Bike Ride

We've had amazing weather for weeks -- 80s and sunny as heck. I went with Kim on a bike ride on the Hawthorne Rail Trail the other day. It was so beautiful. I forgot my camera, but she brought her new iPhone (envy!), and sent me this photo. That dark blob on the right is my face. No one ever said phones have the best cameras in the world.


I'm going to take some photos of my plants and try to start blogging about gardening again soon. Happy New Year!

Another Bike

I actually have four bikes. This is my 1961 Schwinn American, which is like a carnival ride. I spent a lot of time restoring this one. I love my bikes.

Biking the Rail Trail

The Hawthorne Trail, a sixteen-mile rail trail, extends from Hawthorne to Gainesville. It's a state park created after the state bought the right-of-way from the railroad and paved it.

I love the trail, and go through phases where I spend a lot of time biking it. In the past week -- now that it's still light when I leave work -- I've been on it three times.


It's beautiful. There are many different ecosystems (although I'm sure I'll get the names wrong), like prairie-type areas.


Hammocks.


Marsh/wetlands.


Swampy creeks with a billion mosquitoes.


This time of year, the longleaf pine smells fragrant, everything's blooming, and wildlife is on the move.


On one ride, we nearly ran over two different moccasins who were warming themselves on the late-afternoon-warmed pavement. We gently chased them off so they would be safe. They were recalcitrant, but eventually complied.



Bike home, tired, hot, sweaty, and satisfied.