Sunday bike ride


Dave came and got me up Sunday morning. I was still lying in bed, listening to a distant roar. What's that racket, I asked, as we made it over to Tim Horton's for coffee. Chain saws, he said, it's because of the ash borer.

The Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) infested Essex County five years ago. The beetles have killed millions of ash trees in the US and over a hundred thousand on this side of border.

A number of home owners in Belle River took advantage yesterday of the great weather to cut down their dead trees. David's next door neighbours were among them and they had offered him almost a cord of firewood. That's where I came in, as David wanted my help in moving the load into his backyard.

It didn't take that long and and afterwards I walked back home to get my bike and camera. I rode back over to Dave's and took this picture of the tunnels the little pests carve out just below the tree bark.



After chatting a bit with Patti, who was planting gladiolas in the front yard, I took off on my bike for some more exercise and sight seeing.

Went along the old lake front roads to the Puce River in Emeryville. On the way I passed several smaller creeks. Here's one with a flood control dyke.





Made my way back to Belle River and the marina, just in time to catch a sail boat approaching the harbour.



Decided to check out the east breakwater to see if my old friends the geese had returned. And yes, not far from where I was challenged last year I found a mother goose sitting in her nest while her spouse swam guard a few feet away. Mom hissed as I got close and Dad honked a warning. And then Mom stood up and showed me the reason for their concern.











Got back on my bike and headed home. Where I discovered the first tulip to bloom in our rock garden.



Got a sunburn too, just like last year.

Posted: Mon - April 30, 2007 at 06:34 PM          

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