Maplelag Mountain Bike Race / Jeff Hall / BMW 1200GS

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At the starting line of the Maplelag Mountain Bike Race with Grandson and Jeff. Jeff Hall is racing on a new bike from "Foundry Mountain Bikes".

 The course had great singletrack with an old MTB school feel with rocks and ruts.

 The Bridge with a classic sign from a past Maplelag Race banner.

The Banner...That race was a UCI race that Jay Richards put on in the Spring of 2007 and Jeff won. It was a big win for Jeff as he garnered some important UCI points for his MTB World Cup season. Jeff finished the 2007 season in the top 10 in the USA Mountain Bike Standings and in the top 100 in the World MTB standings. He had a 7th place result at Snowmass, Colorado in the USA Mountain Bike Finals.

 My transportation around the course. 

 The finish. Jeff Hall and Brenden Moore, second and first place. They had a 9 minute gap on 3rd place.

They totally rocked on a very challenging and true mountain bike course. Two very talented and strong riders had a great day on the Maplelag Trails.

 Jeff Hall, Jake Richards and Eric Oftedahl, after the race gathering.

Maplelag is where Jeff and I met and invited Eric and his brother Sam to be part of the HALLN Mountain Bike Race Team several years ago. Mountain biking has been a great meeting and formed many friendships that have lasted for years. Mountain biking has been a great sport and activity for 30 years in my life...Good Times!!

 My biking was riding a BMW R1200GS for 260 miles round trip to the race and back. The Beemer was also handy for riding to several spots around the course to photo and hand up water bottles to Jeff.

Me and my Shadow, heading east back home after a full day at the Mountain Bike Race hanging with Jeff, Owen, Jay Richards and "Party on Hollywood"...Later. 

On the Way to Maplelag Mountain Bike Race on 2 Wheels...Add a Bit of Rain, Yeah!

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4TH of July Week / Motorcycle and Boating / Good Drink and Food

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The view from the road. Took to the 2 lane highways on the new Beemer over the 4th. Headed north out of Minneapolis and rode along the east shore of Lake Mille Lacs on highway #47.

 Stopped at a gas - food stop on the north-east corner Mille Lacs. Broaster Chicken was recommended for a quick lunch, add a Monster energy drink and I was ready for the road again. Stayed on #47 and rode through Aitkin. Hooked onto #169 heading north to a small county road that headed straight west 40 miles to the cabin. About 5 hours on the road this day, taking the long way to the cabin, yeah. 

 The best part of a 1200cc dirt bike is that I can explore the woods close-up. These tires are marginal on the damp forest road, so picking a good line is important. The knobbies would be a good choice on a ride like this. It's all good!

 Arriving at the cabin...park the motorcycle and hit the water and a cold beer...Good Times!

 It was a good 4th of July week.

The BMW patiently waiting for the trip home...

Adventure Motorcycling is What One Makes of It / Good Times on the BMW R1200 GS

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Exploring in the country on a motorcycle is great way to take in the sights and check out a creek. With all the rain that has fallen in the past weeks and the cooler temps, the creeks and the farm fields are swollen and the foliage is growing. This is an area that I have traveled through for many years, usually in the fall during the hunting seasons.

 The Beemer strikes an imposing figure at a trailhead along the Minnesota River. The horse flies and mosquitoes are thick in the summer heat along the river.

 In the fall season the gravel roads look a bit more black and white. It is good to see the country in it's summer colors of shades of green.

When out in the country, it is a good idea to check out the soft ground for animal tracks.

This photo is of a White Tail Deer track. I placed a quarter next to it to show the size of the track, as  it was made by a fawn with it's tiny hoof prints. The Mother Doe tracks were next to the tiny fawns tracks.

Country Road...

Brother Bills' 750 Honda Cafe Racer / Bill & The Beemer

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1976 Honda 750 project Cafe Racer.

Brother Bill came to town on his 750 Honda and took the BMW R1200 GS out for a test ride. He was all smiles when he got back, the Beemer will do that to ya.

The 750, 4 cylinder was a piece of beauty. The 4 into 1 exhaust pipe was a popular add on, back in the day.

 The BMW just looks ready for an adventure. It's a 2013 liquid cooled 1200 GS.

 Test riding new motorcycles is always a Good Time!

Wow...How About a May Recap / May was a Blur so Here Goes

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BMW R1200 GS / 2013, new water GS. Over 700 miles in May to break it in. Rode in some challenging weather. It was snowing this morning on the ride in. That's why they call these motorcycles "Adventure Bikes".  

 Ride em in the May snow...

 Got some good mountain biking in, down by the river.

 Had a good road trip, 700 miles overnight to pick up 8 motorcycles in Wisconsin. The Ecoboost F150 pulled the 27 foot trailer with ease.

 Whitefish Lake still had ice well into the month of May. The winds were blowing at about 40 MPH this week-end so the lake ice was moving and shifting into the shoreline.

 Another motorcycle that I spent some time riding was a new Honda Goldwing, loaded. It is good to be able to ride these very nice motorcycles. They are all different and I like adjusting to the different riding styles.

 Then there were the turkeys that a saw on one of my motorcycle rides. Came around a corner and he was strutting in the middle of the road. There were a couple hen turkeys that he was showing off for.

 With all the funky weather, there was also some sunny days and brother Bill rode his vintage 750 Honda into town on a Saturday. This is his project bike that he rebuilt. It looks and sounds great.

 

 With having Mondays off, I was able to take a good road trip on the BMW R1200 GS. It was a good 280 mile day with a mix of paved and gravel roads all the way to the Iowa border and made a loop back to the east and stopped into my sons and daughter-in laws house for a good supper and then hammered the final 80 miles home. This is my favorite motorcycle to date. If you get a chance ya got to ride one... 

 Taking a break along the Country Roads...May was a good adventure month, I like the unpredictable weather, just wear the right clothing and I'm good to go.

Ride On!!

THE CREW introduces FLIGHT with Matt Entz