BIKES, COLORS.....AND AN ELVIS SIGHTING!

FALLING WATERS TRAIL

September 29, 2012  PEDALS adventure: 

A path we have been looking at for a while is Falling Waters which has one of its trailheads in Jackson, Michigan.   Realizing that the last day for riding this season was fast approaching, we took advantage of a good forecast and headed north, hoping to catch some early fall color.  It was a good call on our part because it was a perfect day for riding, a beautiful path, and more unusual things “crossed our path,” which come to think of it, seems to be becoming “the usual.”

We stopped at the rest area/visitors station that is just over the Michigan border to arm ourselves with brochures for this new to us area...you never know what you don’t know! As luck would have it, there were several brochures that gave us great information about the area to which we were traveling.   We scored a great lunch at a little bistro in Jackson at art gallery in a park…..who knew such a thing existed without the brochure.  We had brought a snack with us to stretch us , but decided on an early lunch with snack time to come later if needed.  We made a great choice.



CAN YOU FIND THE SNAKE?  I BARELY DID
BEFORE ALMOST RUNNING OVER IT!

After eating, we found the trail parking lot, right under the cell phone tower like they said, and there were a fair amount of cars.  After traveling down a sidewalk about 1000 feet to the trail, we were off.    The sun was out, the sky was blue and the trees just about at their fall color peak made a for great backdrop.  I was cruising along, enjoying all of this when all of a sudden in front of me was a SNAKE on the path.  While I don’t like snakes, I certainly didn’t want to run over it and have its carcass on my bike tires for the rest of the day..yuck!!  So I quickly braked and got a great picture of the snake before he slithered away….score 1 for wildlife!!

The path was straight and even, and eventually took us to Lime Lake.  We stopped several times just to enjoy the tree colors and the contrast of sunlight on the lake.

LIME LAKE

 

The path seems to cut the lake in two, and we spied a picnic area in the park that accompanies the lake, so we cut over on a county road to get to the parking area, and prepared for reading, rest, and snacks.   While there were several cars in the parking lot, we really didn’t see anyone, until we looked carefully across the lake….there was a paddleboarder working his way around the perimeter of the lake, one stroke at a time.  It reminded me of the water-propelled jet pack person we had seen in Chicago…except this guy WAS his own power.  While it was a nice sunny day, it was definitely too cold to fall into the water, and I was glad we were not called upon to be heroes and rescue the guy on the paddleboard.



While the tree colors and relative solitude of the area would be enough to stay, we decided to go back with enough time to stop at key places along the lake and enjoy the colors.   Again, as on other trips, we were greeted by some unusual signage.   First, we came across a tractor crossing sign.  In and of itself it is not too unusal, but this sign bore a striking resemblance to the Little Tikes Farm set that the boys played with when small.  Really, isn’t there way to make this sign so that we can be on the lookout for more farmers than Old MacDonald.

ELVIS...REALLY?

The  second sign was actually an ELVIS SIGHTING…right there on the Falling Waters bike path.  AYou just never know when Elvis might cross your path! Someone in Jackson MI has a sense of humor!

The trip was over, there was always the ride home to finish our day…but it wasn’t done yet.   I talked Tom into going to a favorite Italian restaurant outside of Angola, IN, just off of I-69.  With soft, pillowy breadsticks that literally SWIM in butter with just a hint of shredded parmesan on top, Caruso’s is a favorite of ours in the fall and winter.   As dinner finished, I glanced at my watch and saw that we could go to an annual fall square dance at Pokagan State Park, just up the road 3 miles, and listen to our favorite band from Johnny Appleseed a couple of weeks earlier.  Having a full belly, there was no reason not to go, so off we went.

