With this afternoon’s bright sunshine & cool breezes, it was a perfect day for the neighborhood azalea bushes to start blooming today!!!

As I headed home yesterday, I was pedaling through Northwestern University and found this large patch of hyacinths in full bloom. The colors, the shades of purples & pinks… perfect for Northwestern PURPLE!!! And with this many hyacinths all blooming at the same time, the smell was intoxicating… even making it through my mask!!!

A wide vista of Lake Michigan from the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve overlook. A wonderful view shared with… no one!!! Again, pedaling solo! Love the colors… the blue of the sky, the turquoise hue of the water and the mucky brown water where it’s all being churned up by the waves!

It was another beautiful blue sky Sunday yesterday…
so why not go for another beautiful bike ride?!… safely by myself!!!

Again, I headed north as the Chicago Lakefront is still shut-down!
So pedaled north LITERALLY until the bike path ended!
Which is apparently across from the Great Lake Naval Station!

Kinda makes you think of the Shel Silverstein classic book, huh?!

So when I started out on my bike, it looked beautiful, the sun, the blue skies… but… it was a cold & windy ride… I easy could have used another layer… or five!!!

But look at those colors!!!

A little further north at the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve area… with a scenic vista overlooking the lake! Still waiting for the prairie grasses & trees to get green again!

Then I went down to the beach area, passing a vintage army machine gun… proving that Fort Sheridan was an actual FORT back in the days!!!

I’ve ALWAYS said that the best part of biking… is STOPPING!
Cuz’ if you don’t, you miss out on seeing beautiful locations like this deserted beach area!

Back up from the beach… an now in the Fort Sheridan neighborhood that used to be a military encampment.

Headed further north… past Lake Forest… past Lake Bluff…

And up into North Chicago which is apparently where the Bike Path ENDS!!! Right across from the Great Lakes Naval Station! I took the path ending as a sign it was time to turn back and head home… especially as my toes & fingers were FREEZING!!!

Okay, maybe one last scenic stop… I mean, I was already there, right?!

More Spring buds working their magic in the park…
actual leaves can’t be far behind!

Another chilly day here in Chicago… with more SNOW predicted for tomorrow!!! Sadly, I’m not quite sure how these little cuties will survive if we get some snow accumulation as predicted?! But they’re pretty enough today, right?!

I made it up to Openlands Lakeshore Preserve along Fort Sheridan while seeking alternative routes & zigzagging through through streets off the beaten path. Striking vistas, prairie plants & the serenity of Lake Michigan. I had hoped to continue further north, but by the time I got there… the clouds were moving in and the temperatures were dropping quick. So I turned around hoping to make it home before the rain… and I did!!! Whew.

Beautiful blankets of blue covered with spreading scillia plants.

A wonderful blue carpet with an occasional “pop” of daffodil yellow!
Spring is wonderful!!!

Enjoying Nature’s textures… if you just take time to stop and look down!

Yesterday started out beautifully sunny bursting with fresh spring blooms… like these beautiful star magnolias blossoms along my route. Some times you just need to stop and smell the roses… err, magnolias?

Good to see the bees are already up & hard at work…