Pretty in Pink Mrs. Clause

Mrs Clause's Underthingeys

It never fails to amaze me what imagination can spring wild from our local residents. The last bastion of decency has been eroded from the Santa Clause household with this display of tender undergarments[Santa probably wears bright red underwear so its only fitting the Mrs wears pink] Either this woman thinks she is Mrs Clause or that this is a relative of Mrs Clause, possibly a sister or a cousin. In any event I just had to take a picture for posterity for she might move next year to the North Pole being how the way economic conditions are. I just hope her Frilleys dry in time for the Annual Visit from her Uncle, Brother or Cousin St. Nick on Christmas Day. Im dying to know what will be put in that Stocking.  This is Jimio saying *Ride Safe-Ride Warm-Watch for Sleighs*

A Few Things about Leaves

Betty Lou meets a new Friend!

Now that Fall is in full swing, I need to mention a few things about leaves. Sure they smell nice and look pretty but when they are piled up on the sidewalks , streets or bike paths they can be very dangerous to us Pedalers. For one thing dont try plowing through a pile of leaves because you never know what may be under them. A rake or some kids toys they have buried under the pile of leaves can cause a flat tire or bent rims or worse a sprained or broken ankle. Ride slowly if you must ride over any amount or thickness of leaves [especially wet leaves] and dont make a sharp turn on them unless you like diving towards the ground [very useful for stunt bicycler practice] And be careful also about riding in rural roads during hunting season. Bullets can and do fly across roads! This is Jimio saying *Ride Safe* *Ride Fun* *Ride for Health*

Love Meeting Other Bikers

Two Dedicated Pedallers

As I was cruising around town on Betty Lou, I happened to notice two guys taking a break. At first I thought the black bike was a tandem but low and behold it is a 2-wheel recumbent. The owner says the shield on the front helps cut through the wind and it also helps keep cold air off of him. The shield is made of a soft plastic and will "give" in the event of a spill or crash so is less likely to break or shatter. I lifted up the other guy's trek bike and it was like holding up a feather compared to the tank weight of my bike Betty Lou. If you look closely under the top bar of the recumbent bike, there is a hand -pump to inflate a new inner tube in the case of a flat. A necessity on 100 mile tours! This is Jimio saying *Ride Happy* *Ride Safe*

The Pedaling Army Grows

A Tree makes an excellent Bike-Rack

I saw this bicycle while pedaling around today. A nice cheap efficient mode of transportation. It appears to be a Huffy Bike. Has the basket on the handelbars to carry milk, groceries, and booze. Don't drink the booze till you get home! There are even 2 tie-down stretchy cords to secure the packages in place. I noticed the the chain is extremely rusty. I'm surprised it doesnt snap off. I like to oil my chain regularly which makes it very quiet. Easy to sneek up on wild animals like deer and groundhogs. I see the bike also has shocks on the front fork. That must give smoother rides over bumps and cracks but I wonder how long the shocks really work before they wear out? I also see the bike has big knobs on the tires which can help during winter riding. I am seeing more bikes on the roads these days. It maybe due to people not being able to afford a car or more people are getting their license revoked for drunk driving. You still can get arrested for drunk bicycling so dont think that you can still get away with drinking and driving or drinking and pedalling. I can't stress this enough: Pedalers are no match vs an Automobile, so we must be as careful and as defensive as we can be and in a sober state of healthy alertness. If you think the car does not see you then stop. Give the car the right of way if you must. Your life may be saved by it. If at all possible yell, or wave your arms to get a drivers attention. It beats getting run over. This is Jimio saying - Ride Safe, Ride Defensive, Ride Free and above all Ride Happy [To Paradise]

Update on Bike Union

Here is a small story  http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2011/08/more_than_120_bikes_donated_fo.html and some pics on our towns Bike Union that helps people fix their bikes and also give bikes to those in need.  http://photos.mlive.com/citizenpatriot/2011/08/armory_bike_union_bike_roundup_12.html

