Iowa, Cousins, and the High Trestle Trail

On Saturday, we continued a little east and south into Iowa. We had visited Iowa last year so not a new state for Gracie...

We were able to meet up with Carl's cousin Jenice and husband Gary for dinner and visiting -- we had a great time catching up with them!

Besides visiting Jenice and Gary, Carl was wanting to bike the High Trestle Trail in Ankeny, Iowa. He and Sue had stopped in Ankeny on their first RV trip after retirement and did their annual bike ride with friends Greg and Candace, and Bob and Kathy on the High Trestle Trail. He wanted to do it again now with our e-bikes.

We weren't sure that the weather was going to be favorable...

... but it turned out to be a nice day! The trail starts out in Ankeny going behind homes...

... but it soon is in farmland. We kept hearing crickets singing as we were riding... we said it sounded like they were traveling with us...

... when we stopped, we found a grasshopper had caught a ride (he may have just hopped on when we stopped).

More beautiful farmland

As we got near the Des Moines River (and the trail's namesake bridge) we went through a few tunnels on the trail.

The bridge was 2500' (or so) -- Carl video'd the whole way across -- I didn't figure anyone wanted to see 2.5 minutes of bike riding -- so here's the fast version -- bet you didn't know e-bikes went that fast!

Selfie from the overlook

Halfway point on the far side of the bridge.

Heading back across the bridge

On our way back

"High Trestle Trail - Madrid" - shops and restaurants near the trail.

In the town of Madrid, we thought this was a funny sign... other places had crossings for the bike path -- a button you could press to get the traffic to stop. "Madrid **Loves** bikers" -- but don't expect vehicles to stop for you!

Some of the signs we saw along the bike trail... some identified "Proud Farm Bureau Member"...

... someone who wants to ensure the proper people get involved if a cow or calf gets out...

... another "Proud Farm Bureau Member" sign.

By the time we were about 2/3 the way back, quite a headwind had come up...

...I passed Carl (using the throttle on my e-bike) leaning down to try to get a little less buffeting by the headwind. He thought I was trying to get extra speed, but I was honestly just trying to keep my bike helmet from strangling me as it tried to blow off!

All in all, it as a 44 mile ride - a LOT longer than we would have attempted on our conventional bikes. Sue and Carl did it on their regular bikes back in 2014... I admire that they did it! Even with the e-bikes, it was a long ride, and our backsides are not interested in another bike ride anytime real soon!