Fall Gravel

 Today had me riding some local gravel.  The roads are in excellent bicycling conditions. 

 The colors are nice also.

 This little road leads into a wetland area called Moose Fork Flowage.

 This is part of that wetland.

 This was the lunch spot today.  As of late, my riding has been around the noon hour, so I have been packing a peanut butter and honey on wheat. It's a good lunch.

 Met my first car at the 25.80 mile mark today.  Took me by surprise, as I recognized the vehicle and haven't a clue what would bring him so far in the bush.

  

I rode today on my Giant Anthem mountain bike. I have also rode this same route on the fixed gear along with the cross bike at other times.  The mountain bike is still my favorite for gravel.  It may not be as fast, but I am in no hurry and I am fond of this bike. Whether on the MTB trails or on the gravel like today, it rides and shifts like a dream.

  

 My less than $100 camera doesn't give nature its do.

For those that are near and may want to ride what I think is an ideal mostly gravel loop...todays ride had me on the Crotty Brook to the Holmes Camp Rd to M to Jackson Box to Jackson Box Grouse Rd to Bounty Rd to M to West Crotty to Crotty and back on the West Mail.  From the Scotts bridge on West Mail Rd, the total distance is just over 35 miles.  Of that 31 is gravel and 4 on quiet blacktop. 

I do appreciate the good folks who visit rlove2bike.

Thank You!

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!!

Sanity Validated

 I was out for a nice ride this afternoon.  Fall colors are on the way here in Northern Wisco. 

 It was a bit windy here today, so just to add some validity to some that know me and question my sanity, I rode just over twenty miles one way against the wind to ride a road I hadn't bicycled before. That should make them feel better.

 This was the road.  To give them even more ammo for questioning my sanity, it's just over a mile long.   hehe

 But for me it paid off, as found this little lake access I never knew existed.  It looks like a great place to cool off in the mid-summer heat. I had driven this road by auto a few times, but didn't see this gem.  The bicycle pays off again.

There were a lot of Woolly Bear caterpillars out today.  Sure sign of fall.  They say these can predict the winter.  Something about counting the segments of brown.  If the brown segments are over one third...ah who knows.  Just folklore.

HEY...somebody mowed the airport. No planes here today though.

Lets get outside and have some fun!!

Smack Down Plug

 This past weekend we had a baptism for our son and his daughter in waters of Deer lake.  I decided to ride down and back.  It is a 31 mile one way trek by road bike as I like to stay on blacktop.  It was a good ride both ways.  Fall in the air.  A little wind.  Very little traffic.  All adds up to some great riding.  

 A resurfacing company must have had a special running this summer.  Several of the local roads have been worked on.  They coat the road with some sort of tar.

 After the tar, these little pebbles go down.  One must be careful while riding this stuff.  It will not be bad after it is all set up and the extra little rocks are off the roadway, but for now, watch it.  Especially on the corners.  

 Nice to still see some water in the little potholes that dot the area.

The leaves, they are a changing.  Which means it is time for http://www.rantwick.com/search/label/2012%20Autumn%20Tree%20Smackdown

Click the above link for details!! 

One can not win unless one enters.

Lets get outside and have some fun!!

Great Day

 It is getting that time of year here in the north of Wisconsin.  Those who claim they know say the leaves will change and drop fast this year because of the recent drought we have been in.  I am thinking they are right. 

 I know it has been a while so I thought I drop some pictures and a little narrative about the ride today.  Everything from canoeing to hiking to vacationing to spending time at the cabin and still getting in the miles on the bike has made the summer go very quickly.  

 The ride today had me riding through what the locals call the Bird Sanctuary.  This is an area of about 4000 acres that is managed for sharp-tailed grouse.   

 The wind can blow here.

 My wife and I meet for lunch often and today it was here.  

 She usually stops at a local cafe, Kd's Family Restaurant, and picks up a special of the day and we split it.  I don't know how anybody can eat a whole one for lunch.  This is slightly more than half.  Food pictures are good. Aren't they?  And after all, it was a 31 mile ride.

 See...it was me...with my typical go fast hair cut.  hehehe

 New blacktop for a short ways on the North Flowage road.

 When I came by here it reminded of good friend that drove off this corner years ago.  He made a nice little path into the woods and was fine, but the real nice mid 60's Buick Riviera didn't fair so well.  

 Cross the water and through the bush from here it is about 2 miles home.  Seeing how I am a mere mortal I needed to take the road...13 miles around the west end.

 I crossed paths with the North Country Trail a few times today.  It is a gem stretching 4600 miles across seven states.  I feel lucky to live close to this.

.

 These poor flowers were hanging on for dear life in the wind today. 

 A new bridge crossing the Moose River for the North Country Trail.  

Here I sat reflecting on just how great life is.

Thank you all for reading!

Lets get outdoors and have some FUN!!

PS...If read this Road...I am signed up.

Still Here

It has been a long time since this blog thing has been updated, so I thought I would give it a go today. Thank You to all those that come by to check it out and some even comment.  I do appreciate it. 

We have been quite busy in the last month.  Not important stuff.  Well now that I think about it, yeah it is important stuff... vacation and spending time at the cabin.  That is important!! I have been riding though.  Today marked the 3rd ride of 5 rides in the last week that it was over 90°F with one at 98° and another at 99°.  I should ride early in the morning all the time instead of just now and then.  Slow learner.  Although, despite the warm temps, all the rides have been good.  After all, it's weather.  It is what it is.