Neat Little Safety Tip

This bike is ready for anything

This is the bike that the Boss of the Bike Union rides to work. I told him I ride my bike all year around and he said he did also. I can tell this bike does not have all its orginal parts. He must have taken a few old bikes that didnt run and put all the best equipment on one bike. Notice that he has 2 locks. One is a Kryptonite Lock and the other is a wire cable with a master lock. I suppose the U-Lock is for hooking up fast at a bike rack, while the cable is used for wrapping it around signs or poles or trees where no access to bike racks exist. The real interesting part of this bike is the red tape wrapped around the tubing. Im guessing that is reflective tape, and when a car approaches from a 90 degree angle on a side street, the car can see this tape very well. The spoke reflectors are suppose to warn cars of a bike just up ahead but they are not seen too well in dawn or dusk situations. This tape resolves that issue. Pedal Fun ** Pedal Safe -Jimio

Do-It-Yourself Bicycle Repair

Inside the Free Bike Repair Shop

As I was Pedaling to Paradise I found a little bit of Self-Help Heaven in the form of a Bike Union. It is located next to the Art 634 Center for the Creative Spirit. The guy who runs it says anyone can come in to repair their bike for free or help others repair their bikes or donate bikes and parts. They fix up donated bikes, then give them to agencies like Goodwill Industries and St Vincent DePaul. They have nice evening hours also: Mon 4:30-8:30  Wed 4:30-8:30 and Sat 10:00am-2:00pm. It's comforting to know there is a place I can give Betty Lou a tune-up or a major overhaul. This is Jimmio saying: Ride-Safe, Ride Fun. Seek your own little bit of Paradise while on two-wheels.

More Bikes on the Road

A More Common Sight These days

As I pedal around town I have noticed more bikes parked on porches and by front Steps. More people are riding to work to save on gas, or also on car insurance, tags and maintanance if they no longer own a car. More people are riding bikes simply to get better exercise and to travel farther than walking. The only problem I see is the roads and streets are not keeping up with the increase in bicycle traffic. Us pedalers need more bike paths, lanes and trails and drivers need more education on watching out for bikes. Bikers also are in need of safety on the roads too. I realize with the economy being in bad shape, these badly needed improvements will probably be a long time in comming. I suppose until things get better we all must just try to get along out there, both pedalers and drivers.

Easy Riders

Schwinn Sting Ray Chopper

Back in the 50s , 60s and 70s even the Bicycles had Style just like our Cars did. You could purchase groovy looking rear-view mirrors for the handelbars, some wild designed headlight and tail lights, even neat little license plates! The Schwinn Sting Ray gave that close to riding on a motorcycle look and feel. The Schwinn Sting Ray was built from 1963 to 1980 and came out in various models and designs. Many Sting Ray names are: Chopper, Coaster,Cotton Picker,Deluxe,Fair Lady,Grey Ghost,Junior,Lemon Peeler,Lil' Chik,Lil' Tiger,Orange Krate, Pea Picker, Pixie, Slick Chik, Sparky, Super Deluxe, and the Tornado. You could even get an electric motor kit for the Sting Ray Chopper. I suppose when you are a kid , you wanted your bicycle to resemble a motorcycle because that's what you really wanted. For some reason I wanted a larger more real looking bicycle so I choose the Schwinn Racer. Maybe it's because I didn't grow out of it. I did get into bike racing a little so I bought a Fuji Finest racing bike and my Schwinn Racer started collecting dust. It must have cried a lot hanging on the wall of the garage while I neglected it for my Fuji Dura-Aced equipped beauty. Eventually I moved out of my parents home and the old schwinn racer was sold in the big garage sale along with old clothes, baby buggys, toys and 60s record LPs. There are lots of memories riding that schwinn racer that I must tell about in a later post but this post is about the old bikes and style, their sleek lines, their wide fenders, their imaginative headlight and tail light locations, their seat designs and handelbar configurations. Even the colors of bikes have been used with every shade one can think of. Just think of all the after market products as a result of bicycles. The bells, the horns, saddlebags, baskets, racks, bottle carriers, bike backpacks, fanny packs, helmets,gloves, lights, reflectors, softer seats, mirrors on handlebars and helmets, clothes, whistles, locks, and video cams and brackets plus GPS brackets, you name it, they got it for bikes. This is Jimio saying: "Ride Safe and Ride Fun"

