Something to prove

Over Labor day our family went camping in Dubuque Iowa. We headed that way mostly for a mountain bike trail system called Proving Grounds. The park came to existence in 2018 from land donated by John Deere. The area was the original proving grounds (testing area) established for John Deere Dubuque Works. It has since been transformed into a premier mountain biking destination. So of course the Voigts family had to check it out!

But first, on the way west we hit up the Alpine slide at Chestnut Mountain in Galena on the way to Dubuque. 

At the top

At the bottom

  

Going back up

Our campsite base location was the Swiss Valley campground. 

We arrived Friday night and early the next morning we found our way to the Proving Grounds. The trails were in great shape:

We also hit up another trail system in Dubuque called Interstate Power Preserve (IPP according to the local shredders):

And there was one more that we tried in Dubuque called Cloie Creek Trail:

Last but not least, on our way home we made a pass through Platteville WI to visit Lima Union Cemetery. I think Grandma Voigts would approve of our family camping and mountain bike riding adventures. We sure do miss her.