In Which a Bridge is Enjoyed by Me and Grandchildren

July 12--Ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open new bridge over Indian Creek on Lindale Trail.

July 11--Granddaughter on new bridge.

July 7--Late ride, Fancy Beast mountain bike at end of Lindale Trail beyond new bridge--near where second bridge will be added.

July 14--Boyson Trail is now open! Closed sign placed to the side.

July 8--Clouds on Cedar Lake.

While the end by Menards is still closed, and the side trail at the north end that leads across the creek is still blocked, the Boyson Trail is now open. On Monday, July 12, they officially opened the new bridge over Indian Creek—and I’ve been spending a lot of short rides enjoying this new bridge.

The paved portion of the Boyson Trail, leading south has been open for some time, and today the limestone portion leading north to Boyson Road was open. A thunderstorm struck midday, but it was expected, and a I got a quick ride on the trail in before the storm hit.

Monday, my wife and a 5-year-old grandson rode up with me to watch the bridge opening ceremony. We even ended up in B-roll video on one of the local TV station’s coverage of the ceremony (blue bike and Tag-A-Long riding away from you, seen twice as B Roll in video).

It was a nice ceremony, although the bridge has been open for a couple of weeks—as I noted on a previous blog post, I rode on the bridge the Fourth of July weekend. The weekend before the ceremony, I rode up to the bridge with a teenage granddaughter (using a tandem bike) and with two other grandchildren.

The 5-year-old who attended the ceremony has been on the bridge a few times—partly because he’s well aware that there is a city park nearby if you ride down the hill beside the bridge and go under it. I expect we’ll all be visiting Thomas Park a bit more often, now that the trail is open.

This fall, they’ll start building a second bridge. Perhaps next summer, I’ll be able to roll to downtown Marion via trails, and continue on the Grant Wood Trail east of town. Happy trails!

And here are many images from recent bike rides to the new bridge, plus another ride to Cedar Lake and another ride north to Center Point:

July 14--Morning ride before rain, checking out newly opened Boyson Trail:

Like cave paintings, on unpaved part of Lindale Trail--images under street bridge.

More images under bridge. alien juggling jelly fish?

Boyson Trail, north of new Indian Creek Bridge it is unpaved, If you know the trail from the past, it used to be more woodsy. Many damaged trees removed after last year's derecho storm.

Side trail still closed. I like how "Trail Closed Ahead" sign blocks bridge--I think the trail is closed right here.

July 12--Official opening ceremony for new bridge over Indian Creek. It's a fairly high bridge, designed to recall the rail history of this route. Images without captions, mostly I think you can tell it's the ceremony, crowd or speakers:

July 11--Used tandem bike and Tag-A-Long to take grandchildren to new bridge:

Skipper on flower on Lindale Trail.

Tandem bike on bridge.

13-year-old granddaughter who rode tandem with me to bridge.

Bike on bridge.

Bike with Tag-A-Long seat with rail decorations on new bridge.

5-year-old grandson with bike.

Another granddaughter with bike.

July 8--Cloudy-day ride down to Cedar Lake, images of flowers, mostly that I saw there:

Swamp milkweed.

Bee on flower.

Bee on milkweed.

Flower

Bee flying

Dragonfly by lake.

Swamp milkweed.

Flower

Small blue flowers

Loch Ness monster. Or goose.

This and following images: Great blue heron on lake.

Ducks.

Queen Anne's lace with bug.

Clouds on C Avenue on the way home.

July 7--Solo late ride to bridge, in which I see some deer:

At the end of Lindale Trail, gap where a new bridge will be built this fall.

Marion Boulevard, busy 4-latne street, that will be bridged by trail.

On trail on the way home, deer, above, and 2 fawns, below.

July 5--Ride north to Center Point just because I can--warm, sunny summer day.

Inflated Uncle Sam seen on July 5 ride.

Swallowtail butterfly seen on milkweed in garden along street.

North on trail in Lafayette-county conservation department provides fly swatter.

Resting point, 13 miles north of trail head in Hiawatha--depot in Center Point. As I eat some nuts, I rest my feet by removing bike shoes.

Warm. pretty summer day on trail.