Back at the Lake ~

 Two nice days in a row, the rest of the week is iffy.  I decided to ride while the sun was shining & the wind wasn't blowing as hard as usual.  This spring, we've had more wind than we've experienced since our move here.  Even the weatherman is looking for the off switch!

Train sitting under I-29

Since I'd been on the limestone yesterday, I decided to ride on the nice hard surface trails at Lake Manawa again.  I parked at the north Wabash trailhead & rode the longer route over to the park.  I was still a little stiff from yesterday's ride.

Entering the park trails~

It was another beautiful spring day!  I love being out on days like these.  It would be wonderful to get a several in a row, but I'll take what mother nature gives us.  Before long, the grass will be growing & I'll be getting my exercise mowing the lawn & weedwhacking.  I actually look forward to my summer season chores.

My rest spot~

This pile of wood debris is my usual rest spot in the old campground.  I looked for the Coyote, but if he was around, I didn't see him.

The path to the picnic area~

There were just a few people in the park, part of the reason I enjoy the weekdays.  At the picnic area, it was so beautiful I decided to stay & enjoy the view awhile.  

Along the shore~

The blue sky was So blue the water almost looked turquoise.  The birds, light breeze & small waves lapping the shore  were the only sounds.  The trees, with their leaf buds ready to pop open, shimmered in the sun.  Too soon, it was time to head back.  I'm about 2/3rds of the way through the ride at this spot.

I covered the fourteen plus miles in under two hours, about my usual time.  If this park were closer, I'd be out every day!  I can say the same for the Wabash & envy Mari Jo being within walking distance.  

I'm So excited!  My husband will be Home this upcoming weekend!  It seems like forever since I've seen him!  We talk about his daily drives & the country he sees.  I'm keeping a daily log of his drives from where he spends the night to the next spot & notes on how his day went.  I feel closer to him when I hear his stories from the road.  :-)

Back on my Bike~

 Yesterday was windless, I worked outside.  Today, forecast as the nicer of the weekend, the wind had returned.  It had been over two-weeks since I'd been riding.  Cold weather, a slushy snow & plenty of wind had disuaded me.  Very sad after having three days in a week nice enough to ride - in March!

On Sunday the 20th, I was cutting down a big dead snag hung up in another tree.  As I made the final cut, with my Saws All  it kicked back as it fell.  Hitting my left leg on the shin bone, it scraped all the way from just below the knee to my ankle.  A few days later, when the swelling hadn't gone down, I ended up on antibiotics.  Today was the first time it felt good enough to ride.

Under I-29

I decided to leave from Tastee Treat.  Once I got out on the trail, I started to regret my decision.  The wind was whipping across the open & making headway against it was a chore.  It's just about two-miles to the park trails.

Road by the gold course, a bike path~

At least the wind was blowing more from the north, instead of every direction, so I had a break from it now & then.  At the end of the road above - is the the old RV park.  It's gated & closed off for vehicles, but there's room to ride around the gate.  I circle the area & usually stop for a short break.

Coyote!

I was riding up the side, when I saw this Coyote cross the road not 100-ft in front of me!  He stopped to watch me, so I stopped to try & get a photo.  He was very handsome & healthy looking!  Watching him move, was like watching Kitt again.  All the brush piles make excellent habitat for a den.  I'll be sad to see all this bulldozed away for whatever will be built here.

Found it!  0.0

I was so lucky!  The wind was at my back going up the long stretch along Indian Creek.  At the bridge - I found the marker I'd been looking for!  The beginning point of the Lake Manawa trails.  

At the lake~

I took the turn to ride down to the lake.  It's such a pretty spot & even on a Saturday, no one was around.

Skyscrapers of Omaha~

I sat to enjoy the sunshine for a while before heading back.  

Under the train tracks~

This time, the wind had switched direction & again I was riding into it.  At least there's a few downhill sections where I could get up some speed.  The ball fields were full of players & cars lined the E. South Omaha Bridge road on the way to the trailhead parking.

My 13.5-mile route~

We've gotten just enough small rain amounts that the Wabash is still soft in places.  With the recent wind, I'm hopeful to ride there this coming week.  It felt so good to be out again.  The smooth surface trails of the park have spoiled me!

Biking @ Glen Cunningham Lake, NE

 Spoiled!  Friday evening's storm passed us by.  We woke to the coolest morning in ages!  A nice breeze & perfect day to take the bikes out.  I'd heard on the news Glen Cunningham lake had reopened early this month.  They mentioned a new trail, all the way around the lake.  This was my first visit since March of 2018 with Farah.  (The lake was drained later that same year to remove invasive species.)   

The Lighthouse~

I remembered there were several entrances to the lake.  Luckily - we ran into a ranger near the campground - who directed us to the Marina.  A big nice parking area, with camera's.  This park had been famous for car break-in's. 

Butch asked me which way I wanted to go?  We took the way over the first of the big new bridges, up the east side of the lake.  

Wonderful surface!

The signage was amazing.  Notifications when a curve was ahead, asking for slower speeds when passing, requesting riders go single file & announce their presence etc.  All trail rules standard on most multi-use trails.  (Of course, ignored by a younger man on an electric bike, who whizzed past everyone without a word.)  

Lake views~

New trees were planted everywhere!  Ginkgo's, pines & oaks, all will add so much to the landscape in future years.  Beautiful new benches about every half-mile too.  The only draw back, most didn't have a view, due to the tall weeds along some sections the lake shore.  I expect that will be remedied, as park personnel continue to work on the area.

Bridge at the north end of the lake~

Further away from the Marina, we were the only ones on the trail.  So nice & quiet, no traffic crossings, just beautiful scenery.  There were only a couple places where the last heavy rain had washed soil over the trail surface, but these were being mitigated.

Riding south down the west side of the lake~

There was one spot, where I knew the horse trail used to intersect the lake shore.  The soft surface trail was gone.  Only four-miles of the original horse trails are left...  Lost to the new development...   Not enough to be worth hauling a horse there...  Only nine-miles +/- or so originally, but you could, with some difficulty, ride around the lake. 

The dam~

No longer riding a horse, I'm now in a position to enjoy having such a nice place for bike riding.  

Breezy on the dam at the south end~

Such a perfect day & easy riding!  There were only a few hills, I experimented with all my gears.  They worked great on the shorter/steeper hills here.  It's the go-on-forever 2-3% grades of the Wabash, where my lower gears, are too low.

Our route~

We returned to the Explorer, with a distance of 6.5 miles total.  This park has become a place the city of Omaha can be proud of.  Covered picnic areas, a fishing dock, of course boating, something for everyone.  It was tempting to go around again, but we had shopping to do.  It's been a while since Butch has worn slacks & a sport jacket :-)

The Long Wait is Over!

  Many times, it seemed like a long lost dream, to ever ride again...  Just shy of six-months - I'm Back riding Speedy & peddling under my own power with both legs!  Lake Manawa was the perfect place to see how I'd do.  Flat, smooth trails, easy going.  The lake was so beautiful, still covered with a sheet of ice.

Connie & Speedy~

The day was absolutely perfect!  Hazy sunshine, mid-60's & just a little breeze.  I have to be super careful with my starts & stops.  Otherwise, just my knee & ankle were very stiff when we started out.  I wondered how far I would be able to go?  But I kept on going!

Construction near the lake shore~

From what I've read, this is to be a new campground.  This park is busy, so a nice camping facility will be appreciated by many in & out of the area.  The tall buildings in the background are in Omaha.

Butch with Silver & Speedy~

I was Not out to break any records.  My only goal was to make the complete loop & enjoy the ride.  Butch let me lead, we were passed by a few professional speedsters.  With the Wabash still closed, they take advantage of the hard surface parks trails.  

Our favorite~

We stopped in at Leach Camper Sales to check out the latest trailers.  It's amazing how nice they are!  We were the only ones to ride in on bikes!  :-)  Silver & Speedy received a lot of compliments.  I admit I took a short break on one of the nice soft seats in our favorite model.

The bridge~

If there's any wind, it finds us along this stretch.  Coming up to the bridge, we were passed by an electric bike, really whizzing along.  We're seeing more & more of them.

The truck waits~

I could hear the Garmin ticking off the miles, but didn't even look until we were back at the truck.  

Our Route~  Shopping top left corner :-)

We covered 7.5 miles.  Speedy & Silver weren't even tired!  It felt So Very Good to be back, together, on our bikes again!