April 2019

       

 April turned out to be mostly about kayaking, the kayak has slowly drawn me in to become an equal with the bike. To start, our family did a three day camping trip on the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. This river is truly a gem with towering cliffs, clear blue-green water, and an abundance of gravel bars for camping. From our starting point at Ponca the river was swift, the frequency of rapids and riffles kept us on our toes and the excitement level high. We could be heard cheering each other on as we passed through the tricky sections not knowing if we would simply get a lap full of water or go for a swim.

Getting ready

Pee break?

  Through the three days no one dumped it, but everyone ended up pumping or sponging excess water. Camping along the river is super easy, find a spot that looks suitable and set up. Our first night was about 50 yards from shore in a semi established site used most likely by hikers on the Buffalo River Trail that exists on both sides of the river. Our second night was on a long gravel bar. We hid out there under a tarp, sheltered from light rain as we devoured our dehydrated meals and whatever else we hadn't rationed for the next day. Our final day was the warmest and sunniest, as we pulled into our take out it was kind of a bummer to be done so soon. I will definitely be back.

Needed to warm up mid-day after light rain got us all pretty cold

First time needing/using Cooke Custom Sewing trap...I'm a believer. We all sat and ate dinner under it in a light rain....so nice 

Camp second night

I got two decent gravel rides knocked out in April. The could not have been more different in terms of weather. The first being the Lime Grinder, when mother decided to bitch slap us with snow storm the night before. It was 50 plus miles of wet sloppy slush over dirt soup, but the company of the other riders was so good I hardly noticed I should not be having a great time. The second, only a week later was a magnificently sunny, splendid day on the bike in the driftless region of southwest  Wisconsin...The Dairy Roubaix. While I would have loved to ride the 100 mile route I needed to get home unexpectedly sooner than I had wished, and thus settled for the the 100K ish route. I will try and make this happen next year and extend the weekend to include kayaking and MTB (Upper Iowa River and Decorah) riding in the vicinity.     

Yuck

There are pastries inside 

I think I need some new bearings....all of em'

Start of Dairy Robaix ...I guess it's not a race. I was told people already left at this point

This is the iconic cliff overhang that initially drew me in to want to ride this thing 

 As April rolled on, the kayak made it's way out a couple more times on the Minnesota as well as the Mississippi at flood stage.  Paddling the flooded backwaters can be a little sketchy (dangerous) but, super fun. I was pleased to get my wife out, she hates cold water. I also got sAMMO out for a short jaunt after work one night.

ArcFlash is always up for a good time 

4-5 feet below me is a mountain bike trail

A lot of folks take pictures here...usually with their feet on dry ground 

sAMMO on the mighty Mississip'

Urban exploration beyond?

D Rider...................................................out

Gravel Conspiracy 2015

 

The Gravel Conspiracy........To me, is...... three days of riding amongst the best terrain in Minnesota with your pals.

Stamper doesn't mess around.... he's got a big box truck and real deal motor coach set up for the race 

A quick stop in Grand Marais for lunch 

Grand Portage...getting ready to roll out

Just over their shoulder's in Canada

  I signed up for this race so long ago I forgot if I even paid for my one way bus ticket to Grand Portage. This was the only race/ride I had on my calendar for the year that was etched in stone, I missed it last year and was pretty bummed and determined not to miss it again.

BOney is pretty much a total bad ass 

1 flat from Chuker for the entire ride 

Vandy

 The race this year was....Day one, ride from Grand Portage to Grand Marais, just over 50 miles. This part is my favorite, it's very remote, and the trail-like roads are rugged, if you get a chance, check out Rengo and Firebox.

In front of the Gunflint Tavern ...day one 

smooth sailing down the Sawbill Trail 

  Day 2 is just over a hundred miles, goes from Grand Marais to Silver Bay and is a little smoother than day 1. The route is extensive and just plain freakin' awesome. Most of the time I had no idea where I was and I liked it, the hills on the other hand were tough....Bally Creek as well as Honeymoon comes to mind. Although it was a hard ride I was glad to share the gravel and work together with friends. From start to finish I rode with Vandy, Chuck, and Best in Schow, for some of the ride we hung with ONeil, BOney,NowSports Dude, DG and Salsa Pete.

New bridge

Good eats await inside 

One last beaver dam to cross

grocery shopping....Silver Bay 

  While we were out riding, the race director was having a challenge of his own. The rental truck containing everyone's gear was not running properly and was ultimately replaced via a wrecker from the twin cities. The exchange went down in front of my house (my wife, kids and I call it the bug-out) in Silver Bay while a bunch of us grilled and cooked dinner. Nine of us stayed the night there and I may open it up to more next year if I think the plumbing can handle it. The rest of the racers stayed in near-by Beaver bay or the American Inn just down the hill.

The Bug-Out

get this truck outta here 

steak 

Oneil.....being Oneil 

  Day three.....Beaver Bay to Duluth..51 miles. Feeling quite sore and tired a 50 mile ride compared to the hundo we had done the day before seemed short. I wasn't that enthusiastic about finishing it up and going home and then to work the next day either. It was such a great weekend of fantastic weather, adventurous gravel routes, and hanging with friends I didn't want it to end so soon.

almost got ran over getting this pic of Chuk

The last check point 

  If you want in,(and you should want in), on this fantastic race/ride next year......pray that Mr Stamper is gracious enough to run it again, and get yourself signed up. You may regret the saddle sores and leg cramping, but you will not regret the incredible experience navigating, under your own power, the back roads of the Superior National Forest.

D Rider....out