Cottonmouths, Cut-Through from Cantrell, Pinnacle Valley Bike Lanes

Snakes alive! They slither among us.
While it is common to see venomous snakes along portions of the River Trail, the cottonmouths were out in numbers on my Tuesday midday ride. The first one I saw was making good progress across the trail so I just observed until he was on his way back to the swamp. ( The real swamp--not the one festering in Washington.)

 This stubborn little fellow took a break in mid trail, stopping traffic. Someone tossed a few rocks to try to encourage him but he was unimpressed. I moved beside him to take this photo and he finally moved on. 

This impressive specimen seemed to like this spot and was hanging out as I took this picture. I was also watching an oblivious runner approaching in a direct path to the snake. I started yelling at the runner but he was head down, apparently with ear buds on high volume. I was virtually screaming at him when he finally looked up. 

Heavy rains upstream mean that the river is back to some high flows and the backwaters are flush.

I don't know whether the snakes are out in such numbers because the recent welcome cooler weather makes the warm trail more attractive or if they have been displaced by recent heavy rains, but they are more active than usual. If you encounter snakes on the trail, the best advice is generally to leave them alone. I often stop to caution approaching users until the snake moves on. They are driven mostly to eat and mate, so have little interest in us unless threatened. 

 Be alert, and I  suggest keeping kids and dogs out of the brush adjacent to the trail, especially in the marshy areas of Two Rivers Park. The snakes live there and we are just passing through. 

Pinnacle Valley Bike Lanes and Bypass To Cantrell/Highway 10

OK, OK, I am admittedly a year or so behind on reporting this, but the addition of bike lanes along Pinnacle Valley Road north of Cantrell is a great addition to the Arkansas River Trail system. This had been discussed for years within the Little Rock Bike Friendly Community Committee ( I swore years ago to quit typing the whole name, so from now on it is back to LRBFCC) and championed by former chair Ed Levy.
In addition to the bike lanes, there is now a bypass from the traffic signal at the intersection of Taylor Loop to Pinnacle Valley Road, thanks t the cooperation of a friendly developer.

 I ran into my friend and not-quite-cousin Becky Barton Dalton while I was out for a spin on Sunday. She dragged me around as she hit her 5000 year-to-date mile mark. (Kudos-that is some riding!)
This stretch of Pinnacle Valley previously challenged riders with  limited sight distance, no shoulder, and a lot of traffic. As you can see, it is a much more comfortable and safe situation today. 

 This new subdivision ends in a cul-de-sac but the developer cooperated with the community by allowing a bike path that extends to Cantrell. 

The developer apparently has expressed a little frustration that riders are not using the bike/pedestrian lane he added to this bridge. Riders tend to stick to the road but the bridge will certainly add value to his neighborhood and be appreciated by residents. Thanks go to him for the consideration. 

I seldom ride that way these days, but before two Rivers Bridge opened I regularly took life in hands to ride out Cantrell from River Mountain Road or made the unpleasant climbs of Pleasant Forest to get to Taylor Loop. It was always frightening to cross 5 lanes of traffic from Taylor Loop to get the few hundred yards to Pinnacle Valley.

 Riders coming from West Little Rock can now just cross Cantrell at the light on Taylor Loop rather than making a mad dash back to Pinnacle Valley Road.

The bike path ultimately leading to Pinnacle Valley connects behind Buffalo Wild Wings. 

The bike path leading from the subdivision to the back of the shopping center where Buffalo Wild Wings is located.

Improvements like this do not just happen. Work on this seemingly small infrastructure improvement has been going on for many years within the LRBFCC and the participating LR city departments, along with lobbying of developers and other stake holders. There are typically months or years of boring meetings to identify a need and develop a plan. Then, those plans often don't see implementation until a street is resurfaced or some outside funding becomes available. The wheels of government move slowly and, when it comes to cycling improvements, those wheels are being pushed and lubricated by your fellow riders who invest their time for the common good. 

The weather has gotten a little nicer. Go ride your bike.

Kayaking On The Arkansas With Rock Town River Outfitters

Usually when I write about boating on the Arkansas, it looks something like this:

For this Arkansas River kayaking experience, go 900 miles upstream and get it!

The headwaters of the Arkansas attract tourists and recreational boaters to central Colorado and help fuel the local economy in a big way. While our stretch of the Arkansas won't support whitewater rafting and kayaking, it does offer numerous recreational opportunities right in the center of our City. 

Why be a purist when you can be a tourist?

That was a catch phrase of  a big water western boating trip I joined many years ago but it can apply here. I've often eschewed flatwater boating, as my passion is whitewater; however, that position meant that I missed many opportunities to slow down to enjoy the beauty and unique perspective that comes with paddling a small craft on virtually any body of water. 

Rock Town River Outfitters

I met Rock Town owner Sam Ellis a year or so ago at an open house for Rockwater Marina. Sam is a local guy who learned to kayak while attending college in Conway, got the bug, and spent a couple of seasons guiding rafts and boating on the Arkansas River in Colorado. He eventually came back home, got a real job, and soon rediscovered the river here. He saw it as an underutilized resource that people drove over or rode beside every day, often not even really noticing the river except perhaps in times of high flows. He relates how he was always warned off of the river because of the ever lurking undertow. My grandfather tried to scare me away from the river with tales of whirlpools and talk of giant alligator gar. Undertow and whirlpools do exist on the river but with a little common sense the river can be enjoyed safely.

