UP Part 4

I woke up in Copper Harbor early, well rested from crashing out early the night before and without headache.   I (quietly) got dressed and wandered outside to watch the sunrise.   I wasn't alone.  Grant was out, as was a nice man with a friendly (to me) Rottie rescue.   As we watched, a few others joined us to watch the beauty of the sun rising over the tip of the peninsula   

The boys were going up the mountain again to take some of the more technical trails, but I was interested in checking out some of the easy trails that were lower.   At this point in the trip my legs pretty much always hurt, and I knew we had a big climb out of Copper Harbor, so I didn't want to blow myself out early.   

On the mountain the day before(photo by Dave Chabot)

After breakfast we saddled up and headed out.    Approximately 20 feet out of town we started climbing and pretty much did that for the next ten miles.   As mentioned, my legs were shot, and I wasn't the only one.  It was during this climb that Ann coined the secondary definition for "false flat".   In cycling, a false flat is a term for a climb that looks flat, but it subtly uphill.   Ann added a definition for "when you keep looking at your tire to see if it has gone flat, but it's just that you are that slow".   I had a lot of false flat on that climb.

The advantage of a harsh climb is that (usually) there is an equally awesome descent.  In this case, the descent was a crazily steep hill down to Lac La Belle.   Ann stopped to take a picture of the hill and had her rear wheel lift off the road.   I actually really like photos of the road -- I think they give a good sense of the ride, and make it easy for the viewer to put themselves in the moment.   I would love a GoPro for that reason -- maybe for Christmas.

On the road to Lac La Belle (not the big descent)

After a pit stop at a county park, we set off for Gay, MI.   Despite the fact that I was eleven years younger than anyone on the trip, I'm pretty sure I was the only one not giggling like a school boy at the prospect of stopping at the Gay Bar.   I'm just going to leave it at that.

After Gay, we continued to Hancock, for a return to our stop from two nights prior.   The ride to Hancock was nice.  Ann and I had pretty much decided to take our time at this point, so we enjoyed the scenery along the way.   We took photos, posted Facebook updates and generally had a good time.  

Once in Hancock, the kayaks came out again.  As it was a calmer day, I decided to take a trip out.   Those long sea kayaks are a lot of fun, and Scott's kayaks are beautiful.   The craziest moment was when a big pleasure boat went by, sending a huge wake towards Scott and myself.  He was on a paddle board  so it was a bit more serious for him than me, but we both held onto some supports from an old pier and rode it out.

We ended the evening by going for an early supper so some of the folks could run back to Silver City and get their vehicles.    After supper we walked back, and Howie and I walked a labyrinth.   I have to say, I didn't reach any profound conclusions, but I probably wasn't in the right state of mind for it.

The next morning some of the group went for a quick ride.  In deference to our aching legs (and butts), Ann and I went for a walk around Hancock instead.   There is a fantastically beautiful synagogue near the Ramada, and we found a little park build around an old stone stairway.   It was remarkable how easy it was to climb the hills in town, despite how sore our legs were.   Walking down the hills was another matter.

Once the group reconvened, we all sorted into vehicles and headed home.   There was a lot of hugging and handshaking in the parking lot, despite the fact that we would all see each other in a few days.   It was the end of something pretty cool, so it seemed appropriate.

That should have been the end of our adventures.   Unfortunately, a few miles out of Hancock the Beast had some unfortunate mechanical issues.   There was a lot of black smoke involved, and dire diagnoses of blown head gaskets and other things that are not quickly or cheaply repaired.   The Beast was left behind, Grant's SUV gamely taking on the task of hauling the Silver Bullet (and all our bikes and gear) back to Owatonna.   

The GPS

In case you were wondering, I haven't been idle all this time.   I've gotten a couple rides and some truly pathetic runs under my belt since coming back.   Your regularly scheduled workout reporting returns starting...well, the next time I get out and do something!

UP Part 3

We had made plans the night before to go to a coffee shop prior to the day's ride.  I'm not a coffee drinker, but I enjoy the company and sometimes coffee shops surprise me with a good selection of loose leaf teas (The Black Cat Coffeehouse in Ashland, WI, for example).   I was feeling a little...off, but didn't think much of it.   We drove over to Houghton and stopped in a little coffee shop that was hiding between two buildings.   It wasn't fancy, but the cashier was friendly and what they did have looked okay.   Unfortunately, by this point my feeling a little off had morphed into nausea and the burgeoning signs of a migraine.   I tried to drink a smoothie of some sort, but probably only made if half way through before giving up.

