Cannon River Valley Exploring on F800 GS & Kicking Off the Minnesota Mountain Bike Race Season / St. Croix Woolly MTB Race

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 Exploring the Cannon River valley is a favorite destination for a lunch off the Beemer box.

 A Bit of Mountain Bicycle Testing with The Boss

 Jeff Hall breaking in the new "LAMERER Cycles" race bike. Group ride with JP LaMere along the Minnesota River.

Jeff's mountain race bike is a new idea... Running 27.5 wheels. 3" tire on the front and 2.25 tire on rear. Running a rigid front fork along with a suspended rear shock setup. The reason being that Jeff raises the front wheel over most obstacles and the rear suspension soaks up the bump.

Racing at St. Croix Falls / 1st Race of Minnesota Mountain Bike Race Series

 Grandson enjoying the mountain biking lifestyle, and the medal adds to the good times!

 Rocking the #1 Plate in Minnesota Mountain Biking... Jeff Hall winning on his newly designed LAMERE Cycles MTB.

 Top step on the podium at "St. Croix Woolly MTB Race for Jeff Hall. Running the string of victories in Minnesota Mountain Bike Racing to 9, caring over from 2016. Large number of racers this day, nearly 600 riders.

Last road trip for the trusty US Cargo 6x12 trailer...new trailer coming up.

Ride on in 2017...

Spring Flinging the Dirt / BMW F800 GS / Yamaha WR450 F

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I want to share a few of my rides that started early this season of 2017. We had some warm days in February that I couldn't resist rolling the Motos out. Good to start them and shoot some fresh gas in them every month or so if possible. Good enough reason for me to roll them out...

 Rolling on the gravel gets me into some cool little areas that I can bushwack into and have a lunch off the box. Like to get back off the road and duck into the trees.

Still had a bit of snow and ice along  the fields and creeks. The key is having the right clothing when the temps are 32 - 49 degrees. Much of my clothing is also the gear that I use in the mountains when backcountry snowmobiling and snowboarding. The key is to cut the wind and stay dry. I wear the same layers under my motorcycle outerwear that I use under my snowboard jackets and pants. The outer layer is the key to the different sports. I like the protective padding and windproof aspect of moto gear. A bit different with the mountain gear, it is lighter weight, breathable and waterproof.

May choice of helmets these days are of a dirt bike design. The new adventure helmets have the visor and face shield with option of using goggles. My other choice in the cold weather is my mountain snowmobile helmet, has the breath box and I use goggles with it. 

Finding some places to park and wander around the fields...

Trailer is geared up for a trip up North for a good day of riding the backwoods roads and trails.

Swamping is required in the spring with the high water levels.

Up North

Spring riding rivals the woods riding in the Fall, I like the ability to see into the woods as I am exploring.

Gotta like a full day of motorcycle adventure... This was a day with 350 miles traveled in the truck and 40 miles of backroads and trails on the Yamaha WR450 F.

Lunch off the box on a farm trail.

Get back in the woods Whitetail!

Adventure is what you make of it...

Ride On

Fall Season in Minnesota / Adventure Motorcycling Backroads / Sailing

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September and October are great months to be taking adventures in Minnesota. The beauty of the Beemer is that I can cover alot of miles and stretch out the zones. Not unusual to cover over 120 miles in a day exploring several different areas.

 I hit a bunch of dead ends along the way, but once in a while I am able to connect a couple sections. Earlier this summer with the storms up North in the woods, there was numerous trees down across the trails. Sometimes I am able to hack my way thru with a hatchet or woodsaw. Maybe break trail around the obstacle, many times just turn around. More of the larger trees have been cut up so One can ride over the remaining log.

 One of my favorite trips is to explore the back roads near my Uncles former old cabin. A buddy now owns it, haven't seen him for years but sweet area to revisit. This is an area east of Aitkin, Minnesota.

 A bit of exploring around Cuyuna, Minnesota this evening.

 On this day, I wasn't the only one making tracks in the mud. A set of Timber Wolf and down the same ATV trail, a set of Bear tracks.

 This is one old school bus that hasn't made tracks in a while...good stuff!

 Doesn't get much better than this, enjoying a lunch off the Beemers box at the end of a dead end trail in the middle of no-where.

On the Water in September

 

This was a good sail at dusk capturing the last of the sunset.

Out on the pontoon another night capturing the last of the day light on a sand bar off an island.

Keep a well stocked fridge and life is good!

Sittin' around the campfire in the Fall, sipping on a cold beverage after a good motorcycle ride in the woods... Ride on!!