Trail Sweet Trail

June 7, 2014
33 miles

Oh, how sweet it is to be riding on my home trails! Normally I do not blog about rides here at home but because it has been awhile since I have ridden here in Edwardsville I thought I would write a short blog. 

Since last August I have actually been away from home more than I have been at home, so my riding here has suffered. The last time I rode these trails was October 3, 2013. Today's forecast called for rain starting around noon so Clay and I decided that if we wanted to get a ride in today we would have to get up early. 

Had a very nice ride! It is so relaxing to ride my home trails because I know them. When we ride trails in other states it is exciting because they are new but it is a little stressful because of the unfamiliar. We spent a lot of time talking as we rode today, more than normal. I guess we are still getting caught up on being apart so much this year. Saw a deer up close (I don't know why it didn't dart away). Took some pictures, including a selfie. Stopped and ate an early lunch at Subway before heading home. Now as I am writing it is pouring rain! So happy that we got our ride in!

South Platte River Trail, Denver, Colorado

May 28, 2014
70's
22 miles

We hired a guide for todays ride. His name is Paul Craig and he happens to be my brother who lives in the Denver area. We were excited to have him ride along with us today. We joined the South Platte River Trail northeast of Denver. Rode along the Platte River, crossing it several times before getting into the downtown area. In the downtown area Cherry Creek joined with Platte River at Confluence Park. Many people were out enjoying the nice weather, we also saw some kayakers in the river while there.

Paul, Kathy & Clay

Downtown Denver

We continued riding and ended at Mile High Stadium before turning around. Stopped at a Subway on the way back for lunch. Two miles before we got back to the parking lot we had an incident with Paul's bicycle seat. The saddle completely broke off and if he stood up it would have fallen to the ground. I think I should start carrying duct tape with us. I could have fixed that baby if I had only had some!

In front of Mile High Stadium

Confluence Park, downtown Denver

Today's ride is the last on this vacation. Tomorrow we head home. It has been really fun reconnecting with many friends these last two weeks. A big thanks to all who hosted us. We love and appreciated you all.

Provo River Parkway, Provo, Utah

May 26, 2014
65 degrees
25 miles

Memorial Day + Perfect Weather = Lots and lots of people on the trail! Had a great ride. We started out from the Bed & Breakfast and only had to ride a few blocks to get on the trail. Yesterday I had researched the trail conditions. Several people commented that the trail, before the mouth of the canyon, was very rutted and also dangerous in spots that went under roadways. Well, they were correct! The sections that go under roads were very narrow and as you go down on one side you can't see if someone is coming the opposite direction, and if there happens to be someone coming, there is no room to pass each other. It was very stressful! Also, there were quite a few big bumps. I called them "Bell Ringer" bumps because they were so big that when we went over them it rang our bicycle bell! Once we got to the mouth of the canyon, the trails were very good! We just had to watch all the other people coming and going. Walkers, joggers, long boarders, scooters, inline skaters, dog walkers and all kinds of bicycles.

Mouth of the Canyon

Coming back down through the canyon today two young boys, who were going up, started yelling to us to hold out our hands. They both had their hands extended and wanted to slap hands with us. It was charming. No one has ever done that to us before! When we got back to the mouth of the canyon and was heading back to the B&B, we decided to ride on the street and not the bumpy, stressful trail. The road had a very wide shoulder and it was Nice! We didn't have any "Bell Ringers" out on the road!

Hines Mansion B&B

We met a couple from Alabama this morning at breakfast, who are staying at the same B&B we are. They mentioned that they are trying to visit each of the 50 states. We found it amusing that we are doing the same thing only on a bicycle. For them Utah is their 47th state whereas for us it is our 26th! I don't think our paths will cross again since they only have 3 states left!

Bridal Veil Falls

Mt. Timpanogos

Washoe Lake State Park, Nevada

May 24, 2014
56 degrees - 70 degrees
20 miles

Our plan was to drive up to Lake Tahoe to bike but after talking to our hosts, Wendell & Lisa Huffman, we decided to get our Nevada ride around Washoe Lake just a few miles from their home. A big part of that decision was because most of the trails for rode bikes up at Lake Tahoe are on the California side and we needed to ride in Nevada.

Washoe Lake

My usual rule for riding is it has to be in at least 60 degrees, preferably in the 70's to 80's. I had no choice but to break my rule this morning. Thankfully, I brought some warmer biking clothes with us, and because we were in the sun, it felt glorious!

