Flint Hills Trail to the West and East - Ottawa, KS

The warm start to 2017 continued.  We decided to try out the newly updated Flint Hills Nature Trail around Ottawa.  They had finished clearing and resurfacing the sections around there. Including the bridge on the west side of town.  Which is suppose to be one of the destination features of the trail.  The trail surface was almost perfect having been used by very few at that point. 

Looking west from the Bridge

Looking South from the Bridge

Two Dorks checking out the new benches on the Bridge

Neat Mural in Downtown Ottawa (Link)

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Flint Hills Nature Trail -- Pomona east to Iowa Road

Today we attended the annual meeting of the Kanza Rail-Trail Conservancy in Ottawa, where an update was given on the ongoing work being done to complete the Flint Hills Nature Trail. Lots of neat things in store for the 117-mile trail from Osawatomie to Herington. When it's all done, it's going to awesome!

After the meeting, we rode the recently completed portion from Colorado Road in Pomona east to Iowa road where it is still yet to be developed.  During our 12-1/2 mile round trip ride we encountered 9 other cyclists (a couple of them were fellow meeting attendees), proving that if you build it, they will come.

Here is one of the new bridges. The side rails are constructed of metal, not wood, so it should outlast any current user of the trail.

The trail parellels the existing BNSF *extremely busy* active double-track line --- a little too close for this girl's comfort. I sometimes grossly misuse my imagination when I picture things like a stray nail or something on those metal rails, and then train cars scissoring and China Shipping containers flying through the air, with me riding alongside just a few feet away.  There is no way that scenario could end well.  I do the same thing when I'm sitting at a railroad crossing in my car, wishing I wasn't quite so close to those churning metal wheels. I really need to stop doing that.

All along this 6-mile section are signs warning equestrian users of train noise. I doubt I would want to ride a horse on this section.  Oh wait, I doubt I would want to ride a horse........ anywhere.  :)

Here was our turnaround point at Iowa Road. 

Here is where the trail users have to cross the very busy 65 mph Highway 68, and right there in the background is my least favorite highway railroad crossing EVER!  Why this highway does not have a bridge over this insanely busy double-track railroad is a complete fricking mystery to me.  I practically hyperventilate every time I have to drive over this thing, ever since the time I experienced being the first car in the line waiting for a train to cross, having the warning arms go up, so I started to proceed across the tracks and the lights came on and the arms started to come down AGAIN, as another train was approaching on the second track.  Shit like that is simply not cool.  Not cool at all. 

Crossing this highway on a bike was not my favorite thing, either. We did this once to say we did.  I would definitely not want to have it be a part of my daily routine. 

There were a lot of rubbernecking drivers during the time it took to get this self-timer picture set up. I'm glad they kept it between the lines. But maybe seeing us there will alert them to the fact that this pedestrian crossing IS utilized and hopefully they will remember that the next time they travel this way and be on the lookout.  Or maybe not.  Probably not. 

All in all, however, this was a great relaxing ride.  The trail surface is smooth and amazing. I'm dreaming of the day the portion of the trail around my town is in such great condition. What I heard at the meeting today was encouraging that it WILL indeed happen in the next few years.

Flint Hills Nature Trail - From Davis Road to Road Y(In Lyon County)

Because we were curious and already had the bikes loaded in the car, tonight we drove over to Davis Road west of Osage City and decided to ride to the west along the trail. This was our first time on this portion of the trail. We ended up riding all the way to Road Y which is in Lyon County. At that point there was a barb wire gate across the trail and it was getting late so we turned around at that point. We had a fellow traveler on the trail. A turkey refused to leave the trail for probably 3/4 of a mile, just running a long in front of us. The trail was pretty rough in spots and did a number on my back. It took several days of back exercises and a couple boughts of hanging on my inversion table to work the stiffness out. The trail had recently been mowed for about 3/4 of the ride. I am not a fan of riding where the weeds are up to my knees. We look forward to the days ahead when there will be new smoother surfaces! Almost forgot that we tried out my Sweetie's birthday present on the ride, our new Contour Roam2 video camera.   On the highest resolution setting we were able to record for 30 minutes on a 32GB SD card.  Unfortunately we had not yet figured out how to rotate the camera lens so that the video would not be sideways since the camera was mounted sideways on my helmet as you will see in pictures below.   So you won't get to see any of the cool video we shot until our next ride! When I have figured out how to rotate the lens! :)

Unfortunately our signs are being used for target practice!

This creep keeps following me!

Styling with our Contour Roam2!

Can you see my teeth chattering from the bumpy ride?

End of the Line at Road Y - Barb Wire fence across the trail!

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Cleaning up Flint Hills Nature Trail -- Osage City 9th St to 13th St

As we have been riding the in-town Osage City portion of the Flint Hills Nature Trail, we have noticed parts are a bit overgrown.....

and trashy......

