First Bike Ride

Day 4 (3/22/10)

Today we went for our first bike ride of the year. It was in the low 50’s but sunny. We decided to go south and check out the tie build we had built the last time out. I was happy to see it was still standing. I would like to add to it but at least for a while it is too wet to get to. That should keep it from getting knocked over. At first it seemed like we were the only ones out but as soon as we were ready to start building the trail got busy. We did manage to build one small cairn in a neat little park area. I want to go back to that area some time when there is less activity on the trail.

Signs of Spring

Spring Fever

Day 3 (3/7/10)

We were having one of the first forty plus degree days in months so decided to hit the trail. We were concerned about bare spots in the snow so we chose to walk instead of ski. As it turned out we probably could have skied but as it was we had more opportunity to build. Perhaps it was spring fever or the warm weather, but whatever the reason, when the opportunity to build presented itself we started building. Much of the material was still covered or froze down but we made use of what we could get. There were many signs of spring, including green grass sprouting under some of the ties we moved and even a Red Wing Blackbird. It had been a good winter but it is time of year where I am ready for spring. I can’t wait for my first bike ride down the trail.

Going south

Day 2 (2/28/10)

We had another opportunity to get out on the bike trail. The weather was warm, high thirties, but overcast. We decided to try going the other direction towards town. One of the biggest surprises of the day was coming across some flying insects. I had just skied through a patch of grass when I noticed them fly up. At first I thought it was just a seed pod but then I noticed they were actually flying around. Had it been sunny I would had been less surprised. I was also pleasantly surprised to find “Dangler” still standing. There were also a couple of cairns still standing in various states of repair. It won’t be long now until it will be biking season again.

Valentines Day

Day 1 (2/14/10)
It’s Valentines Day and what a better way to spend it then taking a cross-country ski trip out on the bike trail. The weather was perfect around thirty degrees and calm. It was slightly overcast with the sun occasionally poking through. There is always something to see and some story to interpret when you’re on the trail. Today we came across sign of where a hawk had swooped down and attacked some animal from above. It was hard to tell who had been successful. There were two places where you could see where the hawk’s wings had disturbed the surface but if he had been successful he had flown off with the prey and there was no sign of blood. I am surprised that nobody seems to use the trail for skiing. We were the only ones who had been on most of it since the snow five days ago. By one of the roads that cross the trail somebody had walked their dog but otherwise the trail was pristine. As much as I like the lack of activity it still surprises me. We did find a couple of my tie builds still standing but most have been removed by the railroad company. We saw a mink or weasel scurry across the trail in front of us but wildlife was otherwise quite scarce.

Year Three

As I have stated before, when my wife and I started making Cairns it was out of an attempt to mix art with exercise and not in any way meant to be malicious. On a visit to the John Michael Kohler Art Center yesterday we picked up the book, “The Guerilla Art Book” by Keri Smith and were impressed with her concern for the environment to the point of giving directions for making Wheat Paste because of its environmentally safe nature. We laughed at the many ideas which for the most part where aimed at brightening people’s lives and making the world a happier place. This has always been the spirit in which we have approached our art. I am inspired for a new year.

Parnell Tower

Day 25 (10/25/09)
After a very long period of colder than normal temperatures we finally got a good day and it was on the weekend. At first we were planning on kayaking but the wind was pretty strong so we decided to go hiking in the kettles instead. I had heard of the Parnell Tower before but had never been to it. So we set out for the kettles and the tower. A lot of the leaves were already off the trees. The wind and rain had taken their toll. What were left were yellow leaves. There was evidence of red ones on the ground. Why they fell first is beyond me. Being fond of yellow, that was ok with me. When we got to the tower it looked like others had had the same idea as us. In spite of the crowds we decided to make the best of it. We started by climbing the tower. The vistas were as awesome as we had anticipated, well worth the trip to the top. We then decided to take the longest three and half mile hike we had ever taken. My first mistake was not looking at the trail map before leaving. After an hour of traveling in roughly the same direction we were starting to wonder if the trail made a loop as we had anticipated. It was late in the day when we started so now we are starting to question whether we should turn around or not. It had been some time since we had encountered other people. The trail was beautiful, carpeted with new fallen leaves of every color. Some areas were quite steep but again well worth the trip. About the time we starting to wonder if we would ever start turning back we came to the halfway marker and a map of the rest of the trail. Comforted with knowing that we would not end up spending the night in the woods we started back. Again, the trail was beautiful, but slightly treacherous with slippery rocks hidden under a blanket of leaves. We had to stack some just to make to place more orderly. We finally started seeing other people and realized the end was near. We vowed that we would go back some time earlier in the day and take more time to enjoy it. We made one final climb up the tower to watch the sunset. We stayed awhile but more and more people kept coming so we decided to make a break for it and come back at another time.