Mineola to the Trestle ~

 A week so far of outstanding weather!  What we all hope for & are more than ready to enjoy.  With the temperature in the mid-60's I decided to do a section of trail I hadn't ridden in forever.  At least since the injury to my leg.  A nice two-mile climb to the crest of the hill & downhill into Silver City from the north.

At the Mineola trail head~

I don't usually start out with a climb.  It took me a while to get warmed up.  The first section goes along parallel to a road, but it's paved so no dust.

The curving bridge~

This is the bridge that has always looked like it tilts to the inside.  Noisy too, as the loose boards bounce when Smokey's tires roll over them.  Once I reached the crest, it was a quick downhill into Silver City.  I stopped to say Hi to Mari Jo before continuing on to the trestle.

Soy now brown & drying~

At the trestle, I'd ridden just over eight-miles, so turned back.  I'd have the same climb on the way back & it wasn't one of my stronger days.  That probably had something to do with all the mowing I'd done yesterday & my ride on Monday!

Under the broken limb~

It was so totally beauitufl out!  Harvesting is in full swing & the air has the smell of fall.

Nettles, done for the season~

Just past the trestle, the field of nettles are showing the effects of our cooler night time temperatures.  We've had a couple mornings down to 40 degrees.  Of course the day's are getting shorter too.

Leaving Silver City - north~

Again, I stopped to see Mari Jo, but didn't stay long.  It was fun to see another section of trail I don't visit often.  Last year I'd found my first turkey feather on this stretch.

Views 

I reached the crest & Smokey went into high gear as we flew toward Mineola!  I finished the ride at just over 16-miles.  Heading home, I always enjoy seeing the fields as they're harvested & the views open up :-)   Last year our first hard frost wasn't until November 2nd - so I hope we enjoy the upcoming autum colors for at least that long!

Hwy 34 Detour Dust ~

 A truly fine Monday & Mari Jo wanted to ride!  September is the last month that the shop is open during the weekdays.  In October it will be weekends only & Mari Jo's ride season will start! 

The wind was supposed to pick up & gust in the afternoon, but it wasn't much more than a strong breeze as we left Silver City heading south.

The bikes are ready :-)  Except for the one that had a tree grow into it!

We were about three-miles out & a way back from Gaston Rd. when we saw a lot of gravel dust.  Getting closer, it was crazy!  Cars were whizzing by at a high rate of speed, one right after the other, not even slowing for the trail crossing sign.

Puffs of flying dust!

Mari Jo & I both realized about the same time, the closure we'd heard of on Hwy 34, due to an accident, had resulted in traffic being rerouted onto the gravel roads.  We thought we could wait for an opening, but it was car, after car, after car.  We stood at the edge of the trail still waiting when one car finally stopped & put on it's lights.  Then, after another truck with camper came flying by the other direction, the next car stopped.  

As we started to cross, the car behind the first car that had stopped, started to pull around!  Out into the middle of the road, I guess in such a hurry they needed to not only pass the car in front of them, but run over us!  Thankfully - they realized the errror & waited for us to get across before gunning their engine & passing!

Mari Jo & the bikes on the trestle~

Whew!  It was a relief to get across & back on the quiet of the trail.  We were at the final road crossing southbound to Malvern, when traffic coming the other direction - again diverted off Hwy 34 came flying by.  Not quite as many cars as what were on Gaston, so we waited for a large enough gap to get safely across.  Of course, we could feel all that dust settling onto us! 

More fast moving car traffic!

We reached Malvern & stopped for a short break before heading back.  Mari Jo always keeps me moving right along & she had already ridden 8-miles!  We've made plans to do a round-trip to Council Bluffs...  I've just ridden it from Mineola, but it's been a long while - since the one time I managed the round-trip from Silver City.  That additional 8-miles on top of 16, can seem like a long way, especially with the long uphill grades.

The bikes may continue without us!

Heading back, the highway had re-opened & the roads were again safe to cross.  It's so enjoyable to have a companion on a ride now & then even though we both like riding alone too.  We ride slower when we're together - we're always too busy talking!  :-)  

Fall in the Air~

 At around 8 p.m. tonight - fall officially arrives.  The weather the last two-days has been exceptional,  especially after our Tuesday of record breaking heat.  Yesterday, our Garden Club group took a trip to Kimmel Orchards in Nebraska City.  A hay ride, tour of the facility & shopping made for a day of fun. 