Work Bikes and Trikes



Worksman Utility Front Loader Tricycle

 Is this a Bike or a Trike? It has 3 wheels but most Tricycles I have seen have two rear wheels and one front wheel. This has two front wheels. I'll say it is a Trike. Actually it is a Work Trike with that large front pan over the two front wheels. I suppose he turns it with that bar and both wheels turn on one straight axel. It doesn't look very easy to turn especially if a heavy package was on it. Apparently it has a rear wheel brake inside the hub. I hate to be carrying a safe and going down a steep hill! [or up one for that matter] Have to triple the usual delivery fee. The steering bar looks like it has a bell on it to warn whoever is in the way. I like those heavy-duty springs under the seat. I'm certain it said "American Workbike" on the frame but I cant seem to find it in Google. But here is a nice wiki-link on Work-Bikes and Trikes.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freight_bicycle In the Good Old Days,before motorized vehicles, people used work bikes and trikes to carry things across the factory or shop floor or across town. Today most Trikes or Bikes carry our kids around, plus those little trailors with the little one or 2 seaters that hookup to your bike. I wonder if you can special order a 3 seat trailor in case you have triplets? This is Jimio saying "Ride Safe-Ride Fun-Ride for Health" P.S. I found the Company and Website. Its "Worksman Cycles" since 1898 built in Ozone Park NY USA  http://www.worksman.com/

Be Prepared

New Pedaler I met that Loves to ride the Trails

While pedaling downtown Jackson I ran into [not literally] this bicyclist who happens to ride on the Falling Waters Trail. As you can see she is well prepared to ride. Water  bottles,saddlebags and a front handlebar bag allows for plenty of storage space. Tools that can remove a flat tire and put on a new inner tube can save a long walk. A few First-Aid items can ease the pain and make the ride home more bareable. I'm sure she also has room for some cookies and fruit to munch on while surveying the wonderful scenery. With more energy from eating, you can concentrate better on the Trail and have quicker reaction time to avoid accidents. I see a rear-view mirror on the handlebar and a helmet on her head. Very safety conscience. I dont carry any bags because I am concerned with weight which means I can travel farther without totally collapsing, plus the bags add to wind resistance. People would probably steal my bags while I/m visiting my freindly local party store anyways. I don't have a rear-view mirror because I might need to go through tight spaces and I don't like knowing who is behind me. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised. The only piece of equipment I must have on every ride is my camera. It permanently records a memory seen through the lense of a pedaler and later I try to describe that memory. Here's to a Long Ride down Memory Lane/Path/Trail *Cheers* -Jimio

