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Bike Ride Around Sioux City

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 One of our favorite rides around my town. Archives | Subscribe to Alerts Alerts Subscribe to Alerts | Feeds
   

All About Me

  One of our favorite rides starts down at the riverfront, through the downtown of my town of Sioux City, Iowa, to one of our favorite bars for a cold one before we ride back to the river ending up at the Jolly Rogers bar on the river for one last cool one.  We ride alot and I take pictures alot.  I am a picture taker so this is an album of our rides.

 
Thursday, July 3, 2008
10:12:19 PM EDT

another ride

  I didn't take pictures today.  I am just training now and trying to ride as hard and fast as possible and get my legs muscles built up.  But we did good.  Twice as far and in the hardest speed as that builds up the muscles.

    I was just bragging about how I thought my asthma was cured.  I think my lungs are as good as they used to be.  Wham, wheezing and gasping for breath.  Of course as soon as I rounded a hill  there were people at the top.  When your heavy you do think about the impression you make, and you don't mean a good impression.  So I rode on puffing on my inhaler and soon was able to breath again.  Good clean air, deep grateful breaths.




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Wednesday, July 2, 2008
8:08:04 PM EDT

A better ride

  I must admit it has been slow getting started on our riding.  But I think we are getting there.  Today's ride went better.  I didn't get rubber legs this time and we doubled our distance plus more important I am back riding in the gear I was in last year with is the 3rd gear usually around 3 to 5.  I can tell my legs are stronger.  We rode the South Sioux bike trail which I must admit isn't that hilly but it was very windy.  The head wind is a killer.

  We like the trail though town as it goes right down the middle of neighborhoods.


    Poor Rick as usual gets slowed down by my pictures.



   When we cut through the high school I saw this poor hawk getting swooped on by these 2 birds.  They were probably protecting their nests.



    It looked big enough to take care of itself though


      They have this weird trail by the school made of recycled tires.  Spongy feeling and smells.



   It was hot today and I forgot my sunscreen.  Since I have had to have some pre-cancerous moles removed that wasn't the brightest thing and I could tell I was burning already.  Still I was having a great time.  I have mentioned I love to ride?

     This trail ends at the lake.  We stopped at the dock.



     In the water you could see all these small bluegill. 


       They are a pain when your fishing as they nibble your bait off and aren't any fun to catch. Except for the kids love it.  They hide in the seaweed.



     We took the long way back and looked for some sprinklers to ride through but no one has to water with all the rain we have been having.  Bummer.  So we stopped by the river at one of the sand beaches.



    We left our bikes on the grass and went down to soak our feet.  I love riding in croc's because you can just walk on in.





      Then we sat on the bank and rested while my feet dried.  It was lovely out.





      So that was our ride.  2 months to get ready for the Black Hills.  I can't wait.


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Monday, June 30, 2008
5:15:28 PM EDT

yesterday's ride

 


When I was young my mom used to tell me to get my nose out of my book and go out and play. Life goes by to swiftly she would say to just read about it. Go and live it. I couldn't really understand that as a child but as an adult I can. It both frightens and stimulates me now how fast time goes by. I have trouble sitting idly by not doing anything because what if...what if this is the last day of my life and I wasted it not smelling flowers or looking at the blue of the sky reflected in the darker blue of the water. What if I missed that infectious laugh of a child chasing a kite or the tender look exchanged by a long time married couple. What if this is the last nice day to ride my bike.

     It has been raining and storming off and on for days. I am tired of waiting for a perfect bike riding day. Any day will have to do. Today will have to do. High winds, cool breeze. Maybe get rained on. Maybe get really tired. But I want to do it regardless. So I am loaded up on water, my batteries to my camera are loaded. I have checked the air in my tires and I will soon be off. See ya all later.

   We rode out at Adam's and it was perfect.  Windy but perfect.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2008
12:49:03 AM EDT

First ride of the year



  Bike riding tip number 1.   Never...and I mean never take months off without doing any sort of exercise and expect to ride like you used to.  Yikes.  I was sure I was having a heart attack a couple of times and we only went 7.6 miles.



         The weather felt warm until we were actually riding.  I was not dressed warm enough initially.  I needed a hat, gloves and something around my neck.  Fortunately.....well maybe not, being in such terrible shape I soon worked up a heck of a sweat. 

