What's Up With the Green Bridge??

I'm reminded of that line from a Pink Floyd track that goes, "taught how to feel good but told to feel bad." Something like that.  So once again the green bridge aka as Jackson Street Bridge is MIA.  Mysterious construction work by Baker Electric.  Orange snow fence placed at both ends and signs stating that construction will be done on June 16th.  Once again the bridge is closed during the height of bicycling/pedestrian season.  The only thing anyone has noticed is that there is a large tool box with Baker Electric stamped on it.  No eye witnesses of actually construction.

My source, who will remain anonymous but think of a famous German ship and flying boat builder, the tells me that someone "gifted" the bridge LED lights.  Baker Electric is installing them. For liability reasons i.e. insurance i.e. $$ reasons the bridge has been closed to the public while the lights are being installed.

Why not do this in November?  Nobody cares about switching lights.  There is nothing wrong with the current lights.  People want to use the bridge.  People have broken through the barriers on both ends.  Unfortunately, my photo does not show this.

What really is frustrating is that The Powers that Be inspect the bridge and declare it good but then raise the standards and declare it unsafe, close it and restore it with our fundraising efforts and other avenues of $$ and open it right as the cycling season ends and now close it again because someone thinks it needs LED lights.  Yes, LEDs are better lights but nobody gives a fuck.  It better make the High Trestle pale in comparison.  I'll have a great laugh is some moron tries to steal these lights.

Rank over.  Thank you.

Yesterday's Near Miss: The Benny Hill Incident

Distractions come in many forms.  Mobile phones, bees in the car, eating while driving ect. Yesterday it was in the form of a long legged woman walking a dog.

I was riding downhill on NW 123rd about where it curves to the left and turns into Woodland Ave or Dr or Rd at the entrance of Campbell Rec Park on the right.  On the sidewalk was our dog walker in a black skirt and white top.  Leaving Campbell Rec was a burgundy Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by an elderly man.  Me, I was preparing for the curve and the climb to 128th St.

I took a glance at her and then resumed business at hand.  No time to undress her in my mind, I'm working at 25 mph on a collection of carbon tubes contacting the pavement with thin Mavic wheels and thin German tires with a climb waiting for me in a matter of seconds.  One error and I'm eating concrete and wondering about skin grafts and bone repair and the dreaded hip replacement.

I also spotted the Jeep. 

 "Don't do it you dirty dog.  Don't pull out in front of me you bastard,"

I said to myself.  Of course, when things got critical he let go of the brake and stepped on the gas.

"YOU FUCK!"

 I was a bit upset.  I did not think he could hear that since I felt my voice was a bit weak.

What to do now?  Option 1:  apply both brakes and hope to come to a controlled stop.  Option 2: pass his ass and yell at him.  I chose the latter since I had ample speed and he was barely moving as to get a better sniff at the dog walker.

Windows started rolling down.  Perhaps he heard me.  Now he sees me.  Eye contact established. He was aged.  Probably has not had an erection for a few decades.

"ROTATE YOUR HEAD!!"

That's all I said.  Resume zooming up the hill.  Take the lane.  F him.  I'll soon be on the sidepath leading to the Greenbelt.

The trap may have been sprung but I was aware and got through it unscathed.  What will the future bring?

Why Bother With The Uniform

Yeah, a motorcyclist in France but I like the photo.

You know it.  Hi-Viz yellow/green/orange.  reflective strips.  That yellow vest with reflective areas.  People think you are a lot attendant or road worker or a member of the DOT.  Does it really work?

Today I witnessed two high profile vehicles, SUV's, both white in color, smash into each other on Ingersoll Ave.  Of course they stopped in the middle of the road and created headaches for westbound  traffic.  I'm sure cagers will grumble about the bike lane taking up a lane.  In fact, I think one of the crashers was in the bike lane.

My only thought was this, If they cannot even see each other how in the hell are they going to see me or any other person on a bicycle?  Have of them are staring at their phones anyway.

