Scenes from the Rail Trail: April 2, 2014

Yesterday was the first day I was able to bike-commute this season (for the record, yours truly ain't no cold-weather biker) and all I have to say is...YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!  I enjoyed my ride to work (and home) so much I even dreamed happy dreams of it when I went to bed last night. That is a totally true story.The hardest part for me in my quest to get to work along the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail is in the actual moving forward. Not because I have problems riding my bike but rather, because it is so damn pretty. I have a hard time not hopping off my bike every ten feet to take another picture and look at another gorgeous eyeload full of central PA scenery. Everything was fresh and muddily, wetly new. Some flowers were out, and some bushes and such were still in their gray and bare winter tatters, with the occasional bud peeking out from under things. With that in mind, less talky! More looky! Welcome to Scenes from the Rail Trail--2014!This guy was there to greet me almost as soon as I got on the trail. Could be vaguely creepy...cue the spooky organ music in my head!How about a little winter aconite (or eranthis, if you prefer?) to brighten up your early spring ride?Meanwhile, down the road a piece...See what I mean about wanting to stop every ten feet? I'm telling you, this is with considerable "I have to get to work" restraint exercised.Soon-to-be parents get ready with a snug new mud nest.While fences do make good neighbors, they also make for interesting shadows when the light is right.Thanks to everyone who responded to a previous post (and on Facebook), I now know that this is an exploded milkweed pod. Which looks golden and awesome, glinting in the morning sun.And finally...we begin with birds, we end with birds. Robin Redbreast is ready for his closeup, Mr. DeMille.So yay! A return to warmer weather and fun on the Trail! Can't wait to see what else there is to see there.