As the sun went down, we met at the site of the dance, only to find among the several hundred people there, a teacher that I used to teach with and his family, and a young couple who are friends of ours and in Jon and Ashley’s wedding.  We  bravely (or should I say TOM BRAVELY, as this stuff was old hat to me) joined this couple and their friends and took a couple of whirls around a few dances.   It was clear we were out of our league, or was it the 13 miles we had already pedaled that day, so we gracefully bowed out and finally found our way home, richer for having spent the day in nature’s fall coloring book, seen Elvis,  and do-si-do’d with the best of them….a perfect fall pedaling day!

The stats: 13.7 (RT), Time: 1:23:45 , ODO: 455.84

Notable Nature Sightings:  a snake on the path….narrowly avoided him AND a head-over-heels crash from suddenly stopping.

Oxymoron Sighting: Elvis on a bike path in Michigan….Tennessee maybe, but not Michigan!

COFFEE, APPLES, AND SANTA

Sept. 12 and 16, 2012  PEDALS adventures: 

Sometimes good rides are very short ones…they don’t take you anywhere new, they just give you pleasure because you did them.   We had two short September rides that were just such times.  First, we took advantage of a beautiful fall evening and rode the Towpath trail of the FW Rivergreenway.  It is one of my favorite paths because it starts in a park, goes through a bit of residential area, and then finishes with a decidedly rural feel of cornfields and open spaces at Eagle Marsh..all in FW and within a few miles.  It was an unremarkable ride, but it felt good to ride after work, enjoying the outdoors and the quiet that biking brings.

VIEW FROM THE WESTERN END OF THE TOWPATH,
4 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN FW

Of course, I can’t go near downtown on a ride without stopping at my favorite Starbucks (see "There and Back" blogpost ), even if we rode there in a car after the bike ride.  I had a coupon for a free drink of any size, so I ordered a venti Pumpkin Spice latte to share w/ Tom at one of the outside tables.   Of course, he had to bring papers to grade (can’t have even one free night when you are an English teacher) but I enjoyed the time “posting” our status at SB on my Facebook page and watching parts of the FW Tincaps playoff game on the big screen down the street.  It was a perfect nightcap to a perfect night ride.

Just a few days later, the Johnny Appleseed festival was held in Johnny Appleseed park, through which the path of the Rivergreenway trail system goes through.   After finding out the FW Trails group was sponsoring secure bike parking at the festival, we decided to forgo the huge lines of traffic waiting to park/leave by parking at IPFW University and riding our bikes into the festival.  The plan was flawless as  we arrived, parked our bikes just inside the festival entrance (and received our  claims tickets for them), and entered the festival in record time. 

PRAIRIE FIRE STRING BAND PERFORMING
AT JOHNNY APPLESEED FESTIVAL

As always, biking and eating go hand in hand, and we enjoyed apple rollup pancakes, caramel corn,  ham and beans and corn bread, and apple cider as we strolled through the booths and watched pioneer aficionados demonstrate old fashioned skills and perform old folk songs to modern audiences.  It was at one of these “concerts” that Santa sat down on the bench in front of us.  How did I know it was Santa?  The beard, the belly…and the giant belt buckle that said “SANTA” gave it away.  Who knew Santa was a fan of country bluegrass?

 

"YOU-KNOW-WHO" ENJOYING SOME
BLUEGRASS MUSIC BEFORE HIS
BUSY SEASON STARTS! 

While neither ride covered significant mileage or covered new ground, the memories of both adventures will stay with me as memories tied to our bikes….NICE!

The stats: Towpath: 8.4 miles (RT), Time: 49:44 , ODO: 440 miles

Johnny Appleseed Festival  2.065 miles (RT), Time: 17:22, ODO: 442.07

Notable Nature Sightings:  none

Oxymoron Sighting: Surely Santa announcing his presence at  the September Johnny Appleseed Festival through a belt buckle constitutes an oxymoronic moment, dontcha think?

CHICAGO, CHICAGO....That Biking Town, I'll Show You Around..