   Why is you always meet people on the trails when you are climbing an incline.  Gasping for breath and beet red in the face I breathlessly gasp out....to your left, and ring my bell.  What?, they ask, as my voice was barely above a whisper.  Left!, I wheeze and that is all I can manage.  With a look of alarm they leap to the side....visions of how to do the CPR they learned 10 years ago running through their brains.  I am always a vision when I ride.  Of what I can only imagine.  Being fair skinned it doesn't take much to turn me bright red.

      I am doomed I think.  Visions of climbing huge massive mountains in the black hills loom darkly before my eyes.  Why oh why did I slack off on my working out.  What was I thinking about?  Why did I let myself gain some weight back?

   Behind me Rick happily chatting away and asking me questions.  Questions.... as if I can truly spare the breath to gasp out a reply to him.  Reason number 856 why it doesn't bother me to steal the covers at night.   Darn man.

    Finally I get to the end of the trail.  Not the entire trail, just the first half.  I still have to go back.  I climb off my bike on wobbly legs which instantly want to cramp up on me.  Sadly I look at my speedometer to see we have only gone 3.3 miles.  How could this be.  How could I have slipped so far.

    I am happy to see, yes I am terrible, Rick sag to the curb and voice my sorrow.  Gee, I really let myself go this winter.
 

        Evilly this makes me happy.  I am not alone.  After all if he wasn't such a great cook I wouldn't be in this bad of shape to start with and strangely enough it give me the incentive I need.  OK I say, lets start back.  And it is time to start the gym again.  By this time I realize I will need more then riding to get back to the shape I was in.  I need to pump some iron and use that stupid treadmill.  But you know what?  I am pumped about it.  I contacted the place we are thinking of renting and made reservations.  At Forest Haven. I am not quitting.  I am going on a bike ride.  A great bike ride.




       So we rode back.  It wasn't easier, but for some reason that gave me the push I needed.  I vow to get it back.  I want to get it back.  We pulled up to the van and I felt great.  The first tiny step to going on our ride.


  Pulling up to the Lewis and Clark building where we had parked our van I even felt I could ride more.  But I am not pushing it.   7.6 miles today.  10 the next time, then 15 and so on and so on.

    


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Saturday, July 14, 2007
11:49:38 PM EDT

Another beautiful day on the trails

  When I was younger I was so worried about what others thought.  I wouldn't join the gym in case anyone thought a heavy woman shouldn't be there.  I wouldn't ride my bike because I wasn't your typical bicyclist, tight nylon pants, sleek skinny wasp like body.  Matching jersey, pants, and socks with their helmet mirror set just right.   For too many years I put off doing the things I wanted to do....waiting until next year when I lost weight and could show myself without being ashamed.

    Thank goodness I got older and wiser.  Before it was too late.  Old enough to know my body is never going to look like that no matter what I do.  Wise enough to know I loved riding my bike and even like working out.  So who gives a flying turtle what anyone thinks.  Because life is way to short to think like that.  So I go to the gym.  I ride my bike.  My hair isn't perfect, it is dripping with sweat.  I don't wear makeup because it would just run on my beat red face.  But I am having fun.  I am in much better shape then I look.  I am having a better time then some I see on the trails....those who are there because it is cool to be seen riding a bike.  Like people who will only ride a harley.  It isn't about the ride to them, its about how they look to others.  With me.....its the ride.  So here we go.

    I wanted to ride early because it is cooler and the light is better for pictures.  I just can't get started early.  It was about 11 when we got to the trails.  Already hot and humid.  Today I wanted to hit every trail and some that weren't trails.  We started off by going on the maintenance road.  Just two tracks in the tall grass.  Not a bike trail...not sure if we were even suppose to be on it, but really nice anyway.  Not maintained.  Wild, like it would have been 100 years ago.  If not for the electrical power lines running through it.  Sigh.  Since it wasn't a real trail it was slower going and I stayed in 2.9 gear.


   We saw all kinds of turkey feathers.  Since we are having more sightings of mountain lions and bobcats in the area I kept my eyes pealed.  I would have loved some pictures.  But none showed their faces, just their scat and leftovers from their turkey dinners.  Rick was having bike trouble so I kept getting way far ahead before I realized he wasn't behind me.  So I made him go first.  Smart because in the trees the spiders have webs across the paths.


