I left work a tad early and headed north on the MUP for 30 minutes into a 12mph wind. Figuring at least 10mph bike speed the wind chill calculator says it felt something like 30 degrees. That's good practice for the coming months. Test the clothing now before it really means something.
For example, on the Coffee/Doughnut ride I discovered the arms out front position of my road bike makes my new -20 degree jacket ride up in the back. Crucial information to avoid some lower back frost bite later in the season.
I also wanted to see if the reconstruction was complete on that section of trail. For a couple months the MUP was being detoured through the fairgrounds. Now it's not. The trail is open. I bet the fairground director is getting all sorts of e-mails thanking him for opening the grounds for this detour.
While I was that way I gave myself a little short tour of Elmen Park Trailhead. Funds for this park were provided by the Elmen family. I believe the patriarch held a certain affinity for the MUP. There will be bike related ammenities at this park - already you can see an uncommon number of things to lean one's bike against.
There are two structures like this...
Some restrooms...
And a Daktronics sign...
That's right. A Daktronics sign. One can only imagine the weath of information that can be communicated by this thing. Hopefully it will say "please don't block the trail while you stand and read this very important message as it scrolls."
See that asphalt? That's the new stuff. Isn't it nice? You'd hate to have a big park grand opening, complete with a shiny new Daktronics sign flashing "grand opening" without redoing the really really bad asphalt that was there a couple months ago, wouldn't you?
4 comments:
We are so excited about this as it is in our neck of the woods.
Last year I had communicated with someone at teh city level about that area and making it into a park since there really wasn't anyplace along that stretch of the trail to take a break or have restrooms. At the time he said plans were in place already and something would be built. I had no idea that it would be so nice! I thought maybe a building with restrooms and that was it. Well it is not! KUDOS to the Elmen family and the city for taking it futher!
Wow, that asphalt looks so inviting! Now, if we could just convince them that a mile a year is no plan..... They have that new machine, let's use it!
IT does look nice.
To bad asphalt is a by product of oil refining.
I wonder what message(s) will be on that fancy sign?
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