Back at the hotel, I downed some drugs and prepared to saddle up.  I was feeling alternately hot and freezing as the migraine messed with my temperature regulation.  I had tried to eat some food, but it was sitting uneasily and every movement was making my skull pound.   I was, in a word, in trouble.    As I slowly pumped up my bike tires (trying very hard to keep my heartrate down), I tried to assess if it was going to be possible for me to ride.   I had warned Scott that I might need an assist, but I didn't want to slow Ann and the other riders down.   Still, I had come to ride and the first rest stop was only 15 miles out, so I decided to give it a go.  

The climb out of town was slow and painful, with every bump in the road echoing in my head and the increase of my blood pressure leading to a corresponding increase in the pressure in my skull.  I was nauseated and pretty much ready to give up as soon as we reached the rest stop.   On the way up the hill, we picked up Howie, who had decided to ride in the back with the girls for a while.   He and Ann stayed with me, even as I struggled to maintain any real speed.  (Thanks, guys!)

We passed a sign for the State Park that was our rest stop at about 10 miles out.   However, since we had been told the rest stop was 16 miles, we kept riding.  It turns out that was the rest stop, but we weren't the only ones who missed it.   Scott caught up with us and we had an impromptu pit stop on the side of the road.  I still couldn't eat, but I grabbed a banana in the hopes that I would be able to soon.   Again, I struggled with whether or not to keep going, but I decided to keep going, with reassurances that that rest of the route was flat.   

Outside of a town that I can't remember the name of, we ran into Scott who informed us that a few of the boys had made a stop at a local bar.   Naturally, we decided we would join them, so we rolled in and parked our bikes right under the "Bikers Welcome" sign.   It was a typical small town bar, dark and stale, with a disinterested bartender and locals who were more than a bit curious about the spandex wearing folks that had just invaded.    The others ordered their drinks of choice and I settled in, enjoying the dim surroundings.    Scanning the bar, I happened to see a rack of peanuts for sale and a light bulb went off.   Normally when I have a migraine I end up binging on something really salty.   The peanuts were calling to me, so I went with my gut and grabbed a bag.   I slammed those peanuts down and within a few moments I started to feel...better.  Not perfect, but closer to normal than I had been all day.

In fact, I was feeling so much better that when Ann headed out of town before everyone else, I rode out with her.   This was probably the best stretch of the ride, a lovely quiet, winding road and the simple joy of being out on the bikes in a beautiful day.   Eventually, as was inevitable, we were caught and passed, but it was fun being the leaders while it lasted.   The road took us along the shoreline,where we stopped to see the wave washing against a copper sand beach and then through a small town with a beautiful laminated wood bridge that we stopped to get pictures of.  

The bridge was really quite fantastic in person

Photo by Scott Duffus

Past the little town was the highlight stop of the day, the Jampot Bakery.   This little bakery is run by a monestary and had a fantastic array of jams, breads, and sweets.   Everyone got something, and there was a lot of sharing of huge muffins and cake pieces.   Sadly, by this time my migraine had returned to some degree, so I was not able to stuff myself with the truffles that were calling my name.   Next time, Jampot, next time.

We rode out of Jampot and had a fairly uneventful ride until we reached the rest of the group stopped on the side of the road.   We had reached a crossroads, of a kind, for how to get to our stop for the evening, Copper Harbor.   The planned route went along the Lake Superior shoreline in a winding route, while this new crossroad went straight up the most intimidating climb in the area, Brockway Mountain Drive.   The rest of the group decided to do the climb, Ann and I took the low route.

It was a beautiful route, and one that I wish I had felt better for.   The road took us right along the shoreline, where the waves crashed against huge boulders that littered the water's edge.   It would have been perfect for pictures, but I was tired and in pain and was a point where I really just wanted to get to the hotel and crash.   So, we rode, and before too long we reached Copper Harbor.

Because of taking the easier (though longer in mileage) route, we were among the first to arrive.   We sat down in the grass and just absorbed the sun for a while, before going to check in to our hotel rooms.   Of all the places we had stayed, I think Copper Harbor was the most impressive.   We had a view of the lake from the patio door in our hotel rooms and Brockway loomed over the town from the other side, trees just starting to blush to their autumn shades.

