I've been working to increase my distance again this season, on the limestone. Today I decided to do the more difficult section north from Mineola & see how I would do on the uphill grade.
At the trailhead~
The day was moderate, in the 50's without too much wind. I hadn't ridden this portion of the trail since March 16th of last year.
Keg Creek
The creek still has a decent amount of flow, but remains much lower than normal. I wasn't in any hurry & had hoped to keep on peddling the entire four-miles. That goal wasn't met! I ended up stopping three times!
Badly rutted trail~
I can't get over the damage this year, to the trail surface. It looked like cars have been driven on it! I doubt a car, but certainly a large, heavier 4-wheel of somekind. Some new gravel had been put down in spots - filling in some of the ruts. If I tried riding there I'd find the gravel as my tires sunk in.
Trail Damage
It's just sickening the lack of regard people have for trail rules. There were even footprints sunk deep for quite a distance. Once the surface dries out - they stay - until we get at least one or two good rains. (Rain has been non-existent for the last several months...) The footprints meandered from one side of the trail to the other - so there was no avoiding them... It was tiring to constantly watch where I was riding, to miss those I could. (So much for horses damaging the trail!)
Underpass at Dumfries~
I passed Margeritaville on my way north & went on to the Dumfries underpass. That gives me a full four-miles each way. By the time I arrived, the worst of the grade was behind me & I felt like I could have gone on to Council Bluffs. I really didn't have the time though - that will wait for another day. I turned back, happy the difficult part was over.
Return to Margeritaville~
There were quite a few people out enjoying the trail & one family having lunch. Only one rider with his music blaring as he passed me going the other direction. Ear buds anyone?
View from Margeritaville ~
Several new picnic tables have been added. I sat on one of those - off to the side with a nice view - for my snack.
New structure ~
Just past the main area, was this cute structure. Recently unloaded from a trailer I'm sure. There's probably some work yet to do, to level it up. This area seems to benefit from lots of improvements every season.
Almost back to Mineola~
The return south - was as usual - much faster than going north! I didn't go as fast as I have in the past, the trail was just too rutted & rough. It did feel good to have accomplished the ride though. I'll come back again to see if I can improve my time back to what it was last year.
Time to try out the Wabash Trace Trail again. It would be my second ride here this month! Mari Jo had been reporting it as having many soft spots on the sections near Silver City. Leaving north from Mineola, I knew there were only a couple areas that might still be soft or slippery.
Mineola Trail head~
As you can tell from the photo above, the trail surface was bone dry. So dry it was dusty in places. The limestone almost felt like effort, after my rides on the hard surface trails of Lake Manawa! It would be so easy to get spoiled if there were more hard surface trails to ride in our area.
Keg Creek Bridge~
There were some good wind gusts too, so between the wind & the uphill grade, I felt like I was gaining almost no ground at all. I was determined though & took my time, thinking of the calories I was burning! I passed Margeritaville on my way north, going on past Dumfries to the underpass before turning around.
Dumfried Underpass~
I dismounted & walked Smokey around the usual spot spot at Cowboy Pass. I couldn't beleive how deeply it was trenched from the bike's that had just ridden on through... After all, how hard is it to just go around on the grass?
Margeritaville~
I had Margeritaville to myself for a few minutes, before the couple I'd seen on electric bikes last time I was here, came by. They kept going, but soon another rider stopped & sat at one of the picnic tables on the far side. About that time, a big gust of wind came up & blew Smokey over! The bike was fine, but I decided to head back.
View toward Mineola. Luthern Church at the top of the hill~
The fields look so gray now, soon they'll be planted & we'll be seeing the pale green of new growth. I'd looked forward to those four-miles of downhill grade, but the wind decided to blow right at me! I actually had to pedal to make forward progress... Not the usual easy/fast four miles back I'd hoped for!
Almost back to the parking~
The wind is usually blowing pretty strong across the trail here, today was no exception. I was still a bit stiff from my 15+ mile ride on Monday, so this 8-miles at least worked the kinks out! It was nice to be on the trail again, but I'm looking forward to when I can ride out from Silver City.
The first day of March, we're getting so close to spring! A perfect day, March coming in like a lamb! It's been dry enough the trail is rideable! It was a warm & beautiful, without the winds that will come with the month.
Smokey on the Keg Creek Bridge~
I consider this a tough portion of the trail with a nice uphill grade the four miles into Margaritaville. The grade continues all the way to Council Bluffs. It's a challenge early in the season before I've done many miles.
Uncaring riders leaving huge ruts~
Its discusting to see the ruts left by riders who disregard the conditon of the trail surface & ride when it's too soft... It takes so much work to smooth out.
