Quiet night out on a resource extraction road. Right below me is a like a sink hole depression that has been raped for timber.
Seems logging gets into these depressions as I encountered on my ride of the Rock Lake IMBA Epic, 25.5 miles taking almost 4 hours of hard pedaling, elevation gain was only 1799’ which climbing was like a death by small cuts. Deep woods cove, absolutely no view sheds. Deciduous trees still providing full cover except for several tree species have dropped their leaves, seems to be a maple for red then several for touch of golden.
Lots of roots and small rocks each capable of causing loss of balance terminating in contact with said stuff. I have ridden this trail maybe 4 times now once each visit here. Logging in places cut over the trail. Just a hump. Pics are just tree trunks. Descended black diamond Wall Street, an armored roll down. It is what is here.
Hardly a straight section. Just twitchy turns for turns.
Found several places that my bar would not fit thru. Ran into a couple about my age, several running away deer, a black squirrel. Phone battery expired. Sandstone similar to like Mohican in Ohio. Trail crossed this road where I am parked on a wide spot off the road.
Walked down to the logging machine which is a skidder type machine with a grapple to load timber into a bunk. The machine is a gather and hauler. The stumps are all cut even as are the decked logs, no wedge cut. No evidence of a feller buncher. A National Scenic trail winds thru these woods with logging right nearby or cut over the trail. I wonder what the public opinion was. Rives Eatery is opened Wed to seek info.
Didn’t have far to drive today and had lots of time to make the ride. Last night I stayed above Seely, WI after a windy drive from Crosby, MN and Cayuna Lakes trails. Windy drive on back roads. I remembered this spot from a previous stay.
Sunday I rode the west part of the Cayuna Lakes trails from Portsmouth mines campground. This year I noticed the trails were directional which eliminates rider conflict, nice. I mounted my phone to the carrier on the handle bar and pulled up the trail map. I still struggle making the map agree with where I am as this time I rode a loop before spinning off to catch Galloping Goose which is a green trail that circles the main trail area.
Got out there early enough under clouds and a chill, on my 14 mile ride. Encountered less than 5 riders. What a great trail system using mine spoil piles from past iron ore extraction. Hardly an elevation gain. Trails were all machine made, the width of a blade with the single track burned into the trail bed.
Crosby now has a brew pub which slaked my thirst for craft beer after today’s ride and last night and the night before. I stayed out at the local campground. Friday after a beer I drove out to the XG expecting vacancy. Place was packed. Sign on each site read make reservation before occupying. Learned reservation must be made on line. As I was figuring this out a ranger drove in. We chatted about reservations then serious about trees. She let me stay in the vacant XG host site which was so great. Glad that I arrived before dark and the ranger solved my poor planning.
Sat. AM at camp I attached the tire pressure gauge to my front tire valve which snapped off letting all the air out. Time to drive back to town and the bike shop to buy a replacement hoping they had one. Score. Tire beaded with floor pump. Drove out to main trail head which has a big paved parking lot etc. Quite crowded with the gamut of riders and bikes. Great to see so many riders out on a beautiful sunny day. My intent was to ride the high points on the west side. Directional trail out. Ended up on the east side. Rolled up to a group of riders conversing and planning their ride. I globbed on letting them solve my route finding. MTBproject reading with no glasses continue to confound me. I had some vindication as new trails and some reroutes were on the ground that the software did not reflect. I kept trying to find East Street on the ground. I learned that it no longer exists. Having a reserved camp spot I drove to brew pub to socialize. I drank 2 beers while watching OSU football. No takers of my conversation. Back to camp to fix dinner.
Years ago I heard a southern governor saying why is a library needed when you only need 2 books, a hymnal and a bible. Keep people fearing god and ignorant of other things. I feel that mentality applies to grocery stores also as it is almost all about white bread. No choices.
Thursday and Friday were big driving days heading east. Rain and wind. Low clouds which blocked out everything from about 300’ and up obscuring the flat land.
Stopped in Aberdeen, SD to do my wash and have my brakes looked at. While driving the brake light came on. Googled brake shop then picked this one. Guy said the brakes work fine, suspected censor problem.
That night I discovered water had leaked in wetting the head of my bed and bedding. Big test of wind and rain on a what I had sealed hoping that was the water source. Stopped at a laundromat on Friday to dry my bedding. I pulled my down sleeping bag down to sleep under. Darn, a small piece was wet. Hmm, I now figure that the water drips down from a solar panel attach bolt then runs down the ceiling paneling and drops down. Shit, I need a ladder to get up on the roof. Sunday I walked into he shop praising them for saving my ride yesterday and if they wanted to increase the sample size and remain at 100%. They bought in. I asked for a ladder. Score, kid walked it to my van. I climbed up and checked out the location. My sealant was intact. The bracket sits so close to the roof such that I can not get a finger in to really apply sealant. I smeared some on my finger and worked it against the junction. I figured the leak happened because a gap existed to allow wind driven heavy rain in. Until the next precip later this week.
Writing this off line as no internet or cell out here.
Wet is forecast thru the week. I rode the Epic today as if it is the only ride day. Tomorrow if dry another ride. Maybe amount of rain is a factor as these trails appear to me to dry quickly. Cable was getting some of what I drove thru.
Friday night at the pub a maybe 10’ wire spool in the middle of the room was occupied by guys dressed in bike gear. I walked around the table checking their legs to see if colored red from the trails. No red dust covering. Yes, they had ridden. Hmm, previous visits I have left with red tires and rust colored calves. Learned form the bike shop that there is a window of cleanliness: If the trails are too wet they are closed. If wet but not closed one can expect watery mud. When dried out that’s when dust coats things. I rode in the window the first day and ridden down the second. My tires were only slightly colored. Today’s ride abraded the iron ore off.
Tuesday continuation:
last night rain fell a short time, didn’t feel rain on my face. Forecast is for rain showers etc, just wet. rest day.