Trails offer much enjoyment

In 1957, as a sophomore at Drake University, I needed a cheap form of transportation to go the 9 miles to my part-time job in East Des Moines. I bought a three-speed Raleigh at a garage sale for $5 even though it was not “cool” for an adult to ride a bike. Teenage boys liked to yell nasty words out car windows as they sped by. That attitude was even prevalent in Cedar Rapids in the early '70s. Things have changed. People found that it was great exercise, a source of adventure, and “in.”

On July 6, I biked the trail from Robins to Czech Village along with bikers, hikers, and in-line skaters. At the Tree of Five Seasons, I visited with a family from Minneapolis visiting their daughter in college here. “What's the “Fifth Season?” she asked. I told them it was what they were enjoying doing - photos by the water-wall, shopping at City Market and seeing the sights.

As I biked past the Great America building, I was impressed by the plaza area and beautiful plantings and the view across the Cedar River of the new amphitheater. As I crossed the Lions Bridge at Czech Village, a small throng of bikers made me think of RAGBRAI.

A big thanks to the people with vision who helped make these trails a reality. They give us more enjoyment of that Fifth Season.

Gary Anderson

Cedar Rapids