red dirt

The color red in the dirt is to come from iron which rusts to form rust red. Sedona has it. So does Cayuna Lakes in Crosby, MN. Here the red stays on longer and seems to impregnate the tires.

Two big driving days brought me to Crosby and Cayuna Lakes trail system, an IMBA Silver ride center. I drove all day from Badlands to the SE corner on Minnesota. I enjoyed mostly a tail wind. Whatever wind, the Sprinter moves around requiring diligence to stay in my lane.Sometimes crabbing the steering wheel to go sideways into the wind. I kept at it till just after sundown putting up fort he night at Camden SP. Down by the river and a busy railroad track.I saw 88 degrees on the van dash. Warm night.

I called a Discount Tire store in Mankato, MN to buy  a pair of new tires and make an appointment for mounting. The earliest appointment was 11:15. I hoped for earlier which would have allowed ride time for their local trails. Back on the road early. I arrived at 10:30, no time for a ride. Tires installed I drove down to Nicollet bike shop for trail info. I used MTBProject to find these local trails. I saw much standing water in ditches and flat spots in crop fields. Lots of rain had fallen as was the case for the local trails. No go, bike stayed on the rack. I visited with Justin, the owner. We are members of the same family. We have ridden some of the same trails. He knows Cable, WI where i will soon be. His wife has won the Chemegon(sp?).

Back on the road driving with a side wind I made it to Crosby just before dark. Sundown is just after 7 and now getting earlier. I deciphered their map to find Portsmouth XG where I have stayed by. $15 and legal. Cold drizzly night. A small group of campers were nearby. I stayed inside snug as a bug. Weather forecast for today called for clearing in the afternoon. During the night I heard rain falling off the tree leaves above me. Rain. By daybreak nothing fell from the sky, the sun was still covered up. A guy pedaled up to me after my bfast. It was John from Bend, we rode Dread and Terror together this summer. he is with the others as they are all family and heading to a family gathering further north. I was excited to tell him about Victoria ride but he told me he had ridden it on his way. Cool connecting w/ buds from elsewhere and had ridden the same trails. They packed up and left.

I drove back to Crosby to do my weekly wash. To me funny in that I recall laundromats I have used as a connection to a place. I had not used this one. Next wash might be Cable, WI where I remember the laundromat.

I dallied waiting on what the weather was going to do. The clouds were lifting then separated to reveal blue sky. I saw a male rider in bike clothes sporting some mud on his legs that looked more like brown water marks. He said trails were good. I asked at the shop about trail conditions and what i might do to them. He said they were all open except for Sidewinder that is closed for trail work. Good. Again figuring out the map to match what wasn’t signed on the ground. I found the big developed TH. I installed the phone carrier on my handlebar and accessed MTBProject for Leslie’s grand tour. The trails are plentiful and for the most part are well signed. The gps route solved figuring out on my own what to ride. The trails are on reclaimed open pit mines for said iron ore. The pits have filled with water sprinkled among the natural lakes. The tread is rock: firm and no mud, just a few small puddles which is where the runny red splatters come from.

Fall happening:

I came upon this hobbling user who would not yield to the faster rider

IT was not able to put weight on its left front foot. It would not leave the trail until it came to an intersection.

I rode a bunch of the miles. The day was getting shorter.

The trails were mostly built by a mini ex back in 2011 I believe. Amazing regrowth on the back slopes

The trails are almost formulary with the grade dips and turns. They ride well when wet. Almost all are one direction which is good as it eliminating head ons.

I put on a fender under the fork arch before the ride, I should have had it on when I rode the  cow manure trails. I do have red watery dried mud on the bike.

There is a shower at this XG. I checked it out: rust red from the water. No thanks. I poached a shower at the in town XG. Camping fee is $25 right on a lake.

I’m back at the same spot as last night. Tomorrow I will drive to Duluth and ride some of their trails.

I have been out of USFS and BLM land so there is no open range cattle grazing. Crop fields are now the resource extracted. Still lots of hay fields here the round large bales are the derigor.

Race Face sent my replacement dropped post to Duluth, GA and not MN as instructed. I called the receiving shop to learn that they are Georgia. I called the guy back and reported the error. I left a message. No answer. I called back the next day and left a message. No response. I called yesterday and left another message: no response. I called each of the Duluth stores and explained what will be happening to them. Race Face called today while I was riding. I called him back later. He will make arrangements to send the post to Hesitation Point bike shop right outside Brown County park. Shop is co owned by Gonzo whom I knew from Sedona. So Phil, put to rest concern you have of me not visiting.

I don’t care what the people think, I’m not drunk, I’m just drinking.