To the trail in the daylight hours.
We would stop in Madrid, get to Slater and make that our turn around point
The trail crosses over the Des Moines River. Notice the flatness of the background…
Those ‘structures’ that are on the High Trestle Bridge are a landmark for this area and used in many logos and in other ways — such as this bicycle rack.
I don’t know if each town wants to claim the trestle trail and bridge as their own, but Madrid calls their town its ‘home’.
I guess we are in coal country.
Susan, always willing to ‘help’.
We got to Slater and simply meandered around town which had nothing interesting enough to take a photo of. Both Madrid and Slater are towns that RAGBRAI will be traveling through and there are lines of outhouses along the Main Street to help accommodate them. This was our turn around point, the half way mark of our trip. We stopped for water refill at the Madrid Rest area and Susan posed as a corn kernel – or maybe as a tassel.
There was the possibility to pose as a coal miner, but we didn’t.
Not only is the trail pancake flat, which means you never stop pedaling, but also it is arrow straight. There are no swooping turns that curve around to a bucolic view, there are no up and downs that encourage coasting for at least a short time. Just flat and straight and mostly in open sun with only a few overhanging trees for a minute of respite. Here Susan looks out to see if there is anything but flat, but as far as the eye can see it is ALL flat just like the rest of the Iowa we have seen.
The 90 degree heat in relentless sun, the trail that became somewhat boring, the need for some food to refuel, the nonstop pedaling on that flat straight trail. It all added up to me bonking on the return trip, making every pedal stroke difficult. I at least had enough in me to take one more photo as we neared the end.
We had dinner at the cafe and grill that is attached to the campground and decided right there that we would get a hotel for tomorrow. We are not good in the heat and it might climb to 100 for the day. Susan has already made reservations in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Spent, hot and complaining of the heat, this is me after a mere 27 mile ride in 90 degrees.
Adventures with Nancy 
Well, nice scenery. You look exhausted in that last pic.
Stay as cool as you can.
Love, Bill
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It was so hot and bright piercing sun along the trail, it did me in! Still having a good time though ;’-). It will be nice to stay in a motel tonight. I do miss our weather back home.
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I’ve never been on the Trestle Trail, but I did ride through Madrid on one of my Iowa bike tours. You’re exactly right about that part of Iowa being very flat. But many a RAGBRAI rider–including myself–will tell you that Iowa is hilly torture in the Loess Hills of the southwest and the Driftless Area of the northeast parts of the state. And then there is that heat. Glad you survived it.
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The main thing about the Trestle Trail is the lighted bridge in the evening. Trail is straight, flat and hot! I have read about more of Iowa and know that not the entire state is flat ;’-). I have had thoughts of doing RAGBRAI but feeling this heat I know that would be a foolish idea to ride 70-80+ miles in! I/we survived but are now entering Kansas with at the moment 104 degrees! We will get to the camping event this evening and determine how much we can take of the heat before calling it! Most likely leaving earlier than we thought.
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