Bicycling around Battle Creek

Kalamazoo River

Yesterday was a beautiful day and the first day without clouds in a while, so I took the afternoon off and headed south to the town of Battle Creek, Michigan in order to check out the 20 some miles of linear parks (non-motorized vehicle trails) that lead in and through the city.   We parked on the west side of town, got on bicycles and peddled four miles on a paved path along the Kalamazoo River, until we reached town.  This section of the Kalamazoo River is still closed to boating and fishing due to last summer’s oil spill in Marshall.  But the bike trail is open and I love how it goes under bridges, allowing you not to have to worry at all about traffic (except for the one bridge that the bike trail was under water and you had to cross the street).

Spring has finally arrived and the trees are just beginning to bud out.  The temperature was perfect, right around 60 degrees.  Once downtown, the park widens and includes both sides of the river.  There was a guy fishing off one of the old railroad trestles (he was fishing in Battle Creek, above its confluence with the Kalamazoo River, but it didn’t matter as he wasn’t catching anything). 

Battle Creek River Looking toward Kellogg's Offices

 There are some neat things to see in Battle Creek like the Kellogg family home and a monument to the Underground Railroad that ran through the city as slaves tried to make it to Detroit and Port Huron where they could safely enter Canada. Although the city is depressed, having Kellogg’s corporate offices and their foundation offices downtown adds a lot to the city.

Tower for former Michigan Central Station
(nowClara's, a restaurant)



Old Veteran's Administration Hospital

Before riding back to my truck, we stopped at Arcadia Brewery.  I was worried they might not be opened as they are doing work on the street in front of it, but the place was in business (and busy).  I had a pint of their IPA along with some hummus and flat bread.  If I was going to have dinner, I’d had some of their pulled pork (roasted in a wood-fired oven) or their jambalaya (one of the few sources I’ve found around here for this tasty dish). 

Underground Railroad Monument

Path along Kalamazoo River

Before riding back to my truck, we stopped at Arcadia Brewery.  I was worried they might not be opened as they are doing work on the street in front of it, but the place was in business (and busy).  I had a pint of their IPA along with some hummus and flat bread.  If I was going to have dinner, I’d had some of their pulled pork (roasted in a wood-fired oven) or their jambalaya (one of the few sources I’ve found around here for this tasty dish). 

Episcopal Church in background