I got my February ride in yesterday. The temperature was a balmy 46 degrees when we headed out. What I didn’t anticipate was how much fog the fields of melting snow would generate. As I rode my motorcycle through the mist I had to keep using my left hand to wipe off my helmet windscreen to see.
There was lots of gravel on the roads so I had to take sharp turns extremely slow and cautious to avoid having the bike slide out from under me. We were heading north on Hwy 231 and came down into a lower valley where the fields had already melted. It was a relief to see clearly for a change. The skies were filled with raptors and geese who were landing in the temporary ponds created by the rapid snow melt. I was particularly struck by a bald eagle that was cruising just a couple of feet above the ground. I am guessing that mice and voles were being uncovered by the snowmelt and were trying to escape the flooding only to be picked off by hawks, eagles and ravens.
It felt good to get out for a ride. January and February are the hardest months to get a ride in during the year. I think I will make my goal of going for a ride every month of the year again.
I am ready for spring to come.
