It was just the start of an ordinary Monday.
We live on a small island, Knowles Island. There is one road on and off the island over a causeway between ours and the next island, DeLoss Island. There is one more causeway from Deloss to the mainland and a state hIghway. Although the island roads are narrow and curvy there are hardly any cars and we enjoy riding our bikes to look for birds and wildlife and soak up the views.
Right now the wildflowers along the causeways are spectacular.
The red flowers are red clover but I haven't been able to identify the others.
On our Monday bike ride, we left the pavement and rode along a logging road as far as we could, then got off and walked to the end of the trail.
Besides the downed logs, the road is made of sand under the leaves and it got very hard to pedal.
I'm still puzzling over the "litterbug" who dropped all these oyster shells in the woods. They are from a bird that perched high above in the tree to eat them.
It looks like he has been dining in this spot for quite some time.
Maybe an osprey? An eagle?
We pedaled back across the causeway at low tide,
...back past the site of one of the plantation homes of Roseland Plantation. All that is left there is a grove of live oaks hung with Spanish moss that shaded its big verandas 175 years ago.
The Writer returned to his desk, I began the laundry, a wonderful start to our day.
" I've made a promise to myself not to wait until a life-threatening or life-limiting disorder strikes to begin to treasure all of my days. Each day - regular, unremarkable days as well as the days marking memorable occasions -- is a gift. It is a chance to look around and see the world in a new way. It is a chance to accept what is and embrace whatever life brings with joy -- living with gratitude instead of self-pity, wonder instead of fear. Each day is, indeed, worth celebrating."
--From a blog I enjoy:
http://drkathleenmccoy.blogspot.com/2014/09/daily-gratitude.html
Posted with Blogsy
What a fabulous way to start the day. I have never seen such an abundance of wildflowers.
ReplyDeleteCynthia your bike ride was nice and interesting. I always admire your trees.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a hard "SLOG" on the bikes on that "path".
ReplyDeleteYou did well to get so far along it.
I reckon the shells are the "leftovers" from a bird of prey,
more than likely one which you mention, when the bird has been
feeding the chicks way up in the top of a tree.
Those swampy areas - are they sprayed for mossies???
Cheers
Colin
PS: Good luck up north and you will be able to
continue your "Aussie Lingo" lessons for Mason.
Nope, no mosquito spray except what we carry ourselves. They weren't bad on this day fortunately.
DeleteYou're more energetic than I am, we walk in the morning,but no biking.
ReplyDeleteThings are always more vivid when you're biking.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are very pretty and you seem to see things differently when bike riding.
ReplyDeleteLooked on the map and I don't see an Island with water all the way around it. Did I miss something?
Definitely islands on tidal waters with 6-8 foot tides. Not sure what map you used but you could try Google Maps aerial views because I know you can see the islands there.
DeleteThanks. I did use Google Maps....will look again :)
DeleteYou have some very pretty flowers in the wild there. Love to see your bikes, they are sporty ones, not like our transportbikes. I can't cycle in sand only on paved paths.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us on your bike ride!
ReplyDeleteAnd during the rest of my day I'll try to be mindful of the quotation you left us with.
I miss having my bicycle... gave it up sometime ago afraid of falling on loose gravel around our roads.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating that pile of discarded oyster shells is...clever bird, eating while perched up high. It would be safe and wouldn't have to share! Lol. Lovely photos of your islands.
ReplyDeleteAre you still riding the bike you got when you were still in MN. It looks like the same color, but I don't want to assume. And I've forgotten the name you gave it. I do remember the why, however. Do you still like the bike? Sorry so many questions. No obligation to answer and I won't mind your decision. I was just curious. It's been that kind of day.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's Lulu! I brought her to South Carolina and we are still having marvelous adventures together. Once in awhile we have a little trouble keeping up with the big wheels on The Writer's bike but eventually he notices we are not right behind him and he slows down to wait for us. 😎
DeleteYou live in a great area for relaxed bicycling. I like the oyster shells dropped under the tree by an eagle or osprey or ... We are retired too and my husband bicycles every day. I walk along the bay.
ReplyDeleteIt really must be wonderful riding your bike in your environment – lush landscape, wonderful flowers and wildlife. I read your past posts. You are one hour from Savannah, which must be nice. But it would be hard for me to live so far away from a large town with no French bakery or little restaurants nearby.
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved to Georgia, our real estate agent told me to read the books of Eugenia Price. She had written historical fiction novels about the first plantations in St. Simons Island, GA. I really enjoyed these books – read several of them. Her trilogy starts with “Lighthouse.” I read them in the 1970s… She used real historical figures in her books. After reading her we did spend a vacation or two in St. Simons Island. Have you read them? I would think the stories of life on her GA plantations would be the same as the plantations near you.
I just read your comment on my blog. No, I am not your neighbor – I live about 5 hours away in Greater Atlanta. We live in West Cobb County, close to Kennesaw Mountain – on the same road as Kennesaw National Battlefield Park. If you look on the side of my blog under “Georgia” you will see many posts about this. There are too many posts though, so to see the road where I live, read my post of 2009 http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-road-in-cobb-county-georgia.html part one and part two. We are not far from Allatoona Lake, here is another post where I talk about the area http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/2013/11/hiking-on-historic-allatoona-pass-trail.html . I love Savannah and we have been there many times – my younger daughter was married there. I wrote several posts on Savannah, here they are: http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/2010/10/savannah-lafayette-square-and-wedding.html and http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/2010/09/experience-savannah-with-song-of.html and http://avagabonde.blogspot.com/2010/10/savannahs-book-and-clint-eastwood_07.html . I have not been to South Carolina in a long time but really enjoyed our visits to Charleston.
ReplyDeletePretty flowers whatever they are!!
ReplyDeleteThe flowers and the forest look wonderful. How good it must be to be able to ride on quiet roads and leave your bikes unattended. Great way to spend a morning. Love the attitude of your blogger friend.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! What a beautiful place to live. I do love wildflowers!
ReplyDeleteI've been reading backwards and have so enjoyed the catching up. Glad every thing went so smoothly.
ReplyDelete