Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Biking With Bill



A beautiful weekend and brother-in-law Bill is visiting for our annual bike ride. He does forty mile jaunts per day on weekends and during the week puts in an equal amount on his exercycle. I, on the other hand, go biking at most once a week for never more than ten miles. A perfect mismatch you might say!We opted for the trail that follows Camp Creek from Harmony to Preston. It's hilly farm country at first, then mostly woods and pastures. Bill is a point A to point B cover the miles person.





I, on the other hand, like to smell the roses, see the sights, check out the birds, and incidently catch my breath at every opportunity. There he goes speeding along! Unfortunately, for me, the first couple of miles are a long grade uphill. Thank god for my camera. Stopping to check out good camera angles is essential when your huffing and puffing.. I also catch a woodchuck crossing the trail between us. Bill waits patiently for me every half mile or so. The pastoral setting, the fleeting clouds.... what a glorious day. The people that we pass have a big smile and a friendly hello. Everybody knows that it doesn't get any better than this. As we approached the more wooded areas near the creek, wildflowers began to make their appearance. I noticed a plant about two to three feet tall with long spikes of white flowers. I had never seen it before. Checking my Moyle and Moyle, when I got home, it appears to be Praririe Larkspur, a perennial of dry prairies and open hillsides. There were a number of bluebird houses along the trail and soon I noticed their occupants darting about everywhere. Tree swallows and a rose-breasted grosbeak also made their appearance. I wonder if Bill notices any of this?The next interesting plant to catch my eye turned out to be Tall Meadow Rue. Clumps of the white flowers could be seen all along the trail, often reaching more than three feet tall. If there are "lifers" for a native plant list, I had already gained two in less that four miles. I did decide though that next spring this particular trail might be great for picking up migrating song birds, especially warblers
Things were going well. That is till we came to the top of a long steep downgrade. "You go first," says Bill. Off I go cautiiously heading downhill. The view is breathtaking. The valley, through which Camp Creek flows, is one of my favorite places to fish trout. Then I goofed. I'm so out of practice biking I don't dare turn around to see if someone is behind for fear of losing my balance... but I do keep to the right. Some young guy in a speedo outfit, still pedaling downhill and going probably 40 miles per hour, zips by me yelling "ON YOUR LEFT." Okay that's cool. Several more racers continue the process. I figure these young speeders probably come in packs, so a little bit later as several more come by yelling the same warning, I hardly pay them any attention. I'm watching for bluebirds.
Later, at the bottom of the long grade, I pull over to wait for Bill and have a sip of water. And wait. And wait. And wait, maybe ten minutes. Finally, thinking if he had to go behind a bush or something, it shouldn't be taking that long, I start flagging down bikers coming down the hill and asking. "No," they all say they didn't see anybody waiting along the trail. I figure maybe he got sick and went back to the car.... or maybe a heart attack and fell out of sight in the bushes or.... you get the picture. Then, I start pedaling slowly back up the mountain, in the lowest possible "Granny" gear, straining every inch of the way. Reaching the top, I look around....he’s nowhere to be seen . Then finally I see him coming up the hill. "I waited 15 minutes for you," he is yelling. I'm looking totally dumbfounded (emphasizing the dumb part). He says, "you didn't see me pass you by???? Jeez, I even yelled "on your left" when I passed." God. I think maybe I should stick with birdwatching, it's less stressful. Ok..........this sign is the one they should've had for me

21 comments:

  1. Haha, great story! Aren't you glad the weather in the midwest has been so glorious, finally!

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  2. Great story! Far to much exercise for my blood though :)

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  3. Oh how funny. This is something I would do. I like the way you bike. Take your time and enjoy the things you see along the way.

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  4. Haha! Oh, TB, that's a funny story and I can relate. Thanks for the giggle.

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  5. I'm with you on the mode of biking. Slow down and enjoy the scenery. Same with walking except when the mosquitoes are out.

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  6. I am one of those who usually dashes around on a bike, which I haven't had for at least a decade now. I'm thinking of getting a new one, and this time around I'll smell the roses! Good story, well told!

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  7. Hah, love the sign...makes me want to go out and ride my bike after reading of your adventures.

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  8. Funny tale, I really enjoyed it. i have to see all and hear all, but on a bike also see the end of the destination.I have seen a few birds starting to flock.See any redwings up there?

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  9. Your mismatch with Bill made for a great post. I personally like your style of biking much more than Bill's.

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  10. HaHaHAHhHaHah Very, very funny. Love the little woodchuck - glad you got a photo of it.
    Thanks for the morning giggle.

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  11. I like your style of biking, too. Only I am probably slower than you!
    Love that sign... could really use it around here! Then again, I am not sure if it doesn't oftimes apply to me!

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  12. That's funny! The sign is perfect but heck, I'm with you when going downhill-must watch the road!

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  13. Oh...LOL! that would be me. My husband is a point A to B guy and I am the one always looking around. I find it far more peaceful to just go by myself and not have to worry about looking out for others or wondering if they are bored or frustrated waiting for me to look at and identify a bird. You are a good sport. This story is hilarious!

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  14. Oh, that's just not right, Ray. You to are a bit of a missmatch. :)

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  15. TB, you are toooo hilarious. Loved your story, and the sign at the end.

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  16. Now that is really funny!!! I take a zillion photographs on strenuous hikes with my husband. I can't keep up with him and need an excuse to stop. You and I must be cut from the same cloth.

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  17. It sounds like you men just need to communicate more..especially since you are different kind of bikers!
    You saw some great wildflowers...I have not seen the Prairie Larkspur..it looks lovely!
    Hope you are cooling off down there in the banana belt..we need rain too:)

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  18. Had the woodchuck been chucking wood?

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  19. I'm also just an occasional biker and share your pain. But what a great, quiet way to see a lot of countryside. 40 miles!

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