By Bruce Karnick

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The City of Hastings held their annual “Bike with a Ranger” event on Saturday, August 13 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The event kicked off with folks gathering around the Rotary Pavilion at Levee Park for instructions and opportunities to ask questions. Riders were then taken along the 10mile loop around Hastings.

The 10mile loop circles much of Hastings and has ample opportunities to learn about the various wildlife of the region as well as historical locations around town.

“We talked about the beginnings of Hastings and the human habitation along the Mississippi River, then stopped at the mill to discuss the history of that a little. There was a former employee on the ride that offered up some great information on the mill,” laughed Matthews. “His insight was interesting and completely unplanned, but great to have. Then we stopped at Lake Rebecca and spoke on its history.”

Riders were able to witness much of the wildlife along the trail, too. Eagles, Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Peregrine Falcons and other critters made appearances for the group. There were 10 that preregistered and a total of 17 riders on this loop. The demographic of the riders varied quite a bit.

The event was geared toward teens and adults and was free to participants but did require registration. Riders were encouraged to follow safety guidelines by wearing helmets and other protective gear as they saw fit.

Paige Marschall Bigler, City of Hastings Parks and Rec Program Coordinator and Will Matthews, Ranger with the National Park Service, pictured with a young participant from the ride, organized and led a group of 17 residents on the 10-mile loop around Hastings. The trip took around an hour and a half with a few stops for interpretive information. Photo by Bruce Karnick