DAY 149

As a Dutchman, I feel obligated to show the orange today. Long live Queen Beatrix. Long live King Willie.

Go, Orange!

DAY 148

Funky Town

The trail runs south and west from Bloomington to Shirley. From there it's just four miles to Funks Grove. Right now — this week — the grove is beautiful and full of wildflowers blooming. Total round trip ride distance (from downtown Bloomington) is just 28 miles. It's a great ride.

DAY 147

Each spring, there is one perfect point at which temperature, rain, sunshine, wind and timing come together for maximum display power.

I predict that point for 2013 will occur this week.

The most impressive display this week might be the two yellow magnolias in the Audubon Garden. They are magnolia acuminata "Elizabeth." You don't see a lot of them around, and they're worth a trip.

In that same garden there are two redbud trees just waiting to burst into full bloom.

Everything else is icing on the cake.

DAY 146

So probably everyone else in the whole wide world knows this, but I just learned that Bloomington's first airport was located by Kerrik elevator. Must have been so convenient back then.

DAY 145

Lake Kerrik

So much water lately that the area around the elevator is flooded. Two geese and two ducks were enjoying the boon.

[crappy cellphone pic]

DAY 144

Proof of life.

The leaves are unfurling in all their glory!

DAY 143

The horses were out on the western portion of the trail today. They seemed just as excited about spring as I was.

Obligatory bike porn.
Love my Fargo!

DAY 142

Several times each year the Friends of the Trail get together for a trail clean up day. The trash collected is amazing for its volume and peculiar diversity.

DAY 141

Soggy blossom boys.

DAY 140

The rain's a pain
but it makes
flowers even
more beautiful.

DAY 139

Yoda leading the
way through the
inclement weather.
He's unstoppable.

DAY 138

Yoda, my cycling talisman, enjoying this gorgeous spring day.

DAY 137

Saint Mary's Cemetery is located next to the trail on West Washington. It is always a beautiful, peaceful and relaxing place to wander.

DAY 136

My favorite color
of narcissus.

You can't look at a flower this beautiful and not think of Narcissus falling in love with his own reflection and starving to death.

DAY 135

A Surfeit of Squirrels

Normally three squirrels in one spot would a lot. Today there was more than a dozen gamboling about on the trail. So many, in fact, that a runner yelled at them and tried to shoo them away. They ignored her in that peculiarly squirrely way.

DAY 134

For a few seconds this afternoon the sun came
out and the trail blazed
with glory.

Then it started
raining again.

DAY 133

Star magnolias are delicate bushes. Some years our winters are simply too harsh for them to even bloom.
But when they do, it's worth the wait. The blossoms are gorgeous and the scent heavenly. This one is in the Sister Cities garden. As with all the best of spring, these only last a few days, so I doubt they'll survive the storms tomorrow.

DAY 132

No, that's not a huge snake uncoiling to enjoy the warmth after a long, cold winter. It's just a large rubber bead from an industrial tire.

But it could have been
a snake.

I was really glad it wasn't.

DAY 131

Rumors regarding this masked gentleman have been circulating, but no one knows the details.

I . . . still don't. We chatted for a minute while I took his photo, and then he did some sort of memory wipe.

But I will tell you this. You cannot see a polka-suited guy on skates and not stare. It is completely and totally cool.

DAY 130

Scillas along the trail today.
This blue color amazes me every year.

DAY 129

Nothing like some lycra, a gorgeous day and a carbon road bike. Let the Spring commence.

DAY 128

 Japanese purple iris. These are the very best of all Spring bulbs in my opinion. You can see them by the bench opposite the Sister Cities garden.

Like all beautiful things, they only last two or three days, so be quick about it.

DAY 127

Tall spires against today's
brilliant blue skies at the
Atwood Wayside.

DAY 126

South of the Kerrick Elevator there are pink ribbons along the trail. On the east side they mark trees slated for removal. I don't know what their purpose is on the chain link fence, but I like them.  They're very festive
in the wind.

DAY 125

I was trying to
think of the most
harmless thing . . .