Page 7 - 00_C1_SpringSummer14
Basic HTML Version
Heritage Rail Trail
Rolling Friendship
S
am Reimold is 75, but it’s not
age that’s stopping him from rid-
ing his bike today. It’s eight inches of
snow. The retired truck driver has been
biking the same rail-trail in southern
Pennsylvania nearly every day for more
than a decade.
In the morning, Sam gets on the
in Glen
Rock and heads north. Along the route,
other bicyclists—some with gray hair,
some with white, but all with smiles—
join him in a rolling parade of fellow-
ship. Once they reach York, the men
stop at a local café to shore up with hot
coffee and watch the news before head-
ing back home.
“
This thing started 15 years ago,”
says Sam. “There were 10 of us then,
but as time ran along, we lost a few.
There are about six or eight of us now.”
The group built up slowly over time,
riding and talking and getting to know
one another. Sometimes they meet for
lunch, bringing their wives on double
dates. Once, they planned a birthday
party for a fellow rider turning 90. (At
97,
he’s still riding.)
“
Along the trail, there are a few
benches in memory of people that rode
there,” says Sam. “Some of us have
passed away. When we ride by, it’s nice
to think about them.”
When asked what he loves most
about the Heritage Rail Trail, he says
that he was raised on a farm, so he
enjoys the rolling countryside. Also,
he says, the trail provides “tons of nice
people to meet.”
The cycling group has become well-
known in the communities along the
way. “People will see us on the trail and
ask, ‘Can I come along?’” says Sam.
“
And the answer is always, ‘Yes.’”
Conservancy (CKC) in 1997 for conver-
sion to a rail-trail, via a process known
as railbanking. A future connection to
the much larger McPherson would be
especially worthwhile, as that city is only
a few miles west of Galva and already
has the Meadowlark Trail, a developing
rail-trail (also railbanked by the CKC)
that stretches north more than a dozen
miles through scenic countryside to
Lindsborg, a tourist hot spot known as
Little Sweden.
But though the prospect of building
the two trails is bright, the journey has
not always been easy. Owners of land
along the routes were against trail devel-
opment. “The opposition was strong
and vocal,” recalls Ronn Peters, CKC
vice president. “But it’s diminished now.
…
I’m proud of the tenacity of the core
group to hang in there through thick
and thin, knowing it would be a benefit
for the community in the long run.”
Ardie Streit, who co-manages the
Meadowlark Trail, admits almost leav-
ing the organization twice because of
the strife. Now, however, she is hopeful.
Recently, she says, “We were setting posts
for one of the trail bridges, and our vehi-
cle was blocking part of the trail. We apol-
ogized to a biker who was trying to pass,
but he said, ‘You’re apologizing? I’m very
grateful that you folks are doing this!’”
Walker is relatively new to the move-
ment but already has a reputation for
dedication and dependability. Inspired
by her brother, who helps build rail-
trails in eastern Kansas, she’s been
organizing volunteers to work on the
Sunflower Santa Fe Trail for about three
years. At least once a month they’re out
there, clearing trees and brush, spraying
for weeds and maintaining the trail’s
footbridges to make it suitable for walk-
ers, bicyclists and horseback riders. As a
young adult, she backpacked all over the
U.S., but now she enjoys her local trail
“
as a great place to get outside and enjoy
nature right in my backyard.”
For more information about this
It’s always terrific to see what our members have been up to when they’re not taking it
easy reading
Rails to Trails
magazine!
John A. Pavoncello/York Dispatch
s
MoreWays to Connect with RTC
rails
to
trails
u
spring/summer.14
5
