Swallowed too many bugs on tonight's ride. Yuck!

Rode through the marsh tonight with the moon's reflection winking through the long grasses along the way. I returned home decorated with long streamers of spider silk and promptly enjoyed the privileges of darkness and a backyard swimming pool, fully. The sound track was the wind in my ears and the buzzing of many, many bugs which discouraged stopping.

Was paced by an immature eagle for part of the ride this evening. Yes, it's cool every time. The Ospreys below are partly fledged. It'll be time to go soon.

N 38.441993, W -76.128924

Spooked an owl off of a stop sign near the end of a late night ride. The only other signs of life were small toads hopping across the road. No cars, only lightning in the distance. The sound track was provided by the many birds announcing my progress through the marsh and fields.

Watched the reflections of herons and egrets flying low across the marsh this evening; water holds light longer than grasses. It was the usual 15 mile ride through Blackwater NWR. The soundtrack was Frank Zappa with the Mothers and Capt. Beefheart, Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ 19Apr75. It's tough dancing to the anti-bop!

Down and back to Taylor's Island. Made some new friends.

outside Island Grille
Taylor's Island, MD
N 38.469695, W-76.297546

Had a pleasant ride this evening, doing his regular Blackwater loop. There was nothing unusual. Even the eagles were where expected. Others who might want to see them should stand at N 38.443069, W -76.126757 and look for a large dead tree to the West.

Was pleased to discover chicken mushrooms. The chicken mushroom is easy to recognize, with no poisonous look-alikes. It is always found on wood and if the tree is standing, it is above ground level. Yes it tastes like chicken and mildly lemony. These were very young and tender, oozing juice when picked.

Laetiporus sulphureus: The Chicken of the Woods

Went faster when I remembered "kick, scrape, kick, scrape" and quit mashing the pedals. A recent guided bird walk sharpened my eye for smaller birds. This evening's ride included a bluebird, carolina wren and a redheaded woodpecker as well as the usual egrets, herons, osprey and eagles. Right, the usual eagles. It's like living in DC and seeing the Capitol; it happens every day, but it's still cool. The soundtrack was Booker T and The MGs with friends, Lone Star Roadhouse, NYC 16Jan92—quite the party band.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife Drive
N 38.443069, W -76.126757

Rode for the first time in nearly a week—wind and weather. The 15 mile loop included Blackwater's wildlife drive. It was turtles day; they were everywhere. The soundtrack was The Celibate Rifles, Forum Enger, Enger, Germany 04Jul88. Could it be the Rifles that scared off the herons each time I approached?

Went down and back to Taylors Island this afternoon, before heading into Silver Spring for the Amnesty International Human Rights Arts Festival. Thought I had the headwind on the way down—wrong! Nonetheless, an average speed of just less than 17 mph wasn’t bad.

Taylors Island, MD
N 38.469679, W -76.297282

Went to church on Earth Day, my favorite short ride through the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. Saw some friends there, three bald eagles, a handful of snowy egrets and a few great blue herons. The soundtrack was Ludwig van Beethoven, Violin Concerto op.61, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Beethovenhalle, Bonn 16Sep09.

Blackwater Refuge
Wildlife Drive
N 38.443976, W -76.134975

Couldn't have been swallowing Mayflies while riding down and back to Taylor's Island this evening. It's only mid-April, tax day. The soundtrack was Frank Zappa with the Mothers and Captain Beefheart - Capitol Theatre - Passaic NJ 19Apr75.

Milton Church
Woolford, MD
N 38.502933, W -76.175122

Was swooped by one bald eagle and saw three more, as well as six pairs of puddle ducks, four herons, one raccoon and four turtle trails during the usual 15 mile ride. I did not, however, see any cars passing in my direction. The soundtrack was Les Witches - Stavelot Festival - salle Philharmonique - Liège Belgium 16Sep07.

Need to remember to get off the bike, drink some water, wait.

Taylor's is such a little island and has so many churches. This one will get reshot on a future ride.

Continuing the Churches of Dorchester County series
and by special request:
Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church, c. 1787
Taylor's Island, MD
N 38.482414, W -76.316126

Found that the yellow bike was no help with today's wind—abusive and threatening whatever its direction.

Taylors Island Methodist Church
Chaplen Memorial Church
Taylors Island, MD
N38.462955, W-76.304112

Liked the yellow bike better today; still fat and old, but not as slow. Rain tomorrow, back to the green one.

Woolford-Mace Burial Ground, c. 1790
Woolford, MD
N 38° 30' 16.28", W -76° 10' 51.64"

Confirmed an unfailing ability to find headwind at every turn, once again. Saw many Bald Eagles, some Tundra Swans and an American Pelican, still rare in this area.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
N38.441825, W-76.129932

Down and back to Taylor's Island listening to Frank Zappa (The Ritz, NYC 17Nov81)—the anti-bop!

Down to Taylors Island for the first time since the recent snows—fat, old and slow.

Continuing the series of Dorchester County Churches:
Chapel of Ease Old Trinity Episcopal Church
Taylor's Island, MD
N382815.12 W-761831.99

Was swinging and swooping, sometimes bopping and grooving, on the pedals while listening to Stevie Wonder and Wonderlove (Berkeley Community Theatre, Mar. 3, '73). A very strong, cold headwind hit at the turn for home and put and end to that foolishness—head down, both hands on the bars.

Biked for the first time since the most recent snows and saw snow geese, many, many snow geese. It began sleeting before the turn-around.

Wondering why the miles are shorter once the bike is pointed back toward the house. It didn't used to be that way, not so long ago.

Saw the brightest shooting star ever while riding in the early twilight.

A a new rule for biking: don't when winds are 25 mph and gusting to 40 mph.