Rainy Days Have Their Own Charm

April 14, 2018

You might not think that riding a bicycle in the rain would be a pleasant experience. Sometimes, when the wind is strong, the rain hard and the temperature low, it may not be. But when the day is warm, the rain light and intermittent it can be nice to peddle along in the soft patter of raindrops and watch the world slow down. We peddled along a levy holding back the Mississippi Diver, part of a massive flood control project undertaken by the Army Corp of Engineers back in the 1930s. The Mississippi was a wild and unruly beast that would leap out of its banks and carve new channels on a regular basis before this project. Even with the hand of man to guide it, the Mississippi still manages to make changes but far less so now than in the past. The massive levies, dams, control gates and catchment areas have mostly tamed the Mother of Rivers allowing it to become a highway for barges and ships. Wildlife flourishes in these areas with eagles, waterfowl and other critters finding habitat in the man made lakes, marshes and swamps.

Quite literally, the high point of the day was crossing the Mississippi over the John Audubon Memorial Bridge. This golden strung, high arch suspension bridge is more than just a carrier of vehicles, it is majestic. However, this experience was shortly followed by the low point of my day when a wrong turn took me 45 minutes off route but compensated with a chance to glimpse a container manufacturing plant where my wrong turn dead ended. Then it began to rain harder. Smile Bob, this is fun.