Day 3 on the Trail

The previous night saw strong wind gusts that shook the tent often violently. Walking up the morning of day three was a little chilly and as dawn broke the wind stayed. The wind would prove to be our constant companion the rest of the day. As we set off, down the Racoon Trail from the Dallas County Fair Grounds in Adel, it started to rain with a strong headwind. This mixed with the uncertainty of whether or not the trail we were currently on would be closed for the next eight miles with no real alternate route option.

Advice of Locals

After riding for a couple of blocks on a gravel road adjacent to that section of the trail we encountered a local man who said that the trail was passible but none of the bridges had guard rails or smooth transitions from trail to bridge. This would require us to stop at every bride, lift our bikes onto the bride and walk them across. Well with no better option we took his advice! (If you ever have the chance to take the advice of a local… we highly encourage you to do so!!)  We soon found out that work was underway to resurface the trail allowing for a very fast ride only having to stop and hike a bike a few times.

Coffee Oddessy

The next hurdle to overcome was our strong desire for caffeine. As we drew nearer to the small hamlet of Redfield we soon realized the only caffeinated oasis was in fact a Casey’s. These beauties are like mile markers here in the Midwest and most small towns have one. Prior to stopping at this local hot spot, we decided to check out the town’s trailhead. The trailhead was an old train connection station with a little room providing snacks and maps. Inside was a solitary angel of a woman who told us all about the station’s history and offered us water and candy. She corroborated our suspicion that the only place in town for coffee was Casey’s. We happily accepted the water and stories. Since we arrived late in the morning the kind Casey’s cashier gave us a breakfast sandwich to complement our coffee.

100 Mile Mark

With any trip comes the sort of pre-planned benchmarks. Sometimes these significant moments happen spurraticlly. Leaving Reford the sun came out, while still alittle windy, with a smooth trail and fun bridge crossings. This is where we hit the 100 mile mark for the trip. I think I startled Christina a little because I yelled this fact proudly coinciding with an impromptu karaoke outburst. When Christina and I proceeded to party like we were the only ones on the trail…becuse we were! Even if we hadnt been we would have still partied together!

Tikki Bar on the lake

After the fanfare, we encountered a small group of three at the next rest stop. We were searching for a place to get some lunch and maybe a cold one. They directed us to none other than a Tikki Bar on the Lake! This was a beautiful rest stop to soak in the view while throwing back a delightful trail beer.

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Priorites

After leaving the Tikki bar, which was a restaurant, in reality, the trail was smooth carrying us to our last stop before setting up camp at Sportsmans Park. In the middle third of the day the trail, while paved, was very bumpy. Our butts were tired and a little saddle sore if I’m being honest. I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the fact that the only pavement in this area was the bike trail. All of the roads in this area are gravel or dirt. Thank you, Iowa for having your priorities in order!

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Day 4 Sportsmans Park to High Trestle

Night three was hot upon arriving at camp and we were blessed by a beautiful sunset. However, the temperature dropped throughout the night and when dawn arose we found ourselves shivering. Leaving our last campsite was cold so we decided to rock the only long sleeves we had our Piggy’s revenge shirts with Christina sporting sock under her biking sandals.

The Sights of Perry

After a few miles on the trail, we hit Perry. We were able to get some coffee at Perry Perk LLC, which had a wonderful dog who loves ear scratches. We sat outside between the buildings gazing at wonderful murals. At caboose park, we found a taco shop inside the caboose that was, sadly, closed due to COVID. Across the Street, we found a Trailhead that had once been the town’s train station and a giant bike sculpture celebrating when RAGBRI came through this sleepy Iowa town. On the way out of Perry, the gravel gauntlet began.

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The Gravel Gauntlet

I hadn’t mentioned before that Christina and I was on Roadbikes with 28mil Tires. While great for the paved trail they were terrible for the large gravel we now found ourselves riding. For the next six miles, we endured getting thrown around by large gravel and rooster tails of dust from passing cars. Finally, after the endurance trial, a car passed us and the dust just stopped! that was an indication of pavement and we were not disappointed. Back on the pavement for the last few miles to the High Trestle Bridge!

High Trestle Bridge in Daylight

Upon arrival at the High Trestle Bridge, we hit 150 miles exactly for the trip and were rewarded with stunning views. We had to take the opportunity to ride across in the daylight. To fully experience this bridge, you need to see it both day and night! While riding at speed under the bridge supports, you feel the bridge turning in on itself. It is really quite amazing!

Closing Thoughts

This trail was amazing as were the people of Iowa. This trail system is extensive and almost fully funded to finish the connection from the Racoon Trail to the High Trestle. If you can please donate to the cause and then come and ride the trail!

If you missed it make sure to check out Des Moines Ride Part 1!