Trip 8 -- Heading East

Today I decided to explore that mysterious land known as East Grand Forks. This was not without hardships, however. I definitely got lost on the path a few times. At one point, the path just ended and I'm pretty sure I was on some kind of construction site. I really should print out a map of the Greenway path. I think the city should do a better job of keeping travelers of the path informed though. Some more informative signs wouldn't hurt.


Traveling some of the paths in East Grand was pretty lonely. I only saw 2 other people the whole time I was lost...I saw more when I finally made my way north. There was a point when I was in a pretty heavily wooded area and it was dead quiet. I was pretty sure a wolf was gonna jump out at me. Don't worry, there were no wolves, just TONS of grasshoppers.


I went off the path a few times onto some pretty rough terrain, but hey that's what a mountain bike's for right? Speaking of which, I hope mine holds up. Sometimes, the chain sticks and clicks...kinda makes me nervous. But so far, so good.


On to the trip:


I took the usual route to the Greenway, and didn't snap any pictures until I crossed the river. As you can see in the first picture, it was another cloudy day. There were a few sprinkles, but nothing nearly as bad as it was the last time I rode in 'cloudy' weather. Right when I got into EGF I was already presented with a choice, there were numerous forks in these paths..and it just became frustrating after a while.




I guess I'm on a frisbee golf course now. I just keep following the path, assuming it's taking me north.




Where's the river? Where am I? It was around this point where I was thinking about the wolves.




This looks strikingly similar to the path on the other side of the river...I'm almost positive I've taken this same picture earlier this week in Grand Forks.





For all you bench connoisseurs, this one has a great view of the Red Lake River, and of the large tree planted right in front of it.



Yikes, I don't think it's necessary to keep the black tube around this tree. Looks pretty dead to me.


Uhh... I can only assume this is a city vehicle. I heard an engine behind me and was pretty surprised to see a pickup behind me going the other direction. I have no idea where it came from.




Oh you've got to be kidding me. I've already been up and down paths trying to find the right direction, and just when I think I've made progress I see this thing.




90% of Hummer owners will probably never take theirs off road, although that's what they're built for. Well, I don't know what the made-up statistic is for mountain bike owners, but I'm definitely taking it off the path at this point.




WHERE AM I?!



I rode through the empty construction area and popped up on James Ave. SE. I was just relieved to see any kind of road. I followed back to the path and eventually navigated my way north...finally on the right path!




So I go under that sketchy railroad bridge and see this. Why it's there, I have no idea.




A view of the flood marker from Minnesota. Imagine that water at the top of the monument....yeah.




Hey look at that, I get into Minnesota and immediately see trees. Who woulda thunk?




A Minnesota view of the dam I never knew existed.




Good ol' pedestrian bridge...I finally found you.




I was done taking pictures at this point and just wanted to get home...definitely felt the burn during this trip, and that's a good thing. I was pretty exhausted when I got back.

Well, I will definitely be back to explore more of East Grand Forks' winding paths, and even venture into the actual city to take some pictures. I might need a light day tomorrow after today's trip.

Thanks for reading!

Start: 12:30
End: 3:00
Temp: 72
Trip: 18.1 mi




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Trip 7 -- More Uncharted Google Map Territory

They really need to update Grand Forks in Google Maps, so much has changed since they last updated. Sorry for the late post, I headed straight to Fargo after I got done riding and was there for the rest of the night. Perhaps a bike trip to Fargo in the future? Hmm...probably not.

I wanted to head south again today to the end of the greenway path...but this time in sunnier circumstances. Nothing too crazy happening today...I did see a fellow bicyclist get chased by a dog and the owner was yelling for her dog. I thought she yelled "Mauer" as in Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer. I thought that would be an awesome name for a dog, probably because I'm a huge Twins fan. I asked if that's why she named the dog that, and she said that the dog's name was "Bauer"...as in the hockey equipment company. Yeah, not nearly as cool, but I guess it's better than Spot or Rover.

Anyways, on to the trip:

Near the Elks access of the bike path, I saw this...uh...thing sitting alone in the grass. I'm assuming it's some kind of child's playground equipment, but it's just all alone, and I'm not even sure how it would be used. Seriously, it doesn't even look fun for a kid.


So I'm not 100% familiar with the Adopt-A-Trail program. I'm assuming it involves the "adopters" making sure their part of the trail is free from litter and other debris, but usually it's businesses or organizations adopting sections. I thought it was interesting that a family actually adopted this part. Thank you Schill family, whereever you may be. I waited until after your section to litter. (Kidding of course, I don't even have anything to litter when I'm riding bike).


