This is my 21st year bicycling on the Katy Trail. Since my Wellness Center membership is over in May, June is when I spend more exercise time riding my bicycle at least once per week until it gets cold in November. Gardening takes up most of my time in between both at home as well as service projects. But when I'm pretty much caught up, I go bicycling and kayaking. There are many articles on this blog about other biking activities if you want to see more variety of what I do while biking on this and other trails. But for now I'm into getting to know one stretch of the Katy Trail really good which is the one closest to my home - Clinton to Windsor for 34 miles round trip that I do in 3-4 hours depending on how much I stop and enjoy the wildlife. Typically, it takes me about 1.5 hours to get to Windsor with maybe one stop for water. After a brief rest and snack at Windsor, I take my sweet time on the way back to my car parked in Clinton.
I don't usually plan what I'm going to do while biking but keep myself open to the possibilities. Sometimes it's about the ride and challenging myself to improve my time. The weather can be a challenge especially going against the wind which usually occurs on the return trip when I'm more tired. That's a great time to stop often and look closely what's around me. There are some interesting people also on the trail and there are opportunities to visit. There is wildlife such as rabbits, squirrels, turtles, snakes, foxes, and so many birds and insects! But mostly I stop to take photos and try to remember the names of plants. I enjoy researching when I get home and learn something new every time. By sharing them on this blog and other media online, I hope to bring a little of the natural world to others who do not get out much and will appreciate my perspective...
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| My first stop is usually to look at what is blooming at a small garden before the first bridge where several park benches are provided also. |
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| A short time later begins the first Prairie Restoration Area. I like to ride fast through and just notice what I want to check out closer on my way back again. |
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| There are two of these areas in the section between Clinton and Windsor. |
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| Common milkweed in bloom. I'm involved recently with a group that is promoting monarch called Missourians for Monarchs with the Missouri Master Naturalists Lake of the Ozarks Chapter. |
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| Common milkweed is the only food source for the monarch butterfly which has had decreased numbers in recent years. We are planting a lot of various milkweeds and nectar plants and also harvesting seed for distribution. |
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| White wild indigo |
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| Ox-eye |
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| Ox-eye group |
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| Obedient plant - usually shows which way the wind blows and on a still day, you can rearrange the blooms and they will stay where you put them. |
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| Goat's beard, pale purple coneflower, butterfly milkweed. |
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| Black-eyed Susan |
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| Elderberry cluster |
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| Elderberry cluster close-up |
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| Elderberry group |
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| Box turtle |
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| Dewberries |
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| Dewberries for breakfast tomorrow! |
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| Michigan lilies are about 4' tall and a rare find in the wild! This is the first time I've seen one. |
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| One plant has 2-3 blooms |
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| I think I want to order some next year from Missouri Wild Flowers Nursery for my yard. Hopefully, the deer won't eat them like they do many of my other lilies! |
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| So I get home around noon and look who walks by in front of my house in the middle of the day… a fox! |
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| I guess I don't have to go very far to see wildlife as it is all around me! |
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