Big day for me. I woke early and my legs were strong, so I hopped on my brand new bicycle and rode to Forest Park. I picked up my wonderful new bike two days ago and had only ridden a few blocks in Dogtown each day.
Today I took off for the park. What was so exciting (beside the mere fact that my legs work) was riding for WELL OVER ANY HOUR on trails that were not there before my operation, or which I had never seen before.
I found a trail alongside the Davis tennis courts which took me back into an area alongside of the boat house that never had a trail before. It took me over to the wooden bridge that used to be right at the 2nd tee of the 18 hole course. Now they have replaced the wood with steel plates, so it isn't a "swinging" bridge any longer. That took me all the way to the Grand Basin. Then I crossed the street to the golf course side and there are trails there. I think they will not remain trails, but will be golf cart trails after they finish the new 18 hole of the course.
Finally, to get home, I did have to go back to familiar territory and ride the long, long hill along Skinker from Forsythe to Hi-Pointe.
For any who like exercise, Dogtown now, with this Forest Park renovation, has to be the singly PREMIER community in St. Louis for biking, jogging, roller blading and just lovely walking.
I will be happy to LEAD an exploration of Forest Park on bike next week, say, Thursday if the weather will be dry. People could park at St. James if you wish and we'll go from there, or you could meet me in the park say in front of the Muny Opera, and we'll just ride all over the new areas particularly, but I'll also show you the standard 6.2 mile periphery bike trail that runs along parallel with Oakland from Hi-Point to the Planetarium, then runs along the lakes parallel with Kingshighway to Lindell, down Lindell to Forsythe, then up Skinker to Hi-Point.
No one will have to ride the whole of that, but I'll point out the central features of it, plus much more.
Anyone could ride from 1/2 hour if you're just warming back up to your bike, to a couple hours if you are a fanatic like me. Stops for drinks, even lunch are possibilities. And getting you back to your car can be done at any time.
I will aim for leaving from my house (right at St. James) at about 10:30 AM Thursday, and that means arriving at the front of the Muny Opera to pick up others at about 10:45 Am.
Please let me know if you are coming since I wouldn't want to miss you. If you need to rent a bike let me know and I'll see what time that place opens and what bike rentals cost. There are bike rentals at the Steinberg Skating Rink.
Hope to see some of you on your bikes next Thursday....
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