Not a day to ride a bike!

With the weather due to deteriorate as the day goes on, with winds expected to be 25-30mph and gusts to near 50mph, it is not the time to ride the bike. I don't want to get blown off! I will be walking & not driving, however. In my backpack I have a fleece with me for when the weather turns colder this afternoon & also an umbrella in case it rains before I get home.

I'll hope for riding weather tomorrow -- or Saturday.

Yesterday a bike ride before work

Yesterday, Tuesday, I had some extra time & it was sunny and getting warm (got up to about 80º before it poured), I decided to leave early for the library. So I rode to the Arcade park and went around the loop through the park twice before I needed to head to work. It amounted to a little over 3 miles and it felt so good because the weather was warm.

Today it's warm also, though we're do for yet another storm late this afternoon or evening & rain for the rest of the week. It is expected to be cooler by Friday also. Spring seems to be coming in fits & starts this year and it's been just about the wettest April on record here.

Saturday showers then sun & almost 70º

I did bike to the library on Friday, even rode half way to the park just to go a little farther than just straight from home to the library. It was chilly, but there was no wind, so it was much better than yesterday. On the way home it started to rain, but again, not bad.

Today it rained in the morning & then cleared & got sunny. Gordon & I did a bit of yard work in the afternoon. He took down the old fence between our yard & the Howards' & raked up debris. I yanked up a fair amount of the ivy that is covering up our "rock garden." Now you can see the rocks that edge it at least. There is still a lot to do, but it's a start.

Then we decided to go for a short bike ride, so Gordon oiled his bike & pumped up the tires. We were both tired from yard work, so we didn't want to go too far, and he's on call so he didn't want to be too far away in case he got a call. We started out for the Arcade Park & then on the way back went up Water St to North, to West St & then back home on Main & Park. It amounted to 3 3/4 miles. Not a lot, but it's a start at least. More will come.

Bike Out of Hibernation

With tomorrow being Earth Day, it's high time to get the bike out of hibernation and into use. So last night Gordon kindly oiled what needed it & pumped up the tires. This morning I packed my pannier & set off for the library -- into a stiff wind that had snow in it! It's really time to be done with that, but there it was. So, instead of biking a bit in the wrong direction before heading for the library as I'd planned, I just went around Mill St to Main & then straight to work. The wind was making my eyes tear, so I just didn't want to try going any farther this morning.

Hopefully, tomorrow the wind won't be so bad. The temp is supposed to be a little better too. You'd think with Easter being as late as it can possibly be, the weather would have warmed up by now. Oh well, it will soon & we'll be sooo ready for it we'll be really grateful & appreciate it all the more.

Still some snow!

Snow showers last night during & after Arcade's combined churches' Palm Sunday Cantata. Cantata was very well attended and listed to a sizable choir (over 40) perform excellently for about an hour. It seems each year gets better. This years was directed by Dona Roll & Donna Warner and several of the area pastors had speaking parts as well (ours was in the choir). We really have some talent in Arcade, and the talent to bring it out of people as well.

Snow showers off & on this morning & forecast still calling for snow showers off & on through Thursday!

Saturday was very rainy and extremely windy. We were under a high wind advisory (or warning - don't remember which) all day. Needless to say, I did not bike to Beaver Meadow after working at the library. We did go, though, and took in two old TV's to their recycling area set up for the occasion. We had a delicious vegan lunch & enjoyed all their environmentally friendly displays. It was a good afternoon, just not on the bike.

Soon I hope.

The First Flowers!

This morning as I left for Curves, I found 2 early daffodils in the garden. The taller of the two was more than a bud, but not quite out full yet; the shorter one was in full bloom -- guess it just couldn't wait! Calling for rain today, but just misting this morning which probably hastened their blooming. Spring is here & finally the weather is starting to catch up with it.

This Saturday Beaver Meadow is celebrating Earth Day. They will have doings all day -- teaching about solar power and alternative energy technologies, a drop-off site for electronics recycling, nature walks and much more. For everyone who shows up on a bicycle they will provide lunch & half off the entrance fee. I work at the library until 2, but would like to do this, though due to time (they're open 10-4) I would have to do as they advised me & park the car at Java Center Post Office & ride from there. Perhaps we can do this. Gordon is on call, but if he's back by 2 he could pick me up at the library & drive me out to Java in time for me to ride from there. Then if got another call, I could ride home. The main obstacle is that my bike hasn't seen the light of day yet & needs oiling and tires blown up. Oh, and it's supposed to rain on Sat, but that "shouldn't" stand in the way. We'll have to see how it work out. Anyway, it's a plan.

Still waiting for the Real Spring

The picture from my last post in February would be a bit of an exaggeration for today, though we have had snow the last couple of days (again, still?). But the flowers are starting to peek up just a bit, so we know it's coming.

Spring & Summer and beyond this year look like they will be busy with more times off work than in most years.

This Saturday we have a one-day retreat/program near Syracuse where the Commission on the Global Church will be putting on the program. We will be talking about how our church got to be named as a Global Mission Church. There are other presentations from others as well. We expect it to be a full day -- starting with leaving here around 5:30 to get to Syracuse by 8:30.

Starting early -- Kim has invited us to go on a week-long bike adventure. It's along the C&O Canal & should be very pretty in late September. The starting early part is that we need to start training for it. So, the weather being what it is & my bike still hibernating in the garage, I rode the Exercycle for a half hour and covered 6.6 miles. It's a start. I need to do more & do it on the bike & on the roads, but it's a start.