Solo Superior Loop

Leaving in the morning for Duluth.  Then one night stay in Canada on the way around to the campground we stayed at before near Sault Ste Marie MI,  remember standing in the lake up to our chests?  Then Copper Harbor.  Then down to CADVR 2019 for three full days of dirtier riding than I am used to.

The last two years that I have gone it has been very hot.  Very hot on the sometimes slow speed trails.  Very hot when stopping to pick your bike up again because your melting brain did not calculate the singletrack curve correctly.  Very hot running-push-starting your bud's bike in Aerostich.  I run hot anyway

Last year at the campground I entered the raffle to support the cause like everyone else,  and I won second place (first was a large enclosed pro-shelf car trailer doh) and got a full-on off-road helmet, jersey, pants, gloves,  so I bought knee and arm and back pads to go with it,  tested on hot MPLS days, way better.  Huge helmet breathing flow.  Air flowing through body pads.

I had to purchase a larger top bag to fit the new gear plus the usual gear.  Packed it up,  strapped the helmet to the back.  Solid,  tight,  ready to ride, manageable but huge.  In the morning I tore it all off,  packed it in a box and shipped it to the event.  Haul it home on the bike.  Best 25 bucks I have ever spent. Fuck you! Vacation starts now!

Chris Robertson Paul Reed Smith.  Coil tap humbucker + soap bar neck + three way switch did I mention Paul Reed Smith?  Did I mention two guitar amps and selected cabinets panned left and right via Line 6 HD500X amp simulator plugged between the guitar and the good stereo.  Sounds wicked with my little squire strat now.  This thick slab of PRS guitar goodness arriving next week.

Mpls Skyline 35 and 494

Thank you Cyril Ritchard for speaking my beloved childhood memories of the Alice in Wonderland story records.  Rainy summer weeks in the MI UP cabin in the 70's,  sitting at the table,  looking out the window at the grey lake.  working on legos,  listening to the record player.  That and John Denver.  He voices all of the different characters amazingly with his British accent.  I believe that is him and his daughter on the back of my box set.

Twas brillig,  and the slithy todes did gyre and gimble in the wabe.  Something something something,  and the mome wraths outgrabe.  beware the bander-snatch my son  the claws that catch,  the jaws that bite.  I can hear it in my head

Prom 2019

Mountain Bike Action Hans Rey 1992

College 2019

Guthrie tonight Mara where are you?

Event creation partner and facilitator Cannonshot saving his beer but falling backwards dangerously close to the horseshoe spike, he's a big guy like us imagine what could have happened. Group after-the-fact gasp 2018 photo by ADVRider founder Baldy.  I'm upper left corner.  You should come

I had brought the little money I had on the family travel north through Canada trip in the early 80's. Metal was my only interest.  Metal on metal then specifically..  Didn't want to buy a cheap tape to play immediately,  I wanted a vinyl album to clean and record to tape but there was no choice.  sorry edit please...

Edit:  I had never heard of them before stopping at the, gas station?  It had to be a gas station, when I saw the tape,  they were obviously metal. Had to have it. Then riding in the car Walkman blowing my mind.  I remember eventually feeling confused because they were mostly very heavy but they had songs about girls too.  I know their history of gaps after key albums but I believe that confusion is why they didn't succeed more.  But I love them for it.

1800 miles over eight days this past August including Minneapolis! + Pine River MN, Duluth MN, Iron River MI, Copper Harbor MI and Boulder Junction WI. CADVR 2018 the end of trip highlight.  Two lane highway, sand,  gravel, sandy gravel, gravely sand, dirt, mud, water. Excellent

Gooseberry Falls above Dull Hut Duluth Smart eyes see dry rocks and logs step across stay dry and see it all.  And step under there