The Monon & The White River

What better place to start than at the Monon trail White River overlook? This is on the first leg of my ride, as I’m warming up.

The Monon & The Canal Towpath

Not too long after that, I turn off of the Monon and start riding down the Canal Towpath. I usually have to be ready to dodge the dozens of ducks and geese that are sleepily wandering about, but I didn’t see many today.

Broad Ripple on the canal

Broad Ripple is also looking pretty sleepy at this point in the morning. Up past this bridge is the blue bridge that crosses the canal next to College. After crossing at the light there, the towpath turns into a gravelly surface (which had puddles this morning) and continues on the south bank of the canal.

Towpath Canal Crossing

This the view from the bridge where the towpath crosses back over to the north side of the canal. We’re getting close to Butler now.

Canal Near Hinkle Fieldhouse

Here’s the sun coming up over Hinkle Fieldhouse. Great game last night, Bulldogs! I sometimes see athletes running across this bridge and down the towpath… maybe I’ve seen some of the guys on the team and didn’t even know it!

Canal near The Christian Theological Seminary

Here’s another bridge where you can see the Christian Theological Seminary in the distance. I’ve been inside and I can report that they have a very impressive organ.

Canal near 100 Acres

A little later on there’s a wooden bridge that goes underneath the Michigan street bridge. The 100 Acres Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park is just to the right of the trail up ahead. At this point, though, I’m headed to the museum, so I turn around at the end of the bridge and head up the ramp to Michigan street.

Michigan Street & The White River

This isn’t technically on my ride, but just a little north of the ramp up to Michigan is the bridge that crosses over the White River. As the river bends to the right in the distance its passing by 100 Acres, forming the northern border.

42nd Street Gate

Okay, this one isn’t a bridge or a waterway, but it’s an important landmark. This is the gate at Michigan and 42nd street, which is a nice entry point for bikers.

Woodstock Bridge

This is a little bridge just inside the gate that’s on a road called Woodstock according to Google Maps. You can see Lilly House to the right and the entryway to The Orchard on the left. The greenhouse is also on the right.

Front Lawn at the IMA

I like to ride around to the front of the museum for this view. And now it’s time to get to work!

I hate being stuck on a machine in a gym, just staring at the back sweat of the guy in front of me. To combat this, I have been taking an opportunity of the gorgeous weather and walking the Monon. Now, I am not an outdoorsy person, but being outside in the sun and fresh air is fulfilling- just add some bird chirps and I really feel like I am communing with Mother Earth. The trail provides changing scenery and a different experience each time, something missing from the gym.

My main walking partner left on Saturday for a month-long camping and road trip with her family in Montana (talk about outdoorsy!) and I have been looking for new walking routes to mix it up in her absence. I was very excited to discover the Central Canal Towpath and its connection to the trail around the 35 acre, man-made lake at the IMA’s Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park.

While I had heard about the more formal building that will be opening in 2009, I thought that all of this property was closed until that time. I was surprised when I found out yesterday that the peaceful, shady trail that runs around the lake is open and accessible from the IMA grounds, as well as the towpath.

I walked down to check it out yesterday, making my way down the path and across the bridge. I thought I had turned the wrong way because the trees get pretty dense, and it really doesn’t seem like there could be such a large lake in that direction. Suddenly, you come into a clearing, with the lake in front of you and a beautiful meadow to the left.

I had just started exploring when a flash of lightning appeared in the suddenly ominous clouds, and I headed for the museum. Thank goodness, I just missed a total downpour! I am looking forward to walking the full loop someday soon, so I can let you know what is on the other side. For now, I’ll share what I have already learned…

• The Art and Nature Park, Canal Central Towpath and red bridge can be accessed any day of the week by a road between the museum building and the Lilly-Oldfeilds house or a flight of stone steps connected to the Oldfeilds gardens.
• The Art and Nature Park can get very muddy after it rains.
• The red bridge connecting the IMA to the Central Canal Towpath and the Art and Nature Park was built in the 1870’s and restored in 1999.
• In a vegetation survey, 187 plant species were observed in the Art and Nature Park.
• There are rumors of a naked jogger using the paths.
• Naked joggers are neither art nor nature.
• There is a public forum at the IMA about the Art and Nature Park on June 19th, 2008.
• It’s about 1 mile around the path loop at the Art and Nature Park.
• It’s about 2.5 miles from the Butler University campus to the IMA along the Towpath, including once around the Art and Nature Park path loop.
• It’s about 5 miles from Broad Ripple to the IMA along the Towpath, including once around the Art and Nature Park path loop.

Do you have any juicy tidbits or stories to add about the Art and Nature Park?