Now I am not saying that one should dress in asphalt black or concrete grey when cycling in the streets.  Just that don't have your hopes up in dressing like a road worker.  They get hit and killed as well.

Another thing, if we truly want more butts on bikes then maybe we should present ourselves as normal human beings and not some sort of sporto on the way to the Tour de France.  Bicycling should be presented as a regular activity that does not require full kit or extreme safety equipment to enjoy, unless of course, that is your fetish.  Image issue?

What you should carry:  ID, insurance card, ICE number, name and number of next of kin or spouse, hospital preference and religion if applicable.  Lucky rabbit's foot, rosary beads and a four leaf clover would not hurt either.

I stopped wearing vests some time ago.  They just turn dirty and gross after all the miles I ride.  I do like the pocket for the phone but don't really need one.  The same with yellow rain jackets.  Despite this I want the vest that says

Be

POLITE

to 

Bicyclist

Humbled

The world we live in...

Just a beautiful day in our privileged world to use our bicycles as play things under the guise of helping others.  My main concern was that there would be shade where I would spend the next several hours running a check point for Cyclo de Mayo, Des Moines premier and original bicycle poker run.  At my side was my beautiful wife, Mary.  Although I'd much rather have spent the day riding 100 miles or something like that we enjoy participating in this event that raises money for the Joan S Gill Memorial fund.   I also look forward to seeing my bicycle friends.

We stopped at B&B Grocery store to get a couple of sandwiches and water to fuel us up for the big event and then headed off to our station.  About this time my phone started receiving text.  I was expecting it to be from Graham Johnston, the BIC and creator of Cyclo de Mayo.  It was not.  Instead it was from Craig asking if he could join us at the checkpoint and bring a case of beer.  Damn, here we go again!  Of course, we could use the help and the beer.

The water fountain at Sam Cohen Park.

After reaching Sam Cohen Park and claiming the picnic table we ate and waited for Craig and Kim.  There is an old functioning horse water fountain here that Graham repeated told me that the water was potable.  "My parents even chill their wine in the fountain when they are on bicycle rides," he said.  We brought our own but it was nice to know that water was available just in case I was within 2 miles of my home and suffering from terrible thirst or forgot to fill my bottles before leaving on a long trip.

Craig helping the bicyclists of Cyclo de Mayo find our spot and protect them from traffic.

The poker run went fast, unlike last year when half the field dropped out.  It was probably the busiest one I have done of the 6 I have worked.  Afterwards we relaxed and drank some beer before rolling off to the Triangle Tap for the awards ceremony.

Two vehicles pulled up and parked in front of the fountain.  my first thought was that they were POed that we were having a bicycle even on their road and slowing down their driving.  Or that we were drinking beer in a park.  But  a bunch of people popped out of the back of the truck with empty plastic jugs and we knew what was up.  Water was disconnected at their home and they were on a water run.  Worse yet, as conversation revealed, they were living out of the truck.

There was a small boy, perhaps 4 or 5 years old, his parents and an older guy.  The older guy was big, not in an obese way, but as in tall and strong.  Long grey hair tied back in a pony tale and one of those horseshoe mustaches that I used to sport along with Hulk Hogan.  In fact, he was nearly the Hulkster's size.  He did most of the talking.  Craig got the conversation rolling.  Was staying at his mother's house but had to put her in a care facility.  Long history of violence and prison stretches. Adventurous careers including dumping bales of marijuana from airplanes and smuggling Mexicans across the border.  A few dead bodies from these excursions.  Self defense, kill be killed.  Violent reactions to pedophiles up to and including throwing one out a second story window only because the FBI asked him to leave the paedo alone.  He is of some native American tribe but said the Meskawski tribe want nothing to do with him.  No help from the courts or social services for finding a place to live or job.  His daughter inlaw has a job.  Not sure about his son.  Kim with her social services background ran a myriad of suggestions but he seemed to have tried them all.

All the time while they filled their water vessels he washed his hands over and over again as he told his life story.  Never once did he ask for anything.  Just needed the water.  Craig offered him some cash which he refused but then accepted.  Craig also gave him a bag of beers.

Mary and looked at each other when it was over.  We don't have much but we felt wealthy.  A stare into the abyss.  Needless to say this was on my mind as we rode toward the Triangle Tap.  And three minutes a group of drunken women on bicycles were giggling and telling us we missed our turn to Peace Tree I was not amused.  Nor was I when a some fat jerk on a road bike in full kit screamed "BIKE" at me instead the always polite "on your left."  I barked back and a rolling shouting match erupted on the NST below McHenry Park.  Just trying to enjoy the beauty of the world and determining if it was a bald eagle or a turkey vulture over the river when he yelled.  He probably called out "passing on the left" and I did not hear.  But to me he was another over privileged asshole. I haven't time to sympathize with all this nonsense.

There are things we can do.  Urban Bicycle Food Ministry is one of them.  This group if I am not mistaken meets every Thursday to give food to those in need.  A "humbling" experience I've been told.  Look them up on face Book.  Food banks are a good place to make donations.  Bidwell Riverside Center is located near the intersection of Hartford Ave and SE 14th.  DMARC is another place to make a donation.  Even just talking to such a person and treating them with dignity and respect goes a long way.  We all struggle to get through life, some more than others.

Riding Along a Different Creek

Yes.  Words to remember.

Been looking forward to this day for weeks.  Warm, no rain and manageable wind.  Just a quick 40 mile round trip to Bondurant and its Reclaimed Rails Brewery.  This has been a goal for a year now. Timing has been an issue.  We usually get there hours before the brewery opens.  Or its too damn windy and we call it quits 10 miles into it or 7 miles into it.  But today all systems were go even if I celebrated Cinco de Mayo a little too much the night before.

Almost all systems go.  There was a launch delay after airing up our tires.  Mary's front tire on her road bike had a sidewall bulge.  No fookin' bueno!  No worries, I've 4 road tires shipping in and they should arrive by next weekend.  So road bikes were stricken off our list and the fast tandem was pulled out of its slumber, aired up and ridden for the first time this year.  Excellent choice!  Launch resumed, all systems go.

We decided to make a loop out of the trip.  We took the traditional way to Bondurant via the Gay Lea Wilson Train all the way into Altoona and then take the new Chichaqua Trail extension back to the Four Mile Creek Trail and rejoin the GLW at Copper Creek.  One thing we noted on both loops is that trail usage has significantly increased over the years.  That's a good thing.  In fact, we saw quite a few bikes on the MLK sidepath on our way to E 30th.

Near the beginning of the Gay Lea Wilson Trail, two gas tanks from automobiles on top of a door.  Photo taken from the bridge on Scott Ave, Pleasant Hill.

I think I may reserve the Altoona route for non-peak outdoorsy seasons.  It was photo day for pee wee baseball and families and small children were all over the trail at the Lions Park.  Secondly, and maybe it was our timing, lots of traffic interfering with our street crossings.  Another change will be to get off the MLK sidepath at 25th and take that to Scott Ave instead of riding north on 30th for a few blocks.  We did this on the return.  E 30th is too narrow and busy plus the road is filthy with rocks, sand, cracks, car parts ect.

But once out of Altoona we enjoyed ourselves.  Today's Special: Goats.  One farm had many goats of all shapes and sizes.  Another house had a goat tied to a tree.  This was on 78th Street near our turn onto 88th Street to get to the Chichaqua Trail.  We merely stopped at the trailhead and took a break before taking the new trail section into Bondurant and Reclaimed Rails.

Well, there was a crosswind...worked nicely!

High Trestle Hefe or as I thought of it Hair of the Dog.

From The Source badge from Untapped.

It was a one and done at the brewery.  Could have been a 4 and some but I knew better.  Mission accomplished, finally made it to this brewery.  For icing on the cake, I was awarded a badge from the Untapped beer ap for this visit.  I had the High Trestle Hefe.  Mary had a Sutliff Cider which I gave her a hard time for doing since it was a "guest" brew not a house brew.  But it is a good cider.

Although we would have enjoyed the tailwind from Bondurant to Altoona, we hated the headwind BTW, we continued west and were rewarded with a favorable crosswind.  Another first was a stop at Mally's Weh-Weh-Neh-Kee Park  in the metropolis of Berwick.  Weird name, eh.  Amenities are a restroom, covered picnic shelter, water fountain and bicycle fixstation.  We need the restroom.  I noticed several cyclists using this as their starting point.  We decided that one could get a group of riders and drink their fill at the brewery or Founders Pub and then ride the 5 miles to this park and sleep on the tabled under the shelter roof.  The park is .7 miles from the western terminus of the Chichaqua Trail and the beginning of the Four Mile Creek Trail.  One could turn north at this point and ride into Ankeny and then deal with the sidepath on Oralabor Rd and either turn north to the High Trestle Trail or south to the Neil Smith Trail.

Bicycle parking and a fixstation!

I found it nice to be riding next to a creek with another name other than Walnut, the stream that I follow to and fro work.  We noticed that there has been a lot of work in stabilizing the bank  We also noticed that someone illegally dumped a couch off at the parking lot just north of Copper Creek Lake. Scored my 43rd GeoCouch!

In the end it was great to get out and ride some miles, 40, with my lovely wife as stoker.  Both of us sunburned but smiling.  I guess our skin has been covered up for 7 or 8 months and is not quite ready for the Sun's deadly rays.  Lesson learned.

"Be Careful"

The car that started it all.  Held up quite well, really, and the airbags did not deploy.

I hear this almost everyday from people who do not ride, cagers.  I think what they are really saying is "Hey, we totally suck at keeping our 2 ton+ metal/plastic motorized boxes under control.  Most of us will be playing on the phone while driving so just be aware that we may negligently run you over unless we are stopped by crashing into ourselves first."  The last two days proved this to be prophetic.

Thursday I decide to exchange the safety of the trail for a bike lane in order to stop at a Fred's Bike Shop and Zzz Records.  Got to keep my head swiveling and eyes open.  Busy road with car storage (on street parking) blocking the view of drivers leaving business.  Sure enough, a red car coming out of Bruegger's Bagels almost broadsides me as it attempts to pull out on the street.  It saw me at almost the last moment and slammed on its brakes.  Yes, foot hit the proper pedal.  I nearly drifted left out of the bike lane but held my ground.  There may have been a car in my blind spot and I would have been hit/ran over while avoiding the red car.  Parking is the real issue.  Cars are parked up to the driveway at every business on Ingersoll Ave.  Low profile vehicles are hidden.

Then the next day I witnesses the aftermath of driving mistakes.  One co-worker is telling me about a stalled vehicle on the freeway near the exit ramp, middle lane.  She had to change lanes quickly and pulled out in front of a large pick up truck who had to slam on its brakes and honk at her.  Collision avoided.  She is very nervous from this event and almost freaked out when a black truck appeared in the parking lot.  "He found me!"  It was someone else but in the age of drive bys and road rage one can never be too sure.

But 10 minutes later we looked out the window and saw 4 vehicles smashed up in our own parking lot.  Apparently, one person was pulling into a parking spot and hit the gas instead of the brakes.  She went flying over the curb, over the grass and down the other curb and hit a car and spun around.  The second attempt to hit the brakes revealed that she failed to moved her foot and the accelerator was floored again and a second vehicle was struck and this one collided into a third or fourth vehicle.  4 cars in total were involved.  Two of these cars were rendered inoperable.  Nobody was hurt, thankfully, but people were visibly shaken.  This all occurred where I often make a wide turn to line up with the walkway to the bike rack.  Those that did not witness nor hear the details of this incident said "wow, that car must have been flying through the parking lot!"

In the past, speed bumps have been employed to get people to slow down.  The maintenance people hate this because it is a major pain because they have to remove them during the winter for snow removal.  Thus, that practice has been halted but every now and then enough complaints filter through and the threat of speed bumps is communicated to the staff.  This is because of driving etiquette or the lack of.  The event I described would not have been prevented by speed bumps.  A wall was needed to stop that car!

When I got home, having miraculously missed the rain, I turned on the news and listened to reports of 4 car wrecks throughout the metro and saw a story of a truck crashing into someone's house!  Good Lord, another house ran over by a vehicle!  <link to truck crashing into house>  Perhaps if the house wore a hi-viz and reflective safety vest and had an orange flag the driver of the truck would have seen it and not have collided with it. Perhaps if someone told the house to be careful.....  This has to be the third house/vehicle collision this year and it is only the end of April.

So whenever someone sees me loading up my bike and preparing to ride home and says, "Be careful,"  I just smile and tell them to be careful, too.

Bourbon, Rye and Dirty Bastards

Spring or Springs was another item on the Ride & Seek list for April.  I took advantage of the world's longest train when Mary and I got stuck downtown after eating at Fighting Burritos.

It's been a cold, and gloomy cloudy 3 weeks in Iowa and the sun finally decided to come out for this weekend.  Forecasted high for Saturday was 71F.  Officially in Des Moines it reached 76F.  The Sirens Call for a long ride was ringing in my ears worse than my tinnitus.  The plan was to ride to Bondurant with Mary but the need to chauffeur our daughter for a band solo competition put an ax in that.  So I decided that I ride to Cumming and be back in time to hook up with Mary and do another 20 to 30 to 40 miles with her once Dora was done and safely off to work.  A quick 23 miles on the roadie and then possibly tandem with Mary.  Then the phone rang.

Rob on the Troll Bridge

Rob den Hartog on line one.  "Do you want to ride with me and Kevin to Martensdale (44 miles)?"  Why not?  Could knock this out quickly and still meet Mary by 1230 pm.  "Yes, yes I would."  Our rendezvous would be at Orlando's at 8 am.  This would be the same people I rode with to thwe High Trestle back in October.
DISCLAIMER/APOLOGY  Yes, I said I'd do the Capacity Ride.  But damn it, it's going to be in the 70s!  I'd hate to waste this opportunity by  riding a block and standing around in a bar day drinking for a few hours and then riding 7 more miles and stand in a bar day drinking and come home all fouled up.  No offense, that's a January ride and I've been doing it for what seems like 5 months.  had it been raining, then yes.  But I needed to get out.

So it was a little after 8 am when I rolled up to Orlando's.  Took my LeMond and tore up the house looking for a spare tube just in case.  I noticed that George Flagg is all tore up for expansion and repaving.  20 years too late but at least it should be done in a month.  I was grateful for the new rock path from SW 30th to the trailhead on Flagg.  Even the entrance to the Ikes is blocked.  Rob took to the grass to get to and fro Water Works.

It was a fast ride to Cumming.  As usual my commuter speed did not allow me to adjust to riding a fast bike with a fast person so I had to work at it for a lot of the ride.  The headwind did not help.  At Cumming we called Kevin and he met us at the Tap despite it being closed.  Kevin said the magic words, "Anyone want a beer?"  Why yes, we would like a beer."  He then produced 3 cans of Founder's Dirty Bastard Scottish Ale.  "It's not the coldest," he apologized but often quality beer does not need to be at near freezing temperatures to enjoy.  Rob and I were grateful.  Neither of us had a touring bike and bags like Kevin had, LHT.  One and done then off to Martensdale.

Kevin on the Troll Bridge playing with his phone.

A better photo of Kevin playing with his phone on the Troll Bridge.  Me apparently speaking Italian (talking with my hands).

One quick stop at Kevin and Kari's homestead where we got to look at sheep and play with sheep dogs.  What a wonderful place to call home!
We noticed that the cracks that had been filled with tar now had a sorta of brown tar on them and that these were very soft and made your bike wobble when you rode over them.  Not good.  These are all south of Cumming.  Avoid if all possible.

Kari and Kevin's sheep are in the family way!  How low will their bellies go?  Photo stolen from Kari's FB page.  Why on earth did I not think of taking my own photos?  I would have had 8 or 9 sheep looking at me.

This dog did not like me at first until he discovered that I could throw a ball for him to fetch.  Photo stolen from Kari's FB page.

Of note were all the trail users on this section of trail.  Normally, I only see a few bikes south of Cumming.  But today quite a few.  Walkers too as we approached Martensdale.

Another one and done at the trailhead in Martensdale.  We missed the Road Side Inn and are disappointed that a 4 wheeler business took over the building.  We did not go down the hill to the gas station.

Me on the Troll Bridge, Dirty Bastard in hand.

On the way back we stopped at the Troll Bridge and had 1 or 2 Dirty Bastards.  Mary called and said she was ready.  I suggested that she meet us.  She did after hosing off her bike and lubing the chain.  Her last ride on it was wet and filthy.  She met us just east of the site formally known as the Lean To.

Once back in Cumming we stopped at Iowa Distillery.  I like their Swell Vodka and Prairie Fire cinnamon whiskey.  Today we sampled bourbon and rye.  I liked the bourbon and plan to purchase a bottle when I am back with a bike with bags.  Kevin purchased something but I forgot to ask.  Interesting, one of the patrons there was a State Representative from Wisconsin with his wife.  Apparently, he met with Iowa's governor the day before.  He asked how far we biked and where we were from.  We expressed the importance of trails such as the Great Western Trail and it's impact on the communities it goes through and the tourism.  Also we noted that the beer, wine and spirits industry should be encouraged to flourish.  Keep it civil.

With that we parted ways, Kevin heading home and Rob and I heading north.  Soon we found Mary and were a trio again.  I had a great surge of speed and left them behind until I reached McKinley Rd and stopped to wait.  But what did I see?  A GeoCouch!  Upside down near Frink's Creek with Busch Light cans underneath.  Yes, I had to do this.  Mary was the photographer.

Iowa GeoCouch #42

Just off of SW McKinley next to the trail and the dead end.  This cannot be seen from the trail.  Mary did not see the dead weed between the camera and me until after we got home and looked at the photos!

Back on the trail we said good bye to Rob who was off to make a big lunch for Brenda and himself (grilled burgers).  Mary sensing I had the munchies, my corn beef on rye sandwich at 730 am long since gone, and asked if I needed to eat.  We rode the western Gateway and ate at the Fighting Burrito.  Then rode to the sculpture park for a photo.  I needed a rabbit for this month's Ride & Seek hunt.   Lacking a kickstand and respecting the art work (DO NOT TOUCH THE ART) I managed to prop my bike up with my water bottle under one of the pedals or stays and I tip toed around the bike for the photo a gust of wind knocked the bike down.  One moment I looked like an absolute genius for parking the bike with the bottle and then the next a fool.  pride before the fall...  Off to home.

The Thinker.  If you look at my empty bottle cage on the downtube you can see my water bottle on the grass where I had the bike standing up without human hands for about 45 seconds.  It was brilliant!  Then a mighty wind blew it down.  The story of human existence!

Yes, Virginia, I need a real camera.

Switch horses and rode to the store and then home for dinner.  After dinner we rode to Gray's Lake and sat on a bench looking at the night skyline of downtown Des Moines while sharing a bottle of Moscato.  Gray's Lake was busy.  Such a beautiful day and night.  Incredible views of our city.  It was a shame we had to go home and call it a night.  Home by 1030 pm full filled with fresh air and vitamin D.  Until the next wonderful Saturday....

Blurry night shot of Mary and my bike.