The end of Douglas County Y.  Straight ahead 7 Mile Dam County Park, left fork is Hill Rd and hard left is snowmobile/ATV trail 41.

A local golf course I frequent, Gordon Pines.

This is another shot of Trail 41.  I am not kidding when I tell you I live in sand country.  Riding the mountain bike on here with 2.1" tires is a good work out, but not advised on the weekend.  

More road.

This is our local store, Stop a Sec.  Groceries, Liquor store, Hardware, Bait Shop, Game registration, Hunting/Fishing licences, Post Office, Laundromat, dry cleaning drop, Gas, Diesel, Propane, DMV stuff, books and magazines including local authors, movie rental and well you get the idea.  Important things one may need while out in the bush. Oh and now serving, soup and pizza.  Come by here in the morning to see the local coffee clutch meeting.  I haven't been to one, but have witnessed it a time or two.

Todays ride was 25 miles with the last 4.5 into the wind.  I stopped here and rested a bit before hammering it home.  See the helmet?  IMO, good idea to wear one. 

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!!

Goal Zero

My apologies for the lack of input on my part.  We have been...well...busy...vacation busy. :-)  After the Diabetes ride we left for a vacation to South Dakota/Wyoming.  I do enjoy the Black Hills area.  We have been there many times and for us, it just doesn't get old.  On this trip we spent most of it off the beaten path...gravel roads, rut roads, biking the George Mickelson trail  and hiking some hiking trails.  I had said in a previous post I would go over some of the gear I use.  The picture above is of the Goal Zero solar charger.  This model is the Guide 10 Plus.  It comes with a Nomad 7 solar panel, a USB cable, a 12 volt cable and a battery pack with 4 AA rechargeable batteries.  I have used it bicycle touring, camping and will use it on the river when we are out for days.  It is a very rugged, durable solar charger.  It is also suppose to be water proof, although I have not tested that, nor do I intend to.  It charges cell phones, cameras, MP3 players, GPS'r, I-Pads, Kindles and lots of stuff.  I use it for my cell phone, camera and Garmin.  It will not charge a lap top.  A person can charge right from the panel itself or use the panel to charge the battery pack and then charge the unit of your choice from the battery pack.  I choose to use the battery pack.  It has loops sewn on the panel and I tie it open to something during the daylight and charge from the pack in the evening.  

Sorry for the crappy photos, but it measures 6" x 9" x 1" when not in use folded and 17" x 9" when unfolded.  It weighs in at a very light at 0.8lbs. They say the charge time for the battery pack is 2-4 hours, but I have never timed it.  There are several configurations the Goal Zero out there and it is my understanding that one must be careful with which one you purchase.  After researching I purchased the Goal Zero 19007 Adventure kit as I thought it met my needs the best.  That model runs approximately $120.00.  I am of the opinion it is worth every penny.  A GREAT unit!!

My apologies this time in advance as there is some mighty nice looking weather coming up...and I plan to take advantage of it...so no computer for days again.  I do miss reading the great blogs on my blog roll and think about them often, but adventure and the outdoors pull me away.

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!!

Diabetes Ride

 Last Saturday was the Tour de Cure diabetes ride in Minneapolis MN.  First off...A big Thank YOU for all that supported us and me in particular in this event.  The above picture is of our group...The Gitchigumi Gear Mashers.  We have been riding as a group doing charity rides for a few years now.  It was my first year riding this event and I believe they do a very good job.  The rest stops were well spaced, very well stocked, and in scenic locations along the route.  The route itself shined also.  Mostly bike paths and trails.  And, of the roads we did ride, most had bicycle lanes painted in. I can now easily see why the Twin Cities rate so high in numerous bicycle friendly studies.  I will be back to leisurely ride more of these trails.  Their trail system is fantastic.

 This unit must have been part of the event as I saw at two different locations.

 The Mississippi River near downtown Minneapolis was really moving.  Some of the people riding said they had never seen it this lively.  It was my first time viewing it, so I couldn't compare it, but it was impressive.  While stopped on the bridge the spray was wetting us down.

 This is a trail bridge heading into downtown Minneapolis.

 At about mile 22 a tremendously loud noise came from behind.  It was louder than most gun shots.  It ended up to be a tube blow out on one of our team members ride.  The tube had about a 4" split plus a large chunk went missing somewhere along the way. SAG came along and helped.  Like I said before, well organized.

 After riding Minneapolis, we headed to St. Paul.  Here we rode by the Excel Energy Center, plus many other landmarks. By this time, my picture taking was getting to a minimum.  All these photos were taken with the cell phone...As I forgot the camera!  Must come with age I tell ya.  

 The above is a pic of the event grounds.  There they had diabetes information along with a lot of swag items.  They even had an area to test your A1C score.

The event supplied us with free lunch along with free Schells beer, 1919 Root Beer and free music.  we holed up near the beer truck and music.

Back home and loaded this post up and back out again soon.  It seems like I am spending a lot of time interent challenged these days.  I am fortunate to have an understanding spouse and also children at home for the summer to keep things in check. 

Lets get outdoors and have some fun!!