The 30th Shrunken Nut Ride, the Toughest 10 miles of Cycling

 

Earling, Iowa, sunny and almost above freezing.  It has been a long cold week.

Been waiting to do this one for years.  Weather in February can be challenging, and I am weak.  This year the conditions were perfect.  Highs expected to reach 30°F, gentle southernly breeze bring in warm air.  Sunny.  After a week of hibernating inside from sub-0°F temperatures it was time to go outside and play.  No excuses this time.  The ride was supposed to be held last week but because of recent snow it was postponed preventing snowplows from hitting bicycles and vice-versa.  It was cold as a polar bear's ass anyway and the wind was howling.  Good call.  Load up the bikes and head to Shelby County.

Billed as the "toughest 10 miles of cycling" the route is flat as it follows Mosquito Creek along 191.  Take another road and hills come into play.

We have ridden in this county before.  A few years back on a return from cycling in Omaha, we stopped in Shelby, IA, and rode the Rock Island Old Stone Arch Trail.  Also, Ragbrai seems to have taken us through there multiple times, Harlan seems to be one of the most used overnights and Defiance rings a bell as a pass-through town.

Target acquired!  Google Maps had us exploring hidden byways.

Wonderful winter landscape of nothingness.

Mary and I love attending rides in other parts of the state.  We get to make new friends and ride in new places.  The Fools Ride along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail comes to mind.  Get out of town.  This one is almost in Nebraska.  People from Omaha attended.  Stacy and Natalie from Sac City also joined.  Networking.

We met up at PodunK Bar & Grill in Panama.  A hearty breakfast is available.  Ample parking on the street.  Most of us unloaded our bicycles before entering the establishment. We left after 12 pm.  Threw a leg over the bike and rode down Main St to Iowa Highway 191 and turned north.  This highway was lightly traveled by automobiles but the bumps between concrete sections are a tad pronounced.  The shoulder, though level, was packed with ice and snow.  AADT (Average Annual daily Traffic) is between 701 and 1500 according to my official Iowa map.  That is the second lowest paved road in the state.  

2 and a half miles later we stopped at "the bridge" on Fir Rd for a few of the ever popular "bridge beers."  I brought a cooler with 9 left over from Christmas Easy Eddys from Big Grove and a 4 pack of Stiegl Radlers.  Yes, I drink beer very slow at home.  Everyone packed out what they packed in.  Some people were sharing liquor and liquor recipes.  Fireball, schnapps, something like Rumchata ect.  Winter in Iowa.

The gathering on the bridge.  It was a tough 2.5 flat miles with a tailwind!

Structures in the snow viewed from the bridge.

Mosquito Creek.  Some of the riders on fatbikes considered riding the creek back to Panama.

On the road again for another 2 and half miles the town of Earling comes into view with St Joseph's Church dominating the view atop of a hill.  Someone said that there is a hill around here that one can view 5 or so different churches from the area.  Hang a right into town and avoid a hill and stop at the Freedom Rock.  One in every Iowa county.  Our destination is Troy's Bar & Grill and Farmhand Brewing Co.  I picked the brewpub first.  So little liver, so little time.  As we were getting off the street to park our bikes a family in their best clothes exited a building across the street.  I do not know if they attended a funeral or wedding, but it was a special occasion.  A small boy, perhaps 5 years old, bolted up the sidewalk shouting, "the first one to get to the truck is the winner!"  My ears heard "the first one past the drunk is the winner!"  How did he know??  Wait, I'm only 4 beers into this!!!!

St Joseph Catholic Church

John Deere green...

This is the way, step inside!

Marty was there representing Team Checker

Farmhand's taps and food specials.

Decision time!  Started with an IPA and then a Vienna Lager!  Hard to find a Vienna Lager so I do not pass them up when available.  We split an order of street tacos, too.  Excellent salsa!  Distilled goods from nearby Lonely Oak Distillery were also available but I needed to stay sober.  Lonely Oak was closed for a private party.  It is an off-route destination on this ride but with the Sun and warm air melting the tundra it would have been a muddy and hilly adventure there.  Things started getting a bit crazy as if a demon possessed someone.  But we all laughed.  That is all I will say about it.  I also admit that we failed to go to Troy's Bar & Grill.  So little liver, so little time...

