In Which Raindrops Fall as I Ride Sac & Fox

Frog statue in park at north end of Sac and Fox Trail. Someone in the neighborhood changes its outfit to suit the season. Right now, it's the Easter frog.

Rain was in the forecast, but not for this morning, so I decided, of course, that Saturday is all right for biking, get a little action here.

I had not been to the Prairie Park Fishery nor the Sac & Fox Trail, and, although I prefer to have the mountain bike for the S&F, I was just in the mood. I still wanted the widest possible tyres, so I chose the hybrid bike over the road bike for today's ride, and I am glad I did.

On the way, I stopped by MMU. A librarian, Robyn Clark-Bridge, maintains gardens by Busse Library, and I was hoping some of the spring bulbs she planted there would be blooming. I came onto campus by Warde Hall, and shot some images of the flowers near there and then shot some more images in the Grotto of Sorrows.

Grotto of Sorrows, Mount Mercy University, as I pause my bike ride to take images of flowers, I am being hunted.

Robyn's Garden, MMU library. Bulbs planted last fall in bloom.

Bicycle parked near MMU library.

Messing around at MMU Grotto--biker fashion show. My first ride this year with my summer gloves on.

Bike fashion. RAGBRAI shirt, bandana that I pulled up in crowded areas.

Then it was off to cross campus to the library. Robyn’s Garden did not disappoint, with daffodils blooming in robust yellow spring glory.

I then headed from campus over to the Cedar River Trail. It was fairly busy near Cedar Lake, which despite the grey skies was not a surprise.

Fortunately, I was socially distant when riding through downtown. Past the federal courthouse, there was a sign that part of the trail was closed. And when I got to 12th Street, the trail was closed as advertised, although in contrast with Hiawatha, the city of Cedar Rapids had a clearly marked detour.

Goose at Cedar Lake.

Passing through downtown, spring flowers near Greene Square.

Trail is closed, but Cedar Rapids has a detour set up. Hiawatha? It's the same dang trail ...

 

I wasn’t going to cross the Bridge of Lion at 12th Street anyway. Instead of the detour, I rode along the trail atop the flood control levee to the site where a future biking bridge is planned.


From there, I headed north to Otis Road. It’s a popular road with bikers which goes along the Cedar River. There was a fair amount of traffic, and I wondered if they were going where I was going.

Outlook on levee trail, looking back to Cedar River Trail and closed Bridge of Lions.

Levee trail.

Ruined rail bridge, they plan to take it out and use foundation to build new biking-walking bridge.

Another view of bridge.

The Prairie Park Fishery is a city park with a trail around a small lake adjacent to the Cedar River. I rode halfway around the lake, and at the east end, encountered a small side trail that leads to the Sac & Fox Trail.

The Cedar River Trail, city streets and the Prairie Park Fishery were all paved. The Sac and Fox, in contrast, is limestone, and sometimes a bit treacherous. Several years ago, my nickname for the Sac & Fox was “flat tyre trail,” because every time I rode my hybrid bike on it, I got a flat tyre. That was a previous bike, and for some reason my current hybrid, while not as good as my mountain bike, can handle the trail.

My biggest worry, because the trail is very rutted, is that I might bust a spoke, but I was lucky.

The parking lot at the Prairie Park Fishery had been fairly full. I encountered plenty of walkers, runners, skaters on that trail, and had my face bandana deployed.

Otis Road on way to Prairie Park Fishery. Some traffic.

No siren sounded, which is good since I don't have a radio on my bike.

Milkweed at Prairie Park Fishery.

Trail at Prairie Park Fishery.

Busy parking lot at Prairie Park Fishery.

Lake and Trail at Prairie Park Fishery.

As I rode up to the Sac & Fox Trail, a sign said it was closed due to flooding. Well, shoot. But a jogger was leaving the trial as I rode up, and I asked him. He said he had just traversed the whole trail, and there was no closing or flooding.

There had been, in the past. The first third or so the trail parallels the Cedar River. Where Indian Creek runs into the river, the trail turns to parallel the creek.

Along the way, I passed a rather fast runner, wearing Cedar Rapids Washington Track clothes.

I paused now and then to shoot images, and the runner would pass me. And then I would pass him.

As I neared the north end of the trail, 7 miles after it began, sprinkles started. I stopped at the end of the trail to quickly eat some nuts and drink some water, and the runner finished the trail. From a safe distance, we chatted, and  he wished me luck. The rain was now coming down.

Street bridge along Sac & Fox Trail.

No flooding, as it turned out.

Sac & Fox Trail, a bit rough for hybrid bike.

Along the Cedar River on trail.

Some traffic up ahead. Much of this trail will be shady when the trees leaf out.

Low point of trail, near where Indian Creek runs into Cedar River. There has been some washing out here, but there is still a ride-able path.

Rail line crossed trail on a bridge--train going by. At intersection of Indian Creek and Cedar River.

Mouth of Indian Creek flowing into Cedar River.

Same train.

It's not the best riding, but Sac & Fox is pretty and I usually visit it several times a year. Open areas have lots of wildflowers in summers, great place to see birds and butterflies.

Sac & Fox crossed Indian Creek several times on bridges like this.

Open area of trail.

Closest proximity to creek.

Same spot, looking other way at Indian Creek.

My route home was along Cottage Grove Avenue Southeast, a 35 mph road that isn’t ideal for biking and can be busy, but traffic was fairly light.

The biggest issue was the hill. Cottage Grove has one of the most daunting hills in Cedar Rapids, which I sometimes have climbed on hot summer days when I’ve been to the trail.

