April 24, 2025 • 23 mins
I'm redefining what adventure means after discovering the joy of exploring greenways and rail trails. From Colorado's Aspen-lined paths to Kentucky's riverside greenways, these accessible trails have transformed my understanding of meaningful outdoor experiences.
• Experiencing the beauty of Breckenridge to Frisco on e-bikes amid golden Aspens
• Discovering the Big Four Bridge and Ohio River Greenway during a Kentucky business trip
• Seeing people of all ages and abilities enjoying the outdoors together on accessible trails
• Exploring the Brevard Greenway and Thermal Belt Trail in North Carolina with my wife
• Finding that adventure isn't always about conquering mountains—sometimes it's about connection
• Looking forward to upcoming trails like the Ecusta Trail and sections of the East Coast Greenway
Send me a voice memo, message me on Instagram or Facebook, or email mike@explorationlocal.com to share your favorite trail experiences. Your story might inspire others to redefine what adventure means to them.
Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
mike@explorationlocal.com
Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Storytelling is at the heart of Appalachia, woven
into its winding trails,mountain towns and front porch
conversations.
For generations, people herehave shared their sense of place
through stories that honor bothgrit and grace and tradition
and transformation.
These stories echo acrossridgelines and roll through the
valleys, reminding us thatconnection to land and people
(00:20):
has always been part of theadventure.
In today's solo episode, I wantto share a different kind of
journey, one that's personal andstill unfolding.
It's a story about how mydefinition of adventure has
changed over the years.
From pushing strollers on theVirginia Capitol Trail in
Williamsburg, where my familyfirst discovered the joy of
greenway riding, to coastingalong the greenway in the
(00:42):
Colorado Rockies, to unfolding acompact e-bike and rolling out
from a hotel parking lot inKentucky, every experience is
reshaping how I engage with theoutdoors.
Greenways and trailways mightnot make the cover of an
adventure magazine you won'tfind many summit selfies or
adrenaline-fueled reels outthere but they offer something
even more enduring Accessibility, connection and the quiet kind
(01:05):
of wonder you find when you slowdown just enough to really see
what's around you.
In this episode, I'll explainhow these paths are shaping my
story and why I believe they'reone of the most inviting,
inclusive ways to explore.
This is a story for anyonewho's ever thought I'm not
adventurous enough or thattrail's not meant for me.
(01:27):
Let's ride.
You're listening to ExplorationLocal, a podcast designed to
explore and celebrate the peopleand places that make the Blue
Ridge and Southern AppalachianMountains special and unique.
My name is Mike Andrus, thehost of Exploration Local.
(01:48):
Join us on our journey toexplore these mountains and
discover how they fuel thespirit of adventure.
We encourage you to wander far,but explore local.
Let's go.
So last fall, last September2024, right before Helene, I had
the chance to take a trip toColorado with my daughter, my
(02:09):
third child, my second daughter.
We started the week with someincredible hikes, exploring all
the rugged landscapes of Boulderand Estes Park and Rocky
Mountain National Park that wecould.
I mean truly breathing in thecrisp mountain air and enjoying
just the vastness of all thatColorado is.
And then we capped it off withan unforgettable night at Red
(02:32):
Rocks.
We watched Amos Lee performunder the stars, and if you have
ever been to Red Rocks, youknow it's a special place.
If you haven't, I highly wouldsuggest that at some point of
your bucket list and some pointof your life, you would put that
on there.
It is an amazing, amazing place.
It's been said that it doesn'tmatter what you watch there.
It will be an amazingexperience and I can tell you we
(02:55):
love Amos Lee, so we enjoy thatshow and we also enjoy pretty
much the experience.
But at the end of that trip wewere going to spend two sort of
wind down days in Breckenridge.
I had never been before and wewere also at least I was ready
for a little bit slower pace, awind down after that week of
adventure that we had.
So we decided to rent bikes, wedecided to rent e-bikes and we
(03:19):
found that there was a trailthat went from Breckenridge to
Frisco, which is about 10 milesaway, frisco, right on.
I think.
It's like right south of CopperMountain.
But my son and his fiancee nowwife and their family they were
on e-bikes in Colorado and Ithink we got a little bit of
that bug that we wanted to tryit too.
So anyway, we're in the sameplace, same area, and I will
(03:40):
tell you that it was one of themost refreshing experiences and
meaningful experiences that wehad on that trip together.
And it was cool because we rodefrom Breck into Frisco, we had
lunch in Frisco and then we weregoing to try to spend most of
the day there, but we had to getback.
We were racing against anenormous storm that was coming
in, so it pretty much rained thewhole last 10 miles, but it
(04:01):
didn't bother us.
We had a fantastic time.
But the amazing part about thattrip, too, was that we had the
Aspens.
It's one of my bucket lists, mylife bucket list that I want to
see the Aspens bloom or, excuseme, the Aspens change in
Colorado in the fall, and we gota chance to do that.
But the really, besides all thebeauty and being with my
daughter, one of the things Iremember is that there was this
(04:22):
group of older senior citizensand we were moving, coming back,
because the storm was rollingin.
You could see it, it's gettingheavier and heavier, and so we
wanted to.
I mean, we're just moving fast.
But all of a sudden theseseniors were like flying by us
on their e-bikes and we sawpeople out on these e-bikes of
all ages, or, excuse me, out onthese trail people of all ages,
(04:44):
during this little 20 mile biketrip that we did.
But I'll never forget the lookson the this, this older woman's
face.