Ah, this picture looks much nicer on a sunny day where I'm not pouring rain water out of my shoes. Right after this is when I was introduced to Bauer.


This is a cool addition I'm starting to see more of in the area, blinking pedestrian lights with a button you can push to activate the lights before you cross. This combines my love for both pushing buttons and blinking lights. Grand Forks, you know the way to my heart.


This picture does not do much to dispel the belief that North Dakota is nothing but flat and treeless...in its defense, this area was probably farmland a couple years ago.


I just keep pedaling down that long, lonely sidewalk waiting for a familiar road. I eventually come upon King's Walk golf course. I'm not sure which water tower that is off in the distance.


Wow, this is quite the house. Oh to be rich...



On Wednesday I was leaving my apartment and did a double take as I saw a giant hot dog driving by me at an intersection. What the hell is the Weinermobile doing here? I wasn't gonna ask questions, I just wanted a picture of the thing. I followed it and took a quick picture of it as it was turning. If anyone has any extra info on what it was/is doing in Forks, I'd love to hear it.




Hey, it's the 1 week anniversary of this blog...try to contain your excitement please. I hope you've enjoyed it so far. Also, happy 8/8/08 day. Hopefully it's more fun than 7/7/07 was.


Trip: 8.2 miles
Temp: 80 degrees
Start: 1:45
End: 2:45




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Trip 6 -- Hidden Path

Today I figured I should head south again, so I went south on 20th down to all of the uncharted Google Map territory. After riding by tons of identical homes, I eventually ended up by the Columbia Mall and I accidentally found another bike path. I wasn't really looking for one, but still managed to stumble upon one, and it was actually pretty nice.

Today's a short one...yesterday still has me worn out.


Here's some of the new houses on the south side. They're nice and all, but I don't think I could handle living on a street of almost completely identical houses. It's just...creepy. I wonder how often people forget which house is theirs?






Columbia Towers in the distance..at least I think that's what those apartments are called. Just ahead is where I unknowingly enter the bike path.



It was on this path where I found a ton of these plants. I think this is where every piece of cotton floating around in the city comes from.

She doesn't seem to mind the cotton.

Like I said, this is a pretty nice path, right in the middle of the city. Hopefully I can stumble upon more like this one.




I gotta say, one of my least favorite things about riding is crossing intersections. Drivers can be so unpredictable and they don't always use their blinker, which can be a nightmare. I've had drivers wave for me to cross when there's traffic coming from the other side, then they think I'm snubbing them or something...No! I just don't wanna die, alright? I hate driving on roads, and try to avoid them as much as possible. I don't know if it's good bicycle etiquette to ride on sidewalks, but that's what I do. Sorry walkers, but I'm avoiding roads like the plague. It's kinda lose/lose...walkers don't want us on the sidewalks and cars don't want us on the roads. They say "why don't you use a bike path?" Yeah, and how am I supposed to get to the bike path? helicopter? parachute? teleport? Sorry, but we're all gonna have to find a way to coexist peacefully. If they can do it in the Middle East then...oh, nevermind.

Length: 5.2 mi
Temp: 81 degrees
Start: 5:30
End: 6:23



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Trip 5 -- Alpha Ave?

I was so intrigued by the southern part of yesterday's bike path, that I decided to explore the northern part of it. I thought it would be as cut and dry as the southern part...man was I wrong. The northern part looks even better than the southern part, but there's a ton of forks in the road and decisions to make. I felt like I was in one of those children's books that let you choose the ending, but there really wasn't a wrong choice. It wasn't as easy as just following the southern trail to a sign that says "End." I kept exploring north and found some interesting things that I've never seen before. After a while, the trail led me to a pedestrian bridge that crosses the river to East Grand Forks. That's where I decided to end today's progress. Don't worry, the East side will have it's day in my blog eventually. As I began my journey back home, I ended up on a street named Alpha Ave...I used to work for Red Pepper and did delivery for about a year. I thought I knew every street name in Grand Forks, but that one's new to me.

On to the trip:


I entered the bike path where I usually enter it, near 24th Ave. S. Near that entrance is the Lincoln Park Golf Course. I love the way they incorporate the path into the course, it all looks really nice, I'll have to try this course sometime. But for now, I'll stick with slicing through it with my bike. Near the golf course is this pedestrian bridge which goes to the mysterious land of East Grand Forks. Like I said, you'll have your day, EGF...just not today.


