Biking the Hoosier Uplands, Summer 2008

I got to Jojo’s about 6pm, we headed north and west to cross SR 37 at Vernal Pike, then we turned right on Woodyard and pedaled west, crossing Hartstrait and taking the dogleg to Ratliff Rd. We rode to Louden Rd. and headed south over the ridge. It is quiet and beautifull out this way, and one house with a great garden had iris starts in boxs out front. I grabbed some dark blue and violets, hopefully I can find some sun for them.

Climbing Louden from Ratliff is tough, about 150 feet vertical climb, the ridge is one of the highest in the county at over 950 feet amsl (the square downtown is about 750 feet amsl). I had been telling Jojo how easy the ride would be, west riding is generally flat, compared to south, north and east. Anyhow, we made it over the ridge into the Richland Creek valley, and turned back east on Vernal Pike. Vernal is closed for the last mile to Curry Pike, there is a large sign saying warning drag racers, as the road is straight, flat, and trafficless, though just flattened gravel. We rode on through and home.

Nature Journal: I don’t know if it was the time of day, direction, or what, but for some reason we scared up two groundhogs during the ride, their quick waddling run is fun to watch. This is the week that Ironweed has started blooming, and surprisingly I saw some sweetpea still blooming along the roadside. There was not much chicory, but plenty of daisies and wild sunflowers, and the milkweed is blooming now as well. No pictures, the camera battery was dead!

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