She's just smiling.
You know, she went by, she'shaving fun, she's getting out,
and I kept telling my daughterthat these things allow you to
go farther and kind of see moreand stay out a little bit longer
.
And that was really kind ofmade true watching these people
(05:06):
come back.
But that ride in Brecker Ridge,amidst the mountains, it was
one of the absolute bestexperiences that we shared out
there in Colorado.
It wasn't about the speed, itwas just about being present and
enjoying the journey, reallyjust one pedal at a time, and
that really is what started thiswhole passion, I think, for me.
(05:32):
So, fast forward to March of2025 this year, I was on a
business trip to Kentucky andit's the kind where your days
are full of meetings, yournights are usually spent in
meetings or in dinners or outwith people kind of exploring
the area.
But I decided that this wasgoing to be a great opportunity
to bring my new foldable e-bikeand I have a little Volkswagen
(05:57):
Alltrack.
It's not huge but it's notsmall at the same time.
But it was enough to put myluggage a cooler and my e-bike
in the back of that the sametime.
But it was enough to put myluggage a cooler, and my e-bike
in the back of that and it wasmy first time traveling with it
and, honestly, I wasn't sure howit was going to go.
Would I even have time for it?
Would it be a hassle, would itbe worth the effort, you know?
(06:17):
So on and so forth all theseeds of doubt and it absolutely
was worth the effort.
So after the first night ofmeetings I went to, I found this
trail on the rails to trail.
I looked it up before I left.
It was the uh, the big fourbridge.
The amazing thing is that itwas located just near the hotel
and so I was able to go acrossthis bridge, this big four
(06:40):
bridge, and y'all it was packedwith people that were, you know,
e-biking, that were strollersthat were skating, that were
walking, that were pushingstrollers, that were running,
jogging you know, entirefamilies.
I mean, it was just anincredible experience.
So it was once a railroadcrossing, but now it's a
pedestrian bike bridge, orpedestrian and bike bridge, that
(07:04):
spans the entire Ohio River.
It connects Louisville, kentucky, to Jeffersonville, indiana,
really, really cool place.
The structure itself isimpressive.
It's wide, it's elevated.
I mean steel trusses that framethe sky.
As I rode across, the view justopened up to the river and it
also opened up into Indiana, theriver below.
I mean it was beautiful.
(07:25):
It shimmered in the afternoonlight and you could feel the
pulse of the city even frombeing that far above the river
and beyond the city.
But on the Indiana side itconnected to the Ohio River
Greenway.
I had no idea and I didn't lookthat closely into it, so it was
a bit of a surprise.
But as you go over the bridgeyou're into this little,
beautiful little community ofJeffersonville, indiana.
(07:47):
I took a left.
I went southbound on the OhioRiver Greenway.
It's a paved trail that hugsthe shoreline.
It weaves past parks, old brickbuildings, trestle bridges,
quiet neighborhoods.
I mean it was absolutely anamazing ride.
It was such a gem.
Theze off the water was steadyand the whole ride it just had
this balance of urban energy andnatural calm.
(08:10):
It was truly, truly amazing.
I did about 17 miles altogetheron that.
There were people everywhere.
I mean again, joggers, kids onbikes, couples walking holding
hand.
Some folks were just out forexercise, others were just
soaking up the scenery.
I mean it wasn't rugged, itwasn't remote, but I mean it
felt rich, it felt real, it feltgrounded.
(08:30):
That day reframed, I think, whatI thought an adventure needed
to look like.
It didn't seem like I wassettling for something easier.
It felt expansive, like I hadunlocked a whole new layer of
exploration that truly had beenhiding in plain sight.
Sometimes all it takes is asimple trail and a willingness
to look at it differently.
And for me, I had a few hoursand I went out and explored.
(08:53):
I saw the reservoir, I sawparks, I saw people coming in
from communities, I went throughcommunities.
It was absolutely amazing.
So love that experience.
It definitely was absolutelyamazing.
So love that experience.
It definitely was worth it.
I also got a chance to go out onanother trip a little bit
farther out.
It's called the, I think, theLouisville Loop Trail.
I think when it's all said anddone, it's going to be about 100
(09:14):
miles.
That fully circumnavigatesLouisville and the outskirts of
Louisville.
But I found this beautiful,beautiful park and it was
Greenway in and of itself, and Idid another 10 miles or so just
that afternoon, but it wasincredible.
It went through the river.
You may have seen if you followme on Instagram, then you've
seen the story of this but itfollowed the river um sort of at
(09:36):
sunset.
So it's really really prettywinter sunset in Louisville,
kentucky, and there's, I mean,soccer fields and playgrounds
and, again, people of all shapesand sizes and you know just
backgrounds and interest and thethings that they were enjoying
the outdoors with.
But we were all there together.
It was really kind of this,this communal thing, if you will
(09:56):
.
Before these trips Breckenridge,kentucky I honestly didn't
think greenways were for me.
I mean, I grew up associatingadventure with elevation, gain
and you know, technical terrainand dirt under your boots,
(10:18):
navigating whitewater rivers andmaybe a little bit of suffering
along the way, you know,backpacking in the back country,
long hikes that leave your legsburning, the kind of stuff that
you know makes you feel likeyou earned the view.
You know you earned a climb or,excuse me, you climb to earn
the view.
But greenways, I mean I thoughtthey were, you know, easy, lame
(10:39):
, not for me.
It just wasn't something that Iit wasn't a pathway that I was,
I was looking out for.
