On the Salem Creek Greenway in Washington Park on the south side of the bridge crossing Salem Creek, the approach to the bridge has been redesigned. Before, the bridge's entrance/exit was directly onto the greenway with limited visibility on the western side. Now, as you exit the bridge, the greenway extends southward to a three-way interchange that lets foot and bike traffic move safely. Kudos to the city.
Greenways look nice
The Salem Creem Greenway looks the best it has looked in a year. The grass on the sides of the greenway has been mowed much further back and much of the brush has been cut back or killed. Graffiti has been painted over. Fallen limbs and trees have not just been pushed to the sides of the trail, they have been removed. It was a pleasant surprise; it looks the way the Granite City Greenway in Mount Airy looks all the time. And then I remembered that the annual Gears & Guitars cycling event is coming soon so the city wants to give a good (but false) impression to visitors. Get out and enjoy the greenway while you can because it will not look this nice again until next August.
Yippee!
The city just learned it is getting $809,600 in federal money, to go with $202,400 of local matching funds, to fix the low-lying stretch of concrete sidewalk and a ford on the Salem Creek Greenway about a half-mile west of the Salem Lake dam; an area that is usually flooded. There is no timetable yet for the work; the project has to be engineered and then the job put out for bids.
Bad ride/good ride
I drove to Armstrong Park in High Point to ride the High Point Greenway and Bicentennial Greenway to Greensboro (a 20-mile out and back ride). A mile into the ride, at the entrance to High Point University, the greenway was closed between North Centennial Street and North Univerity Parkway for maintenance; it was due to open in mid-September but it is still closed. I attempted to find my way through the university to the other side but the university was holding its Fall Family Weekend and it was a mass of cars everywhere and hordes of people swarming everywhere. Finally, I got pissed off, gave up, drove back to Winston-Salem, ate at Mr. Barbeque, and rode the Salem Creek Greenway/Salem Lake Trail loop (a 16-mile ride).
Salem Creek Greenway fully open
The greenway closure at the ford and creekside sidewalk has been opened and the kudzu along the greenway has been mowed. There was a large running event held Saturday morning along the greenway and the trail. Coincidence?
You tax money at work
The city is spending bond money to replace the ground material under the equipment in the children's play area that was only built a few years ago. It is constructing new areas outside the main gate. It is building a new boat ramp, which involves lowering the level of the lake, which means the Salem Creek Greenway will be closed from the Reynolda Park Road bridge to Salem Lake Trail for months due to high, rushing water along the greenway at the concrete sidewalk and ford.
How much of the bond money is being spent on the actual greenway and trail. ZERO. Salem Lake trail is more like a well-used dirt road to a logging operation; it is rutted, the surface is washing away, there are areas of constant standing water and mud, areas where water constantly runs over the trail, exposed large rocks, ancient drainage pipes are completely clogged, etc. The greenway even has kudzu growing ONTO the pavement.
The six-mile Granite City Greenway in Mount Airy is always immaculate. It is always clean, clear of debris, and they have bridges over all the low-lying areas. The High Point Greenway has over a thousand feet of elevated trail over a rugged section of terrain. However, the Salem Creek Greenway has a sidewalk beside the creek at creek level and a ford used to cross the creek. Water flows over these areas most of the time and the area is impassable after heavy rain or when lowering the lake. But to be fair, the city may never fix the problems but it always apologizes for the inconvenience.
Salem Creek Greenway HAZARD
Eastbound on the greenway headed toward the Salem Lake dam, just as you cross the concrete ford, about 200 yards further east, there is a large limbless, dead tree trunk lying across the trail and the shoulders of the trail. It is about a foot in diameter. The only way to get past it is to go over it. When approaching from the dam side, it is visible on a straightaway. When approaching from the ford side it is just past a curve so be careful. As usual, it probably won't be taken care of by the city until next week, or maybe later.
Bad day in the mountains
I rode the Granite City Greenway in Mount Airy, North Carolina today and had an accident at the halfway point. See my accident log for more information.
Nice day in the mountains
I rode the Granite City Greenway in Mount Airy, North Carolina today. It is one of the prettiest and most well-maintained greenways in the Triad. I had a superb broiled catfish lunch at Libby Hill Seafood. On the way home, a played a round of disc golf at the Armfield Recreation Center in Pilot Mountain; this course will kick your butt.
