Blue Mounds

We went down to Luverne this weekend to visit the In-Laws. I was able to drag the Crosshairs with and got in a nice ride. Went by Blue Mounds State Park and took some pictures.

At the Blue Mounds

The ride brought back memories of when we were living near Sioux Falls, SD; The springtime sweet smell of manure, the sour odor of pig farms, and miles and miles of plowed corn and bean fields. Good times.

I was told that you just have to look harder for the scenery in those parts, and it's true. It's pretty, but not "in your face" pretty like the lakes I ride around here. Although this was pretty good:

I waited for this to rise...

So I could see this:

This is part of the Blue Mounds State Park. The state park is named after a linear escarpment of Precambrian Sioux Quartzite bedrock, which although pink in color, is said to have appeared blueish in the distance to early settlers. Parts of the cliff are up to 100 feet (30 m) high (Wikipedia). It's worth a stop if you're ever in the area.

I came across this road out there and it was a no-brainer that I was going to take it. It was a good decision. When riding these roads I start to daydream that I'm riding Trans-Iowa or when I'm really short on blood to the brain, that I'm riding Paris-Roubaix.

Should I?

Oh Yeah...

The ride was a mix of gravel and paved. It was good to get out and I was able to try out my new to me Nightrider light. It worked pretty good.

I got a ride in today (Sunday, the ride above was yesterday) but no pictures. I was able to get on the road bike and ride with some friends. With the wind the 17 miles felt like 25. Still a long ways to go to get ready for Almanzo and be able to avoid DFL.

JRA

Scott S.

Just Yesterday

We signed M up for pre-school yesterday. She has spoken of little else since; it's "the teacher said...", "they have games and slides", etc, etc. Needless to say she is very excited.

Just running around(20 months)

My folks always talked about how fast time goes. When you're a teenager, you don't believe them. Now that I have a kid, I believe them. It seemed like just yesterday that she was in my arms.

The proud Dad

Now she's going to school. It's hard to believe she's old enough.

JRA

Scott S.

Springtime?

The water didn't freeze

Springtime in Minnesota can be very fleeting. We are having a taste of it now and everybody is trying to enjoy it. One week ago we were in a blizzard warning with 8 inches of snow and bitter cold. This week we are enjoying near 50 degree weather.

My last ride was during one of those spring days when you want to ride forever, except the legs don't agree. It was 50 degrees, sunny and the snow was melting. Although the wind was a little stiff. Guess which picture I was into the wind:

This one...

Or this one?

I got in about 25 miles on the Crosshairs. Did I say I love that bike. I was glad for the fenders riding through the puddles and the 35c tires ate up the potholes.

I rode the "tour of lakes." Obviously we have a lot of lakes and just about any ride could be classified this, but I like it because it includes most of the "chain." I tried to get pictures of the lakes I saw on the ride. My camera/photography skills don't do the lakes justice; they are beautiful all year round.

Lake Carlos

Lake Darling

Lake Victoria

Lake Louise(I think)

Lake Laura

Lake Le Homme Dieu

Lake Geneva

It's suppose to continue to be warm: 39 degrees tomorrow. We'll see if the legs have more than 25 miles in them.

JRA

Scott S.

Sled Dogs

A belated post, sorry.

We spent last Sunday afternoon at a local sled dog race. Ever since I saw the finish of the Ididarod in Nome, I've liked watching the sled dogs. We don't have too many races around here and we thought it would be fun for M.

She seemed to enjoy it

Do you see them yet?

Here they come

Since then we received another 8 inches of snow and had a morning temp close to -20. You have to love Minnesota.

JRA

Scott S.

11

March 7, 1998

Eleven years.

We've been married for eleven years, today. Not too bad. Not as long as some, but longer than others.

Alot has happened in eleven years:

5 cities and 2 states

Two post-grad degrees between us

BWCA trips

Bike trips

Residency training

New jobs

Deaths in the family

Births in the family

Divorces of friends

Marriages of friends and family

Disagreements

Making up

M!

Another on the way!

Love

I can't wait for the years ahead. If they are even half as good as what has come before, I'll have had a blessed life.

JRA

Scott S.

Some Reasons

I've been asked, and have asked myself, why I like to ride bike, try to ride long distances, and why do I even think about doing the things that I have on my "life list".

I don't yet have the definitive answer, but I see others answer it for themselves and most of it fits for me too. I hope these two quotes make you think about the things you want to do in your life but haven't. I hope you get out there soon, life is happening now.

The first is taken without permission(but given credit to) from Jill Homer:

"I don't want to ever become the kind of person who doesn't dare to fail and fail spectacularly. I don't ever want to be unwilling to approach the unknown. I don't ever want to live a life free of risk."

Check out her blog post for the rest of the story.

The other, again without permission is from Jay Petervary, an endurance cyclist from Wyoming. That is his coffee cup in the picture:

Click for a closer view

Those are some of the thoughts that resonate with me and why I get on my bike when it is near 0 degrees.

JRA

Scott S.

Ho-Hum Ride

Nothing really of note from today's ride. It was nice to get out after my short, but violent bout with the stomach flu. Don't worry, I'll spare you the details.

I was on my Crosshairs today, man, I like that bike. The roads were OK. Went about 20 miles.

I found the smallest bike path just west of my place, it went for about 3 miles.


I have the call-duty this weekend so will likely be hitting the vomitron again.

JRA

Scott S.