Rolling the Minnesota River Trail for 40 Years / Dog Sitting / Street Hockey with my Grandsons

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Full moon over the prairie, This is an awesome time of the year to be out on the trails riding the fat tire mountain bike. Riding the River Trail along the Minnesota River.

Night riding is my choice... good lights are the key to rolling along.

A bit of tire testing on the fat bikes. 3 inches of fresh snow, getting there early so we are on new snow.

Mixed in a bit of dog sitting for 6 days, Good time out in the fresh snow.

Throw back to the ole street hockey days with the Grandkids... The oldest grandson turns 16 years old this month... man, they are growing up.  

The most recent snow and getting out on more fresh snow. The timing is important to getting the best fat tire bike trail riding. The go to trail, The River Trail is my favorite in the winter. Most of the river was flowing , but on the sharp bend the ice was jammed up and it is a good place to take a break. 

One of the cool things about the river bottoms is the size of the trees and imagining how long they have been standing...at times during flooding, the whole trail can be under water and the trees have been there through it all.

 Check this out... a few memory pictures from the floods in the same area. This is an ever evolving eco system, been riding mountain bikes down here for 34 years. Before that i was riding enduro motorcycles. It has been my favorite haunts for 4 decades...Wow!

I took a break and sat in the trees for about 45 minutes and was treated to this site, Mama doe and her triplets... Pretty cool.

Ride on!!

Swamp / Lurkin in the Rain with the Critters

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First time down in the river bottoms since the floods. I've been riding every season this year with all the extreme weather conditions and every ride has it's own personality.

Back in the 70s it was motorcycles, and since about 1981 it has been mountain bikes. I never get tired of the Minnesota River bottoms. I have ridden every season of the year and all the way from Fort Snelling all the way down to Belle Plain, Minnesota. The best memories are when the weather is a bit extreme or critters are out running around.

These are some of the photos the I took while pedaling along the river this week. The power of the water was evident with many downed trees and the vegetation was washed away. I was able to see the deer trails in the mud. There was vegetation hanging 7 feet high in the trees. This flood wiped everything clean.

 This Pugsley was designed to be a go anywhere bike. It fits my adventure spirit, it is a vehicle that can get me into areas that gets me in touch with nature.

 These trees were bent over from the power of the river.

 Hunkered down as the rain started, the vegetation hanging from the trees...it was swamping at it's best. I sensed something, I looked to my right and there was a doe with 1 then 2 then a 3rd little fawn following her. They were prancing along and I snapped several photos, they never sensed that I was in the area. This is what the adventure is about for me. Blending in and observing the surroundings. Being in the right place at the right time. It is knowing when to sit tight and let the woods come to life.

 I was riding along and spyed the movement on the high ground, circled back and talked to this deer, she was all ears and curious about me.

 At sundown I noticed this beaver, it was having a meal of some fresh leaves and branches from some fallen trees. The beaver was not alarmed at all.

 Sundown and enjoying the river as it flows along. Not in a hurry to get back to the truck, it's great to be on the bike on a quiet rainy evening in the river valley.

The last of daylight, savoring the bit of time on the bike before the cold beer back at the truck.

Ride On!!

Spring Time in the Valley

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Critters of the River Bottoms on a Rainy Day on the Mountain Bike

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Great to be in the woods along the river banks on a rainy day. One can move along quietly and the animals seem to be calm in the quiet woods. The foliage is still in the Spring mode so it is easy to observe the critters. The mountain bike with me on board does not alarm the animals so it is great to stop and watch them. 

 It is great to have your own island. The Canadian Geese can use the outside of the Beaver lodge as a nesting site and be safe from most predators.

 This deer moved slowly to place the tree between it and me. Not alarmed, it moved along through the fallen trees after it checked me out.

 This pair of Canadians already have their brood to teach the ways of the river to.

 

The knobby tired American Mountain Bike at rest along the river.

Sundown Singletrack Mountain Biking & Sneaking Up on the Whitetail Deer

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The theme of the day is to blend into the woods...

 Look close to see the Whitetail Buck in the brush.

 He's keeping an eye on me as he blends into the thick brush.

 As dusk settles in, the deer start to move from their daytime beds. This is the time of day that I slow the pace down and my senses become more acute and aware of movements off the trail.

 The deer do not sense me as a threat and get back to foraging for food.

 I used the flash as darkness settled in and it creates an interesting sight. I stayed on my mountain bike and remained motionless for about 10 minutes as I observed a doe and her 2 young fawns.

After I started riding again it was dark and I had a few miles to ride to get back to my truck.

GOOD TIMES!!  

Another 2 hour mountain bike ride today. With a 2 hour ride yesterday my fitness level is getting better every week. With December approaching I feel good about the singletrack mountain biking that I'm doing now.

The riding improves my reflexes and endurance for the full days on the snowmobiles and snowboard in the mountains and on the hill for Ski Patrol...and it is great to be on the bike in the fall riding singletrack.