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.