tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38050724936722505502024-02-20T10:24:41.498-06:00AdventurelausBlog about my adventures.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-61057659026279670712019-10-10T15:58:00.000-05:002019-10-10T23:17:08.980-05:00Using Bike Share as Tourist is asking for TroubleUsing bicycles to explore a city is awesome. Recently I visited to large cities that have bike sharing services. Being able to rent bikes at one place and drop them off at another place was great <b>but </b>we ended up with a lot of headaches that caused irritation and inconvenience.<br />
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<h3>
Berlin, Germany: <a href="https://www.lidl-bike.de/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lidl Bikes </a></h3>
Berlin has many bicycle sharing companies. I picked Lidl Bikes since they had the most bikes available throughout the town. These bikes aren't tethered to stations, instead you just park them (nearly) anywhere. If you park them at certain hot spots you get a discount on your rental. Finding and renting the bikes is easy through the app. However, one account can only rent two bikes at a time. This meant that my wife had to create an account as well for the whole family to checkout bikes.<br />
<br />
For some reason both accounts didn't work after we created them and linked them with our payment method. It took forever to figure out what the issue was and ultimately it required a phone call to customer service to enable the accounts.<br />
<br />
There is a delay between when the app shows the rental completion and when you park the bikes. So one instance we didn't noticed until after a couple hours that one of the four bikes we rented and parked was still checked out to us and incurring charges. Fear came over me that the bike isn't locked and someone took it to who knows where. Customer service on the phone told me to go back to the bike and check that it's locked. The customer service rep couldn't tell me if the bike was actually still there. So we had to go back to the bike (30min walk) to check on it. Luckily it was there and locked. I called support again, had to enter a code and they determined that the bike was defect and a technician needed to come and fix it. I provided the exact location (apparently they can't locate the bike). While the charges were temporarily removed they appeared again later and were withdrawn from my account. So another hassle to get these charges refunded.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dio4-BDzZi0/XaAB_8Z6pyI/AAAAAAAAByo/9HNo_2C3md45x84TEKGokjh2oTRagGFIACKgBGAsYHg/s1600/lidl-berlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="742" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dio4-BDzZi0/XaAB_8Z6pyI/AAAAAAAAByo/9HNo_2C3md45x84TEKGokjh2oTRagGFIACKgBGAsYHg/s400/lidl-berlin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lidl bike share in Berlin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h3>
Chicago, USA: <a href="https://www.divvybikes.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Divvy Bikes</a></h3>
Chicago has only Divvy Bikes. These bicycles are bound to docking station. You have to rent and return from a docking station. It doesn't have to be the same docking station, but on return there must be a spot for the bike to be returned. The app tells you how many spots and bikes are at each station.<br />
<br />
This time there wasn't any issues getting the bikes, however the app was a bit confusing since you had to "buy a pass" and then if you don't use it right away the pass disappears. Also the pass is bound to a specific number of bikes. One account can rent four bikes, but I had to get a new pass when I wanted to just rent one bike.<br />
<br />
We had two rentals. One with four bikes for a little under 30 minutes and another one with a single bike for a little under 60 minutes. I got charged $13.08 twice for the first rental. After the trip I contacted customer services and the told me "Passes expire 10 minutes after purchase if they are not applied. You
attempted to use the passes 3 hours after purchase which is why you
ended up purchasing new passes. This email is to confirm that you will
receive a refund of your 4 unused pass fee". For the second rental I got charged $3.27 for the first 30 minutes I presume and still have a $3.27 balance for the second 30 that will be billed next month.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8FVGAUzijJk/XZ-euoIx6oI/AAAAAAAAByE/VAvRhYFb09YPgWPjExWfSE5Kmc6ePaypwCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/divvy-bikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1063" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8FVGAUzijJk/XZ-euoIx6oI/AAAAAAAAByE/VAvRhYFb09YPgWPjExWfSE5Kmc6ePaypwCKgBGAsYHg/s400/divvy-bikes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Divvy bike share in Chicago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Conclusions</h3>
Both systems are not very intuitive to use and required customer service contacts to make things right. While one way rentals are nice and convenient, the services were quite the hassle for such a short term visit. For piece of mind and less hassle I'd recommend going with a traditional bicycle rental for tourists. If you are longer or more often in that city it might be worth to figure out the quirks and issues of the bike sharing service.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-47225800988641356122019-04-21T22:34:00.002-05:002019-04-21T22:34:19.094-05:00Slater to Yellow Banks Park Camping Bike TourIt was about time to do another family bicycle tour and the Easter weekend was just perfect for that. Most importantly the weather was great. We decided to bike to Yellow Banks Park by Des Moines since the park sounded quite interesting and most of the ride will be on trails. Now that the kids are bigger and commute daily to school regardless of wind and weather we decided not to take the tandems and instead let everyone ride their own bikes.<br />
