing the route. There weren't many cyclers or walkers. A father and son played street hockey at a rink. Nearby the skateboard park was eerily quiet—it was a school day—but then I noticed a sign. The park is permanently closed due to unsafe conditions. I heard the place will eventually be relocated, but it may be a couple of years before it happens. This park is highly utilized and has been monitored and kept clean for many years. Our children often bring skates or ride their bikes if it's not too crowded, so I was sad to see it's demise.

I rode an alternate route up the hill, stopping at a bakery for a dense loaf of raisin bread. It was well past lunchtime so I couldn't resist tearing into the crust. Then it was time to continue home. I welcomed the balmy realm of flowering forsythia and magnolias.