Three Great Things About This Morning's Ride, with a Few Pictures

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Clouds like brushstrokes across the morning sky
Pagodas of goldenrod rising from the verge
Leathery oak leaves shining in the sun



And, if I were to add a fourth, it would be:

Thoughts of a friend on a mountain far away

(While I was riding this morning, and as I write these words now, Snowcatcher is climbing Pikes' Peak in Colorado, a 14,000+ foot mountain ride she's been training for all year. I admire her courage and determination more than I can say, and I wish her the best ride of her life. Good luck, Deb!)

My time is limited, and I will add pictures tonight if I can. Must fly!

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Back again. First, something I learned this morning: For the most picturesque ride, leave your camera at home. Second only to this is bringing your camera along, but not having time to stop for pictures.

This was my case today. We were due at my sister's to see some out-of-town relatives here on a flying visit: a very dear niece, two small adorable great-nieces, and my new great-nephew who is very small indeed. My riding time was limited, and I told myself sternly I would only take pictures on the fly.

Needless to say I saw many wonderful things that tempted me to stop and shoot - more things than I had time to capture. (I never realized until today how addicted I'd become to taking pictures on my Sunday rides.)

It was a beautiful morning, with a strong cool wind out of the north. I had to stop and snap this grapevine-covered windmill:

No more stops! I told myself. If you can't shoot it while riding, don't shoot it at all. So on I rode, past marshes garlanded with cattails and purple loosestrife, a large wild turkey crossing an open field, clumps of Queen Anne's Lace, weeping willows over a stream, hosts of goldenrod in bloom, and many other lovely sights.

My favourite bend in the road:

It's interesting to note how much the trees have filled out since pictures of the same spot taken in early spring.

Wide blue skies and delicate brush-stroked clouds over a field of green clover:

And a few miles further on ... wild chicory! I love wild chicory for its elusive, delicate lavender-blue flowers. In the afternoons, when I usually ride, the chicory has already closed up for the day. I'll admit I stopped to take this picture.

I passed a large group of wild turkeys in a field, but couldn't get any good shots of them. Par for the course today!

One last attempt to capture the feathery clouds in the sky before I head home.

A good ride, though short and somewhat frustrating photographically.

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