But I mean something shifted asI started to actually ride
these things.
What I saw along these routesand who I saw, I mean it told it
truly told a different story ofthe type of recreation that is
out there and folks, there'srecreation out there for anybody
(11:01):
and everybody, and if you'relooking for a portal and an easy
way in, I mean these greenwaysare it.
I mean I see seniors on trikes.
I mean they're confidentlyriding, you know, with groups of
friends and clearly clearlyhaving the time of their lives.
I see kids wobbling on trainingwheels, getting cheered on by
parents who are just as thrilledas they were.
(11:22):
I mean you see couples, soloriders, commuters, tourists,
people on road bikes, mountainbikes, cruiser bikes, e-bike
scooters.
I mean, honestly, you name it.
There's people that are out onthese greenways.
It's just amazing and you knowwhat.
These people aren't justkilling time.
I mean, they're connecting witheach other, with their
surroundings and, you know, withthemselves and you know just
(11:43):
the outdoors for sure.
Greenways, I think, remove a lotof the barriers that can come
with traditional outdoor spaces.
You don't need technical gear,you don't need to be in peak
shape, you don't need to evenhave a plan.
I mean, honestly, you don't,you just need a bike or your own
two feet, a little curiosityand the willingness to say I'm
just going to take that firststep.
(12:04):
I mean these spaces, thesegreenways, these trails, these
rails to trails.
They make space for everyoneand I believe that they truly do
redefine what it means tobelong outside, or at least I
would say it's expanding my viewof what it means to be outside
and to belong outside.
(12:38):
So just last weekend I rode theestetot trail and the brevard
greenway into downtown brevard,north carolina.
It truly is a place that feelslike it was designed for both
adventure and ease.
It's one of these thought-outcommunities and it kind of
reminded me of going back into.
You know, my frame of ofreference being Breckenridge and
Frisco and being able to ridein and through towns and towns
that connect you knowgeographical areas together.
(12:59):
And it extends into theGreenway which again just
carries you through so many coolplaces along breweries Sylvan
Sport, acousta Brewing, oscarBlues is along that route,
brevard Parks and Recreation isalong that route, getting behind
(13:21):
the community, going into thelumberyard, seeing a residential
area and then kind of dumpingright out into downtown.
It was amazing.
It was the first time that I'dever taken that route and I saw
places in North Carolina that Ididn't even know existed.
But the greenways just take youinto places that you're not
going to see on your normalday-to-day, just kind of coming
(13:42):
in and popping out of town.
And then our most recent trip,my wife and I last Friday we
were on the Thermal Belt Trail.
It's a stretch that linksForest City and Rutherfordton,
spindale, ruth and Gilkey.
There might be a couple ofother towns in there that I'm
forgetting, but we did the fullout and back.
It was a full 26 miles that wedid in total.
(14:03):
But it's a beautiful trail,it's wide, it's smooth.
There's long stretches ofshaded trees.
A beautiful trail, it's wide,it's smooth, there's long
stretches of shaded trees andthen there's other sections that
really kind of open up toreveal the rolling hills as you
get north.
We started south and we wereriding north and as you're south
it's more urban.
That's where your cities, yourlarger cities, are sort of
linked together and it's amazingbecause you can take a little.
(14:24):
You know you can take a tripinto each one of those
communities, check out thedowntown, have lunch dinner.
That wasn't our purpose, butyou know it is a way that you
can break some of these railtrail or trail town experiences
up.
But it's really beautiful.
You go from the southern end,which is more urban, to the
northern end, as I'm saying thatyou get into some of the
rolling hills you get into,where the rail and the trails
(14:47):
you know the rail cars would gosort of, and carved out not
really mountains but carved outhillsides.
That's pretty amazing, and thenyou see the soft outlines of
the Blue Ridge Mountains in thedistance.
So it was absolutely, you know,remarkable.
One of the reasons we decided topull the trigger and get these
bikes is that I was reallylooking for something that
Teresa and I that Teresa is mywife that she and I could do
(15:08):
together out on the trail, andit has.
I'm a hundred miles in and someof those miles I rode by myself
, but most of those miles I haveridden with her and the
beautiful thing about this isthat it's allowed us to have an
opportunity to get out.
She may not want to do all thehair raising things that I would
do or she would shuttle me to,but you know, back in the day,
but she's, you know we're doingit together.
(15:30):
And again, it's still, it's a.
It's just a different way toadventure.
It's, it's no less adventurous,it's just.
You know, my adrenaline may notget going as strongly as it
does if I'm out on the river or,you know, barreling down some
single track, but anyway, it'sreally proving true.
And so we just, you know, werode together, we laughed, we
had lunch, you know, we just hada wonderful time just being
(15:54):
together, and we saw thatthrough and through with other
people out there on the trail.
Those are the moments that arejust going to stick with me.
They're the moments that aresort of making my experiences
these days, and that's whatthese trails offer not just
access, but I mean truly justkind of invitation.
Right, it's an invitation to bepresent, to reconnect and to
explore truly, truly at your ownpace.
(16:22):
It reminded me that some of thebest rides, they aren't about
conquering anything.
They're about sharing something, a moment, a path or
perspective, or even just timewith the people that you love.
(16:44):
So, as I mentioned before, to meadventure used to mean effort
and sweat and pushing limits.
It meant hauling a pack up asteep ridge, waking up cold in a
tent or navigating a trail thatwasn't always marked on the map
.
And there's a place for all ofthat.
