December 2014

12-21-14 Sunday

A hike near Silver Bay

Emily and I have been talking for awhile about how we should explore more of the SHT in these off season months and days.  Since there isn't enough snow for skiing and Emily couldn't borrow a fat bike we set off up the shore for some hiking. 

We took the road up to Silver Bay and got on the SHT at the same spot that we pick berries in the late summer months. Today we went to the East instead of the West though, a portion of trail I had not been on before. Right when we got out of the car it started to snow and the flakes were large. A surprise but it was pretty. 

Some very rugged stairs on a long climb. 

Still climbing 

Some great woods to hike through

This route brings you to some great views

Bean Lake

The cliff that we were on was very tall and pretty much a straight wall down to the lake. Amazing views up here

On the way back I heard some noise above and in front of me and spotted this downy woodpecker going to town on a prospering birch tree. Thanks to this Panasonic camera and its large zoom I was able to get some shots of him

We made it back to the car and had snow the whole time. We when got closer to Duluth it was raining.  These warm temps are okay if it wouldn't precipitate. I really dislike rain in December. 

12-14-14 Sunday

A big warm up in the weather and Emily & I were getting some cabin fever. Snow conditions are poor, roads are too icy to run on, so we hiked a forest road we had never been on.  We were hoping to see the lake at the end of the road but instead we saw this little hunting cabin. 

The fast paced walk got rid of the cabin fever and we both noticed how quiet the woods are this time of year

Sunday December 7

 Fat biking conditions are amazing right now. A little big of snow & decent temps. On Saturday the global fat bike ride happened at Todd McFadden's house & went to Mission Creek. I was motivated to get Emily out on a fat bike to experience the craze. We went to the trails behind St. Scholastica that I had discovered only a few days before. 

Lots of trails behind the college and a lot of history back here. 

August

8-13-14 Wednesday Birthday

Emily make me my favorite brownies on Monday before frisbee

Zucchini with sunflower seeds (there is vegetables in my cake - awesome!)

Banana Bread - one is choco chip, the other is plain

Zucchini Muffins

I have a good supply of bananas in the freezer and haven't made banana bread in ages so I decided to get baking and bring in treats for the birthday. I was debating back and forth about if it was possible to bike in and get home by 5pm to get ready for the party at my house. I did bike and had a great ride and they guys in the office and the shop enjoyed the homemade bread. 

I arrived home, wiped the sweat off my brow and then went to get two papa murph pizzas for the party. People arrived at 5:30 and we talked a bit then started the game of hacky sack in the back yard. Lots of fun. I received quite a bit of beer and hard cider as gifts. Hacky sack was lots of fun and people left a little before 10pm. A great birthday surrounded by friends. 

8-10-14  A Ride to the New Scenic Cafe / Berry Picking at the Zoo

Emily and worked in the garden in the morning planing a fall crop of greens and then started thinking about a road ride up to the NSC. The ride was nice, no wind and a bit cool. The restaurant experience was great. Super tasty food and great service. 

Tempeh Ruben 

Emily's Sandwich - Spicy Bacon

I have been riding trials at the zoo and having a fun time remembering group rides of the past. The thimble berries are ripe and I found fields of them. Mom and Dad came over for a surprise visit and we spent a wet afternoon crawling through the bushes gathering berries. 

8-2-14 Up to Beaver Bay

Rudy asked me about what I had planned for the weekend because he wanted to ride trials on the Beaver Bay river. Pretty surprising since he hasn't ridden trials in months, but I was excited and said I was in. Leslie and a bunch of people were going to run on the SHT and put on some miles (20 to 30). We left my house about 745am and it was a beautiful morning and I always loving going up the shore. We dropped off Marcus and Leslie at a SHT trailhead then went to the river to ride trials. The water was low and things looked great. 

I wanted to take more photos and even some video but the morning was spent riding and having fun on the bike. We had lunch down by the lake then headed up the road past Silver Bay to the SHT to beging berry picking. I had my hopes for blueberries but the Service Berries are much easier picking and much tastier. We picked for a couple hours and I filled my Nalgene Silo. The ground is super dry, we haven't had rain in weeks and some of the berries are drying up. 

After picking we went to Marcus's parents home to relax by a lake and drink some very powerful ginger brew. 

July 26-27 2014 A trip to the South

My cousin Hanna & Austin were getting married in MPLS so I made a trip south for the wedding. Emily was at the big fundraiser for the museum and couldn't join me. I wanted to see what Lebenon Hills was all about for mountain biking and do more than just shop in the big city. The trail head at Leb is impressive. 

There were two companies demoing bikes and a lot of families enjoying the trials, something I don't see as much in Duluth since the trails are rougher. I rode for an hour and then cleaned up and went to the wedding. 

The skills park had some nice features. Definitely a good place to learn.

On Sunday I spent the morning chatting with extended family then headed North around noon. Stopped at a couple stores in the cities but needed to stretch my legs so I pulled into Banning State Park in Sandstone MN. I am glad I stopped. The rocks and river in this area have some great features. 

The river looks pretty mellow to start with but turns into some rapids that might be possible in a canoe.

I love the bedrock in this area.

Some steps I scrambled down. A lot of work done by the park staff - impressive

After hiking around for an hour I continued the journey home but took the scenic road home - HWY 23.  The rural towns on this route reminded me of Cable with the small bars at intersections. I also figured out that Hwy 23 comes into Fon Du Lac. All in all, a nice weekend