Cheryl Runs to The Sun and Moon.

Down the Kewash Trail

Evening in Westchester

The Weekend is almost over, and Cheryl has been doing a bit of running.  The heat has forced us to become a bit more flexible for our runs.   And by that, I mean:  running shorter but more often.   Basically, we have been running in the morning AND evening.   Which is great for me....  I actually like the evenings better.

Mornings in Muscatine

Down to the Fountain!

That does not mean we skip out on the mornings.   on weekends, we usually head to Muscatine for some water therapy.   Cheryl runs somewhere between 7-10 miles ( depending on heat and fatigue) and then she plays in the fountain there.

Cheryl's New favorite part of running.

The perfect place for a cool-down.

 Since she discovered the fountain, (And now that it is  operational...) Cheryl has been looking forward to going there and frolicking in the water.   It is also always fun to run along the river.

And photo opportunity....

Back to Kewash.

However, we have also been taking a break from Iowa City as of late.   The Kewash Trail has been fun to visit after such a long hiatus. ( basically, we have taken all of this winter and spring off from there.)   So now that summer is upon us... and the berries are out in full swing, we have a renewed interest.

Some recent trail improvements!

We also discovered that they have been making improvements!   Remember that "mud pit" on the other side of West Chester?  

Even Non-skid mats on the ends!

Well, the authorities have decided to pave over that area and make it passable!   They even pit little rubber nubs on the ends to keep people from slipping!   How awesome is that!  I'm now curious if any other improvements have been made as we get closer to Washington.

Chasing Raccons.

And evening rabbits sometimes.

It is also noteworthy that the evening runs provide a new experience from time to time.   Raccoons come out in the twilight.   And the heat is much more tolerable in the evening.

Chasing the Moon as it rises.

Chasing the Sun as it sets.

Sometimes you are treated to a wonderful sun set followed by a moon rising.   Add in fireflies and the evening rabbits and it is just a peaceful time to be out there.  I'm actually looking forward to going back out there tonight.   Maybe a little earlier so we will have time to stop and pick blackberries (they are now out in full force now,  Would hate to miss them!)

Enjoying the cool (-er) scenes of Iowa.

Hope everyone is having a pleasant weekend.  And if you can enjoy the evenings as the sun sets,   all the better!

An Evening Run on the Kewash Trail.

Ready for Evening Run

Showing off 

 Last night,  after I had already posted my blog,   Cheryl and I went out for an Evening run.   We chose Kewash because it is closer and we Cheryl wanted to make up for the several miles she had short changed earlier.   I was excited, because I tend to like running/biking in the evening better than mornings.   There are several reasons for this...

Racing the Sun

One:  I'm NOT a morning person.  

Two:   I would rather experience the Earth as it is cooling rather than having it warm up half way through your route.

All Finished!

And Three:   Sometimes you get to see animals that are not out in the early mornings.  

And we won,  Sun still above the Horizen

There is also the glow of the evening sun.
 Sometimes this might be a little blinding if you have to face into it....but  other times it provides a warm glow that the morning light simply does not offer.   Perhaps that is simply my own opinion,  but that is how I see things.

Mystery Animals in the Distance

So after a pleasant run in moderate temps with a cool breeze,  we noted a strange animal out in a field.   My first impression was that it was a Badger!   I had seen one before in in a field around Wellman, but Cheryl had not...   We decided to turn back and take a second look.

Is this A Wolverine?   Badger?   It's HUGE!

Upon closer inspection.  We noted that it "walked funny".   As it approached closer, we finally discovered that it was actually 4 animals walking VERY closely.   It was a Mother Skunk with her kids.   So CUTE!    I like Skunks and don't understand that bad rap they get simply because they spray people.   It is not life threatening to smell bad for a few hours.   Consider this next time you face a charging bear!  

Oh!   A Family of Skunks.... Still Cute though. 

So Cheryl actually liked the evening run as well and has proposed that we repeat it tonight.   I'm sure we will have to prepare for the bugs ( as always this time of year.) and maybe we will run further than before and end up racing the sun before it gets too dark... we shall see.    And if we are lucky...we might even catch a glimpse of some other creature that only appears before dawn.

14 miles at Kewash.

Coralville Three miles

Early mornings.

With a slight break in the scoring season,  Cheryl has been itching to squeeze in a long run before the heat of Summer overtakes our running schedule.   Normally we have to set aside a weekend or holiday for such things.   And Cheryl only wants to run in the cool of the morning.  This forces us to run in Coralville.   And only about three miles at a time.

Coralville Dam and bridge

Rain creates gentle waterfalls.

To be fair, the Iowa sun does tend to heat things up rapidly.  I started off with my light jacket, only to remove it about three miles in. Thankfully there was a light breeze blowing cool morning air.

Cheryl prepares for 14 miles!

High Blue Prairie Grass.

As mentioned int he title,  we decided to go back to Kewash.   Sure, there is no river out there, but it has been a while since we visited that area and thought it would be a nice day to give it a go.  Plus it is far closer than Muscatine and it has been several days since it has rained... Meaning the trail will probably be nice and dry.

Running into the sun

And down the path

This was the first time we experienced to new parking spot during the "non-winter" months.  I'm not sure what the grasses are, but I would guess either wheat or rye.  (I'm not a farmer, and even though I took various Botany classes, we never had to ID the all of the grasses.) But there was a lot of it around the parking area and trail entrance.

Chasing Rabbits.

Or racing.....and winning.

 Cheryl ran at a fairly fast pace...for a training run.  She was wondering why it seemed so difficult today...and then she looked at her Garmin.  I was just happy we did not have a melt down on the first day back.

The rabbits were back.   Same as every spring.  Even around our apartment, there are several "new" furry faces hopping around the yard.  I think these guys seem a little friendlier than last years.   Several times the rabbits ran right past me.   Cheryl almost stepped on one!

Cheryl smearing sunscreen on the Subie.

Final approach 

We listened to music for the majority of the run.  (Something we have not been able to do since Boston, I think.) And when it was finally over, Cheryl felt as if she had accomplished something good.  Yeah!   I'm glad we were able to come back to Kewash and have a good experience right out of the gate.   Perhaps we will have to integrate this path back into the rotation, along with Davenport and Muscatine.  We shall see.