I can’t believe that pheasant waited around for your return! I was preparing to rib you for your hopes by pointing out that birds will move around a bit.

Thanks Susan, I'm really enjoying this journal - being stuck in densely-populated southern England, I remain amazed with every post just how much space there is out there!
Are the pheasants in Iowa wild or are they bred for hunting? We have a lot around the countryside where I am as well, and they seem to be selectively bred to be both incautious and quite dim - which makes them relatively easier to snap. I've spotted a few on my rounds - I've posted a photo or two on the "Bedfordshire full circle" entry.

I thoroughly enjoyed this journal entry Susan. There are many similarities to rural northern NSW Australia (where I grew up) and your part of the USA. My home patch (not where I live now) has more hills and less wetlands than Iowa, but grain growing and grazing are major activities. And that classic small town feel.

Lovely words Susan. Spot on.

Thanks for that research Susan.

Thanks Scott. According to their web site, the winery is named after their Burmese cat, who is named after an old Swedish chewing tobacco - and depicted on their labels.
I'm pretty sure Snus is pronounced like in snooze, with a soft s, not a z at the end.
And they do grow their own grapes in here Iowa!

It definitely is a special ride. I've encountered people from all over the country who come just to ride the trail at night.

Riding in the dark can be magical, if a bit unsettling. When I was in college we used to ride gravel roads at night - without lights or helmets!

Had to look this one up. The named was changed by Charles Gaston to get even with his Swedish brothers over a dispute regarding the family estate. Gaston was contemptuous of one of his employees from Spain who spoke often of Madrid, Spain. To get even with everyone, Gaston renamed the town Madrid.
In these parts, the name is pronounced Mad –rid, rather than Ma-drid.

Nice shot, but mostly I like the name of the winery. What sort of name is Snus, and how is it pronounced?

Wow. That’s worth a journey. I’ve been meaning to ask where your cover photo was taken.

An interesting ride but if the Swedes started there why is the town now called Madrid?

Mike

The bike trails look wonderful and I love the bridges! It reminds me up when we were bicycling in Taipei which had amazing bicycle trails. They had wonderful bridges that we rode in the dark!

Thanks Mike. I do wish all my rides could begin from home but there are only so many interesting corn and soybean fields within a 20 mile radius. I'll keep looking though.

The bridge at night is amazing. I've done about a dozen night rights and it never fails to thrill.