Planning a bike trip can be as much fun as actually riding the route. We planned a bike route that was about 150 miles around Des Monies, connecting many different bike trails, including but not limited to the high trestle trail, Raccon trail, Urban Trail, Frisco Highline Trail, and the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
Our Adventure Part 1
High Trestle Trail at night
We started our adventure by setting up our tent in the dark, using our car headlights to see. Next, we drove 1.5 miles to a trailhead, where we picked up the High Trestle Trail. We were originally planning on biking over but due to the late hour and the highway we had to cross, we decided to drive and save time. This made it possible to get on the trail earlier the next morning.
If you ever bike this trail staying close by and seeing it at night is a MUST!!!! Riding through the tunnel of light-up squares was so much fun. I won’t tell you how many times we did it. Our video does not do the experience justice, but it provides a taste to intrigue you!!!.
Day one on the trail
The next morning we set off on our adventure. We had no idea that it would be beautiful paved trails for most of our ride!!! It was amazing. We would 100% recommend biking around Des Monies, Iowa.
Our first stop of the day was to get some coffee and ice cream in Ankeny. When it is hot out, it is never too early for Ice Cream. We highly recommend both places we stopped – Sweet Swirls and Porch Light Coffeehouse. We had some amazing seasonal Lattes.
On our way to our next location, we rode by a Butterfly Garden near Saylorville Lake and took another short break. Seeing all the beautiful flowers, plants a butterfly is always a nice break. Plus a great photo opportunity!!!
The campsite we were planning to stay at was full by the time we rode in a little later in the day. There was also not another campsite close, so we decided to take a hit and grab a hotel for the night.
The miss-hap
While at the hotel, Eric decided he needed to tighten the stem screw, and the screw decided it was not having it, so it sheered off. We stopped at a few different hardware stores while we were walking to a bike store. The bike store hooked us up. Provided some water and some suggestions on things to hit before our next stop!!! Locals always give great advice on things to check that is not in the guide books!!!
Day 2
After getting Eric’s bike fixed, we were able to get back on the trail by 10 am and head for some coffee. We biked over and under a variety of different bridges throughout Des Monies. Soon we came across the trail we wanted to take was marked as closed. As we were trying to figure out another route, a gentleman biked right by the closed sign like he had been done it before. Considering it saved us about an 8-mile detour, we happily followed.
We coasted into our final destination early afternoon, set up our tent, and went biking around the beautiful little town!!! Exploring these towns is so much fun you never know what you may find. We hope to be able to do this ride again after COVID to see more open things in each town!!!
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