Face Down, Ass Up... That's The Way I Like My Duck

Since it was such a nice day on Saturday we decided to take a walk, yes I do know how to walk someimes, around Walnut Creek Lake. For being just on the edge of Omaha there is a surprising amount of wildlife around the lake.


Ran into a rather large Bull Snake, who was none to happy that he had to share the trail with us.


Saw a few muskrats, one swimming too far off to get a decent picture of and this one scrounging around in the spillway.



There were a quack load of ducks and geese, you could tell it was getting to be mating season as they were all starting to pair up. As we were watching them another pattern started to develop...


Ducks and geese face down, ass up... some were taking turns.


Others both at the same time...


And then there were the showoffs who seemed to be doing some sort of synchronized ballet while feeding, little feet still churning, going around in perfectly timed circles. Who understands ducks though, they are all just so daffy.

Big Wheel Keep On Turning

I like bikes, I've bought one or two of them during my time on this planet but because I'm old and cantankerous, I am often reluctant to jump onto the new fad bandwagon as quick as others. I was late to the 29er party, late to the single speed party, so late to that party in fact that it's no longer "cool" to ride a single speed and I'm kind of that one guy that just won't let it go now, and somewhat late to the fat bike party as well. Of all of the "fads" that I've resisted I think the fat bike one might be the one I was actually least resistant to so it has also been the one I've jumped on quickest. While still not as mainstream as the 29er or the 650b, fat bikes are certainly not the niche they were a few years ago now that everyone and their brother is making one and of all the bandwagons I've eventually jumped on it's also the one that has been the most fun.


Met up with Tyler at Walnut Creek yesterday for a little single track and then some gravel over to Nebraska Brewing Company. Not sure what it is about semi secluded wooden areas that brings out the freaks but they do, ran across these two women having an odd photo session out amoungst the mud and dead grasses... the one getting her picture taken wasn't wearing much more than a pair of socks and a sweater that barely covered her lady bits, yes I looked... two or three times actually, who wouldn't do a double or triple take when there is a woman out in the woods, in the middle of winter, dressed in only a sweater? I know beavers don't mind the cold but even they usually stay in the lodge when not looking for food.





After two laps at Walnut Creek the single track started getting a little soft so it was time to hit the gravel. Big wheel keep on turning, poor thighs keep on burning and we're rolling, rolling rolling on the gravel.

Two laps at Walnut Creek, the gravel and the SMNDFBR on the previous day made my legs super happy to see the Nebraska Brewing Company as it meant less pedaling and more lounging. Watched the end of the Packers game, had a beer and ate some wings before limping home, more in survival mode than anything, legs haven't been this worked since last summer. Fat Bikes are a ton of fun to ride but damn does that extra rubber take a little bit more effort to keep rolling at speed.


It's been really cold around here lately, forecast is saying that at least for the end of this week that's going to turn around just a bit, supposed to be almost 50 on Saturday. The warmer temps will be nice but it also means all the good dirt will be bad mud this weekend, luckily the Fat Bike chews up the gravel as well as it does frozen single track... not a bad problem to have.

Official Opening of Walnut Creek

Tonight was the official opening of the new trail at Walnut Creek, this is the first trail opening I'd ever been to and the first trail I've helped make with my own hands, it was a pretty cool experience and likely one I might not ever get to share in again.


T.H.O.R was out recruiting members and supporting the trail, first year I've been a member of T.H.O.R as well... those guys and gals bust their butts making sure we have great trails to ride!


Had to fight the wind riding to the event and didn't anticipate that a 20+ mph head wind would slow me down as much as it did so I was a bit later than 5:30 and thought maybe I had missed it all. Fortunately the festivities were just starting... look at the fabulous view I had of the back of peoples heads.


The trail leader Jeff and T.H.O.R representative Roxy speaking a little bit before the kids tore through the ribbon officially opening the trail to the public... and another awesome view of the backs of more heads.


