Two fine rides, May 6 and 7

 Our idea for this trip is to ride the Eastern part of the Great American Rail Trail, or GART.  GART is a work in progress, an effort to link the country on rail trails, old railway routes now converted to bike and pedestrian routes, and the stretch from Council Bluffs to Panora is an idea yet to be realized.  However, the route between Panora and MAdrid (not to be confused with MaDRID), Friday’s 41 mile ride, and today’s 44 mile ride into Des Moines, feature wonderful trails.  And the sun was shining, the winds mostly benign, and the hills shorter.  

The highlight of the two days, and indeed, it may prove to be a highlight of the whole trip, was the High Trestle Bridge and Trail.  

The High Trestle Bridge over the Des Moines River, was built on the pilings of the railroad bridge, after the old bridge was dismantled and used in a highway bridge. The arches echo the shape of coal mine cribbing, as this was coal country. 

View out over the bridge

In the evening, we drove back out far a quite magical walk on the lighted bridge 

I suspect we will see many restored stations along the way.  This one had a small museum, picnics area, and rest rooms. 

Yes, we are in Iowa farmland. 

                         John at an intersection.  This stretch of trail was concrete, and very smooth riding.

                           We rode for several miles along Saylorville Lake, a large, dammed lake. 

Not all the trail was so smooth.  Of course, we did ride through the trail closed sign. Most of the mile long stretch was easier going than the gravel road we encountered earlier in the week.

                                      A view of the botanical garden and downtown Des Moines.

                                                                                 Peace