Pedaling Down Memory Trail

Missy and Mindy on their new Schwinn Sting-Ray Fairlady



Jimio - Gary - Joe posing for Momio

 I suppose we all have memories of riding our bikes around the neighborhood, around town, or around the lake. When I learned how to ride a bike I realized my ability to go farther than walking was greatly enhanced. The next step was learning to drive which was the ultimate in increasing one's territory. Even though my friend Joe's house was only 6 houses down, I still rode my bike there instead of walking. Getting there in 1 minute beats getting there in 4. Plus we were going to go out riding somewhere. Once you have a bike as a kid it becomes a part of you. To go anywhere of any importance required  jumping on your bike be it the gas station for a soda and candy bar or a cruise through the Sub-Division or around Gilletts Lake to see the girls Sunbathing at the County Park. Many of us quit riding bikes after we bought a car and not until we got married and bought bikes for their kids did they buy a new bike and start riding with their kids. I see quite a few parents these days riding with their children. When I was a kid I didn't see that as often. I'm not sure whether it meant parents felt we were safer back in the 60s and 70s so let us ride off alone. I like parents of today riding with their kids not only to protect them and make sure they are safe, but also to just be with them, to interact with them, to show they care about them and to maybe offer funny stories of when they rode bikes as kids! This is Jimio saying Ride Safe-Ride Smart- Ride Nostalgic. P.S. here are 2 nice links of Schwinns  http://www.commutebybike.com/2006/12/03/1974-schwinn-stingray-fairladykeep-it-or-sell-it/   http://www.schwinncruisers.com/schwinn-documentation/1960-schwinn-bicycle-models/

Time for some Bike Lanes

Sign at Washington and Wisner in Jackson

I know there are not many pedalers out on the streets yet but why wait until there all lots of accidents or congestion before we build Bike Lanes. Sure, this sign says Bike Route but I dont see any bike lanes here that makes this a real bike route. Only reason there is a bike route sign on this street is because it's not as busy as Michigan Ave 1 block over. The one big problem putting in bike lanes is they would need to widen the road or make it only 1 lane for cars. That is ok since Washington Ave is 1-Way already. I'd be happy if cars would just be more watchful of us pedalers since we dont have much protection against 2800 lbs of metal [plastic now] Id be extra happy if pedalers would also but very defensive when riding their bikes just for the fact they can get hurt so easily. Why take a chance against a car? Give them a careful look cause Im sure many cars are not looking at you. Better safe than sorry. Bike Lanes would let drivers see pedalers better but the driver must be watching the road and not distract themselves with cell phones and ipods an such or else us pedalers are still sitting ducks. It takes both sides to be watchful and courteous so lets be careful out there. Remember Hill Street Blues! :-]

Energize Me

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

I went buy our main coffee shop the other day and saw that the outside Coffee Court was busy. The fantastic weather made this possible. Local coffeehouses have grown lately due to many new flavours and innovative drinks. Live bands also bring in those interested in hearing good music. I think poetry readings are also being held here. These guys are doing so well they opened another place farther west of town but it is drive-through only but at least you can get a fresh cuppa joe on your way home if you live in that area. The first known coffee shop dates back to 1475. Kiva Han was the name of it and was located in Constantinople [now Istanbul]. Around 1529 the idea of cream and sweetners was added to coffee when they appeared in europe. First Coffeehouse in England was in 1652 called "The Turk's Head" Coffeehouse. It seems all coffee was spread from Turkey. The English Coffeehouses first used the idea of "tips". A jar was placed on tables "to ensure prompt service". Brits called their coffeehouses "Penny Universities" due to a cup costing 1 penny. A small coffeehouse owned by Edward Lloyd in 1668 was so popular it later became Lloyds of London Insurance Company. The Tontine coffehouse in NY city [1792] was on the orginal location for the NYSE. In the good old days Coffeehouse were places to socialize and discuss events and to read or write plus entertain with games or music. Many famous Chess Matches were played in coffeehouses. I suspect backgammon and cribbage events are also played in them. Joan Baez and Bob Dylan began their careers in Coffeehouses. Churches used the coffeehouse concept in their outreach missions. Then of course Starbucks turned the coffeehouse into coffee shops which was more like a Coffee Restaurant. But many coffeehouses remind me of the old Mom-N-Pop family Diners with their local flare and downhome service and the customers knowing what was going on all over town [gossip]. I'm sure many coffeehouses allowed smoking besides donuts and danishes. One nice thing about the tops on coffee cups is you dont spill any when pedaling over potholes! Jimio saying ride Safe.

