Ride 1 - Pelicans

Pelicans on Lake Waubesa. 4/11/2026 dwm

 It wasn't the best day for a ride, but I had missed a number of perfect days over the last month, so I was going to ride April 11 unless it was very cold and/or raining.

 The high was forecast for the low 50s and no rain was expected. The sun was out early, before I started, once I was on the bike, clouds prevailed.

 The only regular bike gear I had on were bike shoes. I wore a hoodie instead of a jersey to keep my body and neck warm. I also had two pair of light gloves and a knit hat on under the helmet.

 I ditched the gloves and hat half-way into the ride, but put one pair of gloves back on for the last ten miles. There was rain on the home stretch, but not enough to matter.

Most of the pelicans on a pond near Verona. 4/11/26 dwm

The landscape isn't spring-like yet, but there are signs. The most noticeable were flocks of American White Pelicans and almost every pond, stream, and puddle was teeming with frogs during mating season.

Those frogs make themselves heard, even louder than traffic at highway speeds.

I don't recall seeing pelicans in the state  as a kid, which makes me appreciate the unusual birds even more.

I saw a few flying above the pond, but didn't have my camera ready, so all my shots are the large birds on the water.

Pelicans on a pond near Seminole Hwy.4/11/26 dwm

 For the first ride of the season, I went with one of my frequent rides. 

 From Verona, I went east on the Military Ridge Trail, then take the Cannonball Path to the Capital City Trail, followed with the Yahara Trail into McFarland where I made a loop of three city streets before returning home.

 Last year, my first Wisconsin ride was also on April 11.  

 2024 was one of the earliest first rides, when I got out on the trail in March. The first ride is in the books, 41 miles, an average speed of 15.3 miles per hour. Here we go, it's biking season in Wisconsin!