Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Memorial Day Weekend

The weather cleared up just in time to have a couple of enjoyable days outside on a long weekend.

Saturday was a wash, but Sunday was nice, and Monday was perfect!

Sunday after breakfast I loaded up the kids onto the trailer and headed toward Colvill. Jillian wasn't happy with things at first, but we got moving and she was happy. Graham had a blast pedaling. He was about 50/50 with pedaling the correct direction, but it was fun. Let me tell you though... pedaling a fat bike (with non-good rolling tires) with a double Weehoo loaded with almost 70 pounds of kid is tough! Glad I didn't remove the gears from the fat bike! Definitely need gears to pull 110+ pounds of trailer!



Memorial Day was time for our RAMBO Mem. Day ride! Memorial on Memorial!

Lower than hoped for turnout, but it was still doing a lap with the guys and chat while eating brats and chips. After eating I headed out to see what happened if I rode more and more and more. I ended up with another 2 hours of riding and the realization that I'm in ok shape, but not really ready for 30+ miles of singletrack....

Stairway was hot!

FLAT TIRE! 32 oz. of Powerade and I was still thirsty...

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Anniversary Weekend

5 years!

I took off a couple of days of work so we could get out of town. The project at work isn't going as well as hoped, so it wouldn't be anything too crazy. Just a trip up to the North Shore/Twin Ports Area without the kids to try and relax and spend some time together.

Friday started with a quick MTB ride in town. Nothing too special, just fun to not be racing to get home and help get the kids up.

2112 early in the morning

We had a little shopping to do and then got up to Duluth a little later than planned. We still got fed and relaxing in time to wake up early Saturday to head up to hike the high point of MN... Eagle Mountain!

After practically a 3 hour drive we made it to the trail head. What we thought was going to be fairly tame was actually the most rugged 7 miles of hiking that we've ever done. Nothing extreme, just not too many steps that you didn't have to pay attention to. Past rocks, roots, and moose poop we made it up to the top! The actual top is in the middle of the woods so there isn't any views... but the overlooks just before the marker were pretty amazing. 2nd high point in the books!

The map... they didn't have any hard copies, so this actually helped!

Fresh moose poop! Tons of dried stuff, but this was pretty recently dropped off.

Pristine lakeside views on one section of trail

The top in all of its underwhelming glory!

The view from the top. Just birds and the gnats buzzing in your ears...
On the way back to Duluth we stopped off at Palisade Head Park. Awesome views, but ridiculously narrow road heading up... at least it was short so it wasn't too nervewracking...

View looking north from Palisade Head
On Sunday we got up a little less early (but still early) and went past Gooseberry Falls to bike on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail. We clicked off ten miles of fairly windy and hilly bike trail!


A little more walking around the 'hood in Duluth and then over to Sis and Bro-in-law's house for some Game of Thrones action and a very active and relaxing trip was pretty much over!

I do love Duluth/the North Shore!

Monday, May 16, 2016

Duluth 1.0

Now that my in-laws have a house up in Duluth, we'll be making more trips up to visit family and just generally get away (since it'll be free outside of gas). One thing I am going to make a point to do is bring my mountain bike every possible trip up there.

So far I have hit Hawk Ridge and 1/3 of Lester only... if I'm going to use the Traverse as much as possible I'll have to build in a bit more time to my rides (especially since everything is new, so slower).

Takeaways... Different trails are fun! Red Wing's trails do stand up when taken alone... but factor in the sheer quantity of different trails and the long term Traverse and I can see why Duluth is going to be a destination for mountain bikers!

Next trip up? Either try and get all of Lester under my belt or head to Hartley