Happy New Year

HUBBARD, IOWA - Winter is still a great time to enjoy the outdoors in Iowa, even though temperatures can be quite miserable and many of the warm-weather activities take a pause until the snow disappears.  Activities like snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and hiking are a great way to get outside and keep moving.  The past couple of weeks have brought some relatively light snowfall to the area and has made for some perfect conditions for these types of activities.  While on some of my recent hikes, I've encountered several bald eagles, a nice buck deer, a barred owl and even a flock of robins that apparently decided to stay here and feed on the fruit of some fruit-bearing trees instead of migrating south.  The woods take on a much different ambiance in the winter time, and because the leaves have dropped there's much greater visibility to see wildlife and other features than you might see during other times of the year.  Plus no need to fight the mosquitos or other critters you might normally encounter on a hike!

Thanksgiving Trekking

NEW PROVIDENCE, IOWA - Well, it's been several months since I've posted anything and much like last year, I seemed to "fall off the wagon" once training for RAGBRAI started in earnest and haven't paid much attention to the blog.  Well, RAGBRAI came and went as well as most of the the summer and fall.  During that period, there's been many things to enjoy outdoors, as well as some exciting news "back home" in regards to the development of a new recreational trail being developed from Marshalltown to Steamboat Rock on the former right of way of the Iowa River Railroad that I have been getting involved with from the standpoint of creating and maintaining several web pages on Hardin County Trails web site promoting the project (vs. keeping my blog up to date!).  It's been fun working on that project, researching some of the history of the corridor as well as helping to promote the future trail knowing the amazing potential that project will have for the seven communities along the IRRT.  More to come on that project here in the months to come.

     Well, now that it's cooled off outside (and daylight much shorter) there should be ample opportunities to up date the blog with some photos and other thoughts from the past several months.  Yesterday was Thanksgiving and we took advantage of the very nice weather to hike around and through Reece Park in Hardin County.  The creek level being as low as it was enabled us to get right on the creek and in spots literally walk across the stream.  One of the neat features of Honey Creek are the outcroppings of large boulders found in spots along the waterway, what geologists say are remnants of the Wisconsin glacier that once covered this area.

     Saw a couple of bald eagles circling the park as well as many other species of birds.  It was a nice way to burn off some calories after eating way too much!

Colorful Palatte

MINBURN, IOWA - On one of my early morning rides on the Raccoon River Valley Trail this past week, I was greeted with a gorgeous sky in the west as the rising sun in the east illuminated a small thunderstorm off on the horizon.  Such a gorgeous time of the year on the trail with the lush, green corridor sprinkled with colors from the native prairie wildflowers along the trail, the songbirds along the way and even the sky!

Iowa Monsoon

GRANGER, IOWA - Recent analysis by the State Climatologist shows that we just went through one if the wettest, if not THE wettest spring, on record in Iowa.  It's June 10th and the crops are at least two weeks behind where they should be in a "typical" year.  There are wet spots and ponds all over the place.  Quite a 180 degree difference from a year ago.
     I took this picture during one of the many storms we have experienced this spring.  It's actually quite powerful and beautiful at the same time.  This line of storms actually produced several reports of funnel clouds and radar indicated tornadoes in Polk and Story Counties.

RRVT North Loop Grand Opening

PERRY, IOWA - Last Saturday was a big day of celebration here in Dallas County as the north loop of the Raccoon River Valley Trail is now officially complete, with the last stretch of concrete being poured between Dawson and Herndon just a couple of weeks ago.  A grand opening celebration was held in downtown Perry with a number of dignitaries, media and scores of cyclists who rode in for the event.  It was really exciting to see the enthusiasm about the trail and what the future holds for the communities along the trail system, and the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association did an outstanding job (as always) of organizing the event which also coincided with National Trails Day.

Even with rain threatening, there was a big crowd in Perry.

A number of vendors had booths and displays in Perry's Caboose Park.

Cyclists picking up their card for the Poker Ride in Dallas Center.

Trout Run Trail

DECORAH, IOWA - Over the Memorial Day weekend, we had the chance to visit northeast Iowa and stay in the charming community of Decorah.  If you enjoy anything outdoors, the Decorah area has just about anything you could ask for - cycling, paddling, fishing, hiking, camping, etc.  The "driftless" area of Northeast Iowa is incredibly scenic and offers many areas to explore.
     On the top of my list to check out was the Trout Run Trail, a ten mile looped trail recently completed around and through the City of Decorah.  The trail takes you along the Upper Iowa River in Decorah, through some commercial/residential areas, and eventually out of town along Trout Run Creek, past the fish hatchery and the infamous eagle nest, and then through some absolutely stunning scenery south of Decorah before bringing you back into town where you cross a new bridge over Highway 9 and up to a cut where limestone was blasted away to blaze a path for the trail as you roll back down into Decorah proper.
     I had a chance to ride the loop twice while I was there - both times going in a clockwise fashion around the loop.  Again, I will let the photos speak for themselves!

View from the top of one of the hills looking Northwest toward Decorah

Peering into Trout Run Valley from one of the switchbacks

A foggy view down one of the long grades.

Gateway to the Trail on the southeast edge of Decorah

Limestone cut just before you roll back into Decorah

This is dairy country.

Raccoon River Float

MINBURN, IOWA - So far, the Memorial Day Weekend has been crummy in the weather department in Central Iowa, with rain and chilly temperatures persisting across the area.  Looks like it may not get much better for the rest of the long weekend.  So, I look back to last Saturday when you couldn't have asked for more perfect weather for a quick float down the North Raccoon River Water Trail.
     Two friends and I launched our kayaks from the river access west of Minburn, and floated down to the Highway 44 access at Dallas Center.  The morning was sunny and crisp, the wildlife was abundant, and the river was flowing at a decent clip.  Not too many strainers or shallow ripples were encountered along this stretch of river, which made it for a very enjoyable trip.  In fact, our trip was a short one - only taking about an hour and a half - making me wish we would have launched further upstream.
     In lieu of more verbiage, I believe the photos below do a better of describing just how pleasant of a trip this was.  What a super way to start off last weekend....

Launching from the access west of Minburn

A nice current made for a very relaxing trip down the Raccoon

Warm sun poking through the trees

Is this really in Dallas County?  Yes.

Approaching the Highway 44 access west of Dallas Center

A nice stretch of the Raccoon to kayak

Bike To Work Day!

Commuting along Meredith in Urbandale

DES MOINES, IOWA - May is Bicycle Month, and in the Des Moines area there have been a lot of activities centered around this event including several companies encouraging employees to bike to work.  Friday was designated as "bike to work day" and I thought it would be a great opportunity to give it a try.  Rather than do it all in one day, I decided to split it up and ride home from work on Thursday, and then bike back into work Friday morning. 
     My commute via bicycle ended up being just under 21 miles one-way, and for almost the entire trip I was able to stay on designated bicycle trails with the exception of a couple short stretches where I either rode on sidewalks or (Friday morning) on the road.  Traffic in town was horrendous on Thursday afternoon, and it was quite a different experience from the serenity that I am used to on the local rail-trails in the area that I frequent.  I had to stay

Friday morning was much more tranquil

alert to what was going on behind me, beside me and certainly ahead of me.  There were many times I had vehicles coming up behind me wanting to make a right hand turn and had I not checked behind me and stopped at each intersection I may have collided with a vehicle.  Friday morning was much better since I left quite early in the morning before rush hour began.
     All in all, it was a lot of fun and an enjoyable experience that I hope to replay a few more times this coming summer.  It also made me further appreciate the great trail system we have in and around the greater Des Moines area!

Colorful Corridor

MINBURN, IOWA - Even though it's been relatively cool the past couple of weeks, the vegetation is really starting to leaf out along the corridor of the Raccoon River Valley Trail.  A number of the various flowering trees and shrubs are starting to adorn the trail with a variety of colors and smells and it adds a lot of character to the path this time of year.  I look forward each year to when some of the wildflowers begin to bloom along the corridor.  One of the neat things about a trail that contains a diverse mix of prairie, wetlands and wooded areas such as the RRVT is that there seems to be something in bloom nearly all season long, which means there is always something interesting to observe and enjoy along the trail. 
     Today many people were out enjoying the segment of trail from Dallas Center to Minburn, even with a cool and brisk wind from the northwest.  It looks like the spring of extremes continues; last night we were in a frost advisory; and now tomorrow's high is expected to peak at 90 degrees!  Looks like we may have a bit of a decent window for planting crops early this week before thunderstorms appear in the forecast late in the week.  Hoping that the local farmers are able to get a good share of their crops in this coming week; before much longer we'll be slipping past the optimal planting window for corn in Iowa. 

Really?

DALLAS CENTER, IOWA - The perpetual winter of 2012/2013 continued right into the first week of May with several inches of snow dumped on a good share of Iowa.  Our friends in northern Iowa seemed to take the brunt of it, but here in Central Iowa we also had a good dose of snow that continued off and on for at least two days.  A couple of mornings, the it turned the roads slushy and there were a number of accidents but for the most part it has melted fairly rapidly.
     The crummy weather has put the crimp on some of the Bike Month activities going on around the area.  I have not been on my bicycle for the last several days with the cold and moisture.  However, this has been a good time to get some maintenance done on the bicycle including cleaning up the frame, lubricating the chain, and making some other adjustments.

     On the bright side, it seems this weather is drawing in more birds to the backyard feeders, which we have continued to keep filled.  Yesterday we had an Eastern Towhee in the backyard which is not a very rare sight.  Lots of other migratory birds have been observed here lately which makes it a little easier to enjoy the wintry scene.  The contrast of the dark, green grass against the freshly fallen snow is also kind of pretty in its own way, I have to admit.

Glorious Saturday

WAUKEE, IOWA - This Saturday was one of those types of days where we just wanted to stay outside as much as possible and soak up the warm sunshine, feel the gentle breeze, and enjoy the aroma of springtime around us.  Besides getting a fair amount of yard work done, there was also some time spent cycling on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and around the great trail system in the City of Waukee as well as a visit to Big Creek State Park again to spend some time paddling on the open water.  It sounds like we have a couple more days of this nice, mild weather until later in the week when highs only in the 40's (!) are predicted.  Farmers are pushing hard trying to get anhydrous applied, wrap up tillage, and some have even started to plant corn while there was a window to get some field work done before the next system moves in.
     The BikeIowa.com calendar is starting to fill up with several rides in and around Central Iowa....just about every weekend there is something going on around the area.  Bike Month begins this coming week with several activities planned.  Locally the City of Perry has several activities coming up including the Hiawatha Classic which I hope to participate in again this year.  Also preparations are well underway for a couple of big cycling events locally - the grand opening of the North Loop of the Raccoon River Valley Trail on June 1st, as well as RAGBRAI's trip across Central Dallas County in July.  Looking forward to both of these activities and many others for both the cycling and paddling enthusiasts here in Central Iowa!

We encountered this little guy basking in the sunshine himself on the trail this morning.

A peaceful moment on Big Creek this afternoon.

April Paddle at Big Creek

POLK CITY, IOWA - I was fortunate to attend a couple of events put on during the past several weeks by the good folks at Canoe Sport Outfitters in Indianola - Paddlefest and Demofest. These two events provided a great way to learn more about the different styles of kayaks that exist and better yet offered the opportunity to actually test various models in the water to dial in what best fits a given paddler's skills and intended use.  After attending these events, and trying different models out, I had determined that a recreational type kayak that had elements of a "transitional" class of kayak was probably the best fit for me.  This past Saturday was the first opportunity I had to get out on the water with the Kestrel 120 and chose to visit Big Creek State Park near Polk City.
     Conditions were partly sunny and in the lower 50's with very light winds when I arrived at the beach area of Big Creek.  There is currently a lot of construction going on at the beach were it looks like several new shelters, a boat house, and other structures are being built.  Not knowing if the boat ramp was accessible, I elected to embark on my journey by launching from the beach area that was still open outside of the construction area.
     Once situated in the boat, with my PFD in place, I pushed off and was quickly enjoying the beauty of Big Creek from offshore.  The kayak was very stable and it didn't take long to get comfortable as I moved further from shore.  I paddled along the east edge of the lake, and enjoyed observing several species of waterfowl along the lake.  There was a handful of folks fishing around the east perimeter of the lake along with a few fishing boats and one other paddler on the water.  Outside of that, it felt like I had the lake to myself.
     I have typically done most of my kayaking on the local rivers in the area, so it was a bit of a different experience paddling around the lake.  I certainly didn't have the advantage of a current pushing me downstream, so I was reliant on my own "engine" to keep me moving.  It didn't take long to get warmed up and I probably could have gotten by without wearing the jacket I had on under my PFD..
     After paddling for about three miles, it was time to return to shore and head home.  It will be fun to check out some more of the various Iowa water trails this coming summer!
    

Trail Cleanup!

DALLAS CENTER, IOWA - We have been water logged the last week or so all throughout the area (what a difference a year makes!) but the weather finally "broke" this weekend and treated us to some gorgeous sunshine, light winds and a great day for some trail maintenance along the RRVT in Dallas Center.
     Since biking the newly opened segment of the RRVT running north out of Dallas Center, I have been bothered with the amount of litter and junk that had accumulated along the former railroad right-of-way.  So this past weekend, with the help of the city we organized a small group of volunteers to clean up that stretch of trail and try to make it more presentable to folks coming through town.
     After only two hours of work, we were able to scour both sides of the trail and fill up a pickup load full of debris to take to the dump.  Paper, cardboard, metal, glass, plastic and just about anything else you can imagine was picked up.  Thanks to the efforts of these volunteers, that stretch of trail looks much more pristine as you come through town.

Biking in the 'Burbs

CLIVE, IOWA - Activity seems to have picked up on the RRVT the last week with the milder
weather we've been experiencing.  On several jaunts between Minburn, Dallas Center and Waukee the past several days folks are definitely taking advantage of the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the tranquility of the rural Dallas County countryside.
     After riding the RRVT into the heart of Waukee today, I veered off onto a "spur" trail that was recently expanded through several neighborhoods, across Alice's Road, and eventually into Clive where you can continue on to the trail system that eventually takes you to downtown Des Moines (without some of the big hills on the existing stretch of trail along Hickman Road).  It sure is exciting to see how easy it is to get just about anywhere in the Des Moines metro nowadays via the excellent network of paths and trails throughout the area.  We're quite fortunate to have these assets in our backyard!

Where's Spring?

The Redfield Dam at Dawn

REDFIELD, IOWA - Saturday I had hoped to ride the RRVT from Adel to Redfield to enjoy a weekly event that draws a big crowd from around the area, the Saturday morning all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Redfield American Legion.  The fine folks in Redfield recently completed construction on a newer, more spacious and modern Legion Building where they hold the weekly breakfast which draws quite a few cyclists, paddlers and others from around the area for the great food.  Well, it was in the upper 20's when I departed so I opted to stay on four wheels today.
     Various community groups in Redfield volunteer to "work" the breakfast each week, this particular weekend it was the Redfield Historical Society.  As always the food was great and filling.  Once it warms up a little more I look forward to cycling to Redfield to enjoy the event again.

Sunrise on the RRVT over Waukee

     I took time to stop by the Redfield Dam to see how water levels were looking. Downstream it looks as if the river was up compared to the last time I was here, I'm hoping for better flows than what we saw last year as a result of the drought.  Paddling from Redfield downstream toward Kuehn Nature Area is one of my favorite spots on the Raccoon River.
     Snow is in the forecast for this weekend, but it looks like we might start to see some recovery in temperatures by next weekend.  Still managed to cycle the stretch of trail between Dallas Center and Minburn this Saturday, however.  Even though it was cold, it was not so bitter that one could not enjoy hitting the trail this weekend.  I encountered a couple of other "hardy" souls out enjoying the trail along with me.

Hints of Spring

Snowmelt filling the marsh between DC and Waukee.

DALLAS CENTER, IOWA - Finally, temperatures this week managed to get into the upper fifties on Friday.  With the switch to daylight savings time a week ago, it should make it easier to hit the trail and start getting some more time in the saddle!  On a quick ride between Waukee and Dallas Center on the RRVT today, I encountered about a dozen other cyclists out enjoying the balmy weather.  Looks like the weather is going to turn crummy later in the weekend, so today was probably the "choice" day to get out and enjoy the trail.
     Spring is getting closer.  Saw the first red wing blackbirds of the season along the trail today, and also heard a meadowlark.  Typically when those avian species start to show up, it's a pretty good sign that warmer weather is just around the bend and here to stay.  Also saw a few ducks, several hawks, and a lot of robins which is also a good sign.
     Lots of rides and activities are starting to show up on the bikeiowa.com calendar for the upcoming riding season.  Looking forward to the many opportunities to enjoy some organized rides around central Iowa this coming year!

Wolf Creek Snow Trek

Approaching the trestle just east of Beaman on the Comet Trail.

BEAMAN, IOWA - Central Iowa experienced what was, perhaps, the largest winter storm so far this season as March "roared in like a lion" and dumped several inches of snow from the southwest to the northeast portion of the state.  The bullseye of this particular storm seemed to be in a swath near Marshalltown northeast through Grundy and Tama Counties toward the Waterloo area with several reports of a foot or more of snow from communities in this area.
     It just so happened that we were planning a trip to the area to visit family the weekend after the storm so it provided the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the freshly fallen snow and trek a stretch of the Comet Trail from Beaman toward Gladbrook on the snowshoes.

The Beaman Lions' Club sponsors this 1/4 mile trail section.

     Temperatures were in the upper 20's as I departed from the shadow of Mid-Iowa Cooperative's "prairie silos" (cement grain elevators) and headed eastbound on the former CNW right-of-way.  As I was lacing up the snowshoes, a trio of snowmobiles appeared and were easily overheard contemplating taking the trail which, at least on this section, is prohibited according to the posted signage and makeshift barricade that had been put up across the trail.  A previous snowmobiler had obviously disregarded the signage as seen in the photo above.  The group then determined that the "official" snowmobile route out of Beaman (one that has been well laid out and organized by a group of snowmobile enthusiasts from Central Iowa) took a different path and they headed back west.  The Comet Trail from Beaman west to Conrad is open to snowmobiles, and based on the tracks is being well utilized this winter - which is great to see.

Looking west from the K Avenue Trail head

     I am used to seeing the Comet Trail from the saddle of a bicycle in more temperate conditions - spring, summer, and fall - so this particular journey was a different experience.  Having no foliage on the trees permitted you to see some things that you normally don't during those seasons, such as a glimpse of Wolf Creek through the heavily wooded area on the southeast side of Beaman.  The snowmobile tracks on this stretch actually made trekking through the snow fairly easy; once I reached the trailhead a quarter mile down the trail the snowmobile tracks were gone and now it was a good opportunity to see if the snow shoes would hold up in deep, powdery snow.

Snowshoe Tracks

     As I progressed east, there were more open areas where the snow had drifted to at least three or four feet deep.  Trudging through the snow was still a workout, even with snow shoes on.  The shoes did, however, prevent me from sinking as deep as I would have without them, and on the drifts that had hardened just a bit I was able to sail right over the top of them without getting buried much at all.  I made it just about to Wolf Creek Park before I had to turn around in order to get back in time for us to wrap up our visit. The return trek was obviously a little easier since I had already blazed a trail.  The snowshoes worked flawlessly and in relatively short order I was back at my starting point.
     After a long week of being inside, mostly in front of a computer, it was a tremendous feeling having the chance to get outside and enjoy some fresh air, get some good exercise, and enjoy the serenity of the winter time along the corridor of the former "Toledo and Northwestern Railroad" that laid rails here back in 1880.  It was the dose of Vitamin "N" that I really needed this weekend!

Snowshoeing near Minburn

     MINBURN, IOWA - First, I must admit I've taken a hiatus from blogging for several months.  Once RAGBRAI came and went, it seems like things at home and work continued to get busier and busier as we moved through harvest time right through winter and now into spring.  I hope to be back "on the air" now sharing some of my experiences enjoying the many great outdoor adventures I enjoy right in our own backyards here in Central Iowa.
     Admittedly, I'm a fair weather cyclist - meaning if the trails are snow and ice covered - I usually stay off the bicycle as I'd rather not ride on the road.  That being said, we've had a fairly mild winter and that has offered several opportunities to enjoy the local trails during the past couple of months.  With that in mind, I had been looking for an activity that I could still enjoy on the trail in snow and ice to help keep me physically active over the winter.  I am a horrible skier, but have been intrigued with snowshoeing after learning how easy, relatively inexpensive, and fun this can be.
     So, I made the plunge and picked up a pair of snowshoes and trekking poles over the Christmas break.  I've only had a couple opportunities to use them, with one of them being this past weekend at the Voas Nature Area west of Minburn.  The Voas nature area has quite a diverse habitat including wetlands, prairie, woodlands and has several excellent trails that meander through this rather spacious park.
     Last Sunday was balmy (temperatures around freezing) with no wind and plenty of sun.  It was a great day to get out and snowshoe around the trails. Plenty of wildlife was seen around the park this pleasant afternoon.
     I've found that snowshoeing works best on packed snow, but it's also kind of fun to blaze new trails and get a more intense workout on fresh, powdery snow.  The most recent storm we had earlier this week was primarily wet and heavy, and assuming we get some cold evenings it should harden the snow pack somewhat and make it perfect to get out and enjoy the trails.  I'm actually hoping the snow will stick around a bit to enjoy this activity some more!