After the others arrived, I managed to talk myself into mountain biking despite feeling not so great.   Copper Harbor has made quite a name for itself with a network of well designed and maintained mountain bike trails that range from beginner to highly technical.   We ended up with six of us who wanted to brave Brockway, with a combination of mountain and cyclocross bikes.   The trail we took was "intermediate", a switchback route down the mountain called "The Flow".    The ride was great, though I encountered some features I wasn't quite sure how to handle.   Unfortunately the ride was not as fun for Kathy on her cyclocross bike, but she gamely stuck with it and everyone made it to the bottom more or less unharmed.  

After everyone cleaned up, we went to a German-themed restaurant that had a menu priced higher than I've probably ever been to.   We were told we had to split into groups of four, which was sort of a bummer, but when there are only two restaurants in town, you do what you gotta do.   I ordered a seafood platter, which was amazing, but also somewhat hilarious as it had crab and lobster which I had never eaten before.   Fortunately, my supper companions were able to tell me how to eat my meal.  We also shared a couple of delicious appetizers and a ridiculously tasty desert.

After we got back to the hotel, I crashed out and did my best to sleep off the remnants of my migraine.  

UP Part 2

During this trip, I decided that continental breakfasts are pretty much the best thing ever.   Yogurt, French toast, fruit, juice...all super tasty and perfect for fueling up for a long day on the road.   Silver City to Hancock was the longest day of the trip at nearly 65 miles.   It was a chilly morning, but we were hopeful that the sun would break out, so I busted out my cool new arm and leg warmers, as well as my trusty convertible windbreaker and headed out for the day.

Casey from the bike club was in the UP during our vacation, and he joined us for the first part of the ride.  In addition, Grant had joined up with us, so we were only down one rider.   The group settled into the usual breakup - fast boys in the front, and the rest clumping up along the road behind.   The first part of the ride was good, but I was feeling a bit of drag on my bike.   A quick look determined my out of true wheel was rubbing, so I opened up the brakes and immediately felt about 3 mph faster, even while climbing some big hills.

Photo by Scott Duffus

  

Ann and I were frequent companions on the ride, and this day was no different, except I had mysteriously started to drop her.   Grant was riding with us, and was chivalrous enough to wait while I kept riding, so I didn't think much of it.   However, after a while I realized that I hadn't seen them in a while and began to get a bit worried.   I pulled off to the side of the road and grabbed my map to make sure I hadn't turned off the route somehow.   Reassured, I hung out until finally I saw Grant and Ann coming along.   It turned out that Ann's rear tire had been losing air for quite some time, and was in fact nearly flat.  We tried to ride with it for a while, but before the final descent into Hancock, we bowed to the inevitable and busted out our flat changing skills.

Well, they did.  Mostly I just watched and made unhelpful comments

We rode into Hancock, crossing the super cool lift bridge and rolled into the Ramada parking lot to cheers and applause.   I choose to believe they were not mocking.  We then proceeded to bask in the sun for a while, drinking beer with entertaining names like "Dirty Bastard".   

The lift bridge

Scott, Tom, Pat and Kathy chilling in the parking lot.  

After everyone recovered from the ride, the kayaks came out.   It was pretty windy, so I bowed out as my seasickness was not something I wanted to chance.    Several others, including Ann went out.   Originally Ann was going to go out in a fold-up tandem with Dave, but (fortunately), the menfolk were unable to figure out how to construct it.    Instead, Ann went out in an infinitely more robust kayak of Scott's.   Dave, Randy, Todd and Scott also went out. 

Ann heading out

Randy about to get into the super tippy kayak

Scott on his paddleboard

That night we went for supper at a bar and restaurant called "The Library".   It was pretty awesome, and they had their own home-brewed beer and root beer.   I had a fantastic meal of Chipotle glazed salmon and then overstuffed myself with an apple dumpling.   If I am ever back in the Houghton-Hancock area, I definitely plan to go there again.

Then it was back to the hotel to sleep and prepare for the next day of riding.  

The GPS

UP Trip - Part 1

I've been quiet for a bit on this blog, but not because I haven't been biking.  Quite the contrary, actually.   Last week I went on a five day tour of the beautiful Upper Peninsula with the local bike club.   It was a huge trip, as you can imagine, so I'm planning to take a few posts to write about the whole thing.   I'm hoping to add pictures as others post them, so you might want to check back from time to time if you like that sort of thing.

On the road
I hitched a ride up to Michigan in pretty much the coolest rig ever -- The Beast, pulling the Silver Bullet.

