Durand to Menomonie bike ride is Saturday
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 2:40 PM CDT
DURAND — Bicyclists, skaters and walkers will be hitting the Red Cedar and Chippewa River State Trails on Saturday, June 7, to celebrate National Trails Day and experience the festivities being held in the cities of Durand and Menomonie. Trail fees are waived for the day to encourage participation; and a free shuttle service between the two cities will be provided.
The mayors of Menomonie and Durand were brainstorming last winter and hit on the idea of getting folks from the two communities to experience the trail and to become better acquainted with each other’s cities. They then approached FRCST and the Friends of the Pepin County Trail (FPCT) to help with the planning and execution.
In Menomonie
National Trails Day events are being planned by the Friends of the Red Cedar State Trail (FRCST) from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Depot Trailhead at Riverside Park in Menomonie. Events will include a butterfly exhibit, predatory owl presentation, music by Jude Marion, a garlic mustard walk and nature hike.
Bike mechanics from Simple Sports and Bad Cat Bikes will be on hand to do bike tune-ups.
Food and beverages will be available, and, door prizes will be given away.
In Durand
Meanwhile, in Durand, the bike ride coincides with Durand Funfest, the community’s annual, early summer celebration, which features a carnival, children’s games and kiddie-pet parade, chicken stand, beverage tent, open house at the Old Courthouse Museum and numerous other events throughout the day.
To start
Menomonie Mayor Dennis Kropp will lead out a group of riders from Riverside Park at 11:30 a.m. An early morning ride will leave Memorial Park in Durand at 8: a.m.
The free shuttles will run between Riverside Park at Menomonie, the boat landing at Downsville and Memorial Park in downtown Durand. Four departures are scheduled from each location.
Participants will have the option of riding round-trip between the two cities or riding one-way and catching the shuttle for the return trip for riders and bikes. Departure times from Menomonie to Durand are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Departures from Durand to Menomonie are 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
A round-trip ride between Menomonie’s Riverside Park and Durand’s Memorial Park is about 42 miles. As indicated, the one-way option is 21 miles.
From Riverside Park to Downsville is fewer than 8 miles. The trip from Downs-ville to Memorial Park at Durand is approximately 13½ miles. |
Archives