   We kept going in and out of the trees breaking up the trail until we got to the meadow I wanted pictures of the other day.


   Here were the purple and white flower I saw the other day and the smell, just heavenly.














  

     We used the washroom and then hit more of the mowed area.  Our goal today was to do every trail.  Back to the sand and grass and dried mud area's.






 I was drinking cytomax, a bike drink to make your muscles recover faster so was doing pretty good.  It is different riding on grass and sand instead of pavement or gravel.  More resistance.  It felt good to use my muscles.  My gut may be shot, but my legs are like steel.  Thank good something is hard like a rock on me, LOL.
  
    There were lots of people on the trails.  Am I the only one in the world who sweats and gets as red as an apple when I ride?  Sheesh.  They all look at me like they think I am going to code any second.  In reality I feel fine, just look like crap.  Trouble with being fair skinned and menopausal.  We hit the gravel trail and finished the loop.



   Rick was still having trouble with his bike.  He has 1500 miles on it so it must be time for a tune-up.  Better get it done before the Black hills.



We saw some neat things on the ride.  Don't know why my pictures are so fuzzy.  Need to clean my lens.  




   Watch out for the poison ivy.



    And the corn is looking great this year.  It must be at least 7 to 8 ft tall.



    We finished up the trail after seeing some pretty berries and a couple of snakes

.

    Our riding isn't as strong as it was last year.  I was in 2nd most of time instead of 3rd gear where I rode last year.  After 9 miles I was ready to call it a day but I could have done more.  The heat just saps your well power.  All in all 9 miles wasn't bad but it just didn't feel like enough.  I am worried about Rick this year.  I am ahead of him often.  He is lagging and not because he is taking his time.  He has trouble keeping up at times.  With me!  I can't wait until he gets his heart problems fixed.  I worry about him these days.  Hopefully we can have his surgery before our bike ride in the hills if we get to go.

   So after we smoked some chicken and had a lovely dinner we went downtown and sat outside drinking a bottle of wine and relaxing.  Life is good.




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Sunday, July 1, 2007
11:55:54 PM EDT

Bike Ride around Sioux City 2

  We got some new art work downtown, so we went for a ride.  First we started downtown on 3rd street and took the Floyd river trail to Leeds.  Not the prettiest starting point but central for our purpose.



  We wanted to see how they ended the trail now.  This part of the ride has no trees or shade so it gets very hot.  No place to sit or rest either.  Just a hot long trail, well not that long.  Only 3.5 miles to Leeds.  They had mowed and it was pretty.


  There were Canadian geese in the river and it was still fairly cool.



   At one time I looked back and Rick was way back behind me.  That doesn't happen often.


    At the end they didn't finish the trail.  To get to the street you had to drive over a dirt pile.  I hope they finish it when they get the track laid.  We didn't go all the way as we saw a couple of dogs, big dogs, at the end.  So we turned around and started back.





   Going back we were unfortunate enough to have to ride into the wind.  I hate riding against the wind and the 3.5 miles seemed like 8. 

   When we got downtown we decide to ride through town and take the new trail again.  I am trying to get my training in so if we make it to the black hills I can go further then 3 miles. 

   By this time is was hotter.  I had trouble getting my bike to shift into 1st gear, (yes I use the first gear occasionally going up steep hills), just call me whimpy.  I slipped my chain and did a real number on my ankle.  Rick fixed it though and we continued.

        I wanted to show this funny sign.  Duh.


   Starting to see more evidence the trail is being used, mostly by the trash people leave behind.  Ticks me off as there are garbage cans all along this trail.  And the big bad gangsters with their spray paint.  Get a life.

   Back to town I wanted to get the new art work they put along the streets.  They are so good from local artists.   Most were bronzes.




















     This one is called Victory.







   The one above is called A Close Knit Family, hummmmm







         The Kiss, I like this one.



   Downtown has planted some beautiful Lilies and you know how much I love flowers,
















   The next couple of sculptures I really like also.  Especially the Chocolate lab.













    Love this last one showing the importance of learning first, then games.  Titles Priority.

    The ride was only 15 miles and ended with my favorite.  A cold Widmer's at Sweet Fannies.