.... so we spent 2 hours on a Saturday morning cleaning it up.

We trimmed limbs.....

and picked up trash.

 Thought we might have even earned a dollar for our work......

But it turned out to just be 50 cents.

When you go down under the trail to pick up crap litter like this......

You also get to see neat things like this.

The total trash that we collected (didn't get a picture of the broken plastic television case.)

We decided to leave this particular low hanging limb as is, for the purpose of deterring vehicles on the trail.

*** Update!  

As a lesson to all out there! When trimming branches you should always wear long pants and a long sleave shirt so a couple of days later you do not look like this!!! Lesson Learned!   ~~S

Flint Hils Nature Trail - Council Grove to S 400 Road

Been super busy between work and trying to get my Mustang ready for a trip to a car show in June that I have not gotten much bike riding done this spring.   So my Sweetie and I made a deal that at least one day this weekend we would go for a bike ride.   So on Sunday since we were halfway to Council Grove doing one of our odd jobs,  we decided to go on to CG and eat lunch and then head out on the trail and see how far we could get before I pooped out!

Here is a little peek at my 1985 Mustang project before we get started.  Completely replacing 28 year old suspension parts.

 

Enough about cars!  This is a blog about bicycling which currently is a better mode of transportation than above car! :)    

It rained off and on Saturday so the trail was a bit soft in places but quickly dried.  So we had to dodge muddy spots as we rode along.   The surface as you ride out from Council Grove is smooth but has a tendency to get muddy in places because it appears to be clay based.  

Council Grove Trailhead off Dunlap Road

Not far out from Council Grove we spotted our first animal of the ride,  I spotted a turkey running down the trail away from us.   Not long after that she exclaimed what's that standing along the edge of the trail.   Visions of the World's Largest Prairie Dog in Oakley, Ks danced in my head as I told her that's what it was,  our talking startled it into scampering off into the grass.  The song I'm Alright by Kenny Loggins always makes an appearance in my rapid channel shifting brain whenever I see a Prairie Dog.   thanks to Caddyshack!  I know gophers and prairie dogs are not the same animal.  They both dig holes in the ground! The association in my brain doesn't care! :) 

Now back to our ride!  

Along the trail, I believe by S 525th Rd there is an old stone school house or church that they are working on repairing.   We stopped and took some pictures on our way back by. 

 <3   Photobombed by a Bunny!

We rode on out to S 400 Rd which was roughly 5 miles out.   We stopped to take some pictures because the view was quite breathtaking.   Not sure pictures do it justice.

Camera is facing South-Southwest

About midway through our ride the trail surface changed to a little heavier gravel surface which I much prefer.  Its easier to ride on especially if the surface is a little wet.  Us bigger folks don't sink in so much! :)   Plus it seems to hold up better with less maintenance.   All in all it was an enjoyable ride that ended up being a little over 10 miles by the time we got back.   We did see one small snake and another turkey.   That was all for animal sightings outside of your normal birds,  rabbits, and squirrels.   I am outta here, So Long and thanks for all the Fish!  oops I mean Just Keep Pedaling!    

S~~

We also encountered six other cyclists on our ride.... three separate groups of two. Good to see it being utilized.   ~~ H

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Watching people fall from the sky! -- Flint Hills Nature Trail (Osage City)

College boy is home for the summer and he actually offered to ride with me tonight.  

 Mom didn't ask, or anything.  :) 

We rode out and got on the trail at Indian Hills Road on the east edge of Osage City. 

If you are on the Flint Hills Nature Trail in Osage City on the weekends, 

you will be treated to a sky filled with colorful parachutes. 

Skydive Kansas has been helping people jump out of perfectly good airplanes in the skies above Osage City since 1995, operating out of the soon-to-be-expanded Osage City Municipal Airport. 

 

Tandem jump!!!

 

Sitting 'er down easy. 

 

Plane coming back in to pick up the next group of divers.

Finally Spring has Arrived!

Today finally after several set backs, broken sprocket on my bike,  new chain that didn't fit,  and a cold and flu bug that held on for two weeks! I got out on the flint hills natural trail with the bike!  It was a beautiful day! Temperatures finally into the 80's, it was almost hot! As you can see in the pictures the trees are not even fully leaved out and its the 4th of May!  Spring has been late in coming!  I rode out west from Osage City to Valencia road and back.   Spring is the best time to explore these trails as the weeds have not grown up yet and the grasshoppers and spider webs are not yet out in force.  So your able to just enjoy the open air and just keep pedaling!

Fancy New sign by the entrance the trail of K-31 on outskirts of Osage City

Looking back east on trail across Valencia Road

Very pretty area with old railroad bridge between K-31 and Hoch Road

Looking back east towards K-31 from old railroad bridge

Intersection at Valencia Road

Looking west from Valencia road intersection

Looking east into Osage City from K-31 crossing   Looking forward to the day there will be real Trail in this picture!