September 9, 2012  PEDALS adventure: 

We’ve done some urban riding in the past, but nothing prepared us for the craziness that awaited us on the Lakefront Trail in Chicago.  It was a beautiful fall day, we met our friends Jill, Nancy and Jeff at 7 AM and off we went to the Windy City.   Since Jill needed to rent a bike, I did some bike rental research and we decided that parking at North Ave. Beach would give us a safe place to unload the four bikes we brought and give Jill an easy place to rent a bike.  We were right about the safe place and rental but it was more difficult to get to North Ave. Beach than we thought….we met a Chicago mini marathon was just finishing on Lake Shore drive south of downtown, so we had a bit of detour…Tom’s fabulous driving and Jeff’s great navigating and we soon found ourselves at North Avenue beach, ready with our bikes.

Looking south, soon after
starting at North Ave. Beach

The Lakefront Trail goes along the lake front, often parallel to Lake Shore Drive, for a total of 18.5 miles. It was a bit windy along the Lake Michigan (well duh…it is the Windy City) , but the biggest challenge was  the crowds of people riding, walking, jogging, running, roller blading and everything else along the Lake Shore Trail.   The crowds weren't so bad; it was the speed with which some people were traveling….it was challenging not to get run over while on our bikes.



Chicago Police boat w/ fans!! Tax dollars at work!

Not only was the lakefront busy, but the lake too had lots of boaters enjoying the day on the water. We stopped for a quick snack we brought along and the first of many unusual sights: a Chicago Police boat with several Chicago Bears fans on it….it looked like a pleasure ride, but it was a bit weird!  Chicago tax dollars at work.

  Did I mention that there was a home Bears game that afternoon….against the Indianapolis Colts?   Bears fans, and the occasional Colts fan, also joined us on the path, adding to the general traffic and mayhem.

Soldier Field, Home of Da Bears!




Water Propelled Air Pack rider

It was incredibly beautiful and festive to be riding along the lake.  Many football fans were tailgating on the boats in the harbor and we even heard the Super Bowl Shuffle being played on one boat, presumably by optimistic Bears fans..before the season becomes hopeless!!! 

A stop at Buckingham Fountain, a quick spin around the aquarium,  and a nod to Soldier Field (rapidly filling up with fans) and we made it through the bulk of the crowds.   It was here that the 2^nd of our unusual sightings occurred, a man flying over the water with a water propelled jet pack (and a friend on a jet ski) providing his fuel.  Quite the crowd gathered to watch, including one of Chicago’s Finest who appeared to be making a call to find out if what the guy was doing was legal….apparently it was as he kept on flying around for quite a while.   It was  an unusual sight to be sure!

Water spraying along the bike path

The path crowd eventually thinned until, at McCormick’s Place it was finally easy to ride without worrying about someone flying up behind you and dashing around you!   We decided to turn around and rode back closer to the lake…..being careful to stay out of the  water being sprayed up on the path. (NOTE:  I found out 2 days later that some of the Lake Shore Path was closed the day before we got there because high water was knocking down joggers and bikers…I can certainly see why!)

Northerly Island Prairie

As we traveled south, Tom spied a section of land that appeared to be jutting out in the water with people riding bikes on it.  I recalled from studying the Lake Shore map that there was a peninsula that could be accessed by the Planetarium, so that became our goal.   We were glad for Tom’s sighting, as we continued north, biked to the Planetarium and the found the path to Northerly Island.

Tom and I put our collective memories together and recalled that Northerly Island must have house the small airfield known as Meigs Field.   We shared with our friends the sordid story of Mayor Dailey presumptively closing the airfield, sending out bulldozers to destroy the landing strip in the middle of the night, effectively closing the airfield and stranding many private and corporate airplanes to boot.  While the control tower is still present, the island is a large expansive prairie within the shadow of Chicago Skyline, a surprising natural element in the vast ocean of concrete that is Chicago.  It was there that we enjoyed the singing of National Anthem at Soldier Field and saw our third unusual sighting….a very LARGE and dark and ominous jet, appearing for a fly-over at the game.   It was one of the largest airplanes I have ever seen and it commanded one’s attention.  Awesome!



