Last night I stayed late at the Eatery enjoying the hustle and bustle of a busy gourmet pizza dinner time. I met Tom and Tim who were driving a VW Westy I waved to several times. They just returned from the Ore to Shore mtn bike race in Marquette. They know Mick and Beth.

The eatery is special; They serve pizza till 7. However, they reopen for special groups such as our Thurs eve ride and on Sat for a group of theater directors who gave of their time to put on a play for young kids. I enjoyed my time there. i ate a pizza and drank a beer every night I was in Cable. Thanks Mick, Beth and the Twins.

Last night I drove towards Hayward to camp at Seeley Pass where our Thurs ride started. Plan is to have prescription refilled in Hayward right @ 10:00 AM when the pharmacy opens. First in line. I picked up my meds @ 10:38 then headed south to Levis Trow Mounds outside Neillsville. I fought w/ the gps route several times opting for the shorter distance but longer time.

I made the southern TH just b4 3:00PM under cloudy somewhat rain threatening skies. Undaunted I headed out on an attempt to follow the IMBA epic route. I made several signed intersections until vandalism eliminated the epic sign. From there on I wandered playing a mental game to untangle the small red lines signifying mtn bike trails. I saw a flash of brown bird feathers as its owner took flight. I saw a white linear object fall to the ground not far from me. I checked it out: a headless nonpoisonous snake that the bird had killed and was eating. I pedaled away not knowing if the raptor returned for sustenance.

The trail works its way around several mounds that appear to be sandstone. The iconic trail pic is the wood bridge between 2 slabs. The first time I rode it I scraped my Suunto watch crystal against the sidewall. Tight fit. I wandered around a bit.

I paid $13 for a primitive campsite @ the ride center TH. H2o and flush toilet.

Fascinating data: I have 4156 miles on the XTR rear cluster and 2882 miles on KMC chain w/ no skipping. I do need a new rear tire or a new set of Ardents.

Tomorrow is Minneapolis big city. Rest day. Tues will be Cuyuna IMBA ride center.

Another night In the Eatery’s parking lot on Thurs.

Friday I rode the Namakagon loop part of the epic trail. I parked @ the TH which is the seat of the city government. Trail here was less technical. Many lakes tucked away in the woods. I put the filled solar shower on the dash board facing the sun hoping that the solar gain would be better than hung outside. Dunno. Finished the 11.93 loop. Didn’t see a person. The shower h20 was better than tepid. I drove back to the Rock Lake TH as it is secluded for a parking lot shower. All alone again. Windy, sunny, but chilly. Clean w/ real soap.

I have been scoring well h2o that is sweet tasting.

Drove back to the Eatery. Mick said his diet has been a pizza and beer. great gourmet interesting pizza has kept my non relish pizza appetite slated. Funky place this part of Cable. Warm fuzzy feeling.

Drove out to Rock Lake rd tucked in the trees. Forecast called for 40 degrees. Great sleeping temps. Temp was 48 when I woke up this AM. Slept well.

Today’s ride was the entire epic using Rock Lake which is more technical and Namakagon. Saw 4 riders during my 3 hr 18 min 27.65 mile ride that climbed 2167 feet. Another tepid solar shower then back to eatery.

While @ Rock Lake TH I noticed the 3 screws that hold the upper cabinet to the roof worked out. My cabinet was held by 4 small angle brackets weight bearing. Shit. The cabinet could crash to the floor. I gingerly drove the expansion jointed road back to town and parked out front of Eatery which is across from the local hardware store. I figured what I needed and walked over to purchase. 2 more treks were required to buy what I needed to reattach the cabinet. Success.

Yesterday @ Namakagon TH I listened to 2 older riders tell of a free ride on the Maah Daah Hey trail in North Dakota next weekend. I researched the hearsay that turned to be real. I signed up. Free race w/ shuttles back to the start line upon completion of bail. Haven’t figured the free price yet. Race is next weekend when I planned on being there. Score. I rode 2 southern pieces over the years. Another IMBA epic.

Another pizza and beer for dinner.

Tomorrow is the drive to and ride of Levis Trow. May the cabinet stay up. Stop in Hayward for prescription refill.

Fri on the Namakagon I grazed a tree w/ my left forearm. I turned too sharply. Drew blood. Today I clipped the same tree ripping off the scab from yesterday.

13,232 miles ridden to date.

Yesterday I drove back to Cable from Pigeon Lake. I need to do a wash for clean riding clothes. I found a new nice laundromat in Cable saving me from elbowing people in Hayward down the road. Clean clothes and I still drove down to Hayward which is the biggest town around. It is also a tourist town, big time. Lots of people. Dodged a bit of rain in town. Big grocery store. Incredibly well stocked magazine store. I bought new issues of Bike and Mountain Bike Action which has a review on Turner’s new version of the 5 Spot I am riding. Magazine continues to praise Turner’s bikes.

Sufficiently touristed out I drove back to Cable, 17 miles to the north and in a different world. For dinner I chose The Rivers Eatery. Owners Mick and Beth treated me to pizza and beer. Both were great and left desire for more. I met Ron who is executive director of CAMBA, Chequamegon Area Mountain Bikers Assoc. Their org is responsible for local trails. He is working on a new flow trail that is machine cut. Today Mick,  his twin daughters, and I rode it finishing in the rain. Who is able to pronounce correctly Chequamegon? Earlier Gary, who is director of the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival now in its 30th year, chatted w/ me. If I sit still in a great gathering place people find me. I continue to learn so much and i also share what I have learned. Too much good stuff.

Mick invited me to sleep in the restaurant’s parking lot. He showed me a door that is always left unlocked for me to get inside if I needed to. Such is the life here in Cable. I was chilly enough that I pulled over me my down blanket making me snug as a bug in a rug.

Last night Mick invited me on a ride w/ his twin 16 yo daughters, plan was to meet @ 9:30 @ the restaurant. His plan was to show me a progression of old school trails to the new. The old trails were more point to point while the new stuff was all about the ride taking forever to get anywhere. The old stuff was narrow w/ some busy stuff on the tread. The new was all about bermed turns. Claps of thunder beat on our ears as did several prelude showers on the tree canopy. Our route dumped us out on a logging road return. We were less than 10 mins away from the rigs when the main event dumped on us. We found shelter under the deciduous leaves. Rain abated allowing us to complete our ride albeit w/ splatters of mud. Mick finished the adventure w/ a shower offer. I am now clean and dry.

http://trailmuttreports.blogspot.com/   This web site is about the mountain biking adventure Gromit, the dog, and Arlin and Sandy, and I had on the Rock Lake IMBA epic ride on Sunday.

I might have an early evening ride w/a group of riders who visit every Thurs. The Eatery reopens to feed them after their ride. If the rain holds off I will be in.

I have lost XM reception. I found a NPR station w/ classical music  and Terry Gross.

I plan on hanging @ Cable until either late Sat or early Sun then drive down to Levis Trow Mounds for a Sunday ride. Mon I will be @ Shockspital in Minne for fork service.