Homeward Bound!

Year 5,

Molly and I are homeward bound to Duluth! Our bicycle tour was fantastic, and in total we cycled 1,028 miles. Our final night was spent with a fantastic host family via the WarmShowers organization. Families in this group provide a friendly assist to touring cyclists. After all the miles and nights in small motels or camped out on the ground, the opportunity to stay with a local family can not be overrated. We open up our home in Duluth to touring cyclists.

In addition, we spent a day and a half at Phillis and Bill’s farm after we finished touring. It was great to rest, eat, and enjoy great family time on a beautiful farm.

Bluebird of Happiness on the Farm

Photo of Molly and Me Taken on the final day of the tour

Our completed route through Texas

Major Migration Event: 100k+ Dickcissels!

Year 5,

Molly and I saw well over 100,000 Dickcissels this morning on Texas #22 while bike touring about five miles west of Corsicana, Texas. For about six miles we were treated to thousands and thousands of Dickcissels while at the same time viewing carpets of bluebonnets. As a Naturalist I realized just how rare this event was. These birds winter in Central and South America, and are working their way north to the grasslands of the Midwest. This was a once in a lifetime event which was awe inspiring.

The music from their singing was amazing, and when flocks took off the sky was filled. Fantastic morning to be bike touring through rural Texas. I have included one photograph to give some impression of what the deciduous trees looked like. At the same time certain farm fields were full of feeding Dickcissels.

To learn more about Dickcissels follow this link from Cornell University:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dickcissel/overview

As I noted, the Bluebonnets made the scene that much better. Rolling carpets of blue filled the fields. It was truly a magic morning. We are now 935 miles into our bicycle tour of Texas.