Quiet night in Pigeon Lake field station parking lot. AM temp in low 60s, glad i did not change out summer blanket for down blanket.

The company that is supplying me w/ their blood clotting measuring machine shipped me supplies after I had a conversation w/ a customer service rep. We agreed that these suppliesm would be sent to Hayward general delivery. Instead I received a phone call from Fed Ex asking how to deliver general delivery. Package is in Superior, WI, across the bay from Duluth, MN. I heard word of good riding in Duluth. I asked Fed Ex to hold the package for pickup. Purpose of my camp site was towards Superior.

Took miles of blue highway rds. Picked up package from Fed Ex. Entered  Continental Ski shop address into GPS that led me a tour of downtown Duluth. Mostly old reddish stone and brick buildings. Like a mill town. Economy must have been mining and shipping. Person @ the shop gave me ride info: Lester Park.

I gps’d the Park. I pulled in to the parking lot 1 car away from an IMBA decked out Subaru. I met Jesse and Lori, new Trail Care Crew replacing  Steve and Morgan. They are on their 3rd week. I met Steve and Morgan the first weekend of their shift. Nice young couple.

I rode Lester Park, the trail goes upstream thru the woods over lots of roots and packed clay tread to a bridge over the creek then back down. I am acquiring better finesse moves that my 26 Turner 5 Spot allows. Short stem and wide bars finish the control. I saw more deer than riders which was zip.

Short ride. I moved onto to Hartley Park. Wandered around on ill to nonexistent trail marking. Rode thru pine plantations where conifers are planted in rows. Lots of mud puddles drying up.

Rode the trails, loaded up, then drove to last riding area, Piedmont trails, which are the most technical. Found TH in residential neighborhood. No bikers. I headed out into a puppy’s breakfast of trails per the map. The ground wore more trails than what i could decipher from the map. Bigger area more room to get lost in. Trails are more technical that used lots of finesse. Happy w/ my performance. I could hear traffic of road @ the South of the area. I turned around and attempted to ride back to the TH on unridden trails. lost. I headed North on trails that didn’t always stay true to my compass bearing. I made the TH. Saw only 2 riders. Trails are more tech and challenging, the best of the 3 city riding areas I rode. Yes, inside the city of Duluth. Trail used slabs of slick rock compete w/ step ups and roll overs. Great handling bike.

Drove back to Pigeon Lake camp spot.

Tomorrow I will head back to Cable to reride the Epic and then hand @ The River Eatery.

 

 

miles ridden, diversions from interesting people, and life. And not enough internet access when I have free time.

Last night I drove out to Rock Lake camp spot after checking out the my kind of pub and pizza place, The Rivers Eatery. I met Mick and his wife, the owners. Enjoyed a local craft beer. There are both bikers and travel. Comfortable sleeping.

Today is a big ride on Makwa and Hatchery trails going S from trail head on road OO. Well marked on the ground trail that while not technical made up for it from all the crooked sections. I motored for 31 miles in 3 hrs 43 mins climbing 2636′. My knees hurt. Purpose built trail wiggling and waggling w/ a design. The trails meander with the Birkie ski trail. All in the trees except @ the crossings. Hump.

Took a solar shower in the parking lot. Filled up water tank, jug, and shower from a well @ TH.

Drove back to Seely seeking a chocolate malt from an establishment that shared the building w/ a saloon. The bar tender left the bar to make my malted. I sat beside a beer drinker while sipping my malted.

Continued N to Cable planning on eating @ The River. I parked on the street under trees to write this. Mick, the owner stopped to visit: distraction 1. He told me that the guy who is sitting on the bench in front of the Post Office is the world champion kick boxer and a character. He left b4 he became distraction 2. Distraction 3 forth coming perhaps from Steve Tilford, a world class mountain bike racer. We met earlier on the trail, meet was not the term. A rider was approaching me, I yielded, he just flew by w/o a helmet. Crowd here in Cable, WI.

I will be heading towards Duluth shortly. Mick told me I could find USFS land between here and Duluth. Ride @ Duluth tomorrow.

Minneapolis on Monday for shock service.

Camping where there is no internet or cell phone coverage.

Today I shared a ride on the Rock Lake IMBA epic trail w/ Arlan, Sandy, and their well behaved dog Grommet. The humans were on a tandem suspended 26. Grommet was on all 4s.

