Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
10/3: Twin Falls
A day exploring Twin Falls, Idaho, took me from the impressive Shoshone Falls to the Perrine Bridge, where I unexpectedly discovered BASE jumpers launching themselves into the Snake River Canyon. I spent time photographing the jumpers before getting on my bike to explore the trails along the canyon rim.
Boise River Greenway Bike Ride
What started as a planned 15 mile bike ride along the Boise River Greenbelt turned into a wonderful 43 mile afternoon. The paved trail took me through quiet neighborhoods, wooded parks, along the Boise River, and past people fishing, surfing, walking, and cycling. With beautiful weather and so much to see, I just kept riding. It turned out to be one of my favorite days in Boise.
Sun Valley Idaho Bike Ride
After a quiet night at Craters of the Moon, I drove into the Wood River Valley and noticed a bike trail running beside the road. A sign in Bellevue said Sun Valley was 18 miles away, which gave me an idea. A few hours later I was riding the Wood River Trail through Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley, following an old railroad corridor through golden hills and changing aspens. The ride turned into a lesson in the valley’s mining, railroad and skiing history, and the day ended with more than 150 elk feeding in a field near Hailey.
Idaho Falls Bike Ride
After a productive morning taking care of van and bike errands, I spent the afternoon riding the Idaho Falls River Walk along the Snake River. The ride turned into a slow exploration of parks, landscaped waterways, the falls and downtown, followed by several hours of night photography along the river.
VA City, Bozeman, Livingston
I left Bannack for Virginia City, where old storefronts, vigilante history and an unexpected David Yarrow gallery kept me walking for hours. After a brief stop in Bozeman, I continued to Livingston for an evening bike ride, then spent the next day at Rx Coffee and the local library before dinner and another quiet night in town.
Biking Edmonton’s River Valley
I spent my final afternoon in Edmonton riding about 20 miles through the North Saskatchewan River Valley, crossing bridges, exploring neighborhoods and seeing the city from the trails. That evening, I headed south on Highway 2, navigated Alberta’s extensive road construction, stopped for a nap and continued into Calgary.
Denali Sled Dogs and Bike Ride
I visited Denali’s historic sled dog kennels to learn how these working dogs have helped rangers protect the park for more than a century. Later, I traded dog power for pedal power with a 20-mile bike ride, including ten miles of climbing up the Denali Park Road.
Talkeetna Chase Bike Trail
Rain kept me busy sorting through over a thousand photographs before the skies cleared for a bike ride along Talkeetna's Chase Trail. Along the way I discovered Alaska birch syrup, sampled surprisingly good birch ice cream, enjoyed a local nitro stout at the Denali Brewpub, and ended another relaxing day in one of Alaska's most welcoming small towns.
Anchorage Cycling Trails
Anchorage surprised me. What started as a casual bike ride turned into an afternoon exploring miles of interconnected trails, watching moose from a safe distance, learning about the 1964 earthquake at Earthquake Park, and discovering just how bike-friendly Alaska's largest city really is.
Jenny’s Creek Bike Ride
I started my ride on the Dawkins Line Rail Trail from the Jenny’s Creek Trailhead, a quiet stretch of eastern Kentucky where forested hills meet farmland. The trail once carried coal and timber by rail; now it carries cyclists, hikers, and horseback riders through 36 miles of Appalachian history (I rode 15 miles), including the forgotten Civil War skirmish at Jenny’s Creek.
Lexington, KY
A windy morning bike ride along Lexington’s Legacy Trail led past historic farms, rolling hills, and university research fields. Later, I photographed Henry Clay’s law office, photographed the old Carnegie Library, and wandered downtown at sunset. An unexpected stop at LexArts gallery rounded out a full, laid-back day in Kentucky’s capital of the Bluegrass.
Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail Ride to Park CityI
A full day at Mammoth Cave National Park—chores at Land Between the Lakes, a quiet drive north, and an afternoon cycling the Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail through fall color, history, and small-town charm in Park City, Kentucky.
Land Between Lakes: Bike Ride
I woke rested after ten solid hours of sleep and decided to take a slow day. A short bike ride through rough old trails turned into an unexpected tour of Halloween decorations and friendly campers who seemed to have settled in for the season. The easy pace brought back memories of camping trips from my childhood.
Frisco Highline Trail – Springfield, Missouri
Starting from Springfield’s northwest trailhead, I rode the Frisco Highline Trail, a 35-mile rail-to-trail conversion that follows the historic Frisco Railroad. From paved sections to rugged stone, from Halloween decorations to a steady headwind, the day offered everything I love about cycling—history, landscape, and the people you meet along the way.
Katy Trail – Rocheport, Missouri
My overnight at the Rocheport trailhead led to a 60-mile ride on the iconic Katy Trail—through tunnels, past river bluffs, and alongside friendly strangers. From early-morning owls to the kindness of fellow riders, the day reminded me why this 240-mile Missouri treasure is more than just a bike path—it’s a journey through time, nature, and community.
Cowboy Trail / Smith Falls
Cycling a short stretch of the Cowboy Trail from Valentine offered prairie views and a dramatic railroad bridge over the Niobrara River. Later, a stop at Smith Falls State Park brought Nebraska’s tallest waterfall, quiet trails, and a glimpse into the Krzyzanowski family’s history of preserving this landmark.
Jewel Cave
My Black Hills day began with a Jewel Cave tour, where a ranger guided us deep into the underground world of crystals, geology, and history. From there I headed to Custer State Park, caught Kevin Costner’s Spirit of Tatanka film, and went for a bike ride past deer, pronghorn, buffalo, and a plaque about South Dakota’s first poet laureate, Charles “Badger” Clark.
Sioux Falls: Falls Park and Biking the City Loop
I spent the day in Sioux Falls, starting with the roaring cascades at Falls Park and then riding the paved bike trail that loops around the city and finishing up with spectacular images of the sky.
Rainy Lake Trail
The Rainy Lake Trail links International Falls to Voyageurs National Park, passing through historic Ranier and featuring plaques on the area’s lumberjacks, miners, and voyageurs. Along the way are landmarks like the Bronko Nagurski statue, the towering Smokey Bear, and the sprawling Boise Paper mill. The route ends with a stop at Ronning’s for coffee, licorice ice cream, and a glimpse of small-town life.
Gitchi-Gami Bike Trail
Waking up beside a massive steam locomotive in Two Harbors, Minnesota, set the tone for a day steeped in history and scenery. Agate Bay’s skyline was dominated by the towering Iron Ore Docks—over 1,300 feet long and nearly seven stories high—a powerful relic of the region’s mining heritage. Across the bay, the 1892 Two Harbors Lighthouse kept watch, still guiding ships on Lake Superior. After a coffee stop at Cedar Coffee Company, tucked away on a dirt road outside town, the day shifted to cycling the hilly Gitchi-Gami State Trail. Scenic lake views, rugged shoreline, and a chance encounter with a family bound for Vermont framed the ride, as rain clouds rolled in over Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. By evening, the rain had settled in for the night.