JUNE 2010 LITTLE DRY CREEK AND MORE

A while back I noticed there was a new bridge over the Platte River leading to the Little Dry Creek Trail. There is another Little Dry further North that runs into Clear Creek. This is the one that empties into the Platte.

 I got on the Platte River Trail going South at Alameda Avenue. The Alameda bridge going over the Platte is being replaced right now.

 Good Ol' Platte River. Mark Twain once mused the Platte Shouldn't be left outside at night lest a dog drink it up. It's about as full as it gets right now. We've had a cool spring and a hot streak starting June 1st that has caused all the rivers to run high. Later this Summer it will be a mere trickle.

 I saw a big white bird. Stork or Pelican? It's good to see a bird not covered in oil.

 Waterfall on the Platte.

 Jim Beckwourth was a mountain man. He was a witness to the Sand Creek Massacre and testified against Col. John Chivington. There were plenty of important black pioneers. Read further: www.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Beckwourth 

 Ride past the power plant...

 About 4.5 miles South of Alameda you see the new bridge over the Platte to Little Dry Creek.

 Paid for with lottery money.

 There's Little Dry Creek. I've been on this trail before. Sometimes I ride the other side of the Platte than the bike path to see what I can see. The Little Dry Creek Trail is less than a mile long and leads to Englewood's Central Park.

 There is some nice scenery during that short ride.

 There is the fabulous Central Park of Englewood.

 Near the park I found an old Santa Fe rail station. There are train tracks about a block West of here. I guess back in the day tracks went right here. When I saw the green cross sign from a distance I thought maybe it was a medical marijuana dispensary. Denver has more MMJ dispensaries than Starbucks stores.

 So I went back down Lil' Dry to the Platte River Trail.

 Had I known there was going to be a Century Ride along the Platte today I would have stayed home. There was a ton of traffic. It's good to see so many people out riding but I'd rather go when it's not so crowded. Little Dry was so short I decided to go a little farther South on the Platte then shoot up Bear Creek to check on the trail construction.

 Here's where the Bear Creek Trail diverges from the Platte River Trail (Mary Carter Greenway)

 At the Bear Creek confluence is the mistake known as River Point At Sheridan. In my first post on Bear Creek I wondered if we really need another Super Target. I deleted my comments later because my goal was to focus just on the ride at hand and not my opinions. OK, it's been open a few years now and is only 40% leased. I can assure you the major tenant (Target) was given a sweetheart deal on taxes in order to lure them here.

 This store front has been vacant for two years now. It's right on the Bear Creek Trail.

 At least they completed the movie multiplex. There's an old post showing this under construction.

 The failed shopping center isn't all bad, this is a grassy amphitheatre. I would like to see a bluegrass band play here one day.

 Thank you James Windholz.

 Here's a quick look at River point at Sheridan.

 Most of the store fronts are empty, never been occupied. 60 acres of land for this project was obtained through eminent domain. I mentioned eminent domain in an earlier post regarding the RTD Light Rail project through Lakewood Gulch. I approve of that seizing of private property because light rail is for the greater good. This land grab was motivated by greed and it backfired.

 For Lease, probably cheap.

 Empty store fronts on the left, Super Target on the right.

 There's the Super Target.

 There are a few other stores but not enough to make this a profitable venture. Plenty of parking though.

 When it was under construction they were very careful not to contaminate the river and they did a good job.

 The Bear Creek Trail was closed in this area for a while but the new trail is really nice. Those posts on the left are light fixtures. On the right you got your nicely kept lawn and shrubbery. There are stairs along this part that lead to overflow parking lots.

 But hey, if you want to park at the Bear Creek Trail head this is the spot. River Point at Sheridan is what's known as a boondoggle. There used to be a grove of trees I hung with before progress reared it's ugly head. I'm not bitter but I miss my tree friends.

 Where the Bear Creek meets the Platte. I got a bird shot.

 The secret bench I discovered on my last Bear Creek ride has been moved to the spit. It's not my bench so I left it alone but if we get a heavy rain this area could be underwater. Notice the flotsam & jetsam caught on the bushes & trees in the background. I hope the bench survives, it's a cool stop along the way.

 Here's a view from the secret bench on Bear Creek. In the distance it empties into the Platte River.

 Animal print in the mud.

 This is a first. A lighted bike bridge. You can see those white warts along the trail? Those are lights.

 Here's a close up of one of the lights. Someone has broken the plastic cover but the bulb inside is intact.

 I saw pink. I took a picture.

 There's a big old green tree. We hung out for a bit.

 Waterfall on Bear Creek.

 Cruising along the Bear Creek Trail.

 I found a memorial for Tyler Ryan DelDaggo, 3 years old when he fell into Bear Creek and died in 1997.

 Good news the Bear Creek Trail construction is almost complete.

 Trail closed to road bikes, mountain  bikes welcome.

 In my last Bear Creek post I documented a mile of dirt. Now it's all concrete except the last 500 feet. July first is the target date for completion. it looks like they may finish early.

 This is the end of the construction zone, at Bear Creek Park.

 Bear Creek Park.

 Better trails soon.

 Not sure what this is about, if you tried that maneuver on a bike you would fall.

 The Bear Creek Trail passes a golf course. The fence is designed to keep bikers from getting beaned.

 On the way down I saw more birds and a model sailboat.

 Is there anything as fluffy as a cloud? If there is I don't want to know about it. This was a ride taken after Little Dry Creek Trail turned out to be so short. The BCT should be whole by the end of this week. I give this ride 4 stars.