Roadrunner

In my last post I forecast my intention to revisit the Clark County Wetlands Park on my bicycle. Indeed I did. I was well rewarded for my effort by a friendly roadrunner. More on that later.

You can easily get in a 20-mile ride on the Wetlands Loop bicycle path. If you stay to the north of the Las Vegas Wash, you can ride out and back from a neighborhood park trailhead, adjacent to the nature preserve, entirely on a paved surface. There is also a partially paved path to the south of the wash which is intended to complete the loop, though it's not quite finished. I stayed on the north side, but managed to stray from the pavement on the way to Terrazza Park. In this way, I completed something of a loop of my own. The roller coaster-like packed dirt diversion was pretty well matched to my limited off-roading skills so it was a great deal of fun.

Nice bike path ...

... with nice scenery.

Now, about that roadrunner.

At the far end of the Wetlands Loop (if you start from the nature preserve end) is Terrazza Park in Henderson, just south of Lake Las Vegas. I stopped for a rest at a picnic bench under a shelter to take in some water and admire an outsized roadrunner sculpture.

While I was busy snapping a few photos, what do you suppose came by to also have a look?

Eventually, he joined me on the bench for a break of his own.

I haven't been riding much in the two years since COVID-19 interrupted my bicycle commute to the office. I was, therefore, less than fit and my legs tired near the end of my Wetlands return ride. The friendly roadrunner's visit made my overexertion well worthwhile.