We bought our daily trail passes for $4 each at a local restaurant. This reflects an increase in last year's prices, the annual fee jumped from $10 to $20, so bikers be prepared! There really isn't much to see at all in Norwalk itself, but I must say that their portion of the bike trail is the most picturesque trail we've ridden on yet.
Need some more convincing? Okay, feast your eyes on the wildflowers, the Trilium were everywhere!
As if the scenery weren't enough to get your attention for the 3 miles southeast to Tunnel #3, there was also a stone flume from the early 1900's to divert water and control erosion along the path of this old rail bed.
After checking out the flume it was pretty neat as the dirt walls rose alongside the trail and you could see the stone lining the top of the flume up there. But, the main attraction is the tunnels, and when we came around the curve to the tunnel entrance we were blasted with at least a 30 degree temperature change as the wind blew the cold air out of Tunnel #3 toward us.
The stone panel above Tunnel #3 says it was built in 1878, and this is the longest of the 3 tunnels on the trail at 3,810 feet and took 3 years to build. The link has great historical information and pictures if you want to know more!
We only went a short way inside because we had forgotten our flashlights and this tunnel gets dark fast. After the 6 mile round trip ride we drove to the next town on the trail, Wilton, to check out Tunnel #2. That section of the trail had nowhere near the wildflower show that Norwalk did, but the Cottonwoods were putting on their own show and if it wasn't over 80 degrees you would have thought it was snowing!
Tunnel #2 is 2 miles from Wilton, was completed in 1873 and since it is only 1,694 feet long we walked our bikes through it. You could see well enough to walk due to the opening at the other end, but seeing the floor was difficult and riding would have been dangerous. Check out this great shot of the tunnel from the past!
Ten miles for our first bike outing of the year ain't too shabby! Here's a video leading up to Tunnel #3. Enjoy the sideways trip through the tunnel, wasn't thinking ahead when I did that. I tried to insert the YouTube video but wasn't able to, so here's the link to YouTube.
Good video you can just make out a pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel. I love old railways and tunnels.
ReplyDeleteGood post. Enjoyed the video and couldn't help smiling through the entire sideways portion of the venture.
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