Emergence

Last friday we planted some plots out at the experiment station, so after a few days, a couple of nice rains and warm temperatures I rode the unicycle out there to see if anything was emerging. Of course, I took the long way.

The long way winds me through some quiet neighborhoods with block-long hills that aren't too steep. Actually, they were steep enough at the beginning of this blog that I couldn't negotiate them. I was having real issues with slow speed balance. I needed to go very slow to control myself going down the hills, and the back pressure on the pedals felt very unfamiliar. I remember wondering at that time whether it would be possible to ride down the hills by just letting my legs go with the pull of gravity - not coasting really, but not having to restrict the wheel so much with every half revolution.

Now I can ride down those slopes with confidence that I'll make the bottom without coming off, and am even getting close to that ideal of maintaining control while letting my legs pump with roughly the same pace and rhythm as I use on the flats. I think its just a matter of improving balance, enhancing strength, and letting go a bit.

No, it was too soon for any seedlings to have emerged. Today marks the one week point after planting. I'll go out and look again this afternoon, but I still don't expect to see anything growth. After 10 days though, right after Memorial Day, I do hope to see the telltail hypocotyl arch of beans making their way to the surface.