Speaking of the devil and evil spirits that prowl around the world seeking the ruin of souls, Earling is famous for an exorcism back in the 1920s.  I recall Msgr. Beeson giving a talk on this event.  Serious event that took months to resolve.  Stories about a young girl pushing a wheelbarrow at superhuman speed in a torrential downpour, a car driving by a priest suddenly flung off a bridge and hanging on the side.  Basis for the Exorcist.  Read more about this Anna Ecklund Exorcism

Such a fresh and clean taste.  Not bitter.  Perfection in a can.  John says it is better from the tap.  Ironically, he was drinking Easy Eddy.

Mary and I had the bridge to ourselves for a moment.

Gotta keep in shape...

One of several fatties on this ride.

We stopped at the bridge on the way back.  Alone at first except for a large orange tailless cat that wanted to cross the road but interrupted several times by a truck or other bicyclists.  Here I enjoyed the best beer I have consumed in a long, long time.  Fairy Nectar from Kros Strain in Omaha.   John gave a can to me outside Farmhand.  Unfortunately for him, he parked his bike on the south wall of the building and melting snow and ice dripped on his saddle from the sun's love.  Lesson noted.  1 more Easy Eddy for the road.

The Bent Rim

Let's sit around the front end of a C1.

Mary and your humble narrator.

I forgot what he was talking about but it seemed funny at the time.

Patrick Stressman, host of the ride.

2 and a half miles back to Panama finished the riding portion of the ride.  Load the bikes up in the vehicle and then walk to the old gas station that now is a private brewpub owned by Dean Kloewer, co-owner and president of Panama Transfer trucking company.  20 beers on tap and none of it for sale.  Instead, donations are taken for brew.  The money is used for the development of Shelby County Trails.  A worthy purpose and I pitched in a few greenbacks for cause.

Dean, Mary and I.  Not the wasabi snacks in front of me.  HOT!!  Thank you Stacy Bellcock for the photo.

I really enjoyed this ride and would certainly do it again.  Toughest 10 miles?  Hahahaha!!!  The Most Fun for 10 miles, now that is the truth.  Something to look forward to next year.  Must invite friends.  Thank you Patrick!

The Nightmare Before Ragbrai

 

Twas the night before Ragbrai when all through the overnight

Not a freewheel was spinning, not even a cassette.

All cyclists were sleeping in makeshift beds, visions of paved roads in their heads.

That is all I have.  This post is about a real nightmare I experienced.  This is not my attempt to rip off a renown and beloved Christmas poem.  I lack the creativity and patience for that.

This bottle of vino was purchased by me when Mary's Heroes, my bicycle team, rode out west.  There is a winery near Elk Horn, IA.  A minister is the son in-law of the owner.  He took us upstairs and sang Brown Sugar with guitar and then apologized for the awful racist lyrics.  Good times!  Down the road is the Danish Museum where I purchased a bottle of Viking Blood, a STRONG mead.

A few nights ago...

My dreams usually make little sense.  I'm in a suit at some meeting and spend most of the time in the dream searching for where I parked my car or bicycle, walking through buildings and once scaled down a driveway retaining wall passing by three Pugs on a ledge.  Nonsense.  Or they are often involving a job I had 20 years ago but with current colleagues in a stressful situation. Sometimes I'm with my dead parents.  Dad drove the Ragbrai bus in one.  And yet others.  I have come to believe that this REM activity is my brain trying to wake up so I can empty my bladder and let the dog out for her bodily relief.

If 1989 was a sweet red...This one is produced a few miles from my house just off the bike trail.

So, it was.  A rare dream about riding a bicycle on some sort of massive cycling event such as The Ragbrai.  The night before the ride during the dream, I dreamt that we partied like in was 1989.  If you did not party in 1989, let it be known that it was the Summer of Love for my generation.  No details in my dream I just knew we were all lit as the kids say.

Got up and threw a leg over my touring bike and headed out.  Rode by myself.  I guess I was late.  5 miles into it at some generic country intersection at the top of a hill was a friend of mine off his bike and drinking a bottle of red wine.  So I stopped, pulled out my chair and produced my own bottle of red wine and drank with him.  This friend was a composite character, not anyone I knew from the Awake World.  Bottles empty, we rolled on.

Another Iowa wine.  I once got very ill on my friend's homemade Catawba.  Damn that was delicious!  But after overindulging on it post beer consumption, we were outside in the rain.  While he was wondering why he could not get his cigar lit, rain, I was making a birdfeeder.