Salem Creek Greenway and Salem Lake Loop Ride
My first ride of the greenway/lake loop this year. I started at Marketplace Mall.
It's only been three days since the big Thursday night rainstorm. There is evidence of lots of sand having been removed from sections of the greenway. The concrete ford has rushing weather but is crossable. The concrete sideway area near the ford has rushing water but it is only a couple of inches deep and easily passable. As you near the dam, a tree has fallen in the trail but a one-lane path is cut through it.
As you ride clockwise around the lake, there is evidence of fallen trees having been removed. There are lots of fresh ruts and loose sand in curves to watch out for. As you near Linville road, there is a section of the trail that is known to stay soggy. It has some really nasty fresh ruts. Alongside the trail where a long puddle usually stays for weeks, the water is running. In eight years of riding the trail, I've never seen it have running water. On the south side of the lake, the west side of the big hill has many nasty ruts, At the bottom of the hill, I had to hop over one fresh, deep rut.
I had to poke along behind two horseback riders for about 100 yards in a curvy section before having an opportunity to slowly pass. Horses are rare on the trail but they are permitted.
Riding the trail with idiots is always a challenge, such as people walking on the wrong side of the trail in blind turns looking at their phones. In the middle of one sharp blind turn, a woman was kneeling helping her child. Groups of people walking and blocking the trail and then reluctantly moving over just enough at the last minute for you to squeeze by. As I rode by an unleashed dog, it didn't bark but as I passed it, it ran after me and nipped my leg.
Turn Triad Trail Tracker into an app using the Edge Chromium browser
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It's easy:
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- The app is created and an icon to it is created on your desktop.
Slack riding year
For 6 years, I averaged 1400 miles a year of trail riding. For 2019, it was 250 miles. The primary reason for this was my moving to Salemtowne Retirement Community. There are so many things to do here and, being new to the community, I've sampled about everything.
After being here a year, the newness has worn off and I have settled into the routine of doing the things I enjoy doing. Hopefully, I'll get back to regular trail rides again this spring.
For everyone else, keep riding as much as you can.
After being here a year, the newness has worn off and I have settled into the routine of doing the things I enjoy doing. Hopefully, I'll get back to regular trail rides again this spring.
For everyone else, keep riding as much as you can.
Riding Status
I'm into my 7th year of riding, but, since my move to a retirement community, I been riding less and doing many more things, such as circuit training, yoga, weight training, and hiking. I still ride, but, instead of 4 to 5 times a week, it more like once a week. My riding stats so far are:
Total rides: 520
Total miles: 8,488. all dirt trails and greenways
Average miles per ride miles: 13.3
Average MPH: 12.5
The Salem Loop starts at Salem Creek Greenway trailhead at the Marketplace Mall, goes to Salem Lake, circles the lake on the Salem Lake Trail, and then returns to the greenway trailhead, about 16 miles. So far my Salem Loop stats are:
Salem loop rides: 409
Salem loop miles: 5,996
Total rides: 520
Total miles: 8,488. all dirt trails and greenways
Average miles per ride miles: 13.3
Average MPH: 12.5
The Salem Loop starts at Salem Creek Greenway trailhead at the Marketplace Mall, goes to Salem Lake, circles the lake on the Salem Lake Trail, and then returns to the greenway trailhead, about 16 miles. So far my Salem Loop stats are:
Salem loop rides: 409
Salem loop miles: 5,996
New Ride
I drove to Mt; Airy, NC and road the Ararat River Greenway. It was part of an initiative to restore the waterway with the twin goals of improving water quality and increasing recreational opportunities for residents. The river is wide, not too deep, with crystal clear water gently flowing over lots of rocks. The greenway meanders alongside the river from Riverside Park to Tharrington Park. At its southern end, you can access to the Emily B. Taylor Greenway via a connector so both greenways flow together and seem like one. The Emily B. Taylor Greenway stretches north along Lovills Creek to Veteran's Park. Using the greenways, it's 6.5 miles from Riverside Park to Veteran's Park; a 13-mile round trip. If you choose to, you can ride from Veterans' Park back to Riverside Park on sidewalks and streets; it's only 1.5 miles.
Both trails are smooth asphalt with no holes or standing water. There is a gentle grade with no hills. Both trails are in immaculate condition. No graffiti anywhere. No trees downs anywhere that you can see. The concrete that surrounds each of the above ground sewer accesses is painted with artwork. There are numerous areas to access the river for fishing or swimming and numerous connectors to other parks, restaurants, and shopping. There are polished granite markers every quarter mile.