Blown over tree :-(
A nice sized tree blown over in some of the heavy winds we've been getting. I appreciate the shade of the trees so much in the summer months. Once I arrived at Margaritaville, I continued on to Dumfries to make it a full four-miles one-way.
Turn-around south of Dumfries~
The new Lewis & Clark Trail signs are such a nice addition. It was very quiet today & nice to return to the peace of the countryside after riding at the lake.
Margaritaville ~
I stop & take a break on the swing, when the area isn't busy. This time of year it's usually not. The sky was so pretty today - I stayed a little longer than usual.
Mineola overlook~
This part of the countryside is one of my favorites. The rolling farmland & open spaces are beautiful any time of year.
Mineola Countryside~
On the way back, Smokey flew! The only thing slowing us down, was avoiding the ruts. I only saw one other rider the entire way. It was so refreshing to be back on the trail. My last visit to this particular section of was my first ride of the new year in January. It's unusual for the trail to be rideable so early in the season - I'll take it!
Without the challenge of keeping a talented equine athlete fit - I'm left with my own level of fitness... Having always used my Garmin to record Farah's fitness, now I'm using it for personal goals. This week - I passed the 500-mile mark riding Speedy - since April 15th.
Keg Creek~
Either of the nearest trail-heads to our home are just under ten-miles away. Not bad & I'm thankful for it! I threw myself under the bus today though! :-) Since it was slated to be the last decent day in the next week, I decided to do two sections with good uphill grades.
With hot sunshine, along with the effort of pedaling a section of trail without the shade I'm used to I Did see this guy slither out! I stopped & carefully approached, wanting a photo this time! He hissed, showing his forked tongue.
Why does the snake cross the road?
He proceeded to continue out onto the trail & cross it - before disappearing into the grass! I'm really, really glad these guys don't seem to like our place!
Coming into Margaritaville~
Leaving Mineola, my destination this direction, was Margaritaville. I rode on to Dumfries, to get in a full four-miles.
Underpass at Dumfries~
I turned back, soaked in sweat.
Speedy posing~
Speedy insisted on a photo, she did look cute with the colorful sign. The fun part was next! Four-miles of downhill! Yippee! We flew! Seventh gear got a good workout!
I didn't even stop - when we returned to the trail-head at Mineola. Passing the Bronco, I headed south, toward Silver City. It's another uphill grade, but only two-miles before the trail surface turns to concrete & another 2-miles of downhill.
Mari Jo was at her shop, she asked if I was going on to Malvern? My answer? "NO!" Butch had a class to attend, so wasn't there to bring me back to the Bronco anyway. I didn't feel like stretching my limits to over 30-miles.
circa - 1890 -1905
I always like asking questions about the towns in our area & their history. Mari Jo is a wealth of information on Silver City & shared the above photo with me. Happy Trails Cycle Shop was originally the newspaper office! The large building on the right - was the lumber yard.
It was after 4 when I started back to Mineola. This time, the climb came first. The last two-miles to Mineola are a fine, fast ride! Once home, Speedy got a bath. When Butch is gone, Nika & I watch horse movies :-) I highly recommend "Chasing the Wind".
A week or so ago, Grandson Ben went to visit Farah. His phone was on speaker & he asked me to call out her name. When I did, Nika came running - checking out both the front & back door - looking for Farah! :-) It did my heart good to know she still remembers our gold mare.
On I go - toward 1,000 miles on a bike! More difficult than the first time with Farah!
Today dawned brisk & sunny! Just enough wind for a decent chill too. For the first time this season, I wore my old, wonderful warm, but breathable tights that Diane made for me 100-years ago. A light weight thermal shirt cut the cold too.
I picked Farah up & headed north - a real change for us. In just 15-miles I was pulling into the Wabash Trail parking at Council Bluffs. Only a couple cars in the lot, so I had plenty of room to pull the Bronco & trailer off to one side along the grass.
At the north end~
There was a ton of large truck traffic on the road, fully loaded side loaders full of dark dirt. Lots of excavation going on somewhere. My plan was to head south & see if we'd have horse trail to the break spot that the bike riders call "Margaretville". I didn't exactly remember where it had started, from our first & only ride here last February.
We Did have light!
I'd put my light weight jacket on, but figured I'd be removing it shortly. Wrong! Instead I was zipping it up & putting on the gloves that I'd thankfully left in the pockets!
Wooded Trail~
To see a photo - it looks remote, when in fact, the early part of the trail takes you along a busy road just off to our left. Lots of noise everywhere, grain bins with blower fans going, the traffic, trains in the distance etc.
