In Which a Cool Day Greets a New Trail

During my first trike ride on new section of CeMar Trail--headed south to Cedar Rapids from Marion.

It was a bit damp this morning, windy and cool. My phone’s weather app showed showers rumbling through midday, and that slightly changed my plans.

Today was a special day in Cedar Rapids—the CeMar Trail which links the heart of the city with its neighbor Marion was complete. The city of Marion has constructed the final leg of the trail, which was officially opened today.

I had planned to trike or bike to the ceremony and immediately experience the new trail after it opened. But there was that pesky rain forecast. Plus, my wife was willing to come to the event but not interested in riding a bike to it. So, we decided to drive to the street by Mount Calvary Cemetery, where the ceremonial ribbon cutting was planned.

New trail section is not flat, but not hilly, either.

As it turned out, I could have ridden. But I don’t mind not riding, for the experience was more pleasant with the company of my wife. Anyway, it was a pretty typical ceremony of its type, with both city’s mayors and city managers speaking, and ridiculously huge scissors then used to cut a handheld ribbon.

I’ve been looking forward to this trail opening. I often ride to central Cedar Rapids. My home in Northeast Cedar Rapids, however, wasn’t conveniently located by any trail that leads to where I want to go. The opening of this trail dramatically changes that and provides me with a new route whenever I want to ride to the middle of Cedar Rapids.

While it benefits me personally, I think it’s a nice feature for both cities, too. I think Nick AbouAssaly, mayor of Marion, pointed out a key reality.

“Good jobs and good, affordable, low-cost living are not enough,” he said. “We need more, we need to invest in the curb appeal of our communities.”

Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly

Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell

Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz

Marion City Manager Ryan Waller

Does the new trail have “curb appeal?” After the ceremony, my wife and I drove home. I ate a sandwich as she headed off to the gym, and then I got on my trike to ride to the new trail.

It was about 1:30 in the afternoon when I set out. My weather app called for rain around 2:30, so I was gambling a bit. As it turned out, while it got a bit damp and I felt a few drops, the rain never materialized, which I appreciate. Anyway, it was slightly confusing approaching the new trail by riding the Boyson Trail and the Krumholtz trails—the signs warning that the trail was closed are still in place.

They were not accurate. When I approached the end of the Krumholtz Trail, the barrier was down, the trail open. I suspect it may be intermittently closed still—it looked to me like there is some finishing landscaping as yet undone—but today the way was clear. I reached the T intersection where the Krumholtz Trail runs into the CeMar Trail, and I turned right, south, towards Cedar Rapids.

This couple were the first trail users I saw after the ribbon cutting. And below, bikers start to roll on the trail.

The trail runs under Highway 100 and winds and meanders a bit along Indian Creek. It’s not a very direct trail, but it’s also not long and is located in a very pretty creek valley, the beauty only somewhat muted by the many “No Trespassing, Violators will be Prosecuted” signs plastered along the trail by nearby landowners to cheerily greet trail users.

Well, landowners, there’s nothing along the trail to draw a biker or triker away from their route, so I doubt strangers tramping through your fallow bottomlands will be much of an issue, but thanks for the reminder of the covetous nature of the bipedal apes who delude themselves that they own parts of this shared planet.

Anyway, whatever. That minor discordant note didn’t significantly reduce my good spirits. I like and have frequently ridden the parts of this trail that had been previously open, but this final stretch is full of “curb appeal.”

It was cool, windy and a little damp. It was still a nice ride. I saw many walkers and bikers as I rolled around the curves and up and down the rises in this short trail stretch, and I encourage you, if you’re in this area, to give it a try. It’s very much worth it.

My trike ride totalled 11.2 miles. The new trail was just a portion of it—I paid attention to my bike app, and when I was returning home I checked my totals—I had ridden 5.99 miles before starting the return on the new trail segment. When I got to the end where the previous trail is, I was at 7.32 miles—so the whole new trail was only 1.53 miles. Not huge distance for a trail segment that will have such a big impact on my riding and on the community where I live.