5 miles later we stopped at a farmhouse belonging to the parents of an acquaintance of his.  Well, 7 hours later it was after 7pm.  Normally not an issue.  But it was an 81-mile day.  Just then I discovered that I left most of my stuff back at the overnight.  Important items were money and medication.  SHIT!!!!!  81 miles plus 10 back and another 10 to get to the farmhouse it was quickly becoming a century day.  7 pm.  Panic set in.  I guess my sleeping heart rate was increasing.

What to do???  As much as I begged, no one would give me a ride back to the overnight.  Someone gave me some cash and said good luck.  So, I went to the barn where I parked my bike and said thank you and farewell while riding past a shiny aluminum Citroen.  Yeah, weird, classic strange French car in an Iowa barn.  Polished Element 13.  My dreams are like that.

I woke up.  Sat at the edge of the bed and processed that thought vomit. WTF was that?  I was angry and upset.  Why is this bothering me so much?  It is not real.  Just a dream, Ché, just a dream.  Libby scratching at the door.  Looked at the clock, 4 am, my usual time.  Take the BP meds now.  Beat the alarm.  Time to get coffee brewing and thank the Lord that I was safe at home.

Smokey Row to Smokey Row: A Coffee Ride

 

We were supposed to be in Minneapolis.  We were supposed to see OMD (Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark) at First Avenue.  We were supposed to be against the rail up against the stage waiting for that short server, God bless her, wading through the crowd with a tray of PBRs as we danced to History of the Modern and singing about the end of the Universe.  Then load up on screw top white Monsters, a large coffee and get on 35 South and drive the 4 hours back to Des Moines in the pitch black darkness of Minnestoa and Iowa, stopping at the Kum & Go at Diamond Jo's Casino just to get a reload on coffee, a snack and to see the blue haired woman who is just a trip at 2 am.  God bless her, too.  Mary's request for the day off was granted.  I do not work on Fridays.  But due to an illness in the band the gig has been postponed until June of 2025.  What to do?

Mary suggested that we do the Pleasantville, IA, to Pella Smokey Row Coffee Ride.  This is something we created.  Load up the vehicle with our bikes and drive to Pleasantville, unload and ride to the Smokey Row Coffee Shop in Pella, IA, drink a coffee and then ride back and have another coffee in Pleasantville at their Smokey Row.  We have done this twice before although the last time ended in a bloody mess.  Why not?  I need to ride and riding in Des Moines in 2024 has been nothing but closed trails, roads and "easy" pain in the ass "work arounds."

The SRtSR ride is a mix of county highways and trails, all of which is paved.  Road bike action!  Park in front of the Checkerboard Cafe in Pleasantville and head east to County Highway G40.  9 miles later turn north on Highway 14, cross the mile long bridge, we measured it, and turn east again on G28 and climb to Cordova State Park, 12.5 miles from the start.  At last, a trail, the Volksweg Trail that rolls along the north edge of Lake Red Rock and ends in Pella.  Google Maps has this as a 52 mile trip.

We left our house about 9 am to give the sun a chance to warm things up.  It was in the 50s and the high was forecasted to reach 68° F.  We decided that light long sleeve jerseys would be best.  Let the legs be uncovered and no jacket or gloves.  The wind was in the low teens from the east northeast.  Tailwind for the return.  Quick run to the drive thru at McDonald's for breakfast sandwiches and a drink.  Of course, needed gas for the Pilot.  Someone's Jeep Grand Cherokee died in a turn lane causing all sorts of issues delayed us a bit more.  Eventually, we got to Pleasantville and parked on the main drag on the same side of the Smokey Row, the Checkerboard Cafe was across the street.  Unload and roll.  

Finding the way out of town is easy enough.  Just head east and take the first right, go two blocks and take a left, G40.  This county highway is relatively flat with a few rollers.  There is an adequate shoulder marked with rumbles to ride on and give cagers more room to pass.  The surface of G40 is fairly smooth as is the shoulder.  There are spots of gravel washed up from the shoulder or gravel intersections that are easy to avoid.  It is harvest season so there were a lot of farmers out in the field.  Not much for grain trucks on the road, however.  But a good number of men in overalls and seed store caps driving pickup trucks on the road.  No issues.  This is why I use a mirror and ride without headphones, ear pods or a stereo.  I like to hear what is behind me.  I have 300,000 songs in my little brain and usually a tune is playing at all times so the need for audio equipment is unnecessary.

Action photo of Mile Long Bridge.  I miss real cameras.  I took better photos when riding with them. Believe it or not, there is enough room to ride a bike between the white line and the railing.  I've done it several times and I'll do it again.