Had a really amazing turn out for the grand opening, a lot of people spent a ton of time making this trail happen I am glad I got to be a part of it and hope to continue to be able to help out, it is just down the road from me after all. If you get down to Papillion give it a ride, I think you'll be impressed and leave with a smile. Tried to get around to the other side to get some faces... and then they all turned around, the backs of more heads. FML.

Walnut Creek Trail Day

Had another trail day today down at Walnut Creek, it's really starting to come together and once we can get some bikes through there I think it will get even better.





Wasn't much of a crew today just two of us but Jeff brought down his awesome older Bronco so we tried hauling out a fairly large tree that is destine to be turned into a log feature.


The permanent bridge is in now and it's rock solid.

Added a new section of trail, still needs some work but I know it's ridable because we rode the entire loop once we finished with the dirty stuff.


Remnant of an old deer stand, most likely from when Omaha didn't quite stretch this far out.


Those are some big nails, they look secure in the tree but I don't know that I'd want to climb on them with wet or muddy hunting boots, they'd make a really nice gouge in the shin when you slipped off I suspect. For the most part the trail is in at Walnut Creek now, just waiting for the official word so that we can get some wheels rolling and packing things down in there, should be a fun little trail.

Hilly Street Blues

Weather is finally starting to get nice and stay nice, which is really helping me get back into the biking groove. What's not helping me is all these hills, I swear Omaha is way more hilly than Lincoln was and my singlespeed legs aren't quite what they need to be yet this year, I guess the only thing to do is put on my big boy pants and ride the Cog more.


Decided to head down to Walnut Creek and check out the progress on the trail since I missed the trail day last Saturday because of the Syracuse ride. Things are coming along, both bridges are in now but still a bit of work to do with this one yet.


Rode only about half of the trail and then pussed out and rode the cement around the end of the lake, once it gets burned in and get some wheels on it to pack it down it'll be a good trail but right now it's a bit soft and the singlespeed was the wrong choice of weapons.


Skies were more than a bit hazy, news is blaming it on the folks from Kansas burning stuff down that way... whatever the cause it makes for good pictures but definitely not for good breathing. Man, I got the whine flowing tonight...


I did wash all those particulates in the air down with one of these bad boys when I got home. They combine two of my favorite things chocolate and craft beer so there's not a lot to dislike about it, it's becoming one of my favorites.

Walnut Creek

T.H.O.R. had their second trail day at Walnut Creek this morning, didn't have anything more pressing going on so I decided to head out and lend a hand again. Didn't quite get the turn out like we had last time but there were still plenty of able bodies out there helping.


Trail building time!


Barely visible is the entrance to the east section of the trees.


A little while later with the help of a weed eater and we have single track, sweet, sweet single track.


Because there is a creek that occasionally runs through the trail there will be a few bridges in this section, this one is just a temporary bridge until we can get the permanent one built and put into place.

This section is also going to have it's share of log crossings.


This bad boy is pretty monstrous and allowed us to actually make two routes over it, one easy route and one that requires a little more skill.


This is the front side of the big log crossing after dirt was added, to the left is the easy route which will be smooth up this side and down the backside, the right side involves a few little drops or if someone wanted could probably be used to catch some air. The hump in the middle makes a natural divider between the two sides.

The backside of the big log crossing with the easy rout mostly filled in with dirt.


Mostly filled in on the difficult side, I think the idea is for it not to be made too smooth so that like I said, you have a few little drops or could even possibly clear the whole down section with speed.


View from the top of the log crossing, as you can see the left side is pretty much a smooth ride up and over the log with a slight turn to it which should be ridable by anyone choosing not to take the other route.

This bridge will eventually be a table top type bridge giving you two options, either build speed and try to clear it in one hop or hop up and ride over it. In the background is one of the log crossings in the section, we were able to get the fully loaded wheel barrow over them with just one person so a bike should have no problem.


Glad we found this guy before someone found it the hard way, must have been livestock here once upon a time.


Once all the work was done it was time to eat, drink and stand up wind from each other. I think when the first parts of the trail are done it's supposed to be just under three miles of new single track, I'm pretty excited as it's definitely within riding distance for me but even if it's not for you it should still be a fun trail to ride. Plus it's new dirt and dirt is always good.