In Which I Find the New Trail to Nowhere

Ride on July 4. The day had heat, sunshine and rain--seemed to represent what this summer has been like in Iowa.

July in Iowa: It’s been both typical and not typical weather, which is pretty normal. Summer has a lot of variances in the middle of this continent. Last year, the concern was drought, which carried on into early this year, but lately we’ve been blessed with rains, and storms, and heat—whatever. There have been plenty of days lately for bicycle riding, and plenty of other days to stay inside in order to avoid the heat and humidity or the storms.

I’ve not been extending my distances as much this summer as I had in past years. Thus, I’ve not had many rides of over 50 or 60 miles. My original goal was to train harder this summer, but as my body ages and my grandchildren become older and more active, plans have slowly shifted.

Yet I have enjoyed the miles that I have ridden, and I’ve ridden on some new trails this summer. They put in a new limestone section in on the Grant Wood Trail, so several miles east of Marion that required a mountain bike to navigate the bumpy, grassy trail have become more passable. My “RAGBRAI” team this year has become a not-RAGBRAI team, and when we plan our rides, I wonder if one of them might take us out that way.

I’ve been thinking about our “not RAGBRAI” rides, and wondering where me might go. It would be ambitious to eat lunch at Big Grove in Solon, for instance, or enjoy pastries at Jams in Urbana, and very ambitious if we tried both in the same day.

And then there is Morgan Creek Park and the Morgan Creek Trail. I had read online earlier this summer that the new trail opened north of that attractive county park, so last week, I decided to explore.

On Sunday of last week, I was riding in the afternoon and had the wild idea to head south to Ellis Park, thinking I would eventually attempt to get to Morgan Creek Park. But it was getting a bit late by the time I had crossed the swollen Cedar River and reached that park, so I decided to turn home and save the longer ride for another day.

Thursday, July 11, was another day. I rode out in the morning—although, to be honest, fairly late in the morning. One cap on my miles this summer is, as my sleep patterns become those of an old man, my morning get up and go has gotten up and went. I will try, in my few remaining weeks of summer, to start riding a bit earlier—it’s an Iowa summer biker’s main strategy. We’ll see—easy to say, but I am increasingly less of an early riser as I’m increasingly less of a middle-aged person (middle aged only if I live to 130, so I can’t really claim that moniker).

On Cedar River Trail July 11 during ride south--seeing a pretty Swallowtail Butterfly.

Anyway, I got out the road bike for the longer ride. I headed downtown, using the Cedar River Trail via Noelridge Park. They are fixing a middle school near Noelridge Park, and I had to go across a grassy lawn to avoid the workers, so I decided the return route would be a little different. I rode the trail to Third Avenue, and then proceeded south via a downtown bike lane. I crossed the Cedar River and then headed west. For much of last summer, the way was blocked by construction projects, but it’s open now. Both times I rode by it, Big Grove Brewery in Cedar Rapids seemed busy (a not-RAGBRAI ride stop?). Geese were a hazard as I rode along the Cedar River, but I’ve noticed that they heed a bike bell, so I slowed and sounded a dinging warning.

On to Ellis Park, the second time in a week, which is pretty unusual for me. I rode out to Edgewood Road, and headed south along the wide sidewalk beside that busy boulevard. I rode until I could cross at an intersection with a traffic light and walk sign. That that’s when things got a bit weird.

I was hoping to stumble upon the Cherokee Trail and take it out to the road that leads to Morgan Creek Park, but apparently, from where I was, that was not where I was headed. I ended up in some county-city roads—places with elevated speed limits (sometimes 35, sometimes 45) and fairly narrow pavement—not places I would normally choose to ride a bicycle. I tried to use Google Maps to help direct me, but it has an irritating habit of specifying compass direction, and at midday in a strange place, with the sun hanging almost directly overhead—well, Google, I don’t know how to head west on that strange road because I don’t know where “west” is.

At one point, I ended up doubling back to Edgewoood Road, proof that I have inherited my tribe’s deep inability to find the correct direction.

Well, I did finally find the road to Morgan Creek Park. And I ended up riding through the park and taking the new trail north. It’s a fine trail, although only several miles long. It’s a stub leading nowhere, at this point—phase one of a longer, future trail project. There are several modest hills as you cycle south of the park, nothing bad, but a few rises. It was, all-in-all, a pleasant ride. When I got to the end of the trail, I ate a bag of nuts and then headed back to Morgan Creek Park, where I ate the lunch I had brought with me.

End of Morgan Creek Trail.

Bike on bridge over creek between lanes of Highway 100.

Sunny afternoon on new Morgan Creek Trail.

One thing I’ve enjoyed this summer is the magic of a thick peanut butter sandwich as a nice mid-ride pick-me-up.

On the way back from the park, I was able to follow the street and signs to the Cherokee Trial, which led me towards downtown, although it also just suddenly ended. Cedar Rapids is a city of neighborhoods, and in some of the ones south of the river, I might as well be anywhere. I could see the Alliant Energy Tower in the distance, and I made my way towards it—the route back didn’t involve any of the scary country roads that the route to Morgan Creek Park did, and if I had any idea exactly where I was and where I went, I would probably take the return route out to the park in the first place.

Of course, there’s that key qualification: “If I had any idea exactly where I was.” I’ll have to do some more exploring south of the river to feel confident that I can find the eastern end of the Cherokee Trail coming from the other direction. We’ll see.

Anyway, on the way back I ended up on 42nd Street, planning to ride it to Old Marion Road. But, I had a bit of a “spell.” It was a hot afternoon, and I don’t know if I just overheated, but I started to feel faint and had to stop.

The first spell was on the Cedar River Trail near 42nd Street, and I rested at a shady bench and drank some water. I was only a few miles from home at that point, so I decided that, if I was careful to take it easy, I probably could ride home. But when I again faded near Old Marion Road, that was it for me. I stopped at a closed gas station and called my wife for rescue. I ended up with 37 miles on a day that would have topped 40, but never mind.

I explored the new trail, and it’s nice.

I cycled 350 miles in June—not a grand total, but good for me. By the end of the month, I had 1,424 miles for the year. As of July 13, I had 145.71 miles for the month of July, 1,569.64 miles for the year. I think I said my annual goal was 3,300 miles, and I’m just under halfway there, so I am not sure I’ll make it.

Then again, I wasn’t sure I would make it to Morgan Creek Park July 11, and I did. We’ll see.

At home, after ride. Wife fixed me RAGBRAI-appropriate feast, meatloaf, baked potato, fresh garden green beans, followed by apple pie for desert. It was a fine feast for a biker, better than a peanut butter sandwich.