Turning the Corner

 I think we are turning the corner on our spring.  Today was first day this year for me riding a road bike.  I felt like a rocket on that road bike after riding the Fat-tire, the studded fixed gear and the my touring unit with fenders, racks and such...but I knew better.  It will take more than that to fool me, because after all, it's not my first rodeo. 

 The nearby city of Duluth, Mn set snow fall records for the month of April.  I think it was somewhere over 50" in month of April alone.  The most snow of any month on record.  We still have plenty of ice on our lakes and just yesterday I see a person out ice fishing and used an ATV to get to the fishing spot.  I have heard reports of this being the latest ice out from local lake residents that keep track of such things.   

The ride today was a quick one as I had things to do today, but with the temperature around 65°F and the warmest so far this year, I needed to get out.  

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!!

We Will Manage

 We were blessed with between 18 and 20 inches of snow on Friday.  It is looking like a very late spring here in northern WI... especially seeing how they are predicting 7 to 11 inches tonight. We will manage.

 The temperature rose today to right around the 50°F mark. I was overdressed today and needed to shed some clothing a little ways into the ride.

 I saw this little guy, or girl, Raccoon today.  It sure was nice of him/her to give me a break in middle of this little climb.

I suppose I could have just rode around around her/him, but seeing things like this is some of the reason I ride to begin with.  Ahhhhh, the snow just started as I am finishing this up.  Like I said before, we will manage.

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!!

Water Crossings

 I am registered up for the Mn Ironman bike ride which is coming up in less than 2 weeks.   That said, our spring this year has been more like winter so long training rides haven't been happening.  But, I have been on the bike every day in April...and most everyday since of February.   

 Last night I had studied the weather forecast and today was suppose to be one of the nicest days we have had in a while.  I had a route I have not ridden this year and decided today was the day.  I knew I would be fighting a wind for most of the beginning and if there was any wind to be had in the afternoon, it would be in my favor.  The forecast was for WNW winds at 15 in the morning changing to N at 6 this afternoon. They were right. 

Rock Creek

 I remember going by here when I was a youngster giggling about the name.  That means it has been here for many a moons.

  

 This farm has been here for many years also. 

 A new bridge on Douglas County Highway M crossing the Tamarack River. 

 The Sheosh creek.  A trout stream.

 And...a picture of the Moose River.

Nearing home, a picture of the St. Croix River.  

 The first 23 miles I would be fighting the wind.  I did not mind.  For me, it's not a big deal when I know what I am up against. Today's ride was right close to 42 miles with the temp around the 45°F mark. Another great day to be out.  I did not load up all the pictures of the water crossings the bicycle took me across today.  Believe me, there were many.

Lets get outdoors and have some Fun!!

BBB Porn??

Warning: BBB Porn Ahead

(Big Beautiful Bicycle)

 I talked to my Dad shortly before today's ride.  He said "It's kind of nasty out there, isn't it?"  He was right.  But, a person has to take advantage of weather like this...because before you know it, it will be summer!

 Yesterday I was on the Fat-bike also and I could ride these snowmobile trails without too much trouble.  After the snow these last two days, these trails are difficult riding now.  I rode some of it and reverted back to the roads.

I was out for just short of 2 hours today.  It would have been longer had I just thought a little.  Yesterday was the first time on the Fat-Bike in about 3 weeks and in that little time I totally forgot how much fun they are.  Like a dummy, I had only brought along one water bottle.  I should have brought along more drink and a sandwich to make a day of it.  But riding without food and drink, one can end up like a skeleton.  A skeleton hanging in the bush.  Wouldn't want that!

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!   

Calm Before the Storm?

 

 

The above pictures show the transformation of the Moose River during the last week.

The St.Croix above.

The calm before the storm, I think not.  Windy, windy and windy today.   We are suppose to be in line for big storm they say.  Another dumping of snow?  We will see.  Makes for some interesting riding anyway.  

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!  

Truth be Told

First Moose River picture on April 2nd

Second Moose River picture on April 4

This mornings picture on April 7th.  

We received another taste of winter the last couple days. It was not as much snow as they were predicting, but we did get some wet slushy stuff.  I have heard people claiming we have had easy winters as of late and we have become soft with this winter being normal.  Some truth to that and some not so true.  Some would like to have all easy winters, but truth be told, this is a much colder than a normal spring for us.  But as Mark Twain once said "In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours."  Similar to some on both sides of this issue, I think he may have exaggerated a little.  But, he also said "Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get." True that!

Lets get outdoors and have some fun! 

Proof of Spring Still Springing

 If a person was keeping track of training miles, I do not think I could in good conscience count today's ride.  The ride was 21 miles in which I just meandered along weaving between the leaves that were blowing down the road.  I figured I was training for the opening of single tracking...yeah, that's it.

 

 The path leading down to the St Croix River on the Mail Rd has cleared up.  No snow bank to maneuver today.

 

 

The wind was blowing strong again today, as it has been lately, but this lunch spot was relatively calm. 

 

This is the water level gauge here at the bridge.  It will be rising.  When the water level gets higher on the stick, I will get the kayak out.

 



 The snowbanks are moving back and slowly, melting which makes these mini rivers flowing along the edge of roads. 

 

The above picture is of the Moose River and was taken two days ago.  The picture below is at the same spot. If you click the picture to magically blow them up, the difference is quite noticeable I think. Notice how the earlier picture has no snow and ice up against the bank and in today's pictures the ice is accumulating against the river bank.



The above two pictures are more proof of spring springing.

 

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!!



Spring is Springing

 Spring is coming around slowly this year in northern WI.  It has been about 10°F cooler than normal almost every day with a 20mph wind to go with it.  I ride almost everyday, and because of being out there daily, I can really see the change happening.  In the last couple weeks I went from riding the Fat-bike, to the studded up Fixed gear, to my touring unit sporting the fenders.  I have yet to ride a road bike this year, but that will be tomorrows ride I think.

It is amazing how much this river changed just today.  I lost my helmet cover on the ride today...bummer...but anyway, this evening we made a drive back tracking my ride to see if we could spot it. Finding the cover didn't happen, but we stopped here at the Moose River and I noticed it changed a lot in the matter of a few hours.  So, if anybody has a suggestion for a good helmet cover, lets hear it.

I may, or may not, have spent some time in this saloon. 

I thought I would try a little video again.  The rattle you hear is the front fender.  These videos are taken with my phone, so when I take my hand off the bar to hold the phone it rattles.

 

A sure sign spring is springing.

 

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!!