Crossing into Iowa: Cycling Bliss on the Wabash Trail - TransAm Adventure Ep. 9

After a much-needed day off in Norfolk, Nebraska, I set off feeling refreshed and ready for the next stretch of the journey. This episode covers a few of the most enjoyable days of the tour so far as I continue along the Bike Nonstop route, passing through Hooper and Blair before reaching Omaha, where I cross into Iowa. The real highlight of this leg begins just outside Omaha, where I hop onto the Wabash Trace Nature Trail—a beautiful 63-mile trail that offered the best riding day of the trip so far.

The Wabash Trace was a game-changer, taking me off the busy roads and onto peaceful gravel trails, surrounded by nature. It was the perfect antidote to the previous tough days on the highways. I ended the day in Coin, Iowa, where I stayed at a cyclist-focused campsite and had the chance to meet other riders on their own cross-country tours. Spending the evening with fellow cyclists, swapping stories and having a laugh, was a welcome break from the solo days, and it was a highlight of the tour that I won’t forget.

From there, I pushed on into Missouri, stopping in Maryville and ending this video in Gallatin. While there were some headwinds on the first couple of days, overall, this leg of the ride was the most consistently enjoyable part of the tour so far. The combination of the Wabash Trail, great weather, and meeting other cyclists really lifted my spirits and reminded me why I love touring.

Thank you for watching, if you enjoyed this video please consider subscribing.





Links

Ko-fi (If you want to support the channel): https://ko-fi.com/matryder

Garmin in-reach location:
https://share.garmin.com/share/matryder

Bike Nonstop route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41260633





00:00. Introduction
04:38. Buzzed Cricket
09:55. Nebraska is hard
14:03. The Wabash Trace Nature Trail
20:29. Reflecting on the tour so far
25:47. Crossing into Missouri
32:29. A rough night
34:18. Sleep deprived ramble
38:04. Goodbye from Gallatin