G40 ends with a downhill to the stop sign.  This is where the ride goes on Highway 14 for 2 and a half miles.  A larger shoulder to ride on and more traffic.  The mile long bridge soon appears.  Google Maps labeled it as Mile Long Bridge as it crosses the Des Moines River.  Not much of a shoulder here but bicycles are very visible.  Be aware that there are divots that allow the rain to drain off.  Expansion joints cross the bridge at several locations.  They look worse than they feel.  It wasn't until the return trip that I got my arse off the saddle when rolling over them.  Should have done this from the start.  Hy Vee has several semi-trucks going up and down 14.  They are courteous and gave us wide berth.  After the bridge the shoulder returns.  Climb a bit and soon G28 appears, turn right and climb a bit and Cordova Park will be on the right.  That was at 12.5 miles.  Now the "safety" of the trail.

The new part of the trail has yet to show up on Google Maps.  Rest assured, it has been there for 5 or 6 years.  Smooth, windy and small hills.  The first mileage marker appears, Mile 13, IIRC.  When Robert's Creek parking lot and restrooms appear so does the trail on Google Maps.  It was here that we had a bad crash.  On the return I was contemplating the need to slow down for the curve near the restrooms, not that I was going super fast and WHAM!!! I was on the ground.  My front wheel must have been grabbed by the lower surface of the original trail and the higher surface of the new trail section.  As I lay there, I felt something and looked up and saw Mary's bike flying above me.  She ran into me after I crashed.  Those nanoseconds seem to take a lifetime.  We were scraped up and bleeding.  The chain of my LeMond got sucked between the BB and crank.  I had to straighten the front wheel to be proper with the bars, too.  We hurt.  Mary's head hit the ground, fortunately, she always wears a helmet.  I crashed on my side as usual.  Fixed the bikes and brushed ourselves off and rode the 14 miles or so back to Pleasantville.  We were too bloody to visit the Smokey Row, looking like we were part of the Pulp Fiction cast.  I thought about going back and spray painting that crack and donating a bench dedicated to this spot.  I think they resurfaced that spot and there is a bench there now.

The scene of the crash.  I almost could smell my blood.

From here the original surface of the Volksweg Trail is our home.  The trail enters and leaves canopy quite a bit.  Beautiful views of trees and the lake.  A few weeks from now the foliage will be at its peak.  Only one black walnut tree along the way.  There were plenty of leaves and insects on the ground.  We noted the color of the woolly caterpillars, to see if more of them were brown or black, to guess what winter would be like. More brown, mild winter, more black hard winter.  Click here for more info Weather Predication Accuracy of Woolly Bears  Be cautious on the bridges and the curvy wooden ones.  Some are shaded, full of leaves and still were wet from last night's rain.  Also be aware that there is a long stretch of shoulder to shoulder length cracks that make the ride uncomfortable unless you are riding fat tires or low pressure tires.  These really need to be repaired.

At times the Volksweg parallels G28

Two turkeys!  As close as I could get without startling them.  One was still there on the return trip.

After the cracks and playground, we entered a tunnel that took us under Highway T15 to the picnic area.  It was here that we left the trail, fearing that the trail would be closed because they are working on the dam, and took T15 to Idaho Drive and after about a mile or so we resumed riding on the Volksweg.  Just look for the gas station on top of the hill.  The trail took us all the way into Pella.   

This must be the place.  Smokey Row Coffee Shop, Pella, IA

Barely visible on the table, my iced coffee

The Orange Cone Plague has hit Pella and we detoured from the trail to get to downtown near the square to the Smokey Row.  No bicycle parking.  Tons of people on the sidewalks and cars in the streets.  It is a Friday during Banker's Hours, don't these people have jobs or school for the children.  I got bumped by a bag that some kid was carrying walking side by side with 4 of his family.  I thought to myself that the East Village would sacrifice their first and second born for such foot traffic.  What is going on?  The we looked at the square with it's replica windmill, Netherland's style, home coming event for Central Collage.  Sports related holiday!  I was glad the coffee shop was not busy.  I had a cold brew with oatmilk and Mary had an iced latte with a cookie.  She asked if we were going to eat.  I should have listened better.  Nope, caffeine is an appetite suppressant.  I should have thought of her.  Could explain her headache during the ride back.

