The Right Tool for the Job?- 100 Mile Pugsley Tour

After a bowl of venison, tater-tot hotdish and a few shots puffed from Steve's competition air pistol,  a final check of our Pugsleys had us rolling down the trail to the droning music of fat tires.  My 30psi humming with his 20psi.  We left St. Michael, MN and headed south on hwy 19 via Baker Park to the Luce Line Trail west  & to our destination, a  snowmobile shelter somewhere past Winstead.  We weren't sure how far or if it was still there, but we had both used it on tours several years ago.

 Steve on Winstead Lake

 Our bikes were set up differently.  Steve's body position is upright & tight with J-bars while mine is more stretched out and aggressive.  Both felt great, just different.  The only thing that significantly affected ride was the additional 10psi in my tires which made them  roll better.  One of my goals for this trip was to tweak fit and get to know a bike I recently purchased from my brother.  Other than a loose crank-arm that we tightened properly at a Motorcycle shop after a quick trail fix, my bike was perfect.  Steve's did well do.  We stopped once and adjusted his panniers for more heel clearance then just pedaled.

 Wheelie practice for kicks.  Steve's were better than mine, but I had my best ever.  We realized that these weren't our most efficient bikes for this ride.  Tires measured in mm instead of inches would have handled the trails.  Steve has a couple of Rivendells and I have a Long Haul Trucker.  But they wouldn't have been more fun.  

 Feeling our efforts for the day we rolled into our destination for the night about 8:30pm.  At mile marker 40 on the Luce, we set up camp, made a fire, took a few shots at a Surly can with our wrist-rockets.  Dinner included tortillas, wood grilled chicken and beans.  

Rain started just after we went to bed.  My tent stayed dry and I slept well.  Steve's bivy didn't suffer the rain as well, so he took advantage of the shelter for the night.  The rain stopped in the morning and we had a good  ride back despite being tired and lost in Baker Park.  I doubt that I'll fat bike this trip again; 50 miles each way left me spent.  But, it was two good days of riding, a good night of camping and time spent with a great friend.  Pugsleys were the right bike for this trip.

Culling the Herds

Jared's Sette Reken and my Diamondback XR4 became part of the Craigslist food chain this week.  

Pugsley and Moonlander are now in charge.

Mt. Biking with Harris

More on Afton, July 11 -12.

 Here's a picture of my loaded bike.  Seemed like I traveled pretty light, but had all of my regular gear except for stove and bulky clothing.  We left late on Wed. and return early on Thurs.

 

Started rolling East to the park about 6pm.  Stopped at a butcher shop along the way for some sausage and eggs for breakfast.  My Long Haul Trucker above and my friend John's 1984 Trek 520 below.  Note his cooler and camp chair on the front rack.

 John and I often stand in the alley on warm summer nights and say, "it would be a good night to be camping."  Instead we arrange it so it was a nice night to be camping.  Arrive in camp, pitched tents, went for a swim in the St.Croix River, had ramen and instant mashed potatoes for a late supper followed by a night around the camp fire.  A group of coyotes howling reminded me we were out of the city.

4G coverage and a little phone Netflix in the tent just before bed reminded me of why I like modern things.   Eggs, sausage, granola bars and home roasted Aeropress coffee out of my bowl, forgot my cup, woke us up for our return ride.  I was up before my 5:30am alarm, but we didn't make it out of camp until 7am.

I took the video on the ride to the park.  Lots of corn.  The developed ears with browning tassels helped me appreciate this very quick summer trip.

Heading out to Afton for an Overnighter

Higgs Boson's Function in the Standard Model of Physics (This video helped me get why it matters.)

we do not take a trip; a trip takes us

"Once a journey is designed, equipped, and put in process, a new factor enters and takes over. A trip, a safari, an exploration, is an entity, different from all other journeys. It has personality, temperament, individuality, uniqueness. A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us."  


― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

We drove from Minneapolis to Camp Bennett on Monday planing to ride the Maah Daah Hey the next few days.  However, rain and mud changed our plans.  The Maah Daah Hey is impassible on bike when muddy.

