In Which I Top 50 and Visit a Serpent

Two June 3 views of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. Above, looking south from where my bike is parked at a coffee shop in Urbana. Below, riding north on the new pavement a bit north of Center Point.

As I recently reported, Iowa is at its best in June, and I’ve enjoyed recent rides. But I had not yet had time for a true summer ride.

I’m happy to report that on June 3, I both had the time and the weather was even more gorgeous than the day before. I headed out around 11 a.m., and decided to take the whole afternoon on a leisurely ride north. I was committed to going as far as Center Point, 13 miles north on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail (and thus about 16 to 17 miles from my house)—but I knew the trail has been paved for an additional few miles to the village of Urbana (a tiny town whose name always amuses me—it’s as if Metropolis were an Iowa village).

I took the hybrid bike, partly because it has the new bag on it and I could pack a lunch and stow my big camera without having to wear a camera bag. It’s slower than the road bike, but I didn’t mind.

There was a headwind blowing, but it wasn’t too bad. By the time I got to the first stop 7 miles north on the trail—Lafayette—I was tired enough to stop and eat a banana. Then I got to Center Point. It was round 1 p.m.—and would I push on to Urbana? I ate a bag of nuts and evaluated how I was feeling.

Bike parked at Center Point depot, the traditional water-restroom-rest stop on this part of the trail.

I must have felt pretty good. I continued on the trail. The new blacktop north of Center Point is a dream to ride on compared to the limestone trail that was there before. I zoomed under Interstate 380 and reached the quiet miles between that and Urbana. The headwind grew stiffer and I slowed down—but comforted myself with the thought that I would be able to turn around and the wind would then be my friend.

At Center Point, another biker I chatted with had mentioned that there was a new coffee shop by the trail in Urbana. I was pretty worn by the time I go to the town, and decided caffeine would be good. I pushed on past the park that is my usual stop, and near City Hall, off to my left, there it was. It looks like a modest apartment building, and maybe that’s what the upper floors are, but there was a sign for a coffee shop, plus bike racks and outdoor seating.

I went inside. Jams is a bit eclectic. It features coffee, smoothies, pastries and quick breads (it seems mostly a coffee shop and bakery), plus ice cream and a fairly extensive selection of craft beers.

A combination coffee shop—ice cream parlor—biker beer stop. Interesting.

The offer a Ruthie, and I was sorely tempted, but I needed coffee more than beer, so I purchased a medium brew and a pastry and sat outside and enjoyed the day and the treat.

Cate, I know you went farther north than this, did you stop at the coffee shop?

The pastry and coffee that perked me up on the ride.

New stop in Urbana. "Breezer?" Is that a rider on a windy day?

After a 15-to-20-minute break, I headed back. I was tired, I had already ridden 23 miles or so, but on the ride home I started to zip along. Wind will do that, and as I hoped, what had been a challenge on the way out was more of a help on the way home.

I stopped again at Center Point and ate the lunch I had packed. Then it was time for the ride home. But before I went far, I noticed a snake on the trail. As an Iowa gardener, I always consider snakes to be friendly souls. As I’ve noted before, if an Iowa gardener had written Genesis, Satan would have been a bunny. Although there are a few rattlesnakes in the state, for the most part, almost any Iowa snake you encounter eats bugs or rodents and is harmless to you. A friendly soul.

It was laying still on the trail, and I was worried it had been killed by being run over by a bike. But no, when I started to make images of it, it started to slither away. It had just been basking on the trail (a risky life choice, but it’s a snake, not a scholar).

I'm not tired of all these snakes on a trail.

Portrait of a reptile. What kind of snake is this?

Medium shot.

I was feeling pretty worn, particularly in the part that intersects with the bike seat, as I approached the south end of the trail. But I realized that my ride would be 46 to 47 miles, and that felt just wrong. So to add some distance, I circled the nearby park on the side trail in Robins, but was still only at about 43 miles when I got to Hiawatha—my house was about 4 miles away. And 47 would just not do. So I continued south, rode through Noelridge Park, and looped up and down the Lindale Trail, just to get my final mile.

And I made it. Over 50 miles. I anticipated I would have leg cramps Friday night, but fortunately, no. A sore sitter is the only real aftermath. Another pretty June ride, and the first 50-plus ride of the summer.