Behind the Scenes

Employees of Daryl's Restaurant taking a break

One nice thing about pedaling on a bike is that it's easy to meet people and chat with them on a casual basis. I saw these two workers taking a break, the guy was eating and the gal was smoking a cigarette. I asked if 40 people worked here and she said more like 70. I told her that's a pretty good sized crew. I thanked them for letting me take their picture, then she went inside and I Pedalled to some other small section of Paradise.

A Pox on Potholes

Road Workers

As I was pedaling around town, I noticed these fine men working on our delapidated streets. I caught them just as they were getting ready to go home at 5 pm. What tipped me off to their whereabouts was a huge dustcloud I sighted from 3 blocks away so I scurried on over and observed a huge vehicle with this long roung brush on the front. It was rotating and sweeping all the dirt that had spilt all over the street from digging up old sewer lines. I told them when they are done paving the street to keep a close eye out for killer potholes! This is Jimio saying, "Keep Hydrated - Use Sunblock or Protective Clothing and Don't Overdo It" Going to be 90F all next week.

There's a Bike for Everyone

Bikes for sale Downtown

Our local Pawnshop Dicker-N-Deal sells bicycles of all kinds at reasonable prices. These guys looked in pretty good shape. Better condition than my Betty Lou. A quick Google check I took says that 86% of the bicycles sold in USA are imported from China. In 2007 bicycles sold in USA topped 18.5 million and in 2009 more bicycles were sold than cars in USA, though I can't garuntee the accuracy of these Google posts :-] But as gasoline goes higher and more jobs get lower I'd assume more bicycles will be purchashed to do small errands and tasks. Many families might even sell the extra vehicle they have and resort to only one car to save on gas, maintanance,plates,tabs and insurance. Bicycles are very low maintanance and in many small towns, enforcement of bicycle laws is practically non-existant, though I suspect more rigid standards on bikes will come along due to greater numbers of them getting in the way of cars, at least until proper bike-lanes are built. For now I kinda like being the only pedaler that my eyes can see. No bike traffic to get tangled up with. Not many pedestrians either and that keeps me from crawling around them. Sadly there will come a day when I see tire to tire traffic and hours to pedal a few miles. Until that day arrives, I'm going to enjoy the wide open spaces of few pedalers and even less pedestrians.

Pedaling Downtown



Daryl is on the left with a few friends

 As I was riding around town I happened to spot Daryl, the owner of Daryl's Restaurant and a couple of friends. [or co-workers] A lot of people were actually outside today as the temps were very resonable [about 79F] although there was a slight breeze. The wind made it even more comfortable but it did manage to knock over some umbrellas and signs. Even a few napkins got a ride down Michigan Ave. Daryl's Restaurant is pretty nice. Great service, good food but kinda pricey. Went there after Mike [my nephew] graduated from Central Michigan University. Well I'm eating a cold salad of cabbage, onions and cannellini beans with 1000 Island dressing. It's so nice out that I might go riding again after dinner. Later Pedalers. Ride Safe

Hidden in Plain Sight

Falling Waters Tree Frog Keeping Cool

I happened to spot this Gray Treefrog while searching for Monarch caterpillars on milkweed plants. The Gray Treefrog can turn gray, green or brown depending on his surroundings http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Hyla_versicolor.html I was sure this little guy would jump just before I got a picture, but he stayed real still. Maybe he thought I didn't see him. These frogs are not endangered and are flourishing all over the lakes, swamps and wetland areas of Michigan. It is the Leopard and Pickerel Frogs that are getting scarce. They seem to be more sensitive to environmental changes. If I find one, I'll definately get a pic. More wild plants and animals to come soon.

Touring for Independence

Get exercise and work on you tan at the same time



These two Pedalers came from Lansing to ride the Falling Waters Trail



Fun for the Entire Family [5 Kids!]