I still love it, but latelyI've found myself drawn to a
different kind of adventure, andone that's, honestly, that's
just as fulfilling, but a littlebit less about exertion and
(17:05):
more about intention and theexperience and the people that
I'm with.
So my foldable e-bike has beena huge part of that shift.
It fits in the trunk of my car,no special rack or complicated
setup is required.
Honestly, you take it out, youput a couple of links together
and your bike is ready to roll.
I can travel for work, I canfind a trail nearby, unfold the
(17:28):
bike and within minutes I'mriding.
It's become a way to explore notjust new places but familiar
ones too, honestly, with fresheyes and an entirely different
mindset, as I explained in myexperience in Brevard, a place
that I've been to many, manytimes, that ride in Breckenridge
with my daughter unforgettable,not because it was intense but
(17:51):
because it was ours.
It was the laughter, theslowness, the shared trail that
was, I mean, that was theadventure.
The ride across the Big FourBridge into Indiana it was
eye-opening.
I didn't expect a trail thatcuts through urban life to feel
so connected to nature, but itdid.
But it did and it gave me thefreedom to explore between
meetings, to move my body, tosee something beautiful that I
(18:13):
otherwise would have missed, ifI'm being honest.
And then, most recently, inBrevard and on the Thermal Belt
those rides.
They're grounding, localreminders that you don't have to
travel far or go hard to find asense of awe.
And for us, we were justminutes down the road.
We were able to do all of thisexperience the trails, be home
(18:35):
in time for a family dinner.
So, anyway, I'm redefiningadventure, not because I've
outgrown the old version of it Ihave not but because I've
expanded it.
To be honest with you, it nowincludes some quieter moments,
some unexpected connections andthe kind of movement that's as
much about joy as it is aboutmiles and connection with my
(18:56):
family, especially with my wifeand my friends.
And the best part, it feelslike a journey.
I've only just begun, all right,looking ahead, my list of
trails is growing, not in acompetitive bucket list kind of
(19:17):
way, but more like a collectionof possibilities.
Each one that I want to chooseit's a doorway, I think, into a
different place and a differentpace.
This summer I'm especiallyexcited about the completion of
the Acousta Trail.
It's right here in my backyard.
It's a big one for this area aformer rail line that's being
(19:37):
transformed into a multi-usetrail that's connecting
Hendersonville and Brevard.
It's local, it's historic andfolks.
When it opens it is going tocreate an unbroken ribbon of
opportunity, not just for peoplewho like to bike, but for
families and walkers and runnersand, honestly, anyone who wants
to move through the landscapewithout a car.
(20:00):
Another place I've got my eye onriding is the East Coast
Greenway.
It's a huge, inspiring trailsystem that spans from Maine to
Florida, so that's quite large,they say.
It's one of those projects thatfeels both massive and personal
at the same time as they kindof connect different communities
across time and space.
I think that I don't know whatsection I would ride, but I
(20:21):
definitely want to do that.
The other one is the SwampRabbit Trail.
That's right here for you localpeople.
That's right here in ourbackyard as well.
It's in South Carolina and it'shigh on my list.
I've been on it, but I'd reallykind of like to go early in the
morning or when there's not alot of traffic out there.
I've heard stories about justthe energy there, about how it
winds from Greenville toTraveler's Rest, rest.
I mean it's full of charm,there's local flavor and that
(20:43):
sense of being really immersedin a place, even while you're in
motion.
I want to ride it tip to tip,not for speed but for the story.
I think that it tells along theway and then closer to home,
what I'm really excited.
Well, I'm really excited aboutall of this, but the Saluda Gray
Trail I don't know if that'sthe official name, but that is
(21:04):
in thoughts and planning and Ithink it has some legs
underneath it.
I am going to have a guest onthe show soon that knows all
about these projects the SaludaGray Trail and the Acosta Trail
as well so maybe we'll find outmore then.
And then, honestly, some ofwhat I'm looking forward to is
just riding some urban trailsaround Asheville.
I've done that before and it'sreally sweet as more and more
(21:24):
areas come back online, as theparks get linked up and opened
up.
Hopefully there'll be a littlebit more time to ride down there
, but I love going through thosegreen spaces down near the
River Arts District, back up toNew Belgium and then maybe even
throughout the city as well.
(21:53):
Thanks for riding along with metoday, for giving space to this
reflection and for letting meshare a different kind of
adventure story From the quietmornings on the Virginia Creeper
Trail to the laughter and crispair of Breckenridge with my
daughter, to crossing a river ona rail.
Creeper Trail to the laughterand crisp air of Breckenridge
with my daughter.
To crossing a river on a railtrail bridge in Kentucky, to
that perfect afternoon with mywife on the Thermobelt Trail.
I've enjoyed every moment andexperience on these trails that
(22:14):
I'm traveling these days.
Each moment, each mile remindedme that adventure doesn't have
to be loud or extreme to bemeaningful.
It can be smooth pavementinstead of rocky switchbacks.
It can be found in yourhometown, not just in a national
park.
It can be shared in silence orfilled with conversation,
whatever the trail brings thatday.
If you've got a favorite trail,whether it's one you ride weekly
(22:37):
or one you stumbled onto whiletraveling, I'd truly love to
hear about it.
Your story might inspiresomeone else to give these
trails a try, or even redefinewhat adventure means to them.
Send me a voice memo, drop amessage on Instagram or Facebook
or shoot me an email at mike atexplorationlocalcom, and, who
knows, your story might justmake it into a future episode.
