Earlier in the week we had really good weather so took off work a little early on Thursday and Jake and I hit the trail. We followed our bike trail down to the Des Moines River and crossed the old railroad bridge (more on that later). We also tried venturing on a mountain bike trail (more on that as well).
The trail behind out house is the Trestle to Trestle Trail (not to be confused with the High Trestle Trail). It follows the old Inter-Urban Railway that stretched at one point from Colfax to Perry.
This is how you cross the Des Moines River
This is what it looks like on the other side
Having some fun while checked things out
More of the bridge
Looking down the river
This is looking from the bridge toward Euclid Ave
On the way back, we tried the Sycamore Trail which is for mountain bikes. It starts right by the river and if you followed it far enough, you would end up behind the gravel pits where the Snells go boating.
Here is the beginning...
Here is the trail. Jake and I were fighting the mosquitoes...
We had to stop and turn back due to the trail being flooded. We agreed we would have to come back when it was dry. This next picture shows this trail coming out of the woods and joining the regular bike trail by the pond...
Here is an aerial photo to show what we were up to. The red is the regular bike trail behind our house. The blue traces the Sycamore Trail for mountain bikes. It's pretty rugged. The yellow is about where we had to turn back so we have much more to do...
Here's a picture to to give you perspective on where we were. This is a picture from 1965. Look for the railroad bridge...
This is what the rails used to be used for...(1949 Des Moines Railway streetcar heading for then Harding Rd).
Back on the trail and heading home...
Caterpillar rescue...
Taking a break. Someone put together a bench. On our way down, we encountered a biker taking a dip in the pond...
Home at last and time to enjoy a float!