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Sunday, June 24, 2007
5:02:01 PM EDT

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.

    

 


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Tuesday, June 19, 2007
3:14:23 PM EDT

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
.
   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.



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Saturday, May 19, 2007
11:59:06 AM EDT
Feeling Happy

2nd ride of the year

  Word of advice.  Don't take the entire winter off of any exercise program and expect to pop on your bike and ride like you did the year before.  Doesn't seem to work that way, LOL.  That will teach me.

   I wanted to ride with my sons at Adams so we loaded up all the bikes.  A friend of my sons came also.  Here we were with 2 people who ride 50 to 60 miles at a time and at speeds I could only dream of. 


My sons bike weights only about 9 pounds, seems so light compared to the 24 pounds my bike weighs.  But then I didn't pay almost 3000 for mine either.
 

  It was a beautiful day but very windy.  Bad wind.  Wind is a bicycle riders enemy.  My legs have lost the muscles from last year and I struggled at first and wondered if I would even be able to do this easy 8 mile ride.  Wow.  I need to get back in shape.  Had to take my asthma medicine also which I had forgot about all winter.  But once I loosened up it went better.  It really doesn't take long to get back to riding.  We didn't do near the speed we are used to and the boys rode around twice to our once.  Fast also, oh to be young again.

   It smells so good out there with all the wild flowers and wild roses blooming.

   The trail was in pretty good shape and I only had to move about 2 branches.


  My oldest has lost 50+ pounds and is doing really heavy work as a waste management specialist so had no trouble outriding us old folks also using one of his brothers bikes.

    It was later in the day and the snakes were all over the trail sunning themselves.  Little gardener snakes that I almost hit a couple of times,  I love snakes so didn't want to ride over them.

   By the time we got to the overlook even Rick was regretting taking the winter off.

 I was my usual sweating red self, happy though.

  We stayed for awhile at the overlook and rested and then off we went to make our way back to the park.


  So here it is the next day and I feel great, no sore muscles and ready to go again.  I know from last year that each ride gets easier and I have trails to hit and places yet to explore.





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Saturday, September 16, 2006
5:30:39 PM EDT

    Finishing the Wabash Trace Ride

                  

    This is the final leg of the Wabash Trace Trail ride. Now we know other people have ridden further, and other people have done it faster. That was never our goal. We just wanted to ride it, and we did.

We were so lucky in the weather. We picked the days a couple of weeks before. The weather was rainy up until the night before we left, it rained the day after we returned, but we had beautiful sunny days both days we were gone. The day of the ride itself we had a very light breeze and the temps peaked out at 84. Perfect. The next day they had strong winds. If we had chosen any other days the ride wouldn't have happened. So lucky.

Even though we were up very early it was after 7 by the time we got started. The river and fields had a heavy bank of fog, but we didn't have any trouble driving.

 It was after 10 am by the time we got checked into our motel. Thankfully we then made a decision we were both very happy about later. Initially we were going to leave from the hotel on our bikes and ride through town to the trailhead. Since we were so late already I convinced Rick to drive the car to the start of trail. We were both so happy we had made that decision later.

       

    

  

The ride was pretty and started out with a gradual hill though trees. Time for the 5 hour energy as my legs were already tired.

 

 Boy does that stuff make climbing hills easier. I felt great. We went through tunnels and over bridges and it was perfect.

              

       

Most of the view was just of corn fields which were already brown and dead and sunflowers were everywhere.

         

              

   I saw some flowers and plants we hadn't seen the last time I got some nice pictures of.

   

       

   

 I didn't take a lot of pictures of the trail as how much of a long straight gravel trail can you take pictures of. We did see some pretty fields of prairie flowers that Rick got some pictures of.

         

   8 miles into the ride is the yoga shelter where we rested. It looked like someone made grapevine wreaths and put them on the fence. Pretty.

        

     

The first leg was from Shenandoah to Coin. Coin is a small town and on the side of the trail they have a park you can stop at with a real bathroom, shower, and you can camp.

       

    We didn't go into town but there is a restaurant there and you can get a cold drink. This part was 12.5 miles long and mostly uphill from Shenandoah. We ate our sandwich and rested there.

The next stretch from Coin to Blanchard is only 5.4 miles. It is pretty flat and