New bike Trail

        
  As part of our flood prevention they fixed a creek in  town that flooded every once in awhile causing a huge mess and destroying peoples home.  Fortunately for us they made a nice trail to run next to it.  It is a walking or bike trail and we decided to take it yesterday.  They aren't completely finished but you can still ride.

   Along side they have planted some pretty wild flowers and grasses and they have put rocks in the water so it looks like rapids in some places.  It will be very  pretty as long as the vandels leave it along.  Already some idiot gang has put graffiti on some of it and a few pigs have littered.  Sometimes I think the human race is hopeless.
       
                      

 
    
 
   

   Unfortunately the trail isn't that long.   I remember when I thought 3 miles was far but now if I do under 20 I  feel like I am slacking.  This was only a couple of miles to the end.  It is nice and hilly.  Not terrible hills, just hills to get up to the bridges to cross back and forth over the river.

        

 That was neat, going on both sides.  Single file of course.

           

         

   It brings you across town fairly rapidly and we saw quite a few people using it.  We rode the entire thing which is only a couple of miles and ends in the unfinished part.  I wonder if that will be the end or if they will go further?
 
               
                       the end.

                                    





        When we got back to the river I decided we hadn't riden enough so we kept riding.  It is pretty this time of year.

     

  

    

      We hit the trail to go to Riverside again. 

    

    Didn't see a Llama this time but did see some wild parsnip which will give you a nasty burn and blister if you tough it.  They should be cutting it down.

           

    Saw some pretty pink flowers and delicate white ones.

  

    Rick spends a lot of time waiting for me while I take pictures.

 

  We got to the park on the other end and rested.

 

the cabin
                                      





   Then we rode back to town.  We rode through town.  Check out this neat building.

      

   And then in the street is the grave marker of the Rev. Haddock who was killed trying to clean up all the saloons and whore houses and was murdered by a brewer.  A marker was put on the spot he was killed and is still here today.

        

  Sioux City was wild in its youth and they called us Little Chicago.  But the river trade died and Sioux City started to die also.

   All in all we did about 17 miles.  It was a good day to ride.

    

 

Boaters and llama and riding OH MY

   What a great day for a ride.  Cool, light breeze, overcast.  Loved it.  We are short on time so just went on the river ride.  It was great to be on the bikes again.  They have one area that is a gradual uphill.  Following that is this double S turn I love.  You can go all out on.  It is my own little tour de Julie
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   After the climb I love going as fast as possible around all the curves.  I was having a blast and threw my legs out, put my head back and let out a happy yell, IEEEEEEEEEE......only to round the corner and run into , (SERIOUS BIKE RIDERS).  Lean hard bodies bent over low handles, the trio in perfect time.  As one, startled helmeted faces jerking up to see this mad woman coming tearing around the corner.  Beet red face, legs straight out, mad happy grin on my face.  Oh my, what must they have thought.  "Try it", I hollered, IEEEEEEEE and flew around the corner, hopefully to never see them again, LOL.  Rick following behind...shaking his head and laughing.

   
   Then he calls out.  Is that a Llama in the water?  What, how strange.  By the time I got my camera out it had climbed out of the water, but it was a strange thing to see down by the river in their backyard.  We also saw boaters throwing a net.  Its illegal but I think they were game wardens.
  
     The riding is already easier.  Each ride gets easier and I am looking forward to a long long riding season.  We got to the park at one end where they have this really neat cabin.


    Isn't it cool.  Then we rested and rode back.  Old War Eagles monument watched us ride.
 
    It was a perfect day for a ride, we only wish we had time for a longer ride but plan on riding again tomorrow.