paths to somewhere...

One thing on my mind recently is how to improve the connectivity in my community for both pedestrians and cyclists. In order to get across town on your feet or your bike, you have to spend time on a major roadway. This is a highly unpleasant experience, and a real deterrent to human powered transportation.

I was also thinking about the nature of footpaths in some areas of Europe. There are paths that go up mountains, etc., just like in the US. In addition, they have footpaths that actually lead someplace. So there are footpaths from village to village.

The third piece is reviewing the places I have lived where people walked or rode their bikes as transportation. Yes there are regional cultural differences, but one key part of this is that in the areas where these are legitimate forms of transport, the paths lead to somewhere.

So that is what we need - paths to somewhere...

submerged trees

Could have been taken today. I came across this Sat. while out for a spin. Lovely, still water with trees submerged. A classic spring scene of a riparian zone. I like this time of year, because you see the environment in its transition zones. Often these conditions are extreme for the local flora and fauna. But they have adapted. And here, perhaps the trees say dormant until the water goes down. And perhaps the root systems are used to being wet. It is all very cool.

falls and flowers

As the snow melts, the water rises. Spring is here. I took this Friday on my ride home. Normally a trickle, we have a full blown waterfall ride in the middle of our city.


Flowers showed their face in our yard. I found these April 18, and it is about time!

Seeing Brown

My two favorite times of year are those times when I can see into the landscape. As a western US guy, I am still not 100% adjusted to the closeness of the vegetation here in the eastern US. As a result, those times of year when I can see into the landscape (spring and fall) are precious. And today, after this week of mild weather, our snowy landscape has been replaced by a wash of brown.

Soon the green will be here, and the land will come back to life.

Finally...

Spring, I think, is finally upon us. Since Tuesday we have had lovely weather. The snow is melting, birds are singing, and the sun is shining. Better than that, the air is warm - again, finally. Yesterday, however, marked a first.

• Flowers

Yep, saw the first flowers of the year on my way home. A sign that a new season is upon us.