(22:57):
If you enjoyed today's show, itwould mean a lot if you left a
review and hit that subscribebutton so you don't miss out on
what's coming next.
So, wherever you are, whetheryou're on a forest path, a rail
trail or sitting on a porch witha view.
I hope that you will keepexploring Because, at the end of
the day, adventure isn't alwaysout there.
(23:17):
Sometimes it's just around thenext bend.
Thanks again for listening.
Until next time.
Wander far, but explore local.
Storytelling is at the heart of Appalachia, woven
into its winding trails,mountain towns and front porch
conversations.
For generations, people herehave shared their sense of place
through stories that honor bothgrit and grace and tradition
and transformation.
These stories echo acrossridgelines and roll through the
valleys, reminding us thatconnection to land and people
(00:20):
has always been part of theadventure.
In today's solo episode, I wantto share a different kind of
journey, one that's personal andstill unfolding.
It's a story about how mydefinition of adventure has
changed over the years.
From pushing strollers on theVirginia Capitol Trail in
Williamsburg, where my familyfirst discovered the joy of
greenway riding, to coastingalong the greenway in the
(00:42):
Colorado Rockies, to unfolding acompact e-bike and rolling out
from a hotel parking lot inKentucky, every experience is
reshaping how I engage with theoutdoors.
Greenways and trailways mightnot make the cover of an
adventure magazine you won'tfind many summit selfies or
adrenaline-fueled reels outthere but they offer something
even more enduring Accessibility, connection and the quiet kind
(01:05):
of wonder you find when you slowdown just enough to really see
what's around you.
In this episode, I'll explainhow these paths are shaping my
story and why I believe they'reone of the most inviting,
inclusive ways to explore.
This is a story for anyonewho's ever thought I'm not
adventurous enough or thattrail's not meant for me.
(01:27):
Let's ride.
You're listening to ExplorationLocal, a podcast designed to
explore and celebrate the peopleand places that make the Blue
Ridge and Southern AppalachianMountains special and unique.
My name is Mike Andrus, thehost of Exploration Local.
(01:48):
Join us on our journey toexplore these mountains and
discover how they fuel thespirit of adventure.
We encourage you to wander far,but explore local.
Let's go.
So last fall, last September2024, right before Helene, I had
the chance to take a trip toColorado with my daughter, my
(02:09):
third child, my second daughter.
We started the week with someincredible hikes, exploring all
the rugged landscapes of Boulderand Estes Park and Rocky
Mountain National Park that wecould.
I mean truly breathing in thecrisp mountain air and enjoying
just the vastness of all thatColorado is.
And then we capped it off withan unforgettable night at Red
(02:32):
Rocks.
We watched Amos Lee performunder the stars, and if you have
ever been to Red Rocks, youknow it's a special place.
If you haven't, I highly wouldsuggest that at some point of
your bucket list and some pointof your life, you would put that
on there.
It is an amazing, amazing place.
It's been said that it doesn'tmatter what you watch there.
It will be an amazingexperience and I can tell you we
(02:55):
love Amos Lee, so we enjoy thatshow and we also enjoy pretty
much the experience.
But at the end of that trip wewere going to spend two sort of
wind down days in Breckenridge.
I had never been before and wewere also at least I was ready
for a little bit slower pace, awind down after that week of
adventure that we had.
So we decided to rent bikes, wedecided to rent e-bikes and we
(03:19):
found that there was a trailthat went from Breckenridge to
Frisco, which is about 10 milesaway, frisco, right on.
I think.
It's like right south of CopperMountain.
But my son and his fiancee nowwife and their family they were
on e-bikes in Colorado and Ithink we got a little bit of
that bug that we wanted to tryit too.
So anyway, we're in the sameplace, same area, and I will
(03:40):
tell you that it was one of themost refreshing experiences and
meaningful experiences that wehad on that trip together.
And it was cool because we rodefrom Breck into Frisco, we had
lunch in Frisco and then we weregoing to try to spend most of
the day there, but we had to getback.
We were racing against anenormous storm that was coming
in, so it pretty much rained thewhole last 10 miles, but it
(04:01):
didn't bother us.
We had a fantastic time.
But the amazing part about thattrip, too, was that we had the
Aspens.
It's one of my bucket lists, mylife bucket list that I want to
see the Aspens bloom or, excuseme, the Aspens change in
Colorado in the fall, and we gota chance to do that.
But the really, besides all thebeauty and being with my
daughter, one of the things Iremember is that there was this
(04:22):
group of older senior citizensand we were moving, coming back,
because the storm was rollingin.
You could see it, it's gettingheavier and heavier, and so we
wanted to.
I mean, we're just moving fast.
But all of a sudden theseseniors were like flying by us
on their e-bikes and we sawpeople out on these e-bikes of
all ages, or, excuse me, out onthese trail people of all ages,
(04:44):
during this little 20 mile biketrip that we did.
But I'll never forget the lookson the this, this older woman's
face.
She's just smiling.
You know, she went by, she'shaving fun, she's getting out,
and I kept telling my daughterthat these things allow you to
go farther and kind of see moreand stay out a little bit longer
.
And that was really kind ofmade true watching these people
(05:06):
come back.
But that ride in Brecker Ridge,amidst the mountains, it was
one of the absolute bestexperiences that we shared out
there in Colorado.
It wasn't about the speed, itwas just about being present and
enjoying the journey, reallyjust one pedal at a time, and
that really is what started thiswhole passion, I think, for me.