Flyover of Soldier Field

Jill, Nancy, Jeff and Tom
 enjoying Giordano's pizza

With the Lake Shore path empty of the football fans, it was an easy ride over to Michigan and Jackson Avenues to the Aon building plaza to drop in at Giordano’s Pizzeria for a late lunch.   We locked our bikes on the plaza, and ate outside on the dining patio, enjoying the fabulous weather and the TVs that were broadcasting the game.

Stuffed spinach pizza..
a Chicago visit necessity.

Some of us were cheering for the Colts, and some for the Bears, but mostly we were cheering for the stuffed spinach pizza!! 

An unusual sight for
Chicago parallel parking

When we were leaving we jealously gazed on a parked truck containing a kayak AND a bike….that owner would be a great paddle and peds person!






Heading south, and into a headwind
while avoiding the waves on the path!

We were more than halfway back to our car, but we were  headed for the most challenging ride of our day.  The brisk wind of the morning was now a severe head wind and we bravely fought it by pedaling our hearts out…straight into it!   We were able to only go 6 mph at max, while those passing us going the other way were smiling and relaxed.   It was THE HARDEST pedal I have done all summer…and it was on flat land no less.  Again, we had to avoid getting swept away by the waves, but it still was one of the most beautiful rides all summer.

We arrived back at the car, got out of town just before the Bears/Colts game let out (Bears won….Go Bears!) and headed back home.  

A stop at Valparaiso for ice cream (always a necessity after pizza) brought us to the Oberweiss Dairy, and some fabulous treats for all : chocolate peanut butter  ice cream, Key Lime Pie ice cream, Black Cherry ice cream and blueberry cobbler alamode.   It was a great fulfillment of the restaurant motto we saw on the Katy Trail:  Bike Often, Eat Well!  Three cheers for Nancy who bought and ate 2 servings of the Key Lime Pie ice cream AND got a quart to-go that we put in the snack cooler.  We will remember this stop when next we travel this way!



With this adventure along Lake Shore Trail, we have now ridden in 4 states this summer…and brought along more friends to help us commemorate this urban adventure.

The stats: 15.4 (RT), Time: 2:10 , ODO: 431.53

Notable Sightings:  A Police boat with Bears fans, a water propelled jet pack rider, a flyover of a VERY LARGE military airplane.  COOL!



Chicago Skyline from Northerly Island

We Ride for Dunkin'

September 3, 2012  PEDALS adventure: 

Hank, Louise, Jennifer, Karl, Ann, Alex and Tom
 

WE RIDE FOR DUNKIN’….donuts that is!!!   As we approached the final “summer” holiday of Labor Day, we again made plans with the neighbors, Alex, Jennifer, Karl and Ann,  to ride the YMCA path and Pufferbelly Trail (aka the Donut Trail) to Dunkin’ Donuts.  This would complete the  trifecta of celebration rides for summer 2012, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day mornings, all spent at DD (see "Spring Launchings" and "I Have a Need for Speed" postings )  This time, however, we had guest appearances by my parents, Hank and Louise, to join us at DD.   Of course, they weren’t really into the ride aspect of the celebration, so about 15 minutes after the six of us rode out of our cul de sac, they got in the car and drove to meet us.   We actually arrived at the same time, as they were getting out of the car as we rode into the parking lot. 

Three of the four people who ate the REAL Dunkin'!

To be sure, there was nothing momentous about the ride (we’ve all done it a bunch of times…no deranged squirrel or downed trees this time though..I Have a Need For Speed photos.), but the fact that we were able to actually do it, weather and schedules allowing it, for all the holidays this summer was a celebration in itself.  A lot of laughter, healthy DD eating by four of the participants, the eating of awesome donuts by the other four(it is called Dunkin’ DONUTS for crying out loud) made for a fun way to mark the end of summer.  The four that ate the donuts?  Let’s just say those four were related…you figure it out!