Kimmel Orchards

Today, was a nice as fall weather can be!  Cool, mid-60's, overcast & no wind made it the perfect day to try my luck.  I planned to ride from Mineola north to Council Bluffs on the trail.

Bridge over Keg Creek~

I hadn't ridden this section of trail all the way to Council Bluffs since April of 2020.  I do ride it from Mineola to Margeritaville & back.  It's one of my favorite rides in the fall & colder months.  The 8-mile round-trip isn't bad when you climb the grade on the way there, then get to enjoy the downhill on the way back.

Keg Creek~

It's such a pretty area with some really nice, more territorial views than the section south from Silver City I usually ride.

"Cowboy Pass"~

Always bitter-sweet too, since the six-miles south of Council Bluffs is the only section where horses are allowed.  It was one of the places Farah & I rode often.  We'd even gone all the way from Mineola north, before we realized the rest of the section of horse trail had been abandoned & was totally overgrown.

Margeritaville~ 

Margeritaville had new refuse containers, new flags & was looking very picked up for nearing the end of the biking ride season.  I didn't stay long, as I had no idea how long it would take me to get to Council Bluffs. 

Underpass - Council Bluffs~

I was moving right along!  Doing a really nice speed & even coasting in spots.  I'd forgotten this section is one that reverses the usual 3% uphill grade going north & downhill grade going south.  Here, Margeritaville is pretty much at the summitt of the hills & from there, you're droping down into Council Bluffs.

Trail-head, Council Bluffs~

Arriving at the northern most trail-head, I'd covered the ten-miles in under an hour.  As usual, the smell of cooking food coming from Tastee Treet was so tempting!  I'l learned my lesson the first time I'd done this though!  Having a root beer freeze, then riding the uphill grade back was not fun!  

A stop at Tastee Treat!

I bought some smoked brisket for my dinner & ended up tieing it to my pack on the back of the bike.  I just had a tiny cup of the Dole Watermellon soft serve!  

Going back was a bit of work, but not difficult.  Especially since I've been riding all summer.  There were more riders on the trail than I usually see, but I'm sure the wonderful weather contributed.

On the way back to Mineola~

The cloud cover rolled in again & the temperature felt like it had dropped.  Two groups of H.S. cross country kids were running on the trail & the tractor was out cutting the bush back along the sides.  The fumes from the tractor were no fun, I felt for the kids running.  I had an opportunity to pass & took it. 

Mineola, under it's canopy of trees~

Besides dodging all the walnuts, the last four-miles of downhill was as fun as I remembered!   I love the view of town, even when the townsite is obscured by trees.  A totally different view, dependent on the time of year.  

Precursor to Fall ~

A cooler day, after a very light rain at home & I decided to go over to ride the trail.  Speaking to Mari Jo, they had received more rain than we did & she expected the trail to be sticky & soft in places.

Smokey by the field of Soy Beans~

It wasn't bad at all leaving Silver City.  Very nice to have the dust gone & such fresh air.  I hadn't gone far at all though, when I realized I was working much harder than usual.  Sticky was certainly the word to describe it & it got worse the closer I was to Malvern.

Soy Beans - turning gold~

Seeing things turn to the gold's in just a matter of days - was amazing.  There's still plenty of green, but it won't be long until the seasonal change becomes more obvious.  The farmers are already starting to take the fields of corn down.

A wild grape vine happily climbing the Walnut tree~

I had to laugh at the happiness displayed by this grape vine climbing the tree!  I'm surprised I don't see this more often - but most of the vines stay within a medium distance of the ground.

Gorgous sky at the Malvern park~

At the park, the cloud cover returned.  For a while I thought I might get sprinkled on, so started back after talking to Butch.

Leaves turing on the trail~

I didn't get far before stopping for another photo.  The color of the day, the sky etc. was just too grand after all the summer heat we've had.  Silver Creek was running clear, even after the rain, which was nice to see.

Beautiful at the trestle too~

The humidity was up.  I'm so used to riding soaked to the skin, it will be a change when the temperatures do finally cool down.  We're due to break records for heat this upcoming week - 96 on Tuesday.  Following that - we're to drop to a daytime high in the 60's.  I'll believe it when I see it!

Walnut Cathedral~

The Walnuts have made quite an obstical course of the trail.  I was walking our woods this evening when I heard a "bonk".  It sounded like someone threw a rock at me :-)  No!  It was just the walnuts dropping nuts!  The trees do make such an impression on the sections of trail they dominate.  I love the feeling of grandeur.