(05:32):
So, fast forward to March of2025 this year, I was on a
business trip to Kentucky andit's the kind where your days
are full of meetings, yournights are usually spent in
meetings or in dinners or outwith people kind of exploring
the area.
But I decided that this wasgoing to be a great opportunity
to bring my new foldable e-bikeand I have a little Volkswagen
(05:57):
Alltrack.
It's not huge but it's notsmall at the same time.
But it was enough to put myluggage a cooler and my e-bike
in the back of that the sametime.
But it was enough to put myluggage a cooler, and my e-bike
in the back of that and it wasmy first time traveling with it
and, honestly, I wasn't sure howit was going to go.
Would I even have time for it?
Would it be a hassle, would itbe worth the effort, you know?
(06:17):
So on and so forth all theseeds of doubt and it absolutely
was worth the effort.
So after the first night ofmeetings I went to, I found this
trail on the rails to trail.
I looked it up before I left.
It was the uh, the big fourbridge.
The amazing thing is that itwas located just near the hotel
and so I was able to go acrossthis bridge, this big four
(06:40):
bridge, and y'all it was packedwith people that were, you know,
e-biking, that were strollersthat were skating, that were
walking, that were pushingstrollers, that were running,
jogging you know, entirefamilies.
I mean, it was just anincredible experience.
So it was once a railroadcrossing, but now it's a
pedestrian bike bridge, orpedestrian and bike bridge, that
(07:04):
spans the entire Ohio River.
It connects Louisville, kentucky, to Jeffersonville, indiana,
really, really cool place.
The structure itself isimpressive.
It's wide, it's elevated.
I mean steel trusses that framethe sky.
As I rode across, the view justopened up to the river and it
also opened up into Indiana, theriver below.
I mean it was beautiful.
(07:25):
It shimmered in the afternoonlight and you could feel the
pulse of the city even frombeing that far above the river
and beyond the city.
But on the Indiana side itconnected to the Ohio River
Greenway.
I had no idea and I didn't lookthat closely into it, so it was
a bit of a surprise.
But as you go over the bridgeyou're into this little,
beautiful little community ofJeffersonville, indiana.
(07:47):
I took a left.
I went southbound on the OhioRiver Greenway.
It's a paved trail that hugsthe shoreline.
It weaves past parks, old brickbuildings, trestle bridges,
quiet neighborhoods.
I mean it was absolutely anamazing ride.
It was such a gem.
Theze off the water was steadyand the whole ride it just had
this balance of urban energy andnatural calm.
(08:10):
It was truly, truly amazing.
I did about 17 miles altogetheron that.
There were people everywhere.
I mean again, joggers, kids onbikes, couples walking holding
hand.
Some folks were just out forexercise, others were just
soaking up the scenery.
I mean it wasn't rugged, itwasn't remote, but I mean it
felt rich, it felt real, it feltgrounded.
(08:30):
That day reframed, I think, whatI thought an adventure needed
to look like.
It didn't seem like I wassettling for something easier.
It felt expansive, like I hadunlocked a whole new layer of
exploration that truly had beenhiding in plain sight.
Sometimes all it takes is asimple trail and a willingness
to look at it differently.
And for me, I had a few hoursand I went out and explored.
(08:53):
I saw the reservoir, I sawparks, I saw people coming in
from communities, I went throughcommunities.
It was absolutely amazing.
So love that experience.
It definitely was absolutelyamazing.
So love that experience.
It definitely was worth it.
I also got a chance to go out onanother trip a little bit
farther out.
It's called the, I think, theLouisville Loop Trail.
I think when it's all said anddone, it's going to be about 100
(09:14):
miles.
That fully circumnavigatesLouisville and the outskirts of
Louisville.
But I found this beautiful,beautiful park and it was
Greenway in and of itself, and Idid another 10 miles or so just
that afternoon, but it wasincredible.
It went through the river.
You may have seen if you followme on Instagram, then you've
seen the story of this but itfollowed the river um sort of at
(09:36):
sunset.
So it's really really prettywinter sunset in Louisville,
kentucky, and there's, I mean,soccer fields and playgrounds
and, again, people of all shapesand sizes and you know just
backgrounds and interest and thethings that they were enjoying
the outdoors with.
But we were all there together.
It was really kind of this,this communal thing, if you will
(09:56):
.
Before these trips Breckenridge,kentucky I honestly didn't
think greenways were for me.
I mean, I grew up associatingadventure with elevation, gain
and you know, technical terrainand dirt under your boots,
(10:18):
navigating whitewater rivers andmaybe a little bit of suffering
along the way, you know,backpacking in the back country,
long hikes that leave your legsburning, the kind of stuff that
you know makes you feel likeyou earned the view.
You know you earned a climb or,excuse me, you climb to earn
the view.
But greenways, I mean I thoughtthey were, you know, easy, lame
(10:39):
, not for me.
It just wasn't something that Iit wasn't a pathway that I was,
I was looking out for.
But I mean something shifted asI started to actually ride
these things.
What I saw along these routesand who I saw, I mean it told it
truly told a different story ofthe type of recreation that is
out there and folks, there'srecreation out there for anybody
(11:01):
and everybody, and if you'relooking for a portal and an easy
way in, I mean these greenwaysare it.
I mean I see seniors on trikes.
I mean they're confidentlyriding, you know, with groups of
friends and clearly clearlyhaving the time of their lives.