Photo by Ann Paulson

Bikes in the trailer, kayaks on the roof and a party in the Land Rover!  We got on the road a bit after 5 PM, destination -- well, that's actually an interesting story.   See, we had reservations in Carlton, MN for the evening.   An unnamed, fantastically awesome woman in the vehicle was slightly confused as to what hotel we were staying in so we added a bit of a detour to our trip.   No harm, no foul, right?  This was also my first time ever seeing or being in Duluth.  It was a brief encounter, but she was beautiful in the night.  

Day 1 - Wakefield to Silver City
We jumped in the Beast bright and early and drove the rest of the way to our first ride location, Wakefield, MI.   The day was a bit iffy, weather wise.   The clouds proved more persistent than the forecast predicted (this was a common theme for the trip), and it was a bit drizzle-y.

It was also cold.

Nonetheless, we changed and saddled up...then promptly dismounted for lunch.   After fueling up, we set out  (for real) to our first rest stop in the Porcupine Mountains State park.    

The Porkies (as they are called, sadly), were an early high point for me.   The geography of northern Michigan is so different from that of southern Minnesota and NE Iowa, so it all seemed very novel to me.   The trees grow thick along the sides of the seasonal roads and you have the feeling of riding through a kind of secret land.    We had a rest stop at the state park, and while there the group went to explore a nearby falls.    Naturally, all signs advising people to stay on the path were ignored, despite the fact that we were all clacking around in spandex and bike cleats.

This was when I decided I was coming back to the UP

Dave being Dave

My roomie, Howie

Sadly, we had to leave and continue on to Silver City.   This was the hardest part of the ride, as there was a long, though not very steep, climb.    It also started raining again.   There was a silver lining, however.   The place we were staying for the night was on the water, so it was a fun descent down to the Lake Superior shoreline.

Photo by Scott Duffus 

Silver City is pretty much a ghost town.   The town has no gas or grocery stores and the only restaurant is in the hotel.   Still, the shower was hot, the food was good and really, what more could we ask for?  

Day 1 GPS

Centurion

I only had one real goal for this summer, fitness-wise.   I wanted to ride a century (100 miles, for the uninitiated).   I didn't have a real clear notion on how I was going to accomplish this feat, but there it was.   At first, I had a vague notion of biking solo from Decorah to Harmony and back some weekend.  However, a rider in the bike club convinced me that for my first century, I would want to do a supported ride.   Then, a few weeks ago, Maureen suggested doing the Jesse James century, and it all sort of fell into place.

Very long post after the break.

Labor Day Weekend

Holiday weekends are always fun.   For whatever reason, they seem longer even though I have three day weekends every other week.   People are relaxed, a multitude of activities await and generally speaking it's a good time.   This Labor Day weekend was no exception.   In addition to the usual assortment of activities, I hosted a cookout to welcome Larry to Minnesota.   I think I did a pretty good job of keeping it healthy and did my best to make sure I was active enough to cancel out the rest.  

Activity-wise, it was a very good weekend.  I did the Coffee Grind with the OBC on Saturday, and later took a walk through one of the nearby parks with Larry.   The Owatonna Park and Rec is having a kind of scavenger hunt through the parks this fall, and if you find all the clues, you get an entry into a drawing for some cool prizes.   It seems like a good opportunity to explore a little and is something fun to do with the boyfriend.   

Sunday I went for a run, after a long break.  I was a little concerned, truth be told.  The prescribed run was a 25 minute continuous jog, and with my back acting up I wasn't sure I could do it.   As such, I decided it would be best to do a road run as it is a little easier.   It was a very good run and I felt very good throughout about 20 minutes of it.   The last 5 minutes were not so great, but I think it was more psychological than physical.  I always have run the same route when road running in Owatonna, and it ends just about the time I get back home.   The problem (well, not really) is that I am faster than the last time I did the route, so when I go to my usual end point, I still had 5 minutes to go.   

To wrap up the holiday weekend, I went mountain biking in Rochester with my friend Ben.  We went to Eastwood again, and I had an even better time than last time.   I have new tires on my bike, and they made the overall experience a lot more enjoyable.   We did a pretty good pace, even with my needing to walk up way too many hills.   We started on the advanced trails and wrapped up on the beginner type trails.  Naturally, I managed to hurt myself on the easy trails.   I was clipping along at a decent pace, misjudged my line and scraped against a tree.   Minor, but it drew blood so it counts.  I'm a real mountain biker now! 

Workouts:

Saturday:  Garmin was acting up, so no data on that one.   Trust me, I was going real fast. :)

Sunday: 2.3 miles / 11.20 pace (!!)

Monday: 4.2 miles