I thought I would ride the Falling Waters Trail on the July 4th Weekend. I went out July 3rd and was not dissapointed. I saw between 30 and 35 Pedalers. They were out there for fun and exercise and so was I. I still can't get over how cool it is everytime I ride in a shaded area. It's almost as if Mother Nature turned on her Air-Conditioner. This was in parts of the trail were thick forest of trees and ferns were. This must be where the smart animals stay. Today I saw some mourning doves,robins and a black capped chickadee. Numerous Chipmonks, 2 Groundhogs and I think a Ferret. It was too long to be a Squirrel and was brown so not a Skunk.  Oh and I saw a Painted Turtle sitting in the middle of the trail so I set him on the side he was heading for. The side with a swamp.  There are lots of Milkweed plants so I checked them for Monarch Caterpillars. I saw none. There were no chew marks in most of the Milkweed leaves I saw, though I did see a little Peeper on one leaf [Froggy will be in next Post] I suppose the Monarch Butterflies are really going down in numbers. When I was a kid I used to catch them all the time and put them in jars and watch them eat the milkweed leaves and then change into a Chrysalis and a few weeks later crawl out a changed bug into a Monarch Butterfly. I didn't see any Dragonflies today, maybe because the creeks were drying up a bit. Last time I was out, the Dragonflies would fly right over my front tire and stay right there as I rode. Sorta teasing me or taunting me. One bug I could do without was the Horseflies that managed to get a few bites in but I did not itch their bites so I felt little pain. I gotta get down the library and check out some Flora and Fawna books to find out the awesome plants I see there. I think I saw juniper berries and I know I saw lots of rasberries, but many other bushes, ferns and plants I was not familiar with. One plant had these huge philodendron type leaves on it or was it Coleus type leaves? Anyway it was groovy. Looked like it belonged in the Dinosaur age. -Jimio says "Happy Pedaling"

Pedaling Away From Disaster

Potholius Domesticus



Was this Engineer on Drugs?




Across the Street [did his drugs wear off?]




Looks nice but don't run into this Curb

 A few more Hazards I would like to point out while Pedaling in Paradise today. Potholes are the scourage of both cars and bicycles but even more so to us pedalers in terms of potential injuries. In cars the cost can be expensive due to broken suspension systems but if we pedalers get a compound fracture, it can cost over $20,000 so we could buy a new car instead of getting medical help :-] {Not recommended} Now I can see why pedalers need a headlight at night so as not to fall into a hole and break 3 or 4 bones. I compensate for no headlight by going slower and riding only on familiar roads where the holes are well known to me [Unless someone just dug a new hole which would really upset me] Be extra vigilant about watching out for Potholes because in this day of cutbacks and austerity measures, I'm sure the Pothole problem will only get worse for the time being. So use your common sense if you have any, it will save you time and money not to mention less stress. The next Hazard I would like to point out is the crazy insane zigzag sidewalk to the road hazard. If you look in the pic at the top you will see the zigzag sidewalk. If you are riding fast, you wil never negotiate the sharp turn soon enough and will careen over the curb to your doom. What is weird is the next pic showing the other side of the street. The sidewalk there is perfectly straight right out to the road. Its like the engineer is taunting us pedalers. The last pic is of another lunacy of Curbs Gone Wild.  Its nice to protect your flowers but these plants should be out beside the curb by the edge of the road, NOT on a newly designed curb next to the sidewalk where little kids can crash into it and get hurt. Those prescious flowers are not worth a kid's broken arm or leg. When will engineers realize that actual humans will need to be taken into account with their designs? This is Jimio saying "Be Careful and Ride with Caution and have Fun Pedaling To Paradise"