I see kids wobbling on trainingwheels, getting cheered on by
parents who are just as thrilledas they were.
(11:22):
I mean you see couples, soloriders, commuters, tourists,
people on road bikes, mountainbikes, cruiser bikes, e-bike
scooters.
I mean, honestly, you name it.
There's people that are out onthese greenways.
It's just amazing and you knowwhat.
These people aren't justkilling time.
I mean, they're connecting witheach other, with their
surroundings and, you know, withthemselves and you know just
(11:43):
the outdoors for sure.
Greenways, I think, remove a lotof the barriers that can come
with traditional outdoor spaces.
You don't need technical gear,you don't need to be in peak
shape, you don't need to evenhave a plan.
I mean, honestly, you don't,you just need a bike or your own
two feet, a little curiosityand the willingness to say I'm
just going to take that firststep.
(12:04):
I mean these spaces, thesegreenways, these trails, these
rails to trails.
They make space for everyoneand I believe that they truly do
redefine what it means tobelong outside, or at least I
would say it's expanding my viewof what it means to be outside
and to belong outside.
(12:38):
So just last weekend I rode theestetot trail and the brevard
greenway into downtown brevard,north carolina.
It truly is a place that feelslike it was designed for both
adventure and ease.
It's one of these thought-outcommunities and it kind of
reminded me of going back into.
You know, my frame of ofreference being Breckenridge and
Frisco and being able to ridein and through towns and towns
that connect you knowgeographical areas together.
(12:59):
And it extends into theGreenway which again just
carries you through so many coolplaces along breweries Sylvan
Sport, acousta Brewing, oscarBlues is along that route,
brevard Parks and Recreation isalong that route, getting behind
(13:21):
the community, going into thelumberyard, seeing a residential
area and then kind of dumpingright out into downtown.
It was amazing.
It was the first time that I'dever taken that route and I saw
places in North Carolina that Ididn't even know existed.
But the greenways just take youinto places that you're not
going to see on your normalday-to-day, just kind of coming
(13:42):
in and popping out of town.
And then our most recent trip,my wife and I last Friday we
were on the Thermal Belt Trail.
It's a stretch that linksForest City and Rutherfordton,
spindale, ruth and Gilkey.
There might be a couple ofother towns in there that I'm
forgetting, but we did the fullout and back.
It was a full 26 miles that wedid in total.
(14:03):
But it's a beautiful trail,it's wide, it's smooth.
There's long stretches ofshaded trees.
A beautiful trail, it's wide,it's smooth, there's long
stretches of shaded trees andthen there's other sections that
really kind of open up toreveal the rolling hills as you
get north.
We started south and we wereriding north and as you're south
it's more urban.
That's where your cities, yourlarger cities, are sort of
linked together and it's amazingbecause you can take a little.
(14:24):
You know you can take a tripinto each one of those
communities, check out thedowntown, have lunch dinner.
That wasn't our purpose, butyou know it is a way that you
can break some of these railtrail or trail town experiences
up.
But it's really beautiful.
You go from the southern end,which is more urban, to the
northern end, as I'm saying thatyou get into some of the
rolling hills you get into,where the rail and the trails
(14:47):
you know the rail cars would gosort of, and carved out not
really mountains but carved outhillsides.
That's pretty amazing, and thenyou see the soft outlines of
the Blue Ridge Mountains in thedistance.
So it was absolutely, you know,remarkable.
One of the reasons we decided topull the trigger and get these
bikes is that I was reallylooking for something that
Teresa and I that Teresa is mywife that she and I could do
(15:08):
together out on the trail, andit has.
I'm a hundred miles in and someof those miles I rode by myself
, but most of those miles I haveridden with her and the
beautiful thing about this isthat it's allowed us to have an
opportunity to get out.
She may not want to do all thehair raising things that I would
do or she would shuttle me to,but you know, back in the day,
but she's, you know we're doingit together.
(15:30):
And again, it's still, it's a.
It's just a different way toadventure.
It's, it's no less adventurous,it's just.
You know, my adrenaline may notget going as strongly as it
does if I'm out on the river or,you know, barreling down some
single track, but anyway, it'sreally proving true.
And so we just, you know, werode together, we laughed, we
had lunch, you know, we just hada wonderful time just being
(15:54):
together, and we saw thatthrough and through with other
people out there on the trail.
Those are the moments that arejust going to stick with me.
They're the moments that aresort of making my experiences
these days, and that's whatthese trails offer not just
access, but I mean truly justkind of invitation.
Right, it's an invitation to bepresent, to reconnect and to
explore truly, truly at your ownpace.
(16:22):
It reminded me that some of thebest rides, they aren't about
conquering anything.
They're about sharing something, a moment, a path or
perspective, or even just timewith the people that you love.
(16:44):
So, as I mentioned before, to meadventure used to mean effort
and sweat and pushing limits.
It meant hauling a pack up asteep ridge, waking up cold in a
tent or navigating a trail thatwasn't always marked on the map
.
And there's a place for all ofthat.
I still love it, but latelyI've found myself drawn to a
different kind of adventure, andone that's, honestly, that's
just as fulfilling, but a littlebit less about exertion and
(17:05):
more about intention and theexperience and the people that
I'm with.
So my foldable e-bike has beena huge part of that shift.
It fits in the trunk of my car,no special rack or complicated
setup is required.
Honestly, you take it out, youput a couple of links together
and your bike is ready to roll.
I can travel for work, I canfind a trail nearby, unfold the
(17:28):
bike and within minutes I'mriding.
