Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Cedar Valley Trail


The Cedar Valley Trail was converted to a bicycle trail in 1983. It was one of the first "rails to trail" projects in the state of Iowa. The trail is 52 miles (84 km) in length and stretches between Evansdale and Hiawatha along the Cedar River. At no point along the 52 miles does the grade exceed 2%. Because of this low grade the trail is a great beginner route for persons wanting to complete a safe and less strenuous century ride.



My favorite portion of the route is between Gilbertville and La Porte City. The trial on this portion is mostly covered with trees and treks through a few small swamp areas as well as fields and pastures. The above photos were taken in September 2008 near La Porte City.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Arches National Park











Those craving scenic desert landscapes trek to southeast Utah and visit Arches National Park. Located near Moab, Arches features some of the more unique geographical sites in the United States.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Blizzard 12.08-09.2009







The blizzard of December 8 and 9, 2009 was impressive. The storm produced 17-24 inches of snow in the Madison WI area. I have 4 antique bicycles that I keep in my yard as ornamental features that complement my landscaping. The heavy snow created these photos.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Canyonlands National Park








Canyonlands National Park is located in Southeast Utah near the famed town of Moab. The entrance to the park is less than 10 miles from Moab's city center. Arches National Park is less than 5 miles from the city center. Simply stated, Canyonlands is a spectacular national park. I visited the park in late August of this year and was immediately intoxicated by the unique colors and shapes of the arid landscape.
These are my 5 favorite photos of my expedition.