The river at Little Rock is usually pretty placid. By keeping to the north shore, kayakers stay out of the navigation channel where commercial traffic and speeding fishermen rule.

A small towboat passing by in the navigation channel.

While any river deserves respect, caution, and an informed approach, for most of the year, the Arkansas here is a slow moving lake. The fact that it is moving means that there are currents and eddies, sand bars that shift, and banks that can fall away, but the river can usually be enjoyed safely in small paddle-powered craft. 

Sam had taken friends out on the river and saw a business opportunity in renting kayaks, providing some instruction, and in escorting paddle tours in the downtown area. The result is  Rock Town River Outfitters.

I recently joined him and his clients for a Sunday tour. I had brought my own boat so I launched from the ramp upstream and paddled down to our 10:00AM meet-up. The launch site is near the F.O.P. on River Road in NLR and it allowed me to unload at water's edge rather than carrying down the steep ramp to the marina.  If you have your own boat, this G&FC public ramp is a good option. 

Sam giving Cole, Everett, Courteny and Diane an overview of the trip in the pre-paddle talk in the comfort of the Rockwater Marina shop. 

Sam instructed the participants on the correct way to enter a kayak from a dock or steep bank. The paddle is braced between the rear deck and the dock, creating a solid platform. It's always embarrassing to take a swim while launching. 

And we're off! Sam's dog Griz is an experienced boater and he adds a little fur to the trip. 

We left the marina and headed downstream. It was hot and sunny but felt a bit cooler with a nice breeze on the river. I always enjoy watching riders passing by on the River Trail. It gives you a very different perspective of how the river and  trail fit together, and presents a new appreciation for the many recreational opportunities that lie at our doorstep. 

After crossing under the Baring Cross RR and the Broadway Bridges we were downtown....tall buildings, everything...

The new Broadway Bridge is striking in the late morning sun. 

A water level tour of the USS Razorback was mandatory.

As Sam was exploring opportunities to join with other hospitality provides in the downtown area, he approached Jeremy Lewno of Bobby's Bike Hike. Jeremy had returned to Chicago to run the primary location of that business. They ended up striking a deal wherein Rock Town took over the business. Rock Town offers various bike tours around the City, including a Sunday brunch ride.The Sunday brunch bike tour happened to roll up as we bobbed around at the sub. The brunch tour grazes and sips along the way with stops at SOMA and the Diamond Bear Brewery tasting room, among others. I plan to join one of these rides soon and will give you a report.

Griz was torn between staying on the boat or making a swim for shore to join the cycling tour. He stuck with the kayak even with the promise of food and beer ashore.

Everett exits the kayak as we returned to Rockwater. The trip took about 2 hours.

Rock Town rents kayaks, SUPs (Stand Up Paddleboards), and bikes in addition to providing tours and some introductory-level instruction. For rates and a menu of offerings, follow the link to their website. Rockwater should have their craft beer license by this time so that they can serve up a cold one at the end of your adventure.

Wrapping up

Rock Town is providing a unique  opportunity for experiences that should appeal to tourists and locals alike. Whether you just want to try out a kayak or paddle board for the first time or you are a visitor wanting to see the city from water level, there is something here for you. Sam's personality and raft guide experience make him a congenial and helpful host. 

A suggestion......

Like most river cities, much of Little Rock's early history took place on the riverfront, and as a result  there are many points of interest along the path of our short tour. From the Big Rock to the west to the namesake Little Rock landing near the Clinton Library, there is a rich story to be told. I think that, in time, the tours could embrace that history and share the narrative along the way.

River Trail, BDB Status Report

Thursday represented my latest "first road ride of the year" ever. The mountain bike has been a welcome diversion and a means of shedding some holiday gravy, but I'm a roadie at heart.

The BDB north access remains closed
The Arkansas River Trail from Burns Park to the Big Dam Bridge remains closed, and the gates on the north end of the bridge are locked. I'm told that it will be Wednesday or later before this section is cleared.

 Always a sad scene.

There are actually signs that some major trail clearing has been taking place at the approach to the BDB. The huge logs look to have been moved and there is at least a track through the sand.

There is obviously still a lot of work to be done ion the north side, and officials have asked that folks stay clear for their own safety as so as not to interfere with work crews. That said, I've received reports from explorers that say Pfeifer Loop is a total wreck, mostly due to the massive accumulation of sand. I'm sure that once a plan is in place, volunteers will once again come out to aid with the recovery.

The trail is open from Burns Park east to the sub, and all roads east of town are clear, including Faulkner Lake Road which was submerged for a few days.

Two Rivers Park is open and the trail is dry and clear. 

The trail through Two Rivers Park is dry and mostly clear.

Some trail areas still have a coating of dirt that may turn a little ugly when wet, but this well-equipped cyclist ain't scairt. With a rear fender, nice big mirror, and "praying mantis" aero bars, he is prepared for whatever he may encounter. 

We'll have to deal with some minor inconveniences when choosing routes for the next few days, but it is time to get riding.

Be Safe.