After the consumption of caffeine we reverse the course.  Drivers were friendly as the endless parage of SUVs paused to let us cross the street at Central Campus and return to the trail.  The ride back was much faster as we now had a 10 mph tailwind.  I believe we were an hour shorter on the return.  Wind makes a difference.  Nothing to note except that the cracks seemed worse.  A roadie on a Felt, still in big ring, stopped with us at an intersection and we all bitched about the trail surface.

We stopped to use the restrooms at Robert's Creek.  No water available but I felt like I had enough.  Mary mentioned her headache and I remember that I had a baggie of Aleve in my backpack that I took to our South Dakota adventure, and I gave her the allotment.  Empty bladders for the last time and roll home.  Although no incidents on 14 or the mile long bridge I was happy to see the sign indicating the turn for Pleasantville 9 miles away.  I did a countdown.  More harvesting equipment and dust.  Glad I took my Claritin.  P-Ville did not appear until we were right on it.  Trees too tall Mary said.  Frustrating.  I did my best riding here.  Finally had some speed and I felt like my hill game on the rollers was fine.

History Lesson.  On G40 aka Stringtown Road

Very delish drink!  I could have drank a gallon.  Only one swallow left in my water bottle!!

We loaded the bikes up once we reached the car and then went into the coffee shop.  I was really in the mood for a gallon of Gatorade but settled for a caramel apple refresher with caffeine.  It was green and delicious.  And then once again the drive into the sun and home.  Mission accomplished 54 miles.

Further reading and better photos click THIS BLOG FROM 2020.  Same ride, better photos.

Season Changing Coffee Ride to Carlisle

Saturday September 14, 2024

And a wonderful morning it was!

Today's ride plan was simple.  Take the traditional route to Carlisle, IA, then hang a left on Highway 5 instead of the right on SE 45th.  This would allow us to get to E Pine Ave for some empty back country paved road and hill action that will lead us to the Easter Lake Spine Trail.  We did not plan to take that trail, instead we were going to push on to Indianola Ave and explore the sidepath there to see what it offered.  I had been viewing said sidepath since early July on my way to Avondale Vet Hospital with our new puppy, Libby.

Our traditional Carlisle route involves riding to Easter Lake north shore but instead of staying on the trail take a left at the stop sign on Evergreen and taking that past the Great Ape Trust and climb SE 45th and taking a left on Army Post/highway 5 for a quarter mile riding into the metropolis of Avon Lake as we curved our way into Carlisle on its north end.  Morning Glory Coffee was our destination.  Often we continue to the Summerset Trail and ride to Indianola, IA.  We have been riding this area for what seems like 20 years.  We enjoy the curves and the hills and quite honestly, the break from other cyclists.  Our house to the Summerset Trail is a jet over 12 miles.

Between Avon Lake and Carlisle, the corn is turning brown.  Summer is ending.

When soybeans turn yellow, better prep for winter, fellow. Along E Pine Ave

A few things I noted.  First, Summer is ending.  Corn and beans changing colours, from deep green to brown and tan and yellow.  The second thing is that traffic has increased in this area.  Every year more and more cars from the Highway 5 stretch to Carlisle.  We left at 9 am.  Probably hit that town by 10 am.  I never gave much thought about the trail from Easter Lake to Carlisle, deemed it unnecessary for us and too flat for a good work out.  But someday it will be completed and will offer a break from cars.

Morning Glory Coffee.  Drive through and pick-up window only but tables outside.  Gourd and PSL signage indicated that autumn is near.   IIRC, the car in the drive-thru ordered about 18 items.  I had a hot coffee.

Destination reached.  Mary had an iced latte and I had a large regular coffee with oat milk, I'm cutting back on fat so no more half and half.  As we sat outside, no indoor seating, I noticed that there were a lot of Ford Mustangs in this town.  Two dark red late models, a 1979 Indy Pace Car replica (no official Indy decals) with a perfect set of the famous Metric wheels, a 1966 notchback and a Mach-E which does not really count as a Mustang.  I was impressed most by the 79, its engine even smelt like 1979, oil and old engine smell.  Great sound, too.  Time to leave.  Same route back to Avon Lake with a stop at the park for restroom needs.

The restroom hut at North Park, Carlisle.  Had to make a stop to prevent an "accident."  Wasted time except for this photo.  But I left feeling more confident!  What a pretty shittar!

After Avon Lake, we turned south on SE 45th instead of north the way we came.  Then a right on E Pine Ave aka SE 72nd.  The plan was to take E Pine to Indianola Ave.  However, bright orange and white striped barricades gave us a better opportunity.  We stumbled upon the not officially opened trail to Carlisle otherwise known as the Karras Kaul Connecter, named after the founders of The Ragbrai.  Of course we took it!

E Pine Ave.  This home goes all out for Halloween.  This year, so far, Caitlin Clark and dog.  Last year there was a thousand times more skeletons. You know you are old when you look at these displays and wonder where they store all this crap after the season.

The surface is concrete.  There are many black walnut trees lining the trail.  There are hills and curves.  There are sheep and goats.  Not a fan of walnut trees but loved the challenge of elevation changes and curves.  Cut into the countryside it is scenic.  Shoulder work is complete, just need the seeded grass to emerge and grow.  A well thought out drainage, too.  No signage as of yesterday.

The final stretch to Carlisle.

Smile on my face while entering Carlisle.  I found it easier to take photos while riding when I used a real camera instead of a phone.  I may have to get a camera.

Nice curvy climb and descent!  Of note the shoulder work.

The trail goes all the way into Carlisle and merges into the Scotch Ridge Nature Park which already possesses a concrete trail.  This leads to the aquatic center and the Summerset Trail, 3 miles from Scotch Ridge NP, which ends 11 miles later in Indianola, IA.  There are a few steep hills.

First signage.  This is at the Scotch Ridge Nature Park.

At Scotch Ridge with distances back to Des Moines.

A nice area.  Wooded with at least one hidden lean-to off the trail.  A steep climb along the way as well as a nice bridge.  We encountered people walking on the trail.  On commented that she would not be able to climb the hill.

This is the climb in Scotch Ridge Nature Park.  For those that get winded, good news, there is a bench at the top.  Watch your speed on the way down, 40 mph is possible!

The only thing not finished other than signage is the underpass at Army Post Rd.  To get here, exit Easter Lake at its southeast corner.  This is the Easter Lake Spine Trail.  Right before Army Post Rd there will be a section of trail that veers east and goes to a tunnel underneath that road.  Currently, the area has been staked, gravel laid and one can see it from the Easter Lake Spine Trail and Army Post Rd.  Just a little more time...

From the Easter Lake Spine Trail south of Army Post Rd looking at construction.  Since July I have been taking Libby to Avondale Pet Hospital on Army Post and noticing the work here.  A new housing development is also under way here.

View from E Pine Ave showing the future connection of the trail to the completed portion.  After years of riding on the Easter Lake Spine Trail to its abrupt end on E Pine I wondered how they were going to bulldoze the trail to Carlisle.  This is a half mile or so from the ELST.

The arrow shows where the tunnel is located underneath Army Post Rd.  Credit goes to Mary for spotting it.

BUT those that do not fear a ride on a quiet backroad can cross Army Post Rd on the ELST and ride on to its fruition at E Pine Ave, hang a Louie and ride that road a half mile or so to where the Karras Kaul Connecter is already completed.  I have been riding this road for a few years and have had ZERO issues with traffic, which is light and residential.

Personal thoughts:  I was impressed.  Great surface, some challenge, too.  I love my traditional route, though, for its winding hills.  Trails are great for getting base miles in and building endurance, but we require hills to get in shape for our bicycle excursions/tours.  Although the new trail has a few steep hills, road hills are better because IMHO they are wider, usually allow for the building of momentum, lack sudden switchbacks and allow us to build speed without running into other cyclists.  Mary said this we need to make this a loop, both the new and traditional route.  Also this offers a new way to get to the Summerset Trail, Indianola, Milo, Lacona, Chariton, Ottumwa ect

NOTE: the never ending work on the Carl Voss Trail forces a detour.  We ride to MLK and take either the sidepath or lane to SE 15th and take that to Harriet (ARL) and cross the river on the narrow sidewalk on the bridge to reach the unmolested portion of the Voss trail.  It appears that the work on that trail is nearing completion as asphalt has been laid at SE 14th heading to SE 6th.  BUT we had to take the detour and on SE 6th, a street I would not have been on if the trail was open, I picked up a piece of glass because I was kind to a POS Buick Enclave and got out of the middle of lane.  I saw the pile of glass and tried to thread it but knew I was fooked.  Sure enough after arriving home and putzing around for a bit, when I placed my bike on its rack the rear, always the F'ing rear, it was flat and the troublemaker was visible.  Time to get my hands dirty.

Troublemaker circled! Despite this minor issue, I am glad I made it home without walking, less than a half mile from my house, and more importantly, the bastard is very visible for removal and peace of mind.