Recount:

Wed after I finished to Copper Harbor trails I  used the WiFi in the brewery. I walked across the street to the small general store. On the way out in the door way a guy calls me by name. Droppsies. I drew a blank. He was talking to me as we walked down the street. I saw the car that belong to him, Kristian, whom I rode w/ the day b4 @ Marquette. He said he was going to camp @ Bete Gris right on the beach of Lake Superior. I followed instructions and arrived b4 him. Brisk dip in the lake followed by a solar shower @ the van. Kristian arrived later. I shared a black bean burrito I make. We sat outside and watched the moon clear the low clouds. Chatted until 12:00. Pleasant night. Midwest has house flies that sometimes bite. They vacate after dark for the mosquitoes.

Thurs AM I drove to Houghton. I received a voice mail from Gabriel of Channel 6 TV in Marquette wanting to do a story about me. Dustin of the same station scheduled an interview preceding her. Their boss OK’d just Dustin’s interview which happened in the showroom of The Bike Shop in downtown. Several of the wrenches at the store rode Sedona. I lead Dustin in our rigs to the MTU Tech trails where he filmed me lamely riding on flat grass. He left and I rode a bit of the Tech trails which were nicely built in the wooded sections among the wide cleared cross country ski trails. Nice ride except somewhere I missed or the sign was missing causing me to ride a shorter distance than the advertised length. Hairy Toad was technical in the dirt.

OK. At Down Wind shop in Marquette an attractive friendly young woman worked. She caught my eye and attention. A rapport was established when she gave me nail polish tips. She invited me to retun to visit w/ her. Round trip to Copper harbor and back to Down Wind. Fri I visited the shop but she was not working. I gave my card to Jeff who asked if I wanted her to call me. Yes I said. I headed back to the South Mtn trails for another go @ Red and Green trails. My phone rang just after a short climb. I dropped my pack and unzipped the flap and caught the call b4 voice mail. It was Morgan. She was busy Fri but had Sat bfast @ BabyCakes bakery downtown for a date.

I learned that my interview was to be aired Fri @ 6 early news. I found a pizza place downtown w/ lots of screens for sports. I asked the staff if they would turn the station on and turn up the sound which they nicely did. The news program enticed viewers of me to come. i was the last piece of the night. The room was packed making the audio indistinguishable. I did see my image on the screen. I am working on obtaining the web feed to put on this site.

Friday night I drove out to Harlow lake about 10 miles outside of town for a primitive camp spot. Just b4 sunup a rain squall hit awakening me to the sound of rain drops on the roof, not sprinkles but full on deluge. I slid out of bed and donned my rain hat and wool poncho to throw the cover over the bikes. Upon completion the poncho was dripping water.

A cold shower b4 breakfast w/ Morgan. Nice. We met for a muffin and 45 min conversation b4 she left for work. Her downhill ski racing was good enough to travel to Europe and the US. Smitten by a siren. I left as I knew I needed to. Oh for avoidance of trouble.

I left for my drive to Cable, WI, home of another IMBA Epic trail, also the home of the Birkiebinder XC ski race.

I bought trail maps @ bike shop in Hayward then drove N to Cable then out to USFS to camp. Chequamegon NF. Pronounce that. No camping @ the TH. I turned down the first FS dirt road driving 3 miles b4 I found a suitable pullout. I was right on the trail.

Temps are cooler @ night, almost down blanket chilly. Last night I closed the door to keep the cold out. Today the temp was 73 degrees for my ride. There is still more summer to sweat thru.

Today i drove to the Rock Lake trail head. A Honda Element pulled in and disgorged the above occupants. They unloaded a tandem. We struck up a conversation that lead to riding together. They rode 99% of the 13 mile trail. Several times they fell when the stalled in rocks. They were wearing leg armor. Leisurely ride.

My solar shower was hung from my van that was hopefully still in the sun. I misjudged the sun’s path that resulted in shade. I moved the bag and waited for an hour for heat gain then took a shower.

Clean and dressed for my drive into Cable seeking internet. I succeeded. I checked out the Cable Airport for camping, unfortunately for me there was a sign granting access to only permitted persons. I will prolly drive back to where I camped last night.

Tomorrow I will ride another trail system outside of Seely.

I have a 8/13 appointment @ Shockspital in Minneapolis to service my fork. I am managing my time to arrive on time.

Cable IMBA trail: The epic route was clearly signed. Almost all nicely done single track. Deep woods cover, birch and conifers. Purpose built. Pleasant ride.