Home Time/ Fun Time!

  Friday afternoon, Butch was driving in from the south, as I was coming back from the east.  We met at the school to drop the trailer before he followed me home.  I had to hurry to get the Bronco moved over for Blue!  :-)

We were lucky with Butch's scheduled Home Time this month!  The time always fly's by - Saturday we were busy running errands. 

Both bikes loaded for the first time~

 Sunday though, was literally a top ten day for any time of year & we planned to ride!  Sunshine, low humidity, mid-70's & a light breeze.  It was Butch's very first ride on the new bike that's been waiting for him.  It was wonderful having him home over a weekend & we sat out for quite a while enjoying the morning.

We decided on Henry's diner in Crescent for a late breakfast.  It was as yummy as we remembered.   Glen Cunningham Lake was our destination & when I looked at the GPS, we were only 12-minutes away!  

The bikes at the Lighthouse~

We drove over the old Morman Bridge & decided to circumnavigate the lake.  On the east side, we found the three entrances & stopped at the second by the dam to park.  We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day & were surprised the park wasn't busy.  Labor Day Weekend had been so hot & humid.  Here were were enjoying such great weather just a week later.

Butch stops to check his tires~

Butch has outfitting to do on his bike.  Fenders, a bag etc.  He borrowed my tire pump to get his tires up where they needed to be - after sitting for months.

Looking across, close to the north end of the lake~

It was so fun zooming along on the concrete.  As Butch commented, its way more fun to ride when you don't have to work at it.  He was happy with how easy the Cannondale is to ride.

Butch on the bridge~

Such an enjoyable afternoon!  Only a few people besides us with bikes.  The Lake is 390 acres & operated by the City of Omaha.  The old horse trails have been greatly reduced to maybe five-miles at the most.  The trails that were the closest to the lake were taken for the new walking/bike path.  Sad, but here I am enjoying them again.

Looking South~

The ride around the lake, seemed shorter than we remembered from our first visit here.  Maybe because we were going faster with less effort.

Our Route~

Driving out the Old Lincoln Hwy from Council Bluffs seemed much easier than taking the freeways.  I feel comfortable making the juant now, on my own & plan to now & then.  Butch has spent the night with the semi at the Sherman Summit rest area in WY, that commenorates the Old Lincoln Highway!

We couldn't help but stop at Cristy Cream in Council Bluffs on our way home!  The homemade sherbert is the very best in the whole world!  I had orange & Butch had strawberry!   We sat outside at the picnic table.  A  great way to end a really fun day~

Labor Day Ride~

 I'm still waiting for the cool down that's been mentioned for a couple weeks now.  Instead of a cool down, it seems we're staying dry & unseasonably warm.  Meteorological fall started on the first of this new month.  I'm more than ready for the change of seasons.  Today was one of the better days slated for the next week, so I drove to the trailhead.  Happy Trails was open for a few hours today & Mari Jo was giving out handfulls of Jalaeno peppers!  

Back on the dusty trail~

Much to my surprise, no less than 13 riders passed me heading north toward Silver City, as I made my way south.   No riders I reconized, so probably out for the weekend ride from Omaha.  None friendly enough to return a wave or "Hi".

In the shade~

Just before I reached the bridge, two teenage girls were walking with a dog.  They had the dog under control, on a leash & greeted me.  The friendliest people on the trail this day.

Concrete south of  Malvern~

I always look forward to the mile of smooth surface as I get close to town.  It makes the distance seem shorter too!  I stopped again at the pond for a break at the covered picnic area to call Butch.  He was driving back east on the return leg of his round-trip to UT & ID.  I call it the return, because he's coming back toward home!  Butch has some scheuled home time coming up next week too!  We talked for a while before I started back.  

The edge of the pond~

I stopped at the edge of the other pond to the west of the trail.  This one is full of frogs, bugs & butterflies.  So lush with the cattails & flowers blooming.

Water still flowing~

The little creek closer to Silver City still has water flowing, abet slowly.  I'd spoken to someone at the grocery who's lived in town for many years.  She said the little creek near her home has never gone dry - until this year.  Tinkle Branch is still flowing, but it's the lowest I've seen it in our almost six-years here.  The wildlife depend on these little spring fed streams - so I hope ours continues to flow!

At home, I washed Smokey down, the dust is getting thick again on the trail.  We're forecast for rain over the upcoming weekend & I sure hope we see it!