Country Views: Drying Down

Escape Route: Sergeant Road Bicycle Path

 Remember when I said I'd be out on Labor Day? Well.....I wasn't. I spent time with my family instead. That was the 'right' choice but it didn't make things any easier. Everyone was posting cycling shots from races and rides. Guess I shouldn't be on social media. 

But I did get out on Tuesday. I suppose I was the one in the catbird seat because everyone else was back in school or working. Not me! Day off.....

So, I saw that the winds were out of the Southeast and that meant I was heading South. This time aboard the Gryphon Mk3. My aim was to go ride Petrie Road's Level B section and maybe the three consecutive miles of dirt on 110th in Tama County. 

I didn't get a very good night's sleep so I left myself a choice to bail out if need be. I was happy that I did once I started getting out there. The Southeastern wind was definitely cranking! I was grinding out a decent pace but this was on railroad grade on a paved bicycle path. Gravel, rolling hills, and this wind would be tougher. And I was starting out not well rested. 

Mowing the ditches

Starting the slow transformation to Brown Season

I'm not sure why, but it seems to me that things are sputtering out of life, running their course, and heading toward that long, dark slumber a bit earlier than usual this year. Maybe it was the copious amounts of water in June and July that accelerated growth and therefore the end of the cycle comes sooner? 

I'm not sure, but things just seem to have hit a point where a switch flipped and now the drying down of crops, ditch plants, and grasses is noticeable. The only thing thriving now are the prairie sunflowers. The ditches are run riot with them in places. 

Approaching Petrie Road's dirt sector from the East this time.

Getting down to Petrie Road was a complete slog. The wind was stronger than I was led to believe and I was riding a heavier bike than normal. I will say that the 2.8" Teravail Coronado (now called Oxbow) tires are killer for deep, loose gravel. These things laugh at that while my skinnier 45mm tires get knocked around and 40's get into the "hunting for a line" thing that makes you have to herd the bike down the road. Not so with the big, poofy 29+ tires. 

There are some deep ruts cut into Petrie Road here.

I gave some thought as to my route once I had some time to stop at Petrie Road in the midle of the Level B section. I figured I would need to ride several miles South back into a head wind and then back in a cross wind several miles if I were to go to 110th Street and ride that dirt. I just did not have the will to do that on this day with being so tired and low on energy to start out with. So I cut bait and put my back to the wind and sailed on back toward Waterloo. 

The year is petering out on me and I haven't done anything "big" since the Victory Ride in June. It wears on me. Plus I cannot get out of town to ride anywhere since I effectively do not have a vehicle at this time. I decided to make my truck available to my son so he can get to his work now. My decision, and I own that, but it hasn't been without consequences that drag me down a bit sometimes. 

Fall is on the doorstep.The year isn't over quite yet. I'll keep pedaling......