Still trekking on, looking for an end. The dike actually looks very nice, it doesn't have the feel of a giant fence seperating the river from the city, it actually is easy on the eyes.



Looks like I finally reached the Point Bridge. Here's one of the forks I was talking about, I could have gone three different ways. I stuck with the middle.



This thing can support trains? Glad I'm not in the railroad business.


I gotta say, we do have a very nice city building/ courthouse/ whatever you wanna call it.




The flood marker which marks the height of the Red River during the 1997 flood. I've driven by it numerous times, but seeing it up close was pretty awe-inspiring. I didn't live here at the time of the flood, but looking up and seeing how high the water was...wow. I recommend you check it out for yourselves.




Took a little breather and noticed there's a nice view of the Herald building from this spot.

This used to be a hospital as far as I know. My grandmother as actually born here. It's located right by the Gateway Dr. bridge.

Another fork...so many decisions. Around this point I caught a gnat in my right eye...that really hurt. Definitely one of the hazards of riding a bike around here.


I found a swimming pool that's definitely seen better days. It looks like it's been closed for years, but for all I know it's just been closed for the summer. It's definitely all dried up though.



We have a dam? At this point, I'm hoping the end is nearby...this is getting ridiculous. I'm wondering if I'm even in the city limits anymore.


So the trail turns into a pedestrian bridge heading to East Grand. I might not have reached the end, but I think I've reached the northernmost point of the trail. As I said, one day I'll head east, but I was starting to get exhausted.


A view of the dam from the pedestrian bridge.


Uhh...where am I?




Oh, on the corner of Alpha and 6th of course.




On the way back I saw a medical helicopter outside Altru, just thought it was cool. My dad used to fly these things.


Well, that ends my longest trip to date...I'll definitely be trying to top it soon. The longer the trip, the longer it takes to post these blogs...so I could definitely use a nap right about now.


Length: 12.16 mi.
Temp: 79 degrees
Start: 4:35
End: 6:15



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Trip 4 -- Riding in the Rain

So I figured I'd get a little wet today, but I didn't expect the monsoon that rained down upon me. I decided to ride part of the trail by the river...I think it's called the Greenway, but maybe that refers to the golf course, I'm not entirely sure. Anyways, as you can see from the map I entered the path around 24th ave. s. and I decided to head as far south as I could, assuming that it didn't take me all the way out to the country. I almost decided to turn around as I saw the clouds keep rolling in, but I really wanted to find the end of the trail...luckily the end was conveniently marked for me.

Of course when I found the end is about when it started pouring...and it didn't let up for around 15 minutes. So if you saw some crazy drenched guy riding his bicycle this afternoon, there's a good chance it was me. Thankfully my waterproof bike pouch worked as advertised, otherwise I would've been sitting on about $500 worth of wet electronics. I gotta say, riding in the rain felt pretty good. Something about being in heavy rain just makes me feel alive. It was really cool, although I could hardly keep my eyes open. I did draw some funny looks from people, but hey..don't knock it 'til you've tried it. Next time it's pouring, go outside...just don't get struck by lightning.

On to the trip:

Entering the bike trail. A sign of things to come in the sky.



A couple views of the path a little south of the Elks Dr. entrance. This was a very scenic path, it was nice being right by the river. I'll definitely be traveling this path again, next time I'll explore how far north it goes.



Getting darker, starting to sprinkle...



The end's in sight. At this point, the sprinkling started to pick up.


So this is where it ends, I had to kinda improvise in my Google Map, since a lot of the new southern stuff doesn't even show up yet. I'm not even sure if I traced the bike path correctly.


After I left the end of the trail, the rain really started to come down, and it did not let up. I was enjoying the rain until I thought about my bike's pouch, it said it was waterproof, but how waterproof was it? I decided to pull off into an overhang at an elementary school, and saw my favorite shed again.




I hung out there for a few minutes and the rain didn't let up very much. After discovering my bag was indeed waterproof, I roughed it out the rest of the way home. Needless to say, I was pretty drenched. I literally poured water out of my shoes. It's going to be a while before everything dries out, but was it worth it? Yeah I'd say so.

Trip: 8.3 mi.
Temp: 71 degrees
Started: 4:00 pm
Finished: 5:15 pm


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