~Janice Harbaugh/Raspberry Ridge Publishing
The North Spur of the Raccoon River Valley Trail has some of the most beautiful scenery to be found on the entire trail. From Herndon to Jefferson, you travel through farmland, grasslands, rolling countryside, woodlands, the iron bridge with wind chimes over the Raccoon River, and a panoramic, gentle climb to Jefferson. Sadly, the North Spur has a reputation among cyclists across the state as being impassable, damaging to bike frames, and a neglected part of the trail. Most of the North Spur is in Greene County.
I ride many trails throughout the state. When I visit with other cyclists, I tell them I’m from Jefferson and my home trail is the Raccoon. Invariably, other cyclists ask me where I actually get on the trail. Everyone knows that nobody rides the North Spur. Frankly, I tell them I ride from Jefferson to Winkelman Switch but for longer rides, I transport my recumbent trike to Herndon.
I know from visiting with other cyclists that the North Spur could bring many cyclists into Jefferson on day trips and overnight trips from Des Moines and from communities along the larger trail. We are missing a wonderful source of tourism and connection by neglecting the North Spur.
I am Raspberry Ridge Publishing and have published the first two fiction books in the Thyme Creek series by Stuart H Martin written for readers middle school through adult. Younger readers enjoy the plot and older readers see symbolism and deeper meanings in the writing. These books take place on the North Spur and are about cycling, writing, community, rural life, quantum entanglement time travel, and relationships among generations.
I will be donating the proceeds from sales of both books in the Thyme Creek series during October through December to the bike trail repair fund in Greene County.
The first book, A Strange Occurrence at Thyme Creek, introduces the characters of Stuart Martin, a 35 year old cyclist, and Abby Tilton, a cyclist in her 70s, who meet serendipitously on the bridge over Thyme Creek (Greenbrier Creek) on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. Stuart becomes enmeshed in Abby’s writing and her ability to use quantum entanglement physics to help people. Abby’s nephew, Charlie Tilton, is the fictional Sheriff of Greene County. He’s completely unaware of his aunt’s activities as she “bends all of space and time.” It’s a novella, 89 pages.
The second book, The Light at Thyme Creek, is 193 pages and continues the adventures on the North Spur adding local characters such as Dowser Duggan, Johnny Popper, Chet and Melody Tucker, Hannah Howland, and Jenny who plays the bells in the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. Jason, Jimmy, and Joe are young cyclists, “trouble on wheels,” who learn about the magical power of Thyme Creek. The plot also takes place in familiar spots in Jefferson and Cooper.
Both books are illustrated with sketch-photographs from Greene County. I’ve written songs about several of the characters and put the music into music videos with photographs of the trail. These can be seen on Facebook at Raspberry Ridge Publishing. Sheriff Tilton’s song is especially humorous.
Books are available locally at Ope and Fable and can be ordered online from Amazon. All proceeds from sales during October, November, and December will be donated to the bike trail repair fund.
