In Which I Can Only Say of Sac and Fox Trail: WTF*

*Wow—Trail’s Fantastic!

It was warm and I had already ridden a slow mountain bike about 15 miles. I was tired and paused at a picnic table at the south edge of the Sac and Fox Trail.

But I felt pretty good. The day was not hot, the stubborn seat on the mountain bike, despite my breaking the latch that tightens it (in my attempt to raise the seat and tighten it) was staying up. I knew I was riding a bit slower than I would on my hybrid bike and probably considerably slower than on my road bike, but I was on the Fancy Beast for a reason.

It was Sac and Fox day—the first time in 2018 that I decided to try this trail.

Mountain bike parked at south end of Sac and Fox, I'm taking a break before hitting the trail.

I have a mixed history with this trial. On my old hybrid bike, Francis, I used to think of it as “flat tyre trail,” because it seemed that I would always get a flat tyre when I rode the trail. Once, I rode with Jon when he was riding a road bike—which is quite a challenge.

The Sac and Fox Trail Is not a road bike trail. So, today I chose the Fancy Beast for my ride.

By Cedar Lake--train seen on my bike ride to the Sac and Fox.

And I am glad that I did. The trail in about 7 miles long, and maybe 2 ½ miles in or so, a tractor of sorts, or small bulldozer, approached coming the other way.

The worker hailed me down and warned me that the trail had washed out near the railroad bridge.

“Can you get through on a mountain bike?” I asked. He said sure, he just wanted to give me a heads up so I would watch for the washout.

“I’m going to get some material to repair it,” he said. Then he asked if I had observed any places needing repair on my ride from the south end.

I assured him that, while there are some wet and soft places, there were no washouts.

We parted ways, he to continue going wherever he was going to get trail repair materials, me headed along the trail towards the washout.

When I go there, it was honestly not much—just basically a bump or low spot, so I slowed a bit as I went over it, and then turned, as the trail does, where Indian Creek runs into the Cedar River.

Just past the rail bridge, there is a little side trial that leads to a boardwalk in a swampy area. There are some interesting signs there, so I decided to go there. The boardwalk ended after a time, but there was a grassy trail. And I was on a mountain bike, so what the heck? I continued.

Eventually, the trail looped to a road where the new Indian Creek Nature Center building was visible on the opposite side. At the road, I turned back.

Monarch on milkweed seen on Sac and Fox Trail.

I know my speed on this ride was slow overall, and I’m sure that the several miles I spent on this side trail slowed it even more—one must go carefully on a primitive grassy trail. I had also practically bathed in Bug Soother before the ride, and as buggy and gnatty as it was on this trail, I was glad I had.

The Sac and Fox Trail is still a primitive trail, but the encounter I had with Mr. Trail Fixer seemed a good omen, somehow. While still soft in spots and rather rough gravel in others, the trail seemed in much better shape than I was used to. In particular, while there were a few damp, muddy places, there were no hidden sand traps, as in the past. And while there is a rough gravel area, it’s rather packed gravel, not loose, as it was in the past.

I don’t know for sure, but it seemed to me today that whoever maintains this trail is paying more attention and doing a better job than I’ve seen before—so thanks, unseen powers that maintain the Sac and Fox.

Or maybe seen—guy on tractor?

Anyway, while it was warm, it was not too hot, and while it was humid and misty under the trees, it was not really wet.

I was snapping pictures as I went. More of my images here. I took the good camera on this trail inspecting ride, and saw quite a bit. Flowers are in bloom, wildlife is abundant, and even if I missed that big pretty yellow butterfly that got away before I could make its image, I did see a monarch who posed for me twice, which I appreciate.

Sac and Fox—I hope to visit you again soon. No flat tyres on my mountain bike, and lots of fond memories. If you go on this trail, I would say use at least a hybrid bike, and a mountain bike is a good move. And remember—bathe in Bug Soother.

But it’s a wonderful trail. Wow—Trail’s Fantastic.

Deer near trail.

At the city park at the north end of the trial, there’s a frog statue that someone decorates. Today, Mr. Frog was wearing graduation attire. I snapped some selfies with it, and considered my next move. Originally, I had planned to ride back the way I came, but I was tired, the day was getting hot, and I decided on a bolder plan.

I headed north on East Post Road. Which is a very busy street. Fortunately, for much of it there is a paved half shoulder, so I was not in the way of traffic. When that shoulder gave out, there was a sandy shoulder, which luckily I could ride on with my mountain bike.

I got back to Marion and rode over to Menard's to catch the trail leading to the Boyson Trail and home.

I had left home a bit after 8, and returned by 12:30. It was a 30-mile ride, done in 4 hours, which is pretty slow, but not quite as slow as it seems. I had stopped for many pictures and had ridden particularly slowly on the side trail with the boardwalk. And the Sac and Fox is not a quick ride anyway—while I can go more than 10 mph on pavement on the Fancy Beast, I’m sure I was riding more slowly on the gravel-dirt-crushed limestone of this trail as it winds along the creek and river.

It was not the longest training ride of the summer so far, but I think it was the best.

Frog statue at trail's end, with his graduation outfit.