Flint Hills Nature Trail -- Osawatomie to Rantoul

This afternoon our daughter had her district cross country meet in Mound City. Since we had to pass through Osawatomie to get there, we planned to head out in the morning and ride the easternmost stretch of the Flint Hills Nature Trail that we have not yet experienced, from Osawatomie to Rantoul and back. A morning ride at the end of October could have been sketchy weather conditions, but it was a beautiful morning for a ride, 45 degrees, not much wind, except for on one isolated wide open patch where it's probably windy 365 days a year.

Beautiful stretch of trail, part of it which follows along the Marais des Cygne River, although the trail is about 30 feet above the river, so you're not really at eye level with it.  I was happy to find that many of the old telegraph poles still exist on this stretch. They were a common sight in my childhood, but over the ensuing decades, they have slowly disappeared from the landscape.

Interesting also to happen upon an airplane boneyard just as you approach Rantoul from the east.  Interesting, fascinating and slight creepy, all wrapped up into one.  Google informs that this is Dodson International, an aircraft salvage company.  Here's a blog post someone wrote about it, because if you're like me, you are curious about oddities in unexpected places.  :)  http://boardingarea.com/flyingwithfish/2012/07/02/an-avgeek-day-out-in-kansas-field-now-this-is-fun/


~~H

It was a truly beautiful day for a ride, an equally beautiful trail, and I got to share it with my beautiful Bride!  Topped that off with my daughter finishing 1st at her regional with a new PR!

So next weekend we are headed to the State Cross Country meet at Rim Rock by Lawrence!  Way to Go Little Awesome!

Ended the day with some Ribs from Guy & Mae's in Williamsburg! Truly a day made in Heaven!

S~~

Ready to ride!

Osawatomie trailhead.

Bridge missing. Reward if found.
Interesting comment from ""Somerled" on this blog post regarding said missing bridge:
http://www.thedirtbum.com/2008/10/steep-hills-and-old-bridges/

More Kansas Beauty!

Love Birds!

B E A U Tee FULL!

Just Keep Pedaling!

Beautiful blue Kansas sky and a pilot who forgot his phone back at the airport :)

Several original telegraph poles still exist along this section of trail

Look at me I'm a Telegraph Pole!

Neat old stone wall

Unexpected trailside view east of Rantoul:  An airplane graveyard!

Our turnaround point.

Lunch in downtown Osawatomie

Very nice restaurant with very good food.

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