![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrzaazLblF_vmced-hkX_XQtlyRdr41VTf5T5XLa-TS1HxEMKG8ehntZ7btTE8oavYmJF-CVjNPDMlZgps65_xJy7baRT5k8mB8DNMzrS3C7AkG0hw-PmJAUTZQ_ifM_IR1xMum0DMToa/s400/Trio.jpg)
A few weeks back our friends Gary and Rosie visited for a biking weekend. One of the highlights was doing the beautiful Harmony to Preston section of the Root River Trail. Come on along and take a look!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntPYgHjRnVekPPYhkkjJ75eHiFsC4m8Ibz1EcJbng0eST80B3k17S7ca1jRbAx1YrNaGfSWMjIEd9RPyNH_dRzgpYxaaLZ7GtHWAnHpmA1P0F_UsaiWq5iTTAAsdbXfVLBrFZkkwBSw7c/s400/Preston+Fountain.jpg)
Initially, the paved trail follows a section of rolling hills, with patches of prairie, corn fields and wood lots. As we headed off down the trail there were still some native wildflowers to be seen. Sunflowers of several types were blooming
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAdvSXwz-1ZK_n0SrPFPy0iRHj89zgs__tZ_bVKUmUwtXX_3sAgku2Y543Cl37Dq1uuKAqrsVK7L0q9c9DGpuI7Ql-Zgx6w2wsabvl89QL-iB7Q2WvW6osILnP-E_Jn0kC9vGuv-HUuPs/s400/Down+The+Trail.jpg)
.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWj8X_7_8MDy7ge9x-aLu0HgbckX6o4dWum7AoSL-GpI94y1hyDbCmBUp3vXeGOZBRCJuR2Xa5j0uhJgaYeH-ueoOK482StPU58DLPHcVXhRXy6bSjqyxDrRjubnHj6piQK55JQQfX8Pj/s400/Narrow+Leaved+Sunflower.jpg)
About half way down the 12 mile trail, we stopped to rest at the top of a steep grade, before plunging into the beautiful valley of Camp Creek. It's one of Bluff Countries best "spring creek" troutstreams.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAEBq01X45n_SIQcEju_OOwLodeMvidOgd3qLAhYBvzx_sFC_HhyphenhyphenHzvTbGXKSyrUJrE2fW-UojJYWz8pGbg4LrjECWAo-rNn1Fhit6KSh8678v3dl1v7kV5Nzj8EbC3YiQkQS-ghyphenhyphenpJHn/s400/Resting.jpg)
During the rest stop the intrepid bikers spotted a strange insect on the trail. Gary identified it but I've forgotten the name. It's apparent nowadays that many of your outdoor types have gone beyond hiking, biking and birding to new challenges. Identifying butterflies and other "bugs" seem to be among them. I haven't gone down that trail yet.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7P8ptb5X104f8UOYYBEwfM7lOktJXhOWDGpSUCn0urSSSra3UwqVHIwZZeV2xQwEaGq5E7xXvSW-OAx4LjXEJwgn3pWD7j7aOsiiWSv8lNFf0gbqTFBJPKVxD1HtgCF1F3kISDFSxTfy/s400/Bug.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu4z27aurMq8b2F8SMyaL0GWJQCFJOihjAOJL8m654JsFde7WKk32bgsZN06MiqH5G6pvgpQluSIvMzcw6AmRyISy4dqXxgbCL0L0274-7BkOx86mgURYeejbB_Y3oi3geDv_jwnSYfb3/s400/Bug+Checkers.jpg)
In any case, the next day we headed over to the "Shooting Star" trail. This one cuts through the flat land of corn fields and remnant patches of native priarie along former railroad tracks. There we'll see prairie wildflowers in all their glory.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSowvanEi0N0IhDmI3njmIVmqCLvmxmS_4Qmwivkf6Ifh4mmg4QirAyG7BnU6bYG4VobNrk5VMC7kqKfGyDffAdq9h6vmU3NgV_wXBFGMH7VAd15RcOwJpV41hLUDBZAyipKBqO7fcNf7/s400/Prairie+Flowers.jpg)
I'll save that story for another post.
What a cool trail! I think you are fortunate to have such a place to bike in. Beautiful sunflowers! I look forward to the next installment.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great place for a bike ride with friends! Love that last photo - the flowers abound.
ReplyDeletesounds like a great outing with good friends and fresh air! can't wait to see the flowers!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised you weren't down by that stream identifying future catches, I always have to look even when not fishing.This last week I saw 6 big rainbows near the surface and had no pole.
ReplyDeleteGreat place to bike!!!! Love the wildflower shot!!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a terrific place for a bike ride. Everything still looks so fresh and green there. Hopefully it will last awhile longer.
ReplyDeleteLove Baron's list below ~ funny pup!
xo Catherine
Great trail!!! Crazy bug! ;-) You also had a Beautiful day for your bike ride.
ReplyDelete(came over to answer your question on the morning sun shot - i have no photog secrets to share. i left my nikon on auto, shot several times as the sun was coming up. this shot, the camera must have gone into a dawn/dusk mode as it was much more intense than the others i shot. the others were lighter, pinker daytime stuff. no tripod. no fancy anything. just luck. :))
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of the two old guys trying to identify the bug. You'd think they had discovered a new species. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful ride. The meadows are simply gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your heads up about "Last Child left in the Woods". I will look for it on Amazon. I appreciate your comment
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. I am sure there are salamanders and lizards there on the "frozen tundra", which looks absolutely beautiful in your photos. I took a picture a couple of days ago of a salamander I found in our basement, and also a walking stick; after a recent post about the toadlet in the basement I am thinking the blog is going to turn into the "basement chronicles." Ha! My "word verification" word is "sensabil!!! Which is about where I am at these days
ReplyDeleteNow that's a bike ride!
ReplyDelete(I left a comment on your previous posting... the one that Baron wrote:))
The buggers are good observers, finding a bug while riding on the road.
ReplyDeleteThe wildflowers are beautiful!
The Ratibida is beautiful( Grey headed Cone Flower) and sometimes bugs are way cool too:)
ReplyDelete