Flaming Sunset Over the Farmland

With the dry conditions and very little wind. The dust from the gravel roads drifting across the land creates a very colorful sunset.

Washing the dust down after a 50 mile loop in the country. Cheers to a new week!

Ride on!
 

Bear Country / Four Wheel Camper Dispersed Camping

It was a good adventure week across northern Minnesota.

Started with me working at a mountain bike race the first 2 days, Saturday & Sunday in Detroit Lakes. Then dispersed camping about 100 miles to the east in a couple different locations over the next 3 days and nights. So it was a bit of mountain biking and driving the RZR. 

Arrived at the mountain bike race site about 11:00pm. Popped up the Four Wheel Camper and unloaded the bike, mounted up the headlight and headed into the woods for a single track night ride. Kinda a traditional night ride before race day, I’m not racing, but it goes back to the Jeff Hall racing. It has been something I’ve been doing for about the past 26 years... haha! I always make it back to the truck.

Minnesota Mountain Bike Race Series site at Detroit Lakes.

Traveled east across the state after the race on Sunday. Decided on a forest road that I was familiar with, about 1 1/2 miles off pavement. Woke up to this setting. Birds chirping and a sunny day. Needless to say, there was an abundance of mosquitoes, deer flys and ticks. Long sleeves, long pants and balaclava on neck and head.

Took a day in small town to bike around and get a shower at a local campground. Grab a good lunch.

After a day in town, headed into the forest again later that night for a couple days.

Drive the RZR out of camp the next day. Headed north into pretty remote section of forest about 12 miles from any towns. These are a set of fresh bear tracks. For comparison I placed my boot next to track. Pretty good sized bear. Hung out in the area for about 45 minutes to see if he would pop out of the forest. Didn’t see him. 

A small remote lake was a welcome stop off a side trail on this 92 degree day. After throwing water over my head, I rinsed out my balaclavas and they cooled me down.

Bonus time! I pushed a bit further on this adventure and stumbled on this small town bar/grill, jeez the ac felt good and I ordered a burger and fries. Good stuff!

Like I’ve said in the past, the mud holes tell a story. It’s interesting that there is a fresh set of wolf tracks and a set of bear cub tracks in this mud hole... Needless to say I quickly checked around to make sure Mama bear wasn’t in the vicinity.

Back at camp for one more night of camping before heading back to the Farm Base Camp in southern Minnesota, 185 miles south.

Ride on!
 

Four Wheel Camper

5 minutes later the sky lit up 

 

Spanning 35 Years

35 years ago I went through my first divorce... 35 years later still driving a Ford F-150, camping, late night drives, listening to the same music, riding a mountain bike... just an upgraded camper and a bit more gear. 

Fortunate, still have my health and the boys are grown men along with many grandkids for me.

Much more comfortable pop up camper... beer is cold after a late night drive. Sitting out under the stars.

Ride on!
 

Dragon Fly