We started out from Bower's Mansion parking lot and went North working our way clockwise around Washoe Lake. This is a popular route for bicyclist and with it being the first day of a holiday weekend, we saw many bicyclist including 2 other tandems. This was not a Rails to Trails ride so we shared the roads with cars. It has been awhile since we have ridden on roads so I kept a careful watch for vehicles on the road. I am happy to report all the vehicles were very courteous! We went through two small towns, Washoe City and Truckee Meadows, and passed a candy store in one of them. I thought it would have made a good rest stop but we pedaled on past before I could make that suggestion to Clay. We were told by a local that some scenes from John Wayne's last movie, The Shootist, was filmed at Washoe Lake State Park.

Today's ride marks the halfway mark in our biking goal of riding in all 50 states! So in celebration of being halfway through.....we went back to the candy store and spent $26 on candy!!! Yikes!

After our ride we drove up to Lake Tahoe and it was spectacular!! I've included a few of those pictures.

 Lake Tahoe

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

Kern River Parkway, Bakersfield, California

May 21, 2014
72 degrees
25 miles

I'm so excited to be riding in Bakersfield! It has been 21 years since we moved away and when we started this odyssey of riding in every state I knew that when we rode in California it would be in Bakersfield. Strange thing about this is that for the seven years we lived here we never used the bike trail. Of course I think they have really improved and developed it in the 21 years we have been gone.

We started out at The Park at River Walk and headed East past California State University, several city parks, Lake Truxtun and working oil fields. Because of the drought the Kern River is dry so that was disappointing.  It was a cool morning and overcast, and even though it was after 10 am when we started I had to wear a jacket. I was a little nervous today because Clay and I both spent a lot of time looking around as we were riding down the trail seeing all the places we remembered from the past. It is a good thing that there weren't too many other people using the trail this morning. 

Uplands Area

The Park at River Walk

Dried up Kern River with the Refinery where Clay used to work in the background

Arizona Canal Trail, Phoenix, Arizona

May 19, 2014
Started at 74 degrees, ended at 88 degrees
23 miles

Another enjoyable ride. Frequently we try to stay in a hotel close to the trail so that we can start from the hotel parking lot. Other times we have to load the bike on the car and drive to a trailhead. Today we thought we were close enough to the Skunk Creek Trailhead to bike there, and according to internet maps, we were but we had a very hard time finding it. Once we gained access to the trail it was smooth riding! On a side note: I'm not sure I wanted to ride on a trail named Skunk Creek.

Clay in the rare shady area

This trail was very different from Albuquerque's trail but still just as beautiful, no bosque today. We started early so that we could enjoy the warmth of the morning and not the heat of the day, and here in Phoenix there is a difference! There was not much shade so I'm glad we finished mid morning. The trail followed the canal and then on the other side of the trail was an area for flash flooding. I am not sure what you would call that area, but in part of it there was a park for children and a disc golf course. Doesn't make sense to me to build a park in a flash flooding area! The canal was very peaceful and made me want to grab an inner tube and go floating.

I enjoy riding new trails and discovering the uniqueness each has to offer. This trail did not disappoint!

Love the desert flora and fauna!

Paseo del Bosque Bike Trail, Albuquerque, New Mexico

May 18, 2014
Temp 60's - 70's
28 miles

What is a bosque? I didn't know so I had to look it up. Wikipedia describes it as the name for areas of gallery forest found along the riparian flood plains of stream and river banks in the southwestern United States. It derives its name from the Spanish word for woodlands. Well, it was very pretty and I learned something new today!

Out of all the trails we have ridden, this one has to be one of the most used trails we have seen. Maybe it had to do with it being a beautiful Sunday morning. We saw horse riders, inline skaters, LOTS of dog walkers, joggers and all kinds of bicycles (we saw 4 other tandem riders)! Even though there were a lot of people out on the trail, we averaged 16 mph, which is very good for my first ride of the year. What was very nice about this trail, was that it had a dirt/gravel trail right next to the paved trail and most of the dog walkers and some of the joggers used it.

 Rio Grand River

Sandia Mountains

Before leaving Albuquerque we had to eat Mexican food. We ate at a place called Little Anita's in Old Town Albuquerque. The food was delicious but the service was very slow, probably because it was Sunday lunchtime.

Thanks Albuquerque, we enjoyed our stay!