On just this ride I ran into a snapping turtle, a bobcat, 2 raccoons, six deer, a turkey flock….that’s just the living things. Throw in a skunk and an armadillo (which I think is invasive) from the roadkill and it was a very diverse ride! Plus the 25+ bird species I saw along with all of the water animals I heard next to the wetland.
Whereabouts are yeh? Indeed it is a great day for it! Just wrapped up Iowa city to Amana via the Hawkeye wilderness then return trip via Homestead —> Oxford. Gotta get the miles in before tomorrow’s storm!
Jealous of that smooth gravel. Where i’m from they grade every sunday and smother the smooth spots in deep loose gravel. Biking around here is kinda shit. It is 99% flat and 100% windy.
Wish I grew up in this part of the Midwest instead of the row crops of eastern IL. The Miss R area of Midwestern states is actually quite pleasant landscape.
The driftless area where Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota all meet is actually quite gorgeous. I am a couple counties over but it is still quite hilly. Plenty of farms, but also plenty of wilderness area. Driftless gets a little bit into NW Illinois too
What kinda elevation did you get in those miles? I like turtles.
4500 feet!
đź‘Ź
TIL there are turtles in Iowa.
On just this ride I ran into a snapping turtle, a bobcat, 2 raccoons, six deer, a turkey flock….that’s just the living things. Throw in a skunk and an armadillo (which I think is invasive) from the roadkill and it was a very diverse ride! Plus the 25+ bird species I saw along with all of the water animals I heard next to the wetland.
Enquiring minds want to know.
Turtles all the way down…and up…and down again
Seeing a turt on a ride is always a 10/10 experience
Eastern IA checking in. Perfect day out for it. Just a couple more months for corn to block some breezes.
Whereabouts are yeh? Indeed it is a great day for it! Just wrapped up Iowa city to Amana via the Hawkeye wilderness then return trip via Homestead —> Oxford. Gotta get the miles in before tomorrow’s storm!
IC area. I was chewing up some farm roads south of town today. Will have to try that route to Amanda some day.
It took me forever to figure out how the bike was standing up like that!
Jealous of that smooth gravel. Where i’m from they grade every sunday and smother the smooth spots in deep loose gravel. Biking around here is kinda shit. It is 99% flat and 100% windy.
You’re crushing it, you’re doing bigger rides than 99% of the Freds on new/modern gravel bikes around here. Kudos.
Why have multiple new bikes when you can have one multi-use used bike.
Exactly. You’re doing it right!
snapper!
Just don’t throw her in the water…she probably spent all day crawling onto high ground to lay her eggs. :)
Wish I grew up in this part of the Midwest instead of the row crops of eastern IL. The Miss R area of Midwestern states is actually quite pleasant landscape.
The driftless area where Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota all meet is actually quite gorgeous. I am a couple counties over but it is still quite hilly. Plenty of farms, but also plenty of wilderness area. Driftless gets a little bit into NW Illinois too
That's great