PEDAL YOUR A$$ OFF
As cool weather rolls around, Julie and I have been riding bikes. We both have folding bikes that can be carried in either my Subaru Outback or in the Ruptured Duck. So far, we haven't put them into the Duck. Soon.
Over the Labor Day weekend, we took two rides. The nicest one was on the Lakelands Trail that goes through a few small towns in south-central Michigan. On the W'ly end, is Stockbridge. Riding E'ly, the trail goes through Gregory, Pinkney, and Hamburg.
As railroads were going out of business, their specialised corridor Right of Way (ROW) had to be preserved on the spot. Otherwise, such a corridor could never again be assembled in that, particular area. Rails to Trails was born in many places in the USA. Even a cursory review of the documents by which railroads gained title to vast tracts of land in the 1800's, quickly shows you that they actually - once in a while - got the land legally. But most of the time, no.
This attitude of arrogance unfortunately permeated much of railroad management for the next hundred years. Customers had difficulties getting deliveries to specified locations at specified times. Only options that were convenient for the railroad were offered. The customer be damned!
Long story short - today there are very few railroads and very many trucking companies. Old railroad rights of way are now playgrounds for cyclists, walkers, and horsemen. One helluva " Gothcha!"
As cool weather rolls around, Julie and I have been riding bikes. We both have folding bikes that can be carried in either my Subaru Outback or in the Ruptured Duck. So far, we haven't put them into the Duck. Soon.
Over the Labor Day weekend, we took two rides. The nicest one was on the Lakelands Trail that goes through a few small towns in south-central Michigan. On the W'ly end, is Stockbridge. Riding E'ly, the trail goes through Gregory, Pinkney, and Hamburg.
As railroads were going out of business, their specialised corridor Right of Way (ROW) had to be preserved on the spot. Otherwise, such a corridor could never again be assembled in that, particular area. Rails to Trails was born in many places in the USA. Even a cursory review of the documents by which railroads gained title to vast tracts of land in the 1800's, quickly shows you that they actually - once in a while - got the land legally. But most of the time, no.
This attitude of arrogance unfortunately permeated much of railroad management for the next hundred years. Customers had difficulties getting deliveries to specified locations at specified times. Only options that were convenient for the railroad were offered. The customer be damned!
Long story short - today there are very few railroads and very many trucking companies. Old railroad rights of way are now playgrounds for cyclists, walkers, and horsemen. One helluva " Gothcha!"