September Trails Talk

LOCAL BIKE RIDES SUPPORT TRAILS

There are many great bike rides and trail events every year in the Iowa Great Lakes and a number of them support the Dickinson County Trails.  These events take a lot of effort on the part of the organizations that put them on.  We appreciate their hard work and commitment to bringing bicycle and trail enthusiasts to the area.  In 2021, the contributing rides donated over $11,000 to DCTB and with the addition of matching grants the rides will provide $44,700 in total for trail projects.  Thank you to everyone that helps make the Iowa Great Lakes an exciting recreational trail destination!

UNIVERSITY OF OKOBOJI CAMPUS RIDE

Jim Carpenter from the Okoboji Cycling Classic Foundation presents Erin Reed, Executive Director and Jason Harrington, President of the DCTB with a check for $2,000 as part of the U of O Campus Ride that was held on June 26. The ride, that is also supported by Three Sons and Milford-Okoboji Fire Departments, includes 25, 50 and 100-mile routes along scenic trails and lakeside roads around the Iowa Great Lakes.

 

 

 

BIKE RIDE AROUND SPIRIT LAKE (BRASL)

Blaine Andera from the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce presented the DCTB with a check for $250 from the Bike Ride Around Spirit Lake (BRASL) that was held on July 10.  The ride includes a 15-mile bike cruise around Iowa’s largest natural lake with optional 25 and 50-mile routes around the Iowa Great Lakes and Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

SPORTSMAN’S TIKI RIDE

Dave, Dan and Donnie Tryon from Sportsman’s present the DCTB with a check for $4,050 from the annul Tiki Bike Ride that was held on August 7. Riders of all ages enjoy this ride with 16, 24 and 40-mile routes that include many prizes, games and fun surprises along the entire ride. Volunteers, led by Marty Spies, also held a silent auction that brought an additional $2,370 for a total of $6,420 raised from the event.

 

 

 

UNIVERSITY OF OKOBOJI OKTOBERFEST RIDE

Karli Anthofer, Blain Andera and Kiley Zankowski from the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber present the DCTB with a check for $2,500 from the 2020 Oktoberfest Ride. This year’s Oktoberfest was held last Saturday and it was a beautiful day for the ride along with all of the other events included in the fall festivities. While numbers are still being tallied, it may be another record year for the bike ride. Thank you again to all that make these great events possible.

 

TATANKA SKA TRAILHEAD

Construction of the Tatanka Ska Trailhead has picked up again. Steel was finally delivered to the site and the contractor began erecting the structure last week. The project manager expects it to take about two weeks for the canopies and tower to go up.  Once that is complete, they will follow up with site concrete and plantings. The DCTB is excited to see the trailhead take shape and we look forward to its completion in the coming weeks.  Thank you to Imagine Iowa Great Lakes for their partnership in this project.

 

As always, Happy Trails to You and Yours.
Erin Reed, DCTB Executive Director