40oz On The 4th

The problem with a 40oz of beer is that it is a bit moreish.  After the bottle is dry you want another or more beer as quickly as possible.  We had to wait until 2 pm for Blazing Saddles to open.  I give them the prize for most patriotic decorations.  They really know how to decorate.  They also had someone grilling burgers and hot dogs.  Good thinking because we had not been eating.

Another successful 40oz On the 4th has rolled on by and it was a great time.  We had people join us from as far away as Sac City (2.5 hour drive) and Johnston (hey that bridge is out).  To switch the route up we rode to Indianola and back to enjoy some wonderful county roads and the Summerset Trail, a route that most of the participants have never ridden.

Thank you, Stacy, for the action shots!  Hope you don't mind me stealing them.  I make no $$ from this blog.

Sadly, the only picture of Mary who as usual is out front.

We started at 8 am on the Jackson St Bridge, the Green Bridge.  I know that is early but it clears the rest of the day for Independence Day celebrations and beats the heat.  The route took us through the Des Moines River Trail.  Be careful as it was a bit muddy in spots from recent flooding and the previous night's rainfall.  Once at the end, Cownie Ballpark and Soccer Complex we rode SE 22nd to Evergreen, big ringed it past Easter Lake and took a left at the stop sign to roll through the hills of E Watrous/SE Brooks/Evergreen area to the bottom where the Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative is located and then climber the one hill of the ride, SE 44th to catch a quarter mile of SE Army Post Rd as we entered Avon Lake and the back road into Carlisle.  From there we took the Summerset Trail all the way into Indianola and stopped at the trailhead for water and restrooms.  Reverse route on the way back with the exception of taking Hart Ave, the top of SE 45th hill, for the opportunity to roll through the Easter Lake Trail.

We missed the parade in Carlisle by mere minutes but there were a lot of people lining the street waiting for it.  We shouted "Happy Independence Day" and "Hello Carlisle" to them.  Had I been thinking I would have brought candy to throw out for the children.  Maybe next time on a tandem.  The trailhead is near the Casey's on Highway 5.

The Look Out.

The Summerset Trail is a nice paved 11 mile long trail albeit starting to show it's age of nearly 20 years especially nearly Carlisle itself.  There is a look out tower constructed as an Eagle Scout project 4 and a half miles into it overlooking the wetlands.  This was probably the first time I have ridden this trail and the shooting range at Banner was closed, holiday.  Chris Mayer suddenly recognized the area because of the mountain bike trails in Banner State Park.  The midpoint is Summerset itself with the road and steep hill toward Summerset Winery, my favorite winery in Iowa.  The terminus of the trail has a shaded picnic table area and water fountains and restrooms with flush toilets.

On the way back we stopped at the Git-n-Go at the intersection of Park Ave and SE 22nd, by the former Fareway, now a church.  A modest selection of 40s but at least they had them unlike at Casey's for last year's ride.  Casey's does not carry 40oz.  We had to drink two 25oz cans instead. We carried they a mile to the DSM River Trail where we enjoyed them on a shady bridge.

Captain 'Merica made his second appearance for this ride.

This man provided music and carried the 40ozs of 3 of us too lazy to haul our own.  He also carried out our empties.  He commented that his legs hurt because we did not stop for a beer break until we reached 40 miles.  Not quite used to such non-beer distances.  We made up for it at the end.

I needed this photo for a scavenger hunt I do on FB, Bicycle Ride & Seek.  A photo of a beard near my bicycle. His second 40oz on the 4th.

I was very honored that these two drove 2.5 hours for this ride.  Ulterior motive, purchase a pizza from Orlando's and take it home.  Sadly, Orlando's is closing at the end of the month.

The problem with 40ozers is that they are a bit moreish.  Seems like a lot of beer to drink but when they are finished we stared at each other exclaiming that more beer was needed STAT!  Some of us pulled out our phones and Googled "open bars July 4th."  We headed to Mullets but LD's was open so there we stopped.  And after a few rounds we rode to The Saddle.  And because that was not enough we headed to Sully's in West Des Moines to meet Stacy's brother Chris and Craig and Kim.  I think we all ended up with over 60 miles.  Mary and I had 63.

Thank you , John Dowd, for the photo as that could very well be my Bud Heavy in there as I left it to Jon to schelp it.  LD's Corner Bar.  Excellent specials BTW.  Good place.

Bellcock family reunion!!

That's me behind the beer!

My crudely drawn map that I made while drinking coffee.