Caught in the Trenches

Lawn Edgings like this are Dangerous to Bicyclers

I'd like to point out a new hazard I have been seeing all over town. Homeowners are doing more of this deep-wide edging than ever before. It may look very nice and neat, but it's very dangerous when a bicycler gets his front wheel down in between the sidewalk and edging. Bicyclers please keep your eyes out for this.  Now I know a lot will say:"Well you are suppose to ride in the street". Are we going to tell little kids to ride their bicycles in the street? I surely hope not. These little kids are not as excellent bike riders as I am so I'm pretty sure they will ride into these edgings more often than I ever will. These young persons will also be more prone to falling due to newly learned rookie riding skills and they have a 50-50 chance of falling on the sidewalk, scarping elbows and knees and getting possible fractures which can be very painful as well as expensive to care for. Now I know kids already have harzards such as each other to run into but do we need this added hazard? A kid can be alone with this edging harzard. He doesn't need any other kids around to get hurt. I do ride in the street most of the time, but on very busy or gravel or dirt streets, I prefer to ride on the sidewalk for my own safety. Also very bumpy or cracked-up streets or those with large and deep Potholes [upcomming pothole pics soon] I ride on the sidewalks. I have to, so to preserve my safety and to not incur added expenses from crashing Betty Lou my mountain bike. So I wish homeowners would think of these kids when edging and maybe make the edgings much thinner or none at all if you have lots of kids riding on the sidewalks in your neighborhood. It could help to reduce injuries and save time and money in the ER Rooms across America and the World for that matter. There, I've said my Peace. Thanks for taking the time to read this cycling safety post. -Jimio

Digging History

Lime Lake was originally called Bateman Lake

I think every Bike Path and Trail has some history connected to it. Some golden nugget of the past. I'm learning a few old facts about the Falling Waters Trail. The sign in the photo above explains some of the intriguing history along the trail. Its posted right at Lime Lake. The Trail splits the lake in two because they built a railway track through the middle which someone tore up to make the Trail [Thats a whole story in itself] Well in 1834 a man named Douglas Houghton did a survey of the Lime Lake area and found the minerals calcium carbonate mixed with clays and aragonite at the bottom of Lime Lake. This mixture is called Marl which is used in making cement. Douglas was a pretty amazing man, got a degree in Geology,Chemistry and History plus he was licensed to practice medicine. He became a Professor at U of Mich in 1839, elected Mayor of Detroit in 1842. Houghton was also called "The Father of Copper Mining in the USA". He did many geological surveys in Michigan. One day in 1845 Houghton drowned when his boat capsized in Lake Superior near Eagle River. He was only 36.  The City of Houghton Michigan, Houghton County and Houghton Lake all are named in his honor. In 1903 the Peerless Portland Cement Company began dredging operations for Marl. They used 4 railroad cars that floated on a barge and were placed at certain places while a Orange Peel Bucket

A Few Ideas

This sign blends in very well

One thing I would like to see along the trail is when a sign is posted, it would show exactly where I was. They have these big wooden posts that show the mile marker in half-mile increments but no sign showing where I am on the trail. A [you are here <--] type of thing would be nice to get some idea of how far I need to go. Also a water fountain either in the middle of the trail or on each end would be nice to fill up a water bottle with. I see a lot of young people and older people, so having access to some water would cool their dry throats a bit.

Reaching The Goal

Working on improving the Park



I Made It!




Rode around the town a bit before heading back

 I did it! I made the entire Falling Waters Trail on my first time on it. Its not real long [10.5 miles] and I didn't go very fast and being very smooth and flat sure helped also. Not one hill did I see nor any glass on the trail or any strange animal to contest my forward motion. I thought going to Concord was rather easy but then I found out why. There was a slight breeze helping me along. When I started heading back I felt the headwind. It was small but enough to slow an old man of 56 down. My only salvation was to think of the cantaloupe I had waiting in the fridge and the ice tea I was going to guzzle down. Always think of incentives to help your riding abilities. =B-] Once in a while a ChipMonk would scurry out in front of me, then scream and get out of the way of my front tire just in the nick of time. This one odd bird sat on the trail and let me ride right past him. I'm not sure if the bird was in a daze or was playing chicken with me but I think it was a draw. Neither of us gave ground. Half way through my ride I started whistleling bird calls to see if they would answer me. The birds just kept on doing their own timed calls. They didn't seem to care about me. I saw one Woodchuck. He waited untill I was about 200 feet from him , then he lumbered off into the thick brush. There were lots of swamps along the trail and the frogs were croaking to beat the band. One could almost fall asleep while riding if done corrrectly. Next time out I'll try my raccoon call.