Dad and Jared on a hill overlooking our camp.

Prepping for a ride that wouldn't happen.

A bison chilling and munching along the side of the road.

A petrified tree stump I found while exploring on bike.  Several of these sat on the same strata half way up the valley.  Fossils always interest me.  This is the results of a volcanic eruption millions of years ago.

Hanging in camp + raingear

One highlight off the Maah Daah Hey is the ice caves.  We were able with considerable effort to find them using a combination for driving and hiking.  We met the ranchers on both ends of the caves.  The Storms to the North and the O'Brians to the South.  The picture below is of Dad overcoming his claustrophobia to enter the caves.

The following two pictures are of cannon ball concretions in an area of the North Unit, alien enviroment.

We decided to salvage a ride and headed up road going west from the North Unit.  The route was closed to vehicles because of landslides, but we had a great ride full of spectacular views.  Dad rode 4 miles up hill into the wind.  Quite impressive for a man in his 70's.

We ended up leaving Teddy Roosevelt a couple of days early and headed back East.  We did find some time to ride the North Country Trail in North Central Minnesota on the way home.  

Our ride on the Maah Daah Hey took a course we didn't indent, but we had a wonderful trip anyway.  The badlands of western North Dakota are incredible and I look forward to returning to ride.  I also appreciate the opportunity to have spend such quality time with my brother and father.

When My Family Is Out Of Town Bikes Move Indoors

From left to right Pugsely, Diamondback XR4, Trek 950, Miyata 618, Surly LHT

People 60, Foam Animals 0, Poison Ivy Points Not in Yet.

Another wonderful Father's Day spent shooting life sized targets at the  Rapids Archery Club in Andover, MN.  Above a leopard take a quiver full.  Note the broken arrows on the ground.  The log offered some protection to the big cat.

This is what some of the shots look like.  A good shot is well placed and misses branches.

A raccoon on the Minnesota target loop.

Caribou on the western animal target set.

Jared and the Warthog

Steve showing his elk skills.  

Wait, that looks like .....

Glad this wasn't a real bison.  My high, green arrow would have just made him charge.

Left and Right

Getting Excited for the Maah Daah Hey Trail

Jared and I loaded up our bikes and did a 10 mile trial run with gear last night.  The bikes are ready.  I'm using a small frame bag and two panniers held tight by an extra bungee cord strapped horizontally around each.  Note the solar panel on top of the rear rack.  Not sure if this will make the cut for the trip, but it worked well last night. (except for the charging part, because it was dark...)

Jared's amazing Moonlander with frame bag.  I was very impressed with the bike's/Jared's, ability to climb a couple of very steep slippery hills.  That bike sure puts some rubber down.

Below is a working copy of my gear.  I'll likely make a few changes before we go, but find it helpful to make a list.  Our father is driving the support vehicle on the trip.  He'll be meeting us at camping spots each night.  All but the on bike list will stay in the truck.  

Maah Daah Hey Trail Gear List June 18, 2012

Personal Effects and Electronics

Swiss army

Compass

Phone/charger

Solar charger and batteries

Head lamp/extra batteries

Camera/charger

iPod/charger

sunscreen

bug dope

toothbrush/paste

razor

soap

meds

power inverter

pillow

 Clothing

LaSportiva, Nike, Crocs and Swim shoes

Grey shorts

Bike shorts

Socks 6

Underwear 6

t-shirts 3

long-sleeved shirt

button ups 3

poncho

headwinds pants

blue micro fleece top

nike hat/Waltz Hat

towel

 Cooking

Coleman Stove/Gas

Water Bag

Cup

Coffee

Plate-bowl

Dish soap

Rag

sponge

seasoning

pots pans utensils knives

 Camping

Tent two person and bivy

Sleeping pad

Chair

Sleeping bags moonstone and fleece

Rope

On the Bike Kit

Fire starter

Camel back

Knife

Emergency blanket

Compass

Rain jacket

Bike repair kit

Phone

Food 3000 calories

Sun glasses Oakley and amber

Headlamp

Rope

Tp

Water spare bottle

Sunscreen

Phone

Bug dope

Camera