We got home from our trip to Scandinavia on Thursday and on Sunday Mike, Jim, and I loaded our bikes into Mike’s F350 and headed to Iowa. We met Ken and Bill in Council Bluffs for dinner. For the next two days, we biked parts of the Wabash Trace. At times, the trees formed a perfect canopy, with occasional openings to view the Iowa farmland. Trail surfaces varied from soft and muddy to asphalt with wide cracks to smooth concrete.
At the end of the first day, we were welcomed to Iowa by the Pie Man. He explained how he had actively promoted the development of the Wabash Trace, the number of miles that he logged each year on his bicycle, and how he came to be known as the Pie Man.
We stayed at Hotel Pattee for several nights. It was a bit more expensive (and certainly more exotic) than most of our lodging, but three of us managed to split one room three ways. Every room had a different theme, and as you might guess we got the kid’s room. We were humbled by the bowling alley in the basement.
The best route had to be the High Trestle Trail. Our trail began near the High Trestle Bridge, then passed through numerous small towns. The Sunday crowd filled many bars and restaurants along the way.
After six days on bicycle trails and one day on a golf course, we drove to Grand Island for the night and made it home the next day. Thanks to Ken for making the detailed plans for another Old Chicago adventure.