Bike Trail Fans






This man was conducting business while getting his pic taken




Daughter with Father

 Lots of people like riding the trails for different reasons. Some are bored and want something to do. Some want to lose weight. Some like to keep in shape. Some even take pics of other riders and put them in blogs. Some seem happy. Some look angry [but this might actually be exhaustion] the Husband-Wife Team told me to watch out for broken glass. They said if you see sparkling up ahead on the trail, it could be glass. I wondered to myself, "What if its cloudy out?" The man walking his dog was reluctant at first to get his photo taken. He was discussing something important on the phone, so I was very thankful he was kind enough to stop for a pic. There were others who said no and they wern't even doing anything important except riding a bike. I'd say the Polite people outnumbered the Rude people 70% to 30% which is comforting to the human race. The Daughter and Father also were very polite and even though the daughter was very tired, she mustered up enough strength for a smile and they chatted with me for a short while. I like to talk about anything while riding. History, politics, biking, religion,wildlife and good food. So if you see me on the Trail, stop me and take my pic, I'll take yours and we can chat about anything! Happy Riding -Jimio

Trail Obsevations

This man said he was 83 in pretty good shape

Betty Lou

View of the Lush Greenery



Recumbant Bike

 I noticed a few things while riding on the Trails. One thing is not all people want their picture taken. Some were polite about it while others were rude and just kept on riding by. I would try to say "hello" to everyone I saw. Some said "hi" back and some did not. I figured some had earphones and were listening to music so I knew they were not rude [that I know of] The 83 year old man said he'd been riding for 2 years. I guess it's never too late to start. The pic of Betty Lou is my mountain bike. Had her for 4 years now. I put new tires on her. I think the original tires were on her because the tread was peeling off and the inner tube was bulging out in places. Also 1 pedal broke off but I had to buy both pedals in a package set new, as the guy at Barbers Bike Shop didn't have any used pedals that fit. I'm worried about the shifter cables, they don't seem to want to move anymore. Oh well, I like riding in one low gear it's easier to pedal and I try to stay on mostly flat terrain. A lot of riders said "On your Left" as they passed me to let me know they were there. One guy had this funny sounding horn. It tooted low enough not to startle me which is nice. Everyone rode like cars do, on the right side and you passed on the left. I saw another guy taking pics also but he seemed more interested in Lime Lake pics than of us people. I found it very lucky to come across a Recumbent Rider on my first time on Falling Waters Trail. It gives me hope that a few other Recumbents will be comming down the trail soon. The Recumbent guy said he used to ride a regular bike but it hurt his derriere too much. He rode many 100 mile days and his legs showed  many rippling muscles. He said it is harder to pedal because he doesn't have gravity from his body to push down on the pedals. I hope to find a softer seat soon because after 27 miles, my "Heiney" was aching something fierce and I would never survive 100 miles with my behind "On Fire".

Falling Waters Trail

I rode down the entire length of the Falling Waters Trail today. It's 10.5 miles long so 21 miles round trip plus the 4 miles round trip of the New Leaf Trail leg plus 2 miles round trip from my home to New Leaf makes a grand total of 27 miles. Not bad for no water and no food. But as I type this blog, I'm drinking an Arizona Sweet Tea and digging into a cantaloupe =B-] The Falling Waters Trail was very straight n smooth and was amazingly cool with the huge canopy of trees overhead. It felt as if it was air-conditioned. Saw at least 30 bikers, roller bladers and walkers [some walking with dogs] A man on a Recumbant bike [pics comming in next few posts] and a Swan, chipmonks,red-wing blackbirds and lots of Lily-Pads.