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!  

Around the Lake we Go!

Spoiled!  Just a few decent days & we're loving it!  Yesterday we spent mowing...  After all the rain - the yard looked more like a field.  We had just enough drizzle late afternoon to raise the humidity.  Today, I planned to get Butch out for a ride.

Butch on the trail~

 Lake Manawa State Park is close & it's a treat for me to ride a paved surface.  We found a little off-shoot trail that was very pretty, before heading around the lake.

On the main trail~

 This trip, I really wanted to ride the section of trail that connects to the Wabash near Tastee Treat.  As we took it, the winds really picked up & it was tough going.

Trail underpass, train overpass repair~

 I accidentally used the wrong lens, but you get the idea.

Under Interstate 29~

 This was my first time, under an interstate highway.  It was way quieter than I expected.  Butch pointed out how much the earth had dropped & settled around the pilings!

Trail to Iowa Western~

In just under two-miles - we came to familiar territory.  I'd taken this trail a few weeks ago, pretty urban & noisy - but nice if you wanted to ride up to the college.

At the Wabash!

 The other direction - is the northern most starting point of the Wabash Trace.  Looking south down the trail, all shade, made it tempting.  I may ride that section again this week.

Instead, we turned back & returned to the trail around the lake.  I do say around the lake - in the broadest sense, since it doesn't actually put you on the lake, but through neighborhoods & industrial areas surrounding.  At one point - you ride along side the Veterans Memorial Hwy.  It's so noisy & cars are zooming past.

Cute!

 This little RV caught our attention as we went past Leach Camper Sales.  Just about the cutest thing ever!  So tiny, but it has everything you'd need for an overnight or weekend trip - especially if you were taking bikes.

Bridge over Indian Creek~

 The waterway & bridge don't look exceptional - but when you read the link above - it's an important improvement to the infrastructure of the city.

Mileage Marker~

When we were working on the Centennial Trail in WA, we had plans for painted mileage markers.  The project was never completed, since Butch & I had volunteered for the effort & moved before we could accomplish it.  Embedded in the paving, these markers are much nicer & longer lasting.

Starving after a twelve-mile ride, most of it into the wind, we hoped to find a Maid Rite in Bellevue.  It was long gone, but Culvers was open.  We topped off lunch with Concrete Mixers - an item highly recommended with good cause!