The only thing a bit more challenging that ascending said hill on a hot day is to ascend said hill as a chilly spring rain fell.

Decorations in yard at Cottage Grove Road.

 

Not sure you can see it well--in my rear view mirror, the Cottage Grove Road hill one of the highest in Cedar Rapids.

Flowers on fruit tree by the street, seen as I ride home. I'm about 3 miles out, getting quite wet but enjoying spring.

 

Up, I went. Honestly, it was actually one of the easier climbs I’ve had on this route, despite wet pavement. I guess there is something to be said for cool.

The rain never became heavy, but I was several miles from home and got rather soaked before getting there.

Despite the damp, the almost 25-mile ride was a nice way to spend a good chunk of Saturday.

24.9 miles, over 900 feet of climb. Respectable ride for an old man.

In Which I Find the Fancy Feline and Go Astray

Dandelions looking dandy beside a the street in Hiawatha as I cycle towards the Cedar River Trail.

The afternoon ride today was cool, but comfortable. It was in the upper 40s with high thin clouds giving the sky a milky look, but, despite a breeze, it wasn’t too cold.

Yesterday, I was in winter wear. Today I had on a warm sweatshirt. My hands got a bit chilled, but I was fine.

Not dandelions bloom in Hiawatha.

New Signs as Cedar River Trail becomes Cedar Valley Nature Trail as you cross Boyson Road in Hiawatha.

Trail traffic in Hiawatha near Boyson Road.

I rode over to Tower Terrace Road and got off the bike for a few minutes. Self-portrait in bike mirror at turn around point. Does this vest make my huge tummy look large?

My plan was to head over to the Cedar River Trial in Hiawatha, ride south to Cedar Lake and maybe check out the Mount Mercy University campus on the way home.

It was not to be. On the early part of the ride, I photographed some dandelions, those controversial fancy felines that we fight in our lawns and yet enjoy so much. It marks yet another milestone into “real” spring, when the dandelions bloom.

But when I started riding south in Hiawatha, I came to a blockage. A road project near the library has the trial closed. The Cedar River Trail is a pretty major bikeway through the Cedar Rapids metro area, linking CR, Hiawatha and Robins—one would think some signs and a detour might be in order rather than: “Surprise! Bikeway blocked.”

By the library in Hiawatha, end of the southward journey. Can't set up a detour, Hiawatha?

Oh well. Of course, I could just go out into the street, but this is a main drag in Hiawatha and even in the pandemic era, late afternoon traffic was pretty heavy. I toyed with the idea of backtracking and taking a different route to the Cedar River Trail south of Hiawatha, but in the end, I just decided to head north to the city park in Robins.

It was a quick ride, and, despite the unplanned route, I enjoyed early spring. And the fancy felines. After computer summary, an informative video on dandelions, which was one of my mother's favorite flowers.

In Which Cold Air Brings Pretty Skies

East end of Lowe Park Trail by art museum, admiring sun setting in the west. Two additional sky images from the east end of the trail.

I’m a year-round biker in Iowa. So today, as April sometimes does, when the weather and temperature suddenly hearken to the previous season rather than the next, it didn’t keep me indoors.

After the tasks of the day were done, it was getting past 6 in the evening. And the wind had been blowing all day—30 mph from the north with gusts in the 40s.

While the wind went from the 30s to the 40s, the termperature started in the 40s and slowly went down from there. Clouds rolled in midday, and sprinkles were followed by white flakes. The rain and snow moved out fairly quickly and the wind picked up.

But, what the heck. Late in the day, the wind settled a bit—it was still breezy and cool, but I’m pretty big and hard to blow over.

Flowering tree by Lowe Park trail.

Same tree.

New paved side trail--leads to a gravel trail that goes to middle school, and since I was on road bike I turned back to parking lot to return to main trail.

It was in the upper 30s with a wind chill in the upper 20s. As winter biking goes, that’s not bad—it doesn’t even call for the full winter outfit. I did wear the jacket, gloves, and hood—but in colder weather, wear insulated boots, long underwear and another shirt layer. Today, just the jacket, hood and gloves were enough extra winter wear.

Despite the breeze, it was a very nice ride. The sky was unsettled, with rain cascading down from some clouds on the horizon, although where I rode, it stayed dry.

The streets were pretty quiet. I rode along the wide sidewalk of Boyson Road, to Geode/Third Street, heading up to Tower Terrace Road. At the pond on Irish Drive, I spied an egret, which took flight when I paused to make an image of it.

Egret seen on Irish Drive pond.

Ducks on pond--the one image in the set with no egrets.

The trail at Lowe Park was quiet, too. I passed one jogger, but otherwise had the place to myself. Maybe cold winds will do that—make social distancing easy.

I paused at midpoint to turn on all my lights. On the way home, I found myself stopping often to record the sky. I was hoping the unsettled clouds would produce a rainbow, with the low sun passing through some raindrops.

I never saw one, but can’t stay too disappointed. Despite the chill, it was the kind of pretty evening bike ride that reminds me why biking year-round in Iowa is worth it.

Riding west from east end of trail--taking the side trail behind the art museum in Lowe Park. Figure of buffalo and followers, who to me don't look like they are hunting buffalo, but rather gathering fertilizer.

 

Sunset seen in suburban neighborhood just south of Lowe Park trail.

Tower Terrace Road looking comely.

Boyson Road, about a mile from home.

View from my bike at east end of Lowe Park, looking west.

Another look from east end of Lowe Park.

West end of Lowe Park Trail, looking over playground at Echo Hill School. Sun shines through clouds.

Computer summary of ride.