LOOKING AHEAD to more of the Great American Rail Trail

We didn’t go out on the Great American Rail Trail this spring and won’t be going out this fall because we lost our support. BUT, we are hoping to return Spring of 2027. We left off at the Indiana/Illinois border and that’s where we will head next. We are looking for someone to drive support, pull our utility trailer with our bikes. It would be best if the driver had a van that they could sleep in or was OK in a tent. Todd and I will be pulling our tiny RV as will Leslie and Walt Krater, two other members of our team. The person who drives support can ride bike every day but going the other way and meeting us. This person should also feel comfortable backing a trailer around.

The sections I would like to cover in Illinois is the 104.5-mile Hennepin Canal Parkway in Illinois, the 14.5-mile Pennsy Greenway, the Old Plank Road Trail which travels 21.7 miles west from Chicago Heights to Joliet, the 79.5-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail follows the Illinois and Michigan Canal alongside the Illinois River and maybe just for fun. That’s 220 miles. We ride about 30-35 miles a day so it should take us about a week to ride Illinois. 

Iowa has the 68.7-mile Cedar Valley Nature Trail (how lovely does that sound?), the High Trestle Trail, a nearly 26-mile trail that extends from the cities of Ankeny to Perry using a former Union Pacific Railroad corridor, and a few short stretches. 

There is the 209 mile Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail in Nebraska that we would like to cover in the fall. Then really nothing until we get to Idaho. 

I sure there is someone out there who would like to help us. We would leave in late April and go into early May— be gone from home no longer than 2 weeks, I believe.

So what has been happening this year? Todd has been carving a lot and thankfully, selling a lot and helping to support us, which makes both of us so happy and grateful. I painted a bunch of little paintings, mostly of the national parks for a show and still have some if anyone needs a special gift (message me). I have been writing a lot of magazine articles too, some for tourism and chamber of visitors bureaus about accessible nature in their region— a wonderful outlet for my work, getting Todd and I out and spreading the word that disabled folks need to and can get out and enjoy the natural world. I also spent a good part of the winter working on my manuscript about Todd’s recovery and my role as his caregiver. I sent it out to publishers but so far, do not have any takers. I will not stop until I find one. 

We have also been doing some mountain biking on gravel roads for a magazine story. Todd has a trike with a throttle that allows him to get up hills. It is not as comfortable a trike as his German trike but he’s getting used to it and it is helping us see new territory over and above a rail trail. 

I hope everyone out there is doing well. Hope to see you soon, on the trail or otherwise. Anyone who is remotely interested in driving support, let’s have a conversation!!!