Limestone surface~
Farah doesn't have shoes, the limestone surface was literally as hard a concrete. So strange that it can be so hard when dry - then so soft when wet.
Soon you come to the longest of the many bridges. Of course we're used to bridges :-)
Between the Ears - Signage~
The fact that the Horse Trail is also a Mountain Bike trail is bit disconcerting. As mountain bikes began to discover the tree farm trails in WA, the usual issues arose. Those same issues occur here. There are several hills that are blind & blind turns too. Since the parking lot was so empty - I really didn't expect that we'd run into anyone.
Can you see it?
Just below Farah's nose in the photo above is wire. The rusted wire blends in So very well to the leaves & debris on the ground. I never leave a trail! Farah's coat has lightened two shades in the last two weeks. Her summer chocolate is long gone, replaced by winters two-tone gold.
Looking down on the limestone bike trail~
It was one of those stellar days of fall - that are so rich in sight & smell I never want them to end. So nice to head out & just Go somewhere - no loops, no looking for miles & just finding perimeter fences.
A break spot for the bikes in someone's "yard"
The place above, seems to be a rest spot for the bike riders. The usual cheap beer cans in the trash container. No real obstacles, someone had cut small bushes & branches off the trail in places. Farah wasjust cruzing along on a loose rein.
Natural arch~
I hadn't looked at my GPS route from Feb., it was more fun to recognize different things as we went. The Squirrels were about the only wildlife we saw - busy gathering walnuts this time of year.
High on a hill~
By now, we were about four-miles out. The noise of town had faded, things had gotten quiet & so peaceful. Just the sounds of the birds, the breeze & Farah's hooves crunching the dry leaves on the trail.
Views~
When we made it to the territorial views & were still on horse trail I was so happy! I didn't remember & we had ridden it from the other direction - if we'd be able to get this far & indeed we had!
The never-ending beauty of the trail~
As we came up on five-miles, the only time we'd had to broach the limestone, was to cross a bridge, or now, go through the underpass. This one had the designation of Dumfries - the historic name of the old town that had been in the area of Margaretville.
Going under~
Once through, it was just a short distance until we saw our destination! No one was around, it was past our lunch time, so I dismounted to let Farah graze on what grass we could find. We heard a vehicle coming? A truck was driving up on the limestone & pulled in to park. A couple got out & introduced themselves as Connie & Tom. They'd come to remove the decorations that had been put up for the Taco Thursday bike ride & Halloween.
Margaretville!
We talked for quite a while, they agreed that horse trails are way too sparse in a state where most of us had experienced a childhood that included at least one horse. Such a shame & it has been my greatest disappointment since returning.
Heading back~
Finally, it was time to turn back - both Farah & I wanted to continue on to Mineola... Without a designated horse-trail - we would have had to ride the edge of the limestone & heaven forbid! From there it would have only been five-miles back to Farah's stable. The Garmin showed that we were just over six-miles out from Council Bluffs & only 4-miles away from Mineola. Connie said that the horse trail continued a bit further, but got swampy. I remembered that from our ride - maybe we'll check out just how much farther that is - next time.
Color & views~
We weren't in any hurry to get back, it was just too perfect of an afternoon.
I pulled Farah up when I saw these blooms! Slightly blurred by the breeze - but blooming in November? I checked with the Iowa State University Horticulture Dept. They were kind enough to reply back. Usually blooming early in the season, I'm excited to have found them after our hard frosts. I won't complain about our night temperatures in the 20's though - it put an end to the bugs!
Closer to town~
This area, even with the road noise, is so beautiful & reminds me of a countryside out of the past. It's an amazing feeling to be back in the great wide-open & be able to enjoy the blessing of being away from huge metropolitan areas.
Power Plant in the valley~
I'd watched as a large band of clouds started moving in from the west & within minutes the day had gone from golden to gray. The wind picked up & just a drop or two of rain fell.
Farah looks & listens~
Farah has always had the habit of stopping of her own accord, since our very first ride & I've always let her. She is so astute & aware. We could just see fast moving traffic on Interstate 29 & probably the Veterans Memorial Highway. We could also see the big trucks, still hauling dirt & the edge of an industrial area.
Bronco & Trailer~
We covered just over 12-miles & been out for over four-hours. My round-trip - was just 33-miles! Farah's stable had actually been on-the-way! So nice to spend time riding, rather than driving. For the 300+ miles I've ridden this year, the truck & trailer have taken us 3,000 miles. Sad statistics...
