Thursday I drove to the Dodge dealer for van service and diagnostic. Oil and filters changed. Diagnostic revealed nothing apparently because the engine control had not sent an error code. Shop said the van is running OK. So much for my paranoia but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a mechanical failure just around the proverbial bend.
From enjoyable Marquette environs I drove west to another enjoyable location of Cable, WI, home of Rivers Eatery owned by Mick and Beth and staffed by their twin daughters. Personal sized gourmet pizzas and good selection of tap beers. A warm and wonderful return visit greeting. Place is packed w/ white bread customers which is what the population is. I was told that Shrimper rolls in on Thurs nights and sits at this particular bar stool. I felt a pinch on my butt and there stood smiling Shrimper. We sat together @ the bar and engaged in a loud friendly conversation. Several people drifted in and out of our group, one being Gary who is the race promoter of the Chequamegon fat tire festival and Ron who is the paid director or CAMBA mtn bike club. Cable was just awarded IMBA Ride Center status as was Marquette.
This life style is rewarding to me as I meet new people some who become friends and when I visit again there is such friendship.
I slept out @ a XC ski TH. Shrimper is building trail here for CAMBA using a mini excavator. I wanted to see his work and watch him work. He drove me back out way out to his work site. We hiked the new trail that was roughed in by his effort to the guys finishing the trail to their finished work. Ground is very rocky.
Mosquitoes are horrific. I actually sprayed myself w/ eucalyptus repellent to some avail.
Shrimper drove me back to town. He went back to work and I drove out to the Rock Lake TH to ride the IMBA epic trail. Mosquitoes are feeding here also. Trail is marked a black diamond. Hmmm, different rating scale. I rode today at an enjoyable pace just enjoying solving tech features. Deep woods. Winds had blown down numerous trees across the trail that all had been cut out. Had they not been cut out the ride would have been the shits. 11.6 miles in 1 hr 40 mins climbing 999′.
Back in town I drove out to Shrimper’s housing which is like an old lake cabin from long ago in terms of accommodations. I fixed dinner in my house and Shrimper did the same in his. We sat outside @ a table eating and swatting mosquitoes. After dinner dishes cleanup and a shower we pedaled a short distance in the dark back to the Eatery. It was closed but the staff was still there. We joined Mick and Steve Tilford, a professional old school mtn bike racer still competing. We visited for several hours until I said i needed the comfort of my bed. We pedaled back under moon light.
Today Shrimper and I are going to ride single track that sort of parallels the Birkie XC ski race course.
Mosquitoes. Pity the rider who has a mechanical. Hardly seconds go by before I was set upon. Going forward makes for a moving target that seems to lessen the feeding.
My chigger bites are all but gone. Wounds are still visible but the itching is long gone. Benydryl seemed to help.