This week has been unbelievable. Unseasonably warm weather with temps in the 80’s
almost every day! And beautiful sunrises to boot. It’s been so great pedaling this week
and being able to wear fewer layers than I should be for mid-March! Today was no exception
as the light cloud cover was the perfect canvas for some beautiful morning color.

Beautiful color playing across the clouds… beautiful.
And then the sun finally crested the horizon… even more beautiful.

And then, just when I thought that the sunrise couldn’t get any better, and had already
hopped back onto my bike to pedal home… one quick glance over my right shoulder and
I saw this wonderful view of a harbor still void of boats.

Almost home, and another glance over the same shoulder…
and I saw another beautiful view that I couldn’t resist stopping to catch on my camera!

All in all… not too shabby for a mid-March morning, huh?!

This morning was very dark. When I stepped out on my back porch to check the weather,
I actually stopped for a second questioning if it was even the right time?! So dark…

But then the sky lightened up a bit…
and the clouds kind of looked like an odd “explosion” emanating from the horizon?!
A dark splash of cloud with tiny bits of color on each side. Did I mention “tiny” bits of color?!

And the whole time I just kept thinking…
“If that darn cloud would move just a few feet over,
we would get a beautiful splash of color on that big cloud!”                                        No dice.

It’s still quite warm in Chicago… reaching into the 80’s and we’re loving it!
And this morning was another beautiful day. With one dark cloud looming over
the horizon, I knew that there was great potential for a great sunrise!

And as the sun continued to rise, the colors began to pop! And I loved how the sky’s color
began to reflect on the gentle waves. But the colors were stunning & ever-changing…
even it was “just” under that one big cloud!

And then the sun finally made its way over the horizon. Ready to greet the day.

Then it was time for me to get back on the bike… pedal on… and finish my morning ride.
Today’s going to be a “BIG” day!!!

The early morning sky was a beautiful shade of blue… with that one big blue cloud!
I was hoping for the sky to transform into some beautiful sunrise colors. Instead, it all
kind of fizzled out into patches of pastel colors.

I hear occasionally that some of you would like a beautiful sunrise now & again without
my bike blocking the view! Go figure. It’s my morning. It’s my sunrise. Get used to it.
But because I’m nice… and in a good mood… here’s some sunrise “glamor shots” from
this morning without my bike. A nice change after my sunrise with the “spooky” trees!

This morning was very quiet & very serene. With deep shades of blue on the horizon
during this beautiful & unseasonably warm morning. And then I found a grove of
“spooky” trees just south of Belmont Harbor. Yes, I must have ridden past them
literally THOUSANDS of times… and just noticed them today! Finally.

Then, a little further down the path I stopped for a serene moment by myself.
Quiet. Relaxing. Reflective. All too soon it was time to turn around and head back home…

I returned to “the scene of the crime” and back to the spooky trees as the sun continued
to rise. A little brighter, but the trees still seem to be a little sad. Weeping as though
the Winter got the better of them. Although I know it was a surprisingly mild Winter?!

I still don’t know what kind of tree this is?!
Maybe I’ll be able to figure it out when the leaves start to come out in the next few weeks.

Nature’s beauty times two… just a few minutes apart.

This morning was a bit windier than I would like.
Especially when the temps are still in the mid-thirties!
But the beautiful sunrise makes it worth the extra effort riding into the wind.

The clouds in the sky this morning made for a beautiful canvas
as the morning’s colors splashed across the sky. I love how these clouded
mornings seem to transform so quickly. From deep blues, through pinks & purples,
to orange and golden yellows… then back to clouded blues & grays.

Also this morning, for the first time ever, I had a “visitor” stop by to share my sunrise!
Luckily, my new-found furry friend was quite friendly and just wanted to play.

This morning started out with another beautiful, rosy sky. Such promise!
Kinda makes me feel like Spring may be closer than we think?!

Instead of “shining” this morning, it just kind of fizzled out. Back to gray!

This morning was beautiful as the sunrise created a rose colored splash across the sky.
Sadly, it didn’t last very long as the cloudy grey sky took over to cover the rest of the day.
Plus, there are rumors of rain & snow headed our way… glad I got out for a great morning
ride before the storm gets here!