It's become a way to explore notjust new places but familiar
ones too, honestly, with fresheyes and an entirely different
mindset, as I explained in myexperience in Brevard, a place
that I've been to many, manytimes, that ride in Breckenridge
with my daughter unforgettable,not because it was intense but
(17:51):
because it was ours.
It was the laughter, theslowness, the shared trail that
was, I mean, that was theadventure.
The ride across the Big FourBridge into Indiana it was
eye-opening.
I didn't expect a trail thatcuts through urban life to feel
so connected to nature, but itdid.
But it did and it gave me thefreedom to explore between
meetings, to move my body, tosee something beautiful that I
(18:13):
otherwise would have missed, ifI'm being honest.
And then, most recently, inBrevard and on the Thermal Belt
those rides.
They're grounding, localreminders that you don't have to
travel far or go hard to find asense of awe.
And for us, we were justminutes down the road.
We were able to do all of thisexperience the trails, be home
(18:35):
in time for a family dinner.
So, anyway, I'm redefiningadventure, not because I've
outgrown the old version of it Ihave not but because I've
expanded it.
To be honest with you, it nowincludes some quieter moments,
some unexpected connections andthe kind of movement that's as
much about joy as it is aboutmiles and connection with my
(18:56):
family, especially with my wifeand my friends.
And the best part, it feelslike a journey.
I've only just begun, all right,looking ahead, my list of
trails is growing, not in acompetitive bucket list kind of
(19:17):
way, but more like a collectionof possibilities.
Each one that I want to chooseit's a doorway, I think, into a
different place and a differentpace.
This summer I'm especiallyexcited about the completion of
the Acousta Trail.
It's right here in my backyard.
It's a big one for this area aformer rail line that's being
(19:37):
transformed into a multi-usetrail that's connecting
Hendersonville and Brevard.
It's local, it's historic andfolks.
When it opens it is going tocreate an unbroken ribbon of
opportunity, not just for peoplewho like to bike, but for
families and walkers and runnersand, honestly, anyone who wants
to move through the landscapewithout a car.
(20:00):
Another place I've got my eye onriding is the East Coast
Greenway.
It's a huge, inspiring trailsystem that spans from Maine to
Florida, so that's quite large,they say.
It's one of those projects thatfeels both massive and personal
at the same time as they kindof connect different communities
across time and space.
I think that I don't know whatsection I would ride, but I
(20:21):
definitely want to do that.
The other one is the SwampRabbit Trail.
That's right here for you localpeople.
That's right here in ourbackyard as well.
It's in South Carolina and it'shigh on my list.
I've been on it, but I'd reallykind of like to go early in the
morning or when there's not alot of traffic out there.
I've heard stories about justthe energy there, about how it
winds from Greenville toTraveler's Rest, rest.
I mean it's full of charm,there's local flavor and that
(20:43):
sense of being really immersedin a place, even while you're in
motion.
I want to ride it tip to tip,not for speed but for the story.
I think that it tells along theway and then closer to home,
what I'm really excited.
Well, I'm really excited aboutall of this, but the Saluda Gray
Trail I don't know if that'sthe official name, but that is
(21:04):
in thoughts and planning and Ithink it has some legs
underneath it.
I am going to have a guest onthe show soon that knows all
about these projects the SaludaGray Trail and the Acosta Trail
as well so maybe we'll find outmore then.
And then, honestly, some ofwhat I'm looking forward to is
just riding some urban trailsaround Asheville.
I've done that before and it'sreally sweet as more and more
(21:24):
areas come back online, as theparks get linked up and opened
up.
Hopefully there'll be a littlebit more time to ride down there
, but I love going through thosegreen spaces down near the
River Arts District, back up toNew Belgium and then maybe even
throughout the city as well.
(21:53):
Thanks for riding along with metoday, for giving space to this
reflection and for letting meshare a different kind of
adventure story From the quietmornings on the Virginia Creeper
Trail to the laughter and crispair of Breckenridge with my
daughter, to crossing a river ona rail.
Creeper Trail to the laughterand crisp air of Breckenridge
with my daughter.
To crossing a river on a railtrail bridge in Kentucky, to
that perfect afternoon with mywife on the Thermobelt Trail.
I've enjoyed every moment andexperience on these trails that
(22:14):
I'm traveling these days.
Each moment, each mile remindedme that adventure doesn't have
to be loud or extreme to bemeaningful.
It can be smooth pavementinstead of rocky switchbacks.
It can be found in yourhometown, not just in a national
park.
It can be shared in silence orfilled with conversation,
whatever the trail brings thatday.
If you've got a favorite trail,whether it's one you ride weekly
(22:37):
or one you stumbled onto whiletraveling, I'd truly love to
hear about it.
Your story might inspiresomeone else to give these
trails a try, or even redefinewhat adventure means to them.
Send me a voice memo, drop amessage on Instagram or Facebook
or shoot me an email at mike atexplorationlocalcom, and, who
knows, your story might justmake it into a future episode.
(22:57):
If you enjoyed today's show, itwould mean a lot if you left a
review and hit that subscribebutton so you don't miss out on
what's coming next.
So, wherever you are, whetheryou're on a forest path, a rail
trail or sitting on a porch witha view.
I hope that you will keepexploring Because, at the end of
the day, adventure isn't alwaysout there.
(23:17):
Sometimes it's just around thenext bend.
Thanks again for listening.
Until next time.
Wander far, but explore local.
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