These are really beautiful greenways and a nice place to ride.
Both trails are smooth asphalt with no holes or standing water. There is a gentle grade with no hills. Both trails are in immaculate condition. No graffiti anywhere. No trees downs anywhere that you can see. The concrete that surrounds each of the above ground sewer accesses is painted with artwork. There are numerous areas to access the river for fishing or swimming and numerous connectors to other parks, restaurants, and shopping. There are polished granite markers every quarter mile.
These are really beautiful greenways and a nice place to ride.
Trail Status
The greenway and trail are in good shape EXCEPT for two trees down on the trail on the north side of the lake about a mile east of the dam; the trees down block the entire trail. With your bike, you must climb an embankment, climb over two trunks, and then climb back down the embankment.
When traveling counterclockwise, there is a short straightaway leading up to the trees so they can be easily seen. When traveling clockwise, the trees are in a blind curve so you have very little time to react to them.
The wind storm occurred last Friday so the trees probably fell then, which mean they have been there for almost a week. There no warning signs, cones, etc. to give you prior notice of danger. Good to know that the city is concerned about your safety.
When traveling counterclockwise, there is a short straightaway leading up to the trees so they can be easily seen. When traveling clockwise, the trees are in a blind curve so you have very little time to react to them.
The wind storm occurred last Friday so the trees probably fell then, which mean they have been there for almost a week. There no warning signs, cones, etc. to give you prior notice of danger. Good to know that the city is concerned about your safety.
Trail Status
Greenway and trail conditions are great. Still some overflow on the greenway sidewalk and ford and, with more rain coming tomorrow, it will get deeper.
The city is grooming the trail. I know you think I must be imagining it—but its true. Sections of the trail, especially the big dirt hill on the Southside, have had dirt added and graded. I hope this will become a common occurrence.
Trail Status
Greenway and trail are in good condition.
Sand on greenway has been cleared. There is still some overflow at the sidewalk and ford.
Sand on greenway has been cleared. There is still some overflow at the sidewalk and ford.
Trail Status
My first Salem Creek Greenway/Salem Lake Trail loop ride of the new year. My time was a bit slow, partially due to the traffic and the wind, but it will improve as I get in more rides and get the body back into riding condition.
It was a nice day but windy. Lots of foot and bike traffic on the greenway and trail but most people were obeying the rules; there are always the idiots.
The greenway is in good shape but it has loose sand about everywhere. The sand is deep under the Broad Street underpass (be careful it's difficult to see it in the shade) and between the ford and the dam. The sidewalk valley and the ford have some overflow but the area is easily passable. Just past the Reynolds Park Road bridge, one side of the greenway is covered in water for a few feet. The trail is in good shape with no deep ruts. There is a large plywood patch on the deck of the bridge on the north side of the lake,
There is evidence of downed trees everywhere, but the greenway and trail themselves are clear. As usual, sections of the trees blocking the trail were cut out and rolled to side; where they will probably stay forever. It makes the greenway and trail look like a logging operation is taking place. As usual, the city spends a fortune building a showplace marina and then lets the trail deteriorate.
It was a nice day but windy. Lots of foot and bike traffic on the greenway and trail but most people were obeying the rules; there are always the idiots.
The greenway is in good shape but it has loose sand about everywhere. The sand is deep under the Broad Street underpass (be careful it's difficult to see it in the shade) and between the ford and the dam. The sidewalk valley and the ford have some overflow but the area is easily passable. Just past the Reynolds Park Road bridge, one side of the greenway is covered in water for a few feet. The trail is in good shape with no deep ruts. There is a large plywood patch on the deck of the bridge on the north side of the lake,
There is evidence of downed trees everywhere, but the greenway and trail themselves are clear. As usual, sections of the trees blocking the trail were cut out and rolled to side; where they will probably stay forever. It makes the greenway and trail look like a logging operation is taking place. As usual, the city spends a fortune building a showplace marina and then lets the trail deteriorate.
My 2019 Riding Season
I recently moved to Salemtowne Retirement Community and have been busy with the move, but, now that the weather is warming (I'm a warm weather rider), I've started training for trail rides by making 10-mile rides within Salemtowne. When warm, sunny weather finally arrives, I'll be ready for my Salem Creek Greenway/Salem Lake Trail loop rides and trail status updates again.
