KRT+ Kickapoo Park

Loading up the Raleighs and headed to pick up Dwight
Dwight's Novara Rondonee is aboard

Arrival at Kickapoo
We let the Dodge do the climbing  😄

Bicycles reassembled
Dave and Dwight focused on something

And we are off -- almost

Skyline Drive to the back entrance to the Fair Grounds and rail trail

Interstate 74 roars below us

Passing thru the unremarkable Fair Grounds

Beginning of the Rail Trail
Cycling toward the former RR trestle

Trestle
Quarter mile long and 90 feet above the Middle Fork at the highest point


Difficult to imagine riding a locomotive across -- long boiler and track looking ahead, and nothing but air looking down from the side window
Decking is now Ipe also known as Amazon Walnut
Read more about the trestle HERE


Former right of way appears to have been rather wide

Trail continues in southern Oakwood and then terminates



Veterans Memorial in Oakwood

Rest Area

Bicycle sculpture

Lots of tracks indicate frequent use

View south
Middle Fork River

Approximately 90 feet to the river

View north


l
Flood debris

Back at the Dodge

Return to the truck
Dave will load his bicycle, Dwight and I will descend a very steep slope
Dave meets us at the bottom and we won't have to climb that slope going back

Dwight shot past me on the down slope and continued on -- here he is returning



Back on the main road, we cycle to the Mountain Bike trailhead

We are all on road bicycles and opt for the gravel Haul Road which turned out to be a bit more of a challenge than we anticipated
Went too far down slope on loose gravel and then had to re-climb to the more suitable surface

Haul Road the OK part
Too busy pedaling and keeping balance to stop or take photos on the loose gravel part

Smooth asphalt on the way back to the Dodge  👍


Murky Yucky pond

Dave struggles with cell phone -- impossible to read the screen in sunlight -- mine too

Raleigh back in home port

A truly great and memorable ride enjoyed by all --- except for that one part  😡



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