Our front yard (south facing) no longer has any snow. The tulips have poked out of the ground in a bed in front along the house. Back yard still has some but it's retreating quickly.
The bike trails along the streets I've been on are all clear of snow, with some residual ice in shaded spots and large puddles of water here and there.
The trails along the the greenbelts are not quite that far along. some are clear - from Goose Lake parking lot to UAA has pavement all the way, though at some points it's narrow.
There was a guy in a pickup truck doing spins in the parking lot. He was the only vehicle in the lot. He straightened up and drove away. Not sure if it was because he saw me on the bike, or he was just ready to go.
Chester Creek south (from Lake Otis) to the Peanut Farm is clear in some spots and covered in snow in other parts. This picture is just north of the bridge under International Airport Road.
I passed a couple of rabbits near Loussac Library. I backed up and they were still there, not moving.
They didn't move when I pulled out my phone and took their picture. Nice birch bark too.
And at Lake Otis Elementary yesterday, the kids got a visit from the Bird Treatment and Learning Center (Bird TLC) and they brought along a Peregrine Falcon. The kids were quiet so as not to agitate the falcon and asked a lot of great questions.
They listened quietly in rapt(or) attention. (sorry, couldn't resist, it's completely accurate.)
Oe more related note. We had a lot more snow this winter and the weather stayed a lot colder longer. For many weeks our daily high temperatures were below our normal low temperatures. So the snow and ice clung to the ground far longer than normal. And to top it off, last year the sidewalks and trails cleared much earlier than normal.
All this means I'm way behind in my biking. Today, April 24, 2026, my total is 70 kilometers. Last year on April 24, I was at 180 kilometers. Can I catch up with last year's pace? I'm guessing not, though last year I did do 100k weeks. My total last summer was just over 1600 kms, or 1000 miles. We'll see how things go as the trails get clear of snow.
But biking is back on the agenda, even if we have trouble getting out of the 40s F, and going outside to get the mail or take the compost out, doesn't require putting on a coat anymore.
Say, Steve. I know you used to run. And if I remember, took up cycling to lessen a sports injury. I've found that cycling, for me, seems more demanding on muscles than either walking or jogging. It also is really great for building lung-power.
ReplyDeleteMy problem here, as it is SO MANY places, is that our laws don''t allow co-use of 'side-of-road' pathways (called 'sidewalks' in the States, but 'pavement' here). Even if you're careful, considerate of walkers (of which I am most times). The motor laws are also terrible for determining 'fault' in the case of auto-biker collisions.
So I stopped cycling, and I WANT to ride, but can't take the chances of too many drivers just not getting it that tons of car wins against pounds of cyclist every time. And then I read of the Bike Day organisation in ANC and what it's doing. I see all the trail system there. Anchorage really has done something great in building this system -- especially in the face of so many people who don't know what their legs can be used for.
Some countries in Europe are doing a much better job in looking to get people out of the cars. Sadly, the UK (largely) isn't one of them.
https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaigns/cycle-advocacy-network/northern-ireland
ReplyDeleteThanks. Unfortunately, my local MP just bragged on bringing £40m for fixing potholes and not a penny for bike trails or walking amenities. That's just the way it is. I can't tell you how many times I have heard from Irish folk here that 'You can't expect us to give up our cars. How else would we get around?'
DeleteSIGH. It's rural here. Lots of family farms and many miles to go to get to anything else. But Eugene and I are still car-less after 19 years, both in the city and now in a more rural-built community. It takes a bit of sacrifice: We can't go to late-ending events in our 'big city' up the road 35 miles for lack of bus service, for instance. And the train that we could get, won't have track to our town until 2035 (or so). And that's because in 1966, they closed the rail station in our town and tore up ALL THE TRACK!
It's how things go. Back and forth. Win and lose. The ethos of walking, of cycling, of using public (rather then auto) transport is still not widely taken up.
The rabbits have been around the library since the summer, lots of people feed them in the parking lot.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. How sweet that the rabbits didn't move, enabling you to take a photo of them!
ReplyDeleteAnon, thanks for the added info on the rabbits. Linda, thanks for dropping by.
ReplyDelete