We rode this trail along the Willamette River in Eugene two years ago, so we were very happy that the weather cooperated and we were able to ride it again today. This time we started at Island Park, at the east end of the North Bank Path, and rode counterclockwise. For much of the distance we could see the Willamette River sparkling in the sun. We recognized many of the sights from our previous ride.
One of the impressive sights along the way is Autzen Stadium, home of the Oregon Ducks.
We stopped in the Alton Baker Park on the North Bank to eat our picnic lunch. We expected to find a picnic area but had to settle for a table near the disc golf course.
This is July in Oregon, so of course the blackberries are ripening. We couldn't resist stopping to pick some along the trail. Of course you pay the price: I impaled my thumb on a particularly wicked thorn, but it's all worth it.
Something else that Oregon has in July is plenty of wildflowers.
In the Delta Ponds area Ken noticed something swimming in the water below the bike path, a cute critter that at first we thought might be a beaver. But this animal has a round tail and very prominent whiskers. A signboard identified it as a South American Nutria.
In the same area we saw several herons, including this showoff.
We biked the North Bank Path, the East Bank Path, the West Bank Path, and the South Bank Path. Altogether that's about 14 miles, but we actually did more, partly because we had to cast about to find the path. At one point near the University of Oregon there is a "disruption" where the path follows some roads and is not very well marked.
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