March Rides: In Like a Lion or a Lamb?

[azfiddle]

All you folks getting the brunt of the storms- stay safe and warm.
Out here in AZ it's getting HOT! Predicted to be 95 on Friday- which is about 15-20 degrees above normal. But then again, normal was calculated based on pre-global warming averages.

Saturday: quick ride up to Saguaro NP and back to meet up with a friend. We met up about 2 miles from the park, rode the "picnic loop" (just 3 miles) and I had to go back. Had a funeral and a wedding to play for on the same day.

Sunday- my husband and I drove south of Tucson to the town of Tubac and rode around looking at birds. The annual hawk watch was on and we stopped for 20 minutes. I saw several Common Black Hawks, new for the "bird by bike" list, and then we took our road bikes on a dirt path- maybe not the best choice but it was mostly flat, hard packed and not rocky, stopping to look and listen periodically. We got off the path and onto pavement for a couple miles, then headed back north on the road. We ended up seeing 13 Common Black Hawks and one Zone-tailed Hawk, but missed the Golden Eagles sighted by the group at the hawk watch site.

Today I rode around the east side of Tucson - mostly suburban desert & a couple of ponds- saw 42 species of birds, none particularly notable but wound up with 28 miles. Ouch- fell over at a stoplight because I was trying to maneuver my bike with one foot still clipped in. Dumb, but not really serious. A little bit of a skinned knee and a bruise.

[north woods gal]

AZ, we're kind of in between on our birding, now that I took the feeders down and cleaned up under them. (It's standard operating procedure to get your feeders down before the bears are out in the spring.) Other than the Northern Shrike that stayed around for a couple of months, pretty much a so so feeder season for me. Definitely not as much variety as usual. The mild winter could have something to do with that.

Looking forward to birding by ear, via the bikes, soon, though. Have also had a flock of Tundra Swans use our lake during spring migration the last couple years. Can't wait to see what the migration brings.

Since this is the March rides thread, I have been riding the fat bikes, every day, some road work, but mostly trail work on my icy trails, only doable with those studded fat bike tires. Even then, have to be careful in the hilly areas. Definitely a big high when I get through a tricky section, successfully. Only an hour a day working out on the fat bikes, but that's enough to keep me in good trim and my skills up to par.

[Crankin]

Here we go, 12-24 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow. I am thrilled to be able to get more x country skiing in (at least 1-3 more times), but I need to start training for my trip to Spain!
Despite the predicted sow and the frigid temperatures over the weekend, there was a robin chirping on our lawn thins morning....

[emily_in_nc]

Well, it doesn't look like I'll be doing much cycling in the near-term. We just received word today that my father-in-law passed away today. :-(

It was not unexpected, as he was less than a month from his 88th birthday and in progressively failing health, but his doctors didn't expect this to happen quite so quickly. We thought we had ample time to get up to Ohio for one last visit in April or May, once the danger of snow/ice passed. But it was not to be. He's been in declining health for a long time, so my DH is doing pretty well with it, but you're still never ready to lose a parent.

So, looks like we'll be renting a car and driving up from Florida to Ohio on Saturday/Sunday and staying up there for several days for family time and the funeral/burial, then taking another couple days to get back down here. We are not taking the motorhome up as that is a slower drive and more difficult to find good places to stay. It would take us at least 3-4 days each way instead of two.

We won't be able to take bikes and wouldn't have time to ride anyway, plus it will be too cold for us. So, at least a week off the bikes for that, coupled with the cold, windy weather we've had here looks like two weeks off in total. Blech. But it is what it is...a necessary, if unpleasant, part of life....

[Crankin]

Condolences, Emily.
You might be able to get away with some walks. Just bring your hat, gloves, and a scarf.

[Catrin]

Condolences indeed, sorry to read of your loss.
I agree with Crankin, perhaps you will be able to do some walking. The weather is becoming wintry for the first time in quite some time, but it won't last.

[Pax]

Sorry for your loss, Emily. Hope you have a safe trip back up north.