While Labor Day may be considered the end of summer, this is by no means the end of riding for 2012.  We look forward to  more fall riding adventures…hopefully on some new paths.

The stats: 8.6 (RT), Time: 54:21  , ODO: 416

Notable Nature Sightings:  none!  Just passing people we knew who were jogging the Y path.

Rails-to-Trails Meets Rails....and a Milestone

August 25, 2012     PEDALS adventure: 

If one decides to be a “quiet sports” enthusiast, then one has to forgo an allegiance to scheduling your outside adventures... weather takes precedence over planning. This weekend was a perfect example.   Earlier in the week, it appeared that the best day for an outdoor adventure would be Sunday, so even as late as Friday night, we planned our weekend chores and church for Saturday, leaving Sunday free for an early start.  However, Saturday morning dawned not as bad as predicted and Sunday did not look as promising.  Friday night  I had researched possible kayak adventures in southwestern Michigan based on the Pure Michigan email that had recently been delivered to my inbox and read up on more bike trails too!  We deliberated the pros and cons of both adventures and both days of the weekend but abruptly,  around 8:30  AM we decided to go to  South Haven, Michigan to ride the Kal-Haven Trail.  It's a good thing it doesn't take much to get ready to go for a ride!

BRIDGE OVER THE BLACK RIVER

The Kal-Haven Trail is one of the oldest Rails-To-Trails and connects towns of  Kalamazoo and South Haven.  It is listed as crushed limeston so we were slightly concerned about smoothness and trail dust. We checked out other riders’ experiences on the path and they seemed pleased so we decided we needed to ride this trail ourselves.

We landed in South Haven around 12:30, after taking a slight detour through Dowagiac to check out a possible kayaking adventure on the Dowagiac River.  A company provides shuttle transportation so it can be a one-way float.   It looks promising, so we look forward to trying  it eventually.  Tom says, although it seems counterintuitive, to ride in the heat and kayak in the cool!!  The reasoning is that there is a lot of ambient breeze while you ride, giving the impression it’s not too hot.  On the water, you just get humidity and often it feels hotter….getting out of a kayak to cool off in the water presents a problem when you have to get back IN the kayak.  So, I guess Tom is right…we’ll save the Dowagiac River for a later date.

VIEW DOWN THE PATH

As previously stated, we arrived in South Haven in early afternoon, and after a packed lunch in the picnic area of the large parking lot, we set off.   Immediately, we were struck by the fairly long, and, for a Rail-To-Trail path, steep decline that the path took as it followed alongside and eventually over the Black River.   I commented that it wasn’t going to be much fun riding up the incline at the other end of the trip.  The path was again shaded by lots of trees and straight.   On the whole, there was nothing remarkable about the scenery, but we could imagine it in the fall as a potentially beautiful ride.



TOM PUMPING WATER

There was an area where the trees thinned out and we could really see the crop land and farms on either side of the path.   The worst part of this area is where the path travels closely to a chicken farm…and let’s just let the imagination take over…’nuf said!

There were two first-time attractions on this path.  First, we came across a functioning old fashioned water pump.  It was at a nicely placed resting spot, complete with picnic table.   Many people stopped to refill their water bottles at this spot.   Great idea (if you like that kind of water!).

Second, we came across an actual railroad crossing on our Rail-To-Trail….a rail that has not been converted to a trail!!!   We stopped for a photo moment, and I hoped, in vain, for a train to come by, but it was fun anyway.  

RAIL TO TRAIL MEETS RAIL!

Soon after, we reached out 10 mile destination of the very small town Grand Station.  According to a Kal-Haven brochure, there was a restaurant in the town.   We got to the town, had to ride a short distance from the trail, and found the restaurant….10 minutes AFTER it closed.   Not to be deterred, I spotted a Marathon gas station just up the road.   I had a hankering for some ice cream, so we rode on up to the gas station/convenience store.



EATING AN ICE CREAM NOVELTY
 IS A BIKE TRAIL NOVELTY!!

