Mar 09 2011

Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway in Texas

So what are these Everytrail guides all about?

I get asked that question a lot, so I’ll start by displaying a sample of the description from my latest Everytrail Guide entitled Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway, near Fort Worth, Texas:

Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway rail trail

Immerse yourself in the history, wildlife, and countryside of Texas as you make your way from Mineral Wells to Weatherford on this 20 mile trail through time.

When it’s freezing cold up north, this trail makes a nice winter-time escape. If you are a trail-lover, then you’ll enjoy the flat terrain, peaceful surroundings, and well-spaced diversions along the trail.

Who will enjoy this trail?
– Bike riders who want to get in a 40 mile ride without risking life and limb on the highways.
– Hikers who want the solitude and serenity of a country trail.
– Vietnam veterans who want to stop off at the National Vietnam War Museum.
– Bird watchers who want to see an incredible variety of aviary delight from the pure white of the waterbirds near Sunshine Lake to the vibrant red and yellow birds that flit through the Texas underbrush.
– Historians who want to learn about the old, abandoned railroad, the Native American uprisings, and the days of Texas cattle/oil barons.
– Anyone who wants to get some exercise while viewing the Texas countryside.


 That’s just a small portion of what is found in an Everytrail guide. In addition, there are numerous trail pictures, descriptions of those pictures, a trail map, trail points of interest (POIs), useful trail links, suggestions for other trails, and a brief summary of the important trail facts such as length of trail, trail level, and trail activities.


The really nice thing about the Everytrail guides is their portability. If you have a smart phone such as an iPhone or Android, you can download a trail guide and have it available on the trail. Another nice aspect of the Everytrail guides is that you only need to purchase the guide you need for a specific trail or bundle of trails as opposed to a whole book of trails you may never use.


If you haven’t had a chance to check out Everytrail, give it a try on your next hiking or biking trip.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/09/lake-mineral-wells-state-trailway-in-texas/

Mar 08 2011

Fort Worth’s Trinity Trail an excellent urban trail

I hadn’t heard much about the Trinity Trail in Fort Worth, Texas. In fact, I had a difficult time finding information about it on the web.

But what the heck, I was going to be in Dallas to watch my daughter in a cheerleading competition, so I figured I would find a couple good trails.

On my first day, I rode the Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway, but I’ll tell you more about that in another entry.

On my second day in Texas, I drove out to Gateway Park, east of Fort Worth and prepared for a Texas trail ride. I had no idea what to expect. Some urban trail can be a bit confusing and occasionally even depressing.

This definitely wasn’t one of those trails. In fact, I would rank the entire Trinity River Trail System as some of the best urban trails in America.

Even though the trail runs right into a major park and very near a major business area in Fort Worth, it seems more dominated by riparian/river views than by city views. And the portion of Fort Worth where the trail runs is actually quite beautiful and very well maintained.

I was fortunate to be riding the trail on an ideal winter day, but I would imagine it can get pretty hot in the summer. As if to punctuate this point, there are misting stations at a couple spots along the trail. That was a first for me. I mean I’ve seen misting stations at amusement parks before, but never beside a trail.

One of my favorite portions of the trail was the part where it ran through Trinity Park. It was very scenic with lots of trailside distractions. Other nice parts of the trail included the river crossings, bridge underpasses, city views, and access to downtown Fort Worth.

If you’re ever in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, take some time to explore the Trinity River Trails. You’ll be glad you did.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/08/fort-worths-trinity-trail-an-excellent-urban-trail/

Mar 04 2011

Trailsnet blog merges with trailsnet website

The title of this blog post is also a link to the trailsnet website homepage. Click on it to see what happens…

Find the best trails in the world,
right here on your computer.

… I’ll wait.

Surprise. Look familiar?

This blog is now also the homepage for trailsnet.com, the trail locator website.

And this time, it actually works!! I tried this same move a couple months ago, with no success. This time, it actually took hold.

Admit it, the old home page for the trailsnet website was pretty boring. So I merged the path less traveled with the spectacular (If I do say so myself.) trailsnet blog, and voila… I present to you, the new and improved trailsnet home page.

To find the trail descriptions for trailsnet, just click on the “Locate trails by state” in the navigation bar near the top of the blog page and you’ll still be able to find pictures, descriptions, and maps of your favorite trails. It’s the best of both worlds.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/04/trailsnet-blog-merges-with-trailsnet-website/

Mar 03 2011

Yogi Berra quote applies well to trails.

Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway in TX

“You can’t observe a lot just by watching.” – Yogi Berra

Normally, Yogi Berra is  noted for his malapropisms rather than his words of wisdom.

But his quote above is actually quite perceptive and appropriate.

This past weekend, I drove thousands of miles to ride a couple epic Texas trails. I can tell you very little about what I saw on those thousands of miles of driving. But in slightly less than 100 trail miles, I can tell you a volume of great sights.
Trinity Trail in Fort Worth, Texas
So to tie this back into the Yogi Berra quote, when you drive, you spend a lot of time watching. But when you are on a bike trail or hiking trail, you are constantly observing; you are immersed in your environment and you actually see and appreciate your surroundings.
Obviously, that is one of the reasons I love trails so much. They allow people to become a part of their surroundings and to be keenly aware of the rhythm and peculiarities of nature.

If you haven’t seen America by trail, you haven’t really seen America.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/03/yogi-berra-quote-applies-well-to-trails/

Mar 02 2011

Idaho trails featured in latest Everytrail guides

The Trail of the Couer d’ Alenes, a paved path that runs for 72 miles from the backwoods of northern Idaho to the shores of beautiful Lake Couer d’ Alene is one of two featured trails on both Everytrail and trailsnet.com.

Bikers rest outside one of ten tunnels
 found along the Route of the Hiawatha
  bicycle trail in northern Idaho.

This trail is famous for it’s perfectly sloped grade and smooth surface. It is ideal for inline skating, recumbent cycles, bikes, and Trikkes. If your idea of a good time is bumping and bouncing over tree roots, rocks, and ruts or constantly avoiding deadly encounters with cars, then you might not like this trail. But For the rest of us, the Trail of the Couer d’ Alenes is paradise on earth.

The other trail featured this month is the Route of the Hiawatha, another great northern Idaho trail. It is not paved, like the Couer d’ alene trail, but it has some of the greatest trail tunnels and trestles anywhere in the world. It is also rife with wildlife, history, and bodacious scenery.

Visit trailsnet and Everytrail to view these two great Idaho trails and start planning your trail trip today.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/03/02/idaho-trails-featured-in-latest-everytrail-guides/

Feb 26 2011

Topeak handlebar mounted phone/PDA case

I haven’t published a product review on the trailsnet blog for awhile, so now’s a good time to review one of my most useful trail tools.

Next to my trusty steed, or in this case my trusty bike, my Topeak phone carrier is probably my most important trail tool. Heck, since I often rent a bike, but always have my Topeak, I could argue that the phone case is my most valuable trail tracking tool.

I learned, the hard way, that carrying my phone in my pocket wasn’t a good idea. I had finally broken down and purchased an iPhone, because a.) I needed a portable trail-tracking GPS and b.) I love everything Apple makes.

The first time I took it out on the trail, I turned on the tracking system (At the time, I was using the Trails app.) and jammed the phone in my shirt pocket.

Bad move.

After owning the phone for less than a month, I was mortified to feel the phone slip out of my pocket, hear it as it crashed to the ground, and see it as it made its final tumble into a nearby ditch.

It’ll be fine, I thought. Only a couple scratches… or in the immortal words of Monty Python, “It’s only a flesh wound.”

Wrong!!

Major damage!! Long story short… I had to buy a new phone. And for a cheapskate like me, that hurt.

So I knew I had to come up with a better system than jamming the phone into my pocket.

I began the search for a phone case that mounted on my bike. It had to be something that would secure and protect the phone yet allow the magic satellite signals to reach the GPS thingy majobby on my phone. (Sorry to go all technical on you.)

Topeak handlebar-mounted
PDA/phone case

My search ended at REI in Boulder, CO where I discovered the handlebar mounted PDA case by ToPeak. The actual case is perfect. It’s just the right size, holds the phone securely, and is easy to put on and take off my bike. The plastic mounting bracket is easy to secure to the handlebars and can be put on just about any bicyle.

Topeak PDA case w/
iPhone inside

I’ve had it for almost two years now and haven’t dropped another phone. I have ridden many trails in that time, and some of them have been brutally bumpy; not a problem.

The only downside is that the ToPeak PDA (or smart phone) case is a bit hard to find. I have discovered that the same REI where I bought my first case, no longer carries them or at least didn’t when I went back to buy a handy-dandy back up case to mount on another bike.

Topeak case on left & mounting
bracket on the right

They do appear to be available at Amazon.com, so if your local bike shop/sporting goods store doesn’t carry them, check out this Amazon.com link.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/26/topeak-handlebar-mounted-phonepda-case/