EISC Camping/Biking/Exploring Weekend Recap
Steve Cummings | Published on 10/2/2024
The EISC was out in force in Pella, at the Howell Station Campground and on the Volksweg trail. The trail ride Saturday was the highlight of the trip. The trail was great with long wooden bridges, thick forest canopies and incredible views of the lake and the large migrating birds.
We started from the North Overlook on Lake Red Rock and rode to the Cordova Tower at the end of the trail and back. Many of our members climbed the 170-step tower for the spectacular views of the reservoir & country side. The trail was rolling, but the grades weren’t as challenging as we were expecting. The trail surface was rough in spots, but the views of the forests and the open water made it more than worth it.
Most of the members choose to camp, while some of us preferred the hotel stay. Uptown Pella was fun. Some walked through the historic village tour & the Central College campus. Everyone seemed to enjoy the downtown area. The Peanut Bar and Iowa Bike Shop were popular and I hope a few Dutch letters from Jaarsma Bakery made it back to East Iowa. The town square and historic storefronts add to the charm. A few of us tried the Butcher’s Brewhuis for a great early Saturday evening dinner.
Thanks to all of the EISC members who joined us for this adventure. The Camping Committee did a great job organizing this trip and we were happy to join them on a very enjoyable trail. We learned a few things we can do to improve on next year’s rides. We will remember this ride for a while.