WELL, riding up to it, and after going inside, we decided it was in our best interest to make a QUICK selection and get out of there.  Let’s just say that we were aware that southern MI is (reportedly) home to several ultra-conservative militia groups…we may have spotted a few of their members!   We stuffed the ice cream novelties into my bike pack and drove back to a shaded area on the trail.   Judging from the surprised expressions on bikers that passed us, people eating ice cream on a bike path.   We answered people’s questions as to where we conjured up some ice cream (“just up the path on the left at the gas station”) and let them have their own experiences!



CELEBRATION!!!

It was time to head back, and it was then that we hit the milestone of 400 miles traveled on my pedometer.  Of course, it was a photo moment and time to celebrate (and rest).

We finally made it back and, as I remembered, the last part of the path was uphill.   We did stop for a break before the big incline to enjoy the bridge over the Black River and ride down a wooden boardwalk to the river so the final push wasn’t too bad. 

VIEW FROM BRIDGE OVER BLACK RIVER

 

 As I again discovered, the last 3 miles of this 20 mile ride were the worst (I was ready to be off my bike, and my feet always seem to hurt at the end).  We did notice that there is a shuttle service that serves the Kal-Haven path, allowing a person to have to ride only one way, get further, and avoid the return trip mileage.  Sounds like a plan to me next time!

The stats: 20.18(RT), Time 2:18:48  , ODO:  407.48

FIND THE TURTLES . . .

. . . HERE THEY ARE

Notable Nature Sightings:  Lots of turtles on a log are not really notable, but we did cross a real RR crossing and use a water pump

 

There and Back...all before 10 AM!

August 12, 2012  PEDALS adventure: 

It’s always fun to introduce novice “urban bikers” to the ins and outs of riding the trails. Our neighbors, Alex and Jennifer, have enjoyed the holiday donut rides with us from our homes, and Jennifer has even ridden with me in the annual nighttime FW Rivergreenway ride sponsored by the FW Parks Department.  Alex, however, has yet to start an urban ride from anywhere other than his own driveway.  After this ride, we have changed all of that!

Our favorite FW Rivergreenway path is the Maumee Path.   It is on the east side of FW, travels along the Maumee River, eventually ending in downtown.   More often than not, rides on this path end at what we consider to be the coolest Starbucks anywhere at the corner of Jefferson and Fairfield streets. The four of us decided this would be a great morning ride destination and set off from our house at 7 AM.  

It was a beautiful morning, although a bit cool for August.  We layered up, as much of the path by the river is heavily wooded and could be cooler than at our houses.   We drove to the Carrington Field trailhead on Coliseum Blvd. to start the ride. We enjoyed the shadows that the early morning sun cast on the path and the River, traveled alongside some FW neighborhoods, and soon found ourselves riding on the bike lanes in downtown FW.

Our favorite Starbucks
Jefferson and Fairfield in Fort Wayne

The downtown FW Starbucks is located in a renovated old Firestone Tire store.  The store was about to be demolished when SB purchased it, and turned it into a funky coffee spot.  Besides the typical ordering and seating area inside, this SB has an outdoor ”garage” area, with tables, chairs, couches and giant overhead garage doors that are opened (or closed) as the weather warrants, as well as a fabulous outdoor patio area.  

 

We got our drinks and pastries and sat under the old photos of the Firestone as it used to be.  Besides enjoying good coffee and great conversation,  we enjoyed looking at the ridiculously low price for tires that was advertised in the old photo taken when it was a Firestone store.  The architecture of the old store certainly stands out, and I, for one, am grateful that SB rescued it from the wrecking ball, and maintained the façade, making it both vintage and modern all at once.  It is no wonder it is our favorite SB location ANYWHERE, whether you sit on the patio watching the wide variety of  cars go by on the major downtown thoroughfare (Tom says it’s a great place to “shop” for a new vehicle..if you wait long enough, every kind eventually goes by),  or choose the garage, or even stay in the store (when it’s too cold). 

