Retired Biker: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

We took a little trip up to the northeast part of the state to visit relatives and plant geraniums at the cemetery.

About 20% of the corn fields along the interstate were planted. The rest of the fields were still too wet to plant.

We stopped to visit with Uncle Walter. He has had as much rain as we have had. The back half of his lot was unmowed and the garden was unplowed! And wet!

Geraniums at the cemetery.

We stayed overnight at what was the Park Hotel in downtown Warren. It is now a Comfort Inn. We walked past Court House Square

and along the Mahoning River to the Veteran's Memorial,

watching the sky, always, watching the sky.

Preparations were being made at the ampitheater for the Memorial Day activities.

Water, water, everywhere!

Here is a bit of Trumbull County history.

We returned to our room, just in the nick of time!

The next morning, the sun was shining. We had a nice breakfast, then chatted with Aunt Rita before heading home.

As I write this, we have had four sunny days in a row with temperatures in the high 80's/low 90's.

# posted by Martha @ 7:43 PM 0 comments

Thursday, May 26, 2011

A Mix of Sun and Couds

Wednesday. I'm eating a bowl of Cheerios, putting random letters into the morning's crossword puzzle and listening for the weather forcast. "A mix of sun and clouds with a slight chance of severe storms after 2 p.m." Current temperature 69; winds brisk from the south/south-west. Perfect weather for a bicycle ride.

I head north, looking east and west as I approach the last intersection before I head east. The sky to the west looks rather dark... "a mix of sun and clouds," the weather man said.

As I head east, I watch the darkening sky in my rear-view mirror, feel a few light sprinkles on my arms. "Maybe I should take the shortest route home," I think.

As I head south, I've ridden out of the rain. But, no, a gentle rain begins to fall. Glad I opted for the shortest route home.

Heading west, I see gaggles of children clustered under their mothers' umbrellas waiting for the school bus. Not a good sign. My route passes three elementary schools, so I make an effort to be away from the schools when children are being delivered.

Thunder rolls and the lightening strikes. (I later learned that two tree trimmers were taken to the hospital after a tree near them was struck by lightening. This happened about 1/2 mile from where I was riding.) The skies open! My feet are soaked, rain is dripping down my face and not a dry porch is in sight! Yikes!

"I'll stop at the police station." "A mix of sun and clouds - stupid weather men!"

I head south again, the rain is slowing. I'm as wet as I'll ever be, stopping at the police station makes no sense.

Then west towards the last elementary school on my route. Yikes! Buses! Cars! A huge traffic jam! I get off my bike and walk past the school, through the buses and cars, soaking wet. What a mess!

Got home, the sun was out. Rain had beaded on my car and since it was so filthy and I was so wet, I got a bucket of soapy water and washed it -

Now I know what is meant by "a mix of sun and clouds." And the "slight chance of severe storms after 2 p.m.?" No storms until 12:30 Thursday morning, with a tornado that touched down less than a mile from here! No sirens, no warning. Boom! A house destroyed along with damage in the area!

# posted by Martha @ 5:40 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Mothers' Day and Birthday Presents

Hope all you mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers had a wonderful Mothers' Day with your family!

Look at the nice cursive and printing!

I know what it is, guessed Noah.

A large box filled with smaller wrapped presents... how fun might that be? Happy Birthday to you!

# posted by Martha @ 7:54 PM 0 comments

Friday, May 06, 2011

Florida Bicycle Safari Adventures

Had a nice drive south last Thursday/Friday to Live Oak for the annual Florida Bicycle Safari. We saw destruction from Georgia's Thursday morning tornado along I-75 as we entered the state, then again south of Atlanta near High Falls. Not pretty.

We put our tent in its usual spot under the colosseum.

Florida, too, has had some rain - the dry creekbed is not normally part of our front yard.

We had sunny weather both Saturday and Sunday for our forty mile rides. Enjoyed plenty of good food and friends. The sky was blue, a gentle wind blew to keep us cool and flowers were in bloom everywhere!

Monday, we headed home by way of the Atlantic Coast. We toured Jekyll and St. Simon Islands.

This is the bridge over the intra-coastal waterway between the two islands.

We arrived in Gatlinburg early Tuesday morning, registered at a Best Western, rode the trolley and walked through town. We stopped at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum.