Bosque and Brat

Had problems sleeping last night.  Went to the breakfast room and had some cereal, coffee, and apple juice.  Bach to bed and nap.  About noon, it was time for me to grab my cycling kit and prepare for a bike ride.

This would be my first ride if the year and it was 5000 foot altitude.  Was not sure how far I could/should ride.  I knew the best place to ride was the Bosque from the Montano trailhead.

Ended up with just over 4.5 miles.  Did not want to over-do this first ride.  Treated myself to a pint of amber ale, a brat, and fries at Spinn's (about 2 blocks from the trailhead).  My the time I was back at the room, unloaded the bike, and shed the cycling kit, I was exhausted.

Back to preparations for moving tomorrow - visit insurance agent to give him information about the difference property.  Selled of Wyoming Autumn property has until 5pm Monday to respond to my offer.

La Crosse - Day 2

Needed a light day - Sunday was the day.  Light breakfast (the breakfast room was a zoo).  In the morning, I drove over to the La Crescent side of the river.  Mostly to find a Minnesota map (free, information type).  No luck, back in the room I rested and watched TV.

Headed out early for the pizza and beer cruise on the La Crosse Queen.  Took some photos along the riverfront while waiting.

Nice, relaxing 1 1/2 hour cruise on the Mississippi River.  Domino Pizza and an American big brewery beer.  But, I suffered through it (LOL).  Finished the night with a Heath Blizzard at DQ.

La Crosse - Day 1

Had a great day in La Crosse.  Was not sure how things would turn out since my legs were still complaining from the climb to the tunnel on the Elroy-Sparta Trail.

Started the day with a waffle. coffee, and apple juice at the motel.  Looks like there was some light rain on the car and the sky was overcast.  Anyway, this was my day for a bike ride so figured to make the best of it.

Plan was to ride the Great River State Trail.  After some false starts to find a trailhead, I headed down the trail.  Rode South from County Z.  From the maps, its looked like this area would afford some nice views of the river (and Lake Onalsaka.  But, this was not the case.  On the sides of the trail was covered with trees and brush.  Checked the trail North from Countu Z - trees with a section of prairie restoration.  Lots of joggers out on this section of the trail.  Several cyclists, by more joggers.

After a 5 mile ride on the Great River State Trail, I drove North to find the Lytles Landing trailhead.  On the way back from that trailhead, I came across the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge.  The refuge had paved bicycle trails and dirt walking/hiking trails.  Rode my bike from the parking lot near the river through the prairie and over to the headquarters building.

Back at the room, I processed the morning photos, watched some TV and rested.  Soon, it was time for dinner.  Was planning to sample the cuisine at Stolpa's Stein Haus.  Thanks to Steve for my first stein of beer.  Ended up with 2 steins of Hofbrau Dunkel - a German beer.  It was the closest they had for an Amber Ale.

Had a nice conversation with Steve.  He had 2 uncles that served in Viet Nam, one of them being in the SeaBees.  Very friendly place.  A another customer couple thought I might be a food critic since I shot a photo of my food.  Told them about my trips and trying to sample the local cuisine. Gave them and Steve's the link to my web site.

Ordered a "Stein Haus" Brat for dinner.  Still hungry, I order another brat and stein of the same beer.  Would have liked to have a local beer, but once in a while have to check out the European brews.  It was then time to head to the motel.  Made a look around the pub to get a photo of the place.  Steve was just leaving the place.

Topped off the day with a Heath Blizzard.  Was a great day in La Crosse.  Have to see what I can schedule tomorrow.

Coon Valley to La Crosse

Slept in a little this morning.  Legs (hell my whole body) were complaining from yesterday's bike ride.  Breakfast with Peg & Gerry and Kay & John.  Loaded up my bags, took a couple photos and off towards La Crosse and the bicycle festival.

Little detour to drive up to Ganddad Bluff.  Took a few photos. nice view of La Crosse from that location.

Down to the river to stop in the Visitor's Center pick up area information.  After that, it was time to check into my lodging.  registered for the bike festival (on line) Tried to nap, but no go.  Grabbed the camera and drove downtown to find the park where the festival activities were scheduled. 

From there 2 more blocks to Bodega Brew Pub.  Had a ham and cheddar sandwich with kettle chips. Washed it down with a pint of Surly Scottish Ale.  This was a nice, mellow dark amber all.  Surly is a Minneapolis craft brewery.

Ended the day with a DQ Heath Blizzard.  With the heat and humidity (it has rained in town while registering for the festival) the ice cream hit the spot.  In for the night, need to spend some time deciding activities for the next couple days.

Angel Peak Scenic Area

Its amazing what lower altitude can do for getting a good night's sleep.  Only woke up a couple times in the night.  One of those times was because of a howling wind.  Looks like thoughts of a bike ride may go by the wayside.

Showered and dressed for breakfast and perhaps the day.  Back in the room, the body said "go back to bed".  Slept in to about 9am.  Did some work on the web site and made plans to tour the Angel Peak Scenic Area a little South from Bloomfield, NM.

Saw and photographed some awesome scenery.  When you get to the area, you are on the edge of a mini Badlands.  Drove the gravel road to its and, stopping at several turn-out to take photos.  Stopped to visit with a couple from the El Paso there camping and playing "tourist".

Back in Farmington, I wanted to find the bicycle trail.  Thought I had found it, and not interested in riding it.  Processed photos from the day.  Napped and watched.  By 4 pm, I was getting hungry.  Found my way to downtown and the 3 Rivers Brewery,

Tap room was too noisy, walked a few doors down to the restaurant.  The way things have been going on this trip, they were out of the Arroyo Amber Beer that I wanted.  The server suggested the Hop Scotch Ale.  Ordered the beer and the chicken-fried steak (on the lighter appetites menu) .  Nice change from the burger and fries.  The gravy was not the normal white, tasteless gravy.

On the way back to the hotel, I finally found the riverwalk.  Looks like it would be a nice trail to ride and photograph.  In the room for the night - repack the bags for Albuquerque.

Exploring the New Iowa Riverfront

Today was an awesome bike riding day.  Temperature in the upper 60s (near 70), slight breeze, and partly cloudy.  It had been ages since I rode the Iowa Riverfront trail North from the Western Historic Trails Center.

As i passed under the I-80 bridge I noticed that much of the bike lane pavement had replaced.  I really needed it.  Had been destroyed from heavy trucks parking on the bike lane.

Big change as I rode under the Harrah's parking garage. The casino boat was gone.  I had heard that it had been moved down river and no longer being used as a casino.

The big change, and my destination for my ride, is the new Hanafan Riverfront Park (upper photo). I had not seen the new park since it had been completed.  Also, I knew there was a function at the park - a celebration of kite flying.  The crew from the Trails Center called for me as I was riding the hybrid.  Brought that bike because with the rack and bag, I could pack my good camera.

Resting on the bike, I guess I was sitting too heavy on the top-tube.  Broke the kick-stand.  After my visit at the park, stopped for a couple photos and headed back.  On the way to the park, I rode the levee trail.

On the way back, I took the trail down along the riverfront drive as far Harrah's.  Greeted a guy on a fat bike - looked like he was also exploring the trail. It was a great day for exploring by bicycle!  Noticed the fruit tree blooms near Ameristar Casino.  Grabbed the D-SLR and shot a couple photos of the blooms.  (lower photo)

A quick stop at the bike shop for a new kick-stand.  Home, processed photos and blogging.

River's Edge Park

With a wind out of the SW yesterday, it was a good day to ride Iowa Riverfront Trail. Wanted to check out the work being done along the river. And, the weather was great for a ride - sunny and temperature in the 70s.

Brought the road bike for my ride. Parked at Big Lake. Lots of folks out to fish and picnic. It had been a while since I rode that was. Where the Ramada Inn used to be, there's a residence house. Streets added on the area.

I crossed N 25th St and down along I-29. Opted to walk the bike where a new pumping station was built. Pavement ended there for a short distance. Just a little too rough for my skinny tires.

Up on the levee, there's a chain link fence along the trail. The fence separates the trail from a new "haul road" between the levee and the river. Looks like they are hauling dirt and rocks along the river chute. At coffee, I heard they may be adding a marina in that area.

On over to the Bob Bridge and River's Edge Park (under construction). The photo above is of the park construction, the iowa Riverfront Trail and the Bob Bridge in the background. Surfing, I found some illustrations of what the park would look like when completed. Of course, the question that brings to mind: What happens when the river flood next time?

Rode on to the Western Historic Trails Center. Visited there, signed the book. While there, a couple of my friends stopped in while on there ride. They were headed to the Bob Bridge to check on the new park.

Took some more photos on the way back to the car. Turned out to be a very good 14 mile ride (specially riding with the wind on the way back).

World's Most Spectacular Pedestrian Bridges

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is one on the World's Most Spectacular Pedestrian Bridges, according to Travel + Leisure Magazine. From my experience with the Big Dam Bridge in Little Rock/N. Little Rock, Arkansas, I knew the "Bob Bridge" would become a destination in the Council Bluffs/Omaha area.

Here's what Travel + Leisure said about the importance of bridges like the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge...

"The most successful fall somewhere between spectacle and conduit because they blaze a path where no one felt the need for one before. The newly built Bob Kerrey Bridge linking Omaha, NE, to Council Bluffs, IA, surely attracts tourists, but it has also changed life for the locals. Footbridges encourage new patterns of development geared toward human-powered pace, especially along the nearby waterfronts."

On top of that, the cover photo of the 2011 Iowa Transportation Map (free road map) is of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge!

Council Bluffs Riverfront

This week work started on the Council Bluffs Riverfront - Phase 1. This section is just South of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Click HERE to see the plan.

Trees being cleared between the Iowa Riverfront Trail and river. for the new green space. On the other side of the trail construction is continuing.

My ride started from the Western Historic Trails Center. Rode to the pedestrian and over to the middle of the bridge. Took a few photos there. Then road on up to N. 25th St.

Stopped at the construction area again to take more photos. While just about ready to head back to the trail center, was hailed by Mike - a guy met on the trail Sunday. He was on his bike (thinking its his first bike ride of the year). Nice chat there.

On the way back home stopped again at Xtreme Wheels. Became a busy day at the shop. Almost like "old home day". Randy (and tribe) and Andrew were there. Few others I don't know remember (I hate it when that happens).