We are halfway through August and signs of autumn are beginning to appear. Soon the meteorologists will be recounting how this was the hottest summer on record. And I won’t believe them. Two weeks into August, past what should have been the dog days of summer, and we’ve been sitting with temperatures in the 80s. For the mid-Atlantic coast, this makes for a balmy summer. It sure made for a comfortable summer ride.
The sky was cloudy as well, though no rain was in the forecast. The cloud cover contributed to the comfortable ride. Still, because it is still summer, Bill led us on a cruising ride with no slow speed drills. I did get to practice my footless stop—another 0 on the speedometer. And I continued working on my engine braking with only one full pull in on the clutch during the whole ride.
As we rode, we passed three groups of Canadian geese, each one progressively larger than the other. The third gaggle was over twenty geese; this many groups is a sure sign of fall migration. Fall of course is spectacular riding weather, and I am definitely looking forward to those cooler days and the colors of autumn. Not that I mind still seeing the crape myrtle blossoms, roses, brown-eyed Susans, and brightly colored vincas still flowering. I was surprised, though, to still see flowers in bloom on the magnolia trees and credit that to both the milder summer and the abundance of rain we’ve had.
I spotted a spicebush swallowtail that’s been hanging around my yard as I sat in the car waiting for Bill. During the ride, a different spicebush swallowtail flew aggressively toward Bill on the Rocket before backing off and fluttering away. I will miss spotting butterflies as we head into the colder seasons. But I am hoping I’ll see some bald eagles as they have been conspicuously absent this summer. When I get to ride my motorcycle, I can find something wonderful in all the seasons to enjoy.
Flutterby Biker 