Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Trail Ride, Poison Ivy and Bad Knee (Pics)

Today I rode what is called Klause Park. This is a county park north of Cape Girardeau, MO that has been a problem spot for meth deals, pedophiles and other assorted low-brow activities. About a year ago, the local contingent of mountain bikers contacted the county and asked if they could possibly build a trail system within the park. Normally, government bodies and private organizations don't work well together, but in this case, the county said, "This can only help". This group has really worked hard, and has created about 3 miles of all single track trails with now, some pretty cool technical features.

I rode this trail back in December and was blown away by how much it has improved in a short time with a whole new trail that has some great banked zig zags. The downside to these trails is the huge amount of poison ivy that grows in about 50% of the trail area.

All in all, the little park is great. I took a few pics. They are not the best, but give an idea of the trail type. There is a section that runs along Interstate-55 and I was trying to put on my best show for the passers by and tweaked my left knee. Not bad, just on of those nagging arthritic pains over the knee cap. RICE therapy tonight.

Here is a link to all the pics: http://s425.photobucket.com/albums/pp331/homeairdirect/BIKE%20RIDES/05%2023%2009%20Klause%20Park/

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp331/homeairdirect/BIKE%20RIDES/05%2023%2009%20Klause%20Park/IMG_0894.jpg

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp331/homeairdirect/BIKE%20RIDES/05%2023%2009%20Klause%20Park/IMG_0896.jpg

My Baby
http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp331/homeairdirect/BIKE%20RIDES/05%2023%2009%20Klause%20Park/IMG_0898.jpg

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp331/homeairdirect/BIKE%20RIDES/05%2023%2009%20Klause%20Park/IMG_0900.jpg

About 1/2 the trail system is in nice manicured open woods like this and flow fast and fun with lots of switchbacks.
http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp331/homeairdirect/BIKE%20RIDES/05%2023%2009%20Klause%20Park/IMG_0904.jpg

Happy Boy
http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp331/homeairdirect/BIKE%20RIDES/05%2023%2009%20Klause%20Park/IMG_0910.jpg

looks like fun

just noticed your carrier. I have the same one and love it.

This is a county park north of Cape Girardeau, MO that has been a problem spot for meth deals, pedophiles and other assorted low-brow activities.

Most of MO is a problem spot for meth. I can only say that because I lived next door in Kansas (another problem spot for meth) and central Texas (one of the country's original meth manufacturing capitals).

It's great to see cyclists having a positive impact on the community...doesn't hurt helping the police either.

just noticed your carrier. I have the same one and love it.

I assume you are talking about the Thule?? Or the Toyota? I also have a Saris hitch rack on my Nissan Frontier and I hate it. I remember when I bought this Thule, I was so hacked off that it cost so much for so little.........this is the best rack....EVER:thumb:

Looks very nice, although I am really, really allergic to poison ivy so I will stay far away. My last encounter left me on prednisone to control the reaction.

Looks very nice, although I am really, really allergic to poison ivy so I will stay far away. My last encounter left me on prednisone to control the reaction.

I hear ya. I am about to scream from the itching tonight. And.......I am allergic to prednasone:mad:

So, it is gonna be Zanfel for a few days.

jboyd this is a beautiful trail. I used to coordinate the rec program here in Reading, Pa. and I found the best way to discourage the undesirables was to encourage the property be used so we did much the same with walking trails guided tours etc. By the way what is rice therapy. I have 2 knee replacements and they get sore once in a while.

jboyd this is a beautiful trail. I used to coordinate the rec program here in Reading, Pa. and I found the best way to discourage the undesirables was to encourage the property be used so we did much the same with walking trails guided tours etc. By the way what is rice therapy. I have 2 knee replacements and they get sore once in a while.

I guess I left out the outcome of the trails systems in relation to the parks former seedy usage. Because of the constant coming and going of this group of mountain bikers and their non-conventional building schedules, (or lack thereof) the undesirables have move on and this place is great now.

RICE = Rest - Ice - Compress - Elevate

looks real good man... i still love the rasta paint on the GT :) and that trail looks like some fun.

for poison ivy... got it once real bad while cleaning out my dads yard... still have scars from it... thankfully our trails don't seem to have a lot of it

Run over any drug dealers?

Run over any drug dealers?

Nope, but while I was resting on the picnic tables, a guy pulled up in a truck that I am sure had everything he owned in it and out jumped a dark brown weimaraner dog and the owner hopped out and his arm was bleeding like crazy. I asked if he was ok and he said "yeah, I'm fine. He gets pissed if I don't scratch his ears and he bites me sometimes." Then said, "for $5 bucks you can have him", and then reached in his pocket and acted like he was going to give me $5 :lol: