In search of

We have been discussing the state of the blueberries.  All concerned agree that the blue crop this year is just not as sweet as in years past.  One possible explanation is the horrible spring weather and the disruption to the growing season.

Another possibility is that our favorite blueberry vendor has become too successful.  We have noticed that all blueberries purchased at Bowerman's are cool to the touch.  They have clearly spent some time in a refrigerator.  Well time spent in a refrigerator is time between  picking and consumption.  As with most produce, the fresher the fruit, the fresher and more appealing the taste.

Santini and GRider for perspective.

When we first started going there the stand was an open shed with a gravel parking area sufficient for maybe four or five cars and a couple of overheated teenagers making change out of a metal cash box. It looks a bit different today. In addition to the paved parking lot with a capacity of a couple of dozen cars the current "stand" includes air conditioning, a refrigerated cooler, ice cream and an electronic cash register.

Maybe a bit too successful.

They even have an artsy new bike rack.

Blueberry bushes for perspective.

So we have decided to investigate the state of blueberries down the street a couple of miles at an establishment called the Gold Barn.

We visited today but they were fresh out of berries.  A couple of overheated teenagers standing inside the overhead door on the completely not air conditioned metal building behind the house said they expected to get more berries soon from their pickers.

They had sold what they had had in stock earlier in the day and from looking at the table from which they were working when sales were actually occurring the staff was making change out of a metal cash box.

Stay tuned.

We rode over to Quincy Park were we discovered milkweed.

It's pretty cool actually, as those spots on the back of the leaves are all future monarchs.

So the way this has been working is the two or three of us take a bit of a ride and when we get back near the mountain they head on up to go on  with their lives while I peel  off to do another loop to get the miles I want.  So far I have been riding the loop in Waukazoo Woods.  This is pretty much today's turn back  point.

Oaks of the lake, I believe.

We have been coming out here for a long time.  For example, I can remember when the underbrush and smaller trees in this grove of trees was cleared and construction began on those houses.

It is still strikingly pretty.