All distances follow the Nickel Plate Trail, a rail-trail. Here's near the northern terminus (for now) in Peru. Eventually it will be extended north to Rochester.
In many places on the trail, trees have grown up on both sides, shielding trail users from wind and sun. I could have used just a little more sun at this early point in the ride - it was chilly in the woods.
Toward the southern end of the trail, the trail opens up and endless vistas of farmland return.
After completing 17 miles, the route returns to the roads. Once we got to the 37 mile point, we toured around the Mississinewa Reservoir. The reservoir is one of three reservoirs constructed in the 1960's by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the upper Wabash Valley to help alleviate flooding downstream. This is what I rode through for the next 18 miles. It was really peaceful.
Toward the end of the ride we rode across the dam - this is the primary outlet for the lake.
On the other side of the dam, I saw these turkey vultures cruising low over the new-mown grass. That dam grass! Must have been a dead rabbit or some other critter in there. Well, you know what they say, "If you can't soar with the eagles, maybe you can still fly with the buzzards". That pretty much sums up my outlook on life.
It was a great ride. Someday when the Nickel Plate Trail is completed to Rochester, we'd like to come over to ride the whole 40 mile route.
Happy riding!
4 comments:
Dang.. that trail looks amazing. You know, that weather is the perfect kind - I love the chilly morning to wake you up and get the blood flowing, then warming up just enough that it lets your legs shrug off the cold and enjoy it.
That looks like a pleasant ride, indeed.
My dad retired from the Corps of Engineers, a few years ago, and was active in the 1960s dam building in Tennessee and Kentucky. Oddly, I always feel a bit of pride when I see the Corps flag flying at the dams.
The Corps did a tremendous amount of work throughout the country and they still are active. The focus has changed from building dams for flood control in this area to enforcing the Clean Water Act, and working to keep Toledo Harbor dredged.
That looks like a great ride. Rail-Trails are great. No worries about cars at all. Sounds like my kind of ride!
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