The coolest thing about Alex’s bike is that is has a nifty pressure spring shelf on the back, an accessory to go along with its designation as a “commuter bike.”   While we have never figured out how anything very big would fit under the pressure spring arm, I was able to utilize it on my first ever biking/shopping experience.   This SB had Café Verona K-cups for use in our Keurig coffeemaker at home….it was the first time I had seen that blend in a K-cup.   I whipped out my gold SB gift card, bought a box, and loaded it on the back of Alex’s bike.   AWESOME!!!  

The only thing left to do was to hop back on our bikes and back to our car and back to our neighborhood….an adventure in biking and eating and friendship, all before 10 AM!

The stats: 8.2  (RT), Time: 59 min. , ODO: 387 miles

VISITING THE WORLD FROM A BIKE SEAT!

August 11, 2012  PEDALS adventure: 

There is a theme of Celebration Rides this summer, i.e. celebrate something “older” with something new!  In honor of our 33^rd wedding anniversary, we decided to investigate a trail on our “to-ride” list, The Nickel Plate trail in Indiana.

The Nickel Plate is a long trail (by Indiana standards) with two distinct legs, Peru to Cassville and Peru to Rochester.  We decided to try the southern leg, Peru to Cassville and save the other for another day.   In reality, we only did 6 miles of the trail to Bunker Hill before we turned around---the round trip mileage of an “11 mile” ride is more than I care to do.   I’m not yet prepared to spend an entire day on my bike seat!

The best trailhead for parking for the southern leg is just  south of the Wabash River in Peru, so we went north for a short distance when we hopped on our bikes.   The Nickel Plate Trail bridge over the Wabash River is great and it was nice to be able to stop and look at the river without worrying about on-coming cars.  Considering the recent rains that had fallen, the Wabash was not particularly high, a consequence of the rain being absorbed by the drought-stricken fields.  We soon turned south and experienced an unusual rail-to-trail phenomenon…..and long-term incline. 

WABASH RIVER FROM NICKEL PLATE
BRIDGE IN PERU

We (or at least I) like Rails-to-Trails because rail beds were created to have very little ”grade” (or at least very gradual) to conserve the energy it would take the engine to pull the train.  This translates into very flat trails for us (me) to ride.  The Nickel Plate trail had a distinct long-term grade, a consequence of moving away from the Wabash River Valley (according to Tom).  It was not a super hard ride, but it lasted long enough for me to look forward to the promise of a downhill return ride.

The path is very heavily wooded and shaded at the beginning.  The remnants of a dam (as was described on Rails-to-Trails.com) complete with flower bed was easily spotted. Our goal was Pipe Creek, near Bunker Hill, IN.  Eventually, the gead leveled out as  we exited the wooded area and entered farmland.  Still, the scenery was nice, and there was a nice bench for resting around mile 5.25.  We reached Pipe Creek bridge and were met with a VERY HIGH BRIDGE over a very low creek.  We turned around soon found ourselves back at the car….after shaving 15 minutes off of our ride time due to our increased speed from the return trip being downhill!

VIEW DOWN THE NICKEL PLATE TRAIL

After a great anniversary meal at the BK Root Beer stand (complete with frosted mugs), we scouted out (by car) the northern leg of the Nickel Plate from Peru to Rochester.   We crossed the path several times at Denver (yet another Indiana town named for another city in the country/world) and definitely want to try that leg on another day.   Pairing it with a boat trip on the historic Wabash Canal in nearby Delphi sounds like a plan to us!!!!!

So in summary, we traveled the world (at least the western hemisphere) for our anniversary, visiting Peru, Bunker Hill, and Denver, all by way of Rochester and Mexico…and all without leaving our state…..ain’t Indiana great?

The stats: 12 miles (RT ), Time:  1 hour 5 min – 40 minutes out, 25 minutes back , ODO: 379

Notable Nature Sightings:  none