Sustainable Community Solutions

I celebrated the first day of Spring late yesterday afternoon by heading out for my first road bike ride of the year. (Photo to the right courtesy of biking buddy Bill Metz, taken during last August’s 5th Annual Tour de Nick.) I enjoy biking year around, but typically stick to my fully loaded around-town cruiser with knobby tires during the winter for safety on dicey roads. Yesterday’s 30-mile spin out past Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, thence west to Cannon City, and back to Northfield, is one of my favorite loops and was a joy to ride, even in my grossly-out-of-shape condition, and at roughly 38 degrees with a cool easterly breeze.

All five senses are fully engaged while on a good bike ride. I love smelling wild plum trees before seeing them, hearing the scream of a Red-tailed Hawk soaring overhead, tasting the sweat 75 miles into a hard ride on a hot day, and even get a perverse kick out of an obese Harley rider bellowing “Get off the f#$%ing road!!!” while blasting past me on a quiet country road.

One of the sensory highlights of yesterday’s ride was the sighting of my first Eastern Bluebird of the year. I saw the year’s personal first perched on a state park sign on the south edge of Big Woods Park along County Road 27. It was a brilliant blue splash against the drab browns of early spring, there for just a minute before it flitted off into the woods.

While I’m not a serious birder (serious birders take vacations to Patagonia to add to their life list; I don’t even have a life list), I do love spotting somewhat unusual birds. A couple of years ago my son Jakob and I were out morel hunting in May in an undisclosed Rice County location three consecutive days, and on each of the three days we were treated to the sight of a Scarlet Tanager flashing through the woods. Was it the same lone, lonely tanager? One of an amorous pair? One of a flock? Regardless, it was a thrill each of the three times. Just a few weeks ago, while walking my dog in Hauberg Woods Park, I felt more than heard a large bird whooshing overhead. I looked up to see a Barred Owl settling on a tree branch about 20 feet up and 50 feet away.

When you get out there in the world, interesting things often happen. Even on snowy days the day after you enjoy your first road ride of the world. Gotta go.