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We started from Slater instead from our house, because we wanted to trim down the mileage a little. Doing so reduced the ride by 10 miles each day making it an easy 35 miles each way. As stated earlier, most of the ride is on the High Trestle Trail. Through Ankeny it becomes the Gay Lead Wilson Trail connector and then the southern most part of the Gay Lead Wilson Trail itself. Unfortunately the last 5 miles are on the road with no shoulders. Two up hills and one down hill part going to the park added a little challenge but the worse, part were the dangerous drivers. Only one car bothered to slow down and not pass us while everyone else just speeded by regardless of oncoming traffic and lack of visibility.<br />
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"Yellow Banks Park features 12 primitive camping sites on a beautiful bluff overlooking the Des Moines River". I couldn't describe the campsites better then their website. The view from these camp sites are absolute gorgeous. Of course we weren't the only ones to have the idea to go camping on Easter. I think the camp ground was maxed out with us taking the last of the campsites on the bluff, right next to the cars. The area is a big grass patch with each camp site having benches around a fire pit and a picnic table. So an extra tent would be easily accommodated if you arrive late on bike or foot. All dependent though how nice the park rangers are about it. A pit toilet is right next to the parking lot. For water, showers etc you'll have to go to the nearby RV part.<br />
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We haven't done much exploring at the Yellow Banks Park. I went to the Native American mound next to the camp site at sunset and sat there a while in the dark. The stars in the clear sky were amazing and all the noise from insect and critter activity in the dry leaves was naturely creepy.<br />
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The next day we moved the huge black panniers that contained our sleeping mats and sleeping bags from our daughter's to our son's bicycle. It turned out a bad idea as his rack didn't held the panniers well and came loose while going down the hill. He ended up crash stopping in the grass next to the road and was beat up pretty decently. Even his front wheel even went out-of-true. Luckily it wasn't so bad that he couldn't finish the ride or that his enjoyment of the trip darkened.<br />
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The rest of the trip was a breeze. Literally with the tailwind. The kids rode ahead sometimes loosing us slow folks.<br />
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Our planned route: <a href="https://www.komoot.com/tour/63012800/zoom">https://www.komoot.com/tour/63012800/zoom</a><br />
Actual recording on the way back: <a href="https://www.komoot.com/tour/63496467/zoom">https://www.komoot.com/tour/63496467/zoom</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Yellow Banks Park, 6801 SE 32nd Ave, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327, USA41.5456957 -93.47190309999996316.023661200000003 -134.78049709999996 67.0677302 -52.163309099999964tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-57480560503727865072019-03-27T10:03:00.000-05:002019-03-27T10:03:07.761-05:00It's crazy to do something artificially that could be integrated into the dayI recently completed an exercise study in which I did weight machines
for a year. That was a big achievement for me since I never sicked
long with an exercise routine. Although I do have to confess that
working through that second part of the year was though since the
routine became boring and the assigned weight was getting way to
optimistic. A chip key was programmed with weights "appropriate" for me
but being able to leg press only 100lbs less than the exercise asked
for becomes a downer. I do see the value of a trainer that often checks
up with you in person or setting your own weight program.<br />
<br />
Now that the year is over I have the opportunity to explore the
exercises of one of the other study groups. I'm quite well aware how
the no-exercise works so naturally I'm doing four weeks of cardio. I'm
really glad I wasn't assigned to the cardio group (or the no-exercise
group). The couple of weeks I've been doing cardio have already been so
frustrating. There is the never ending issue with pairing the wireless
heart rate monitor with the machine. I just want to jump onto the
machine and start exercising and not struggle with technology for 6
minutes first. I have to deal with enough tech the rest of my day.
On top of that, the stationary bike for some reason decided today that I
need more and more resistance to the point that I couldn't spin
anymore. Nobody know what was going wrong there. Grrr.<br />
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Asides the technical frustrations, being stationary while doing
cardio is really mind deadening to me. The only way to survive that is
by distracting yourself with music or videos, but dammed me if I forget
the head phones. Neither the upright bikes nor the recumbent bikes are
comfortable enough for me to sit in them 25 minutes. And then there's
the lack of breeze as I'm not moving (in respect to my surrounding) at
all. Not sure if I last the whole four weeks.<br />
<br />
<br />
The nice spring weather outside probably doesn't help. It's hard to
justify being inside if it's nice outside. It's even harder to justify
driving in a rush to the gym instead of bicycle commute to work. Biking
to work is often relaxing for me while having to squeeze the exercise
into my day causes often stress. It's also nice not to have to fill up
the car as much. Yes, you really do notice the greener mode of
transportation more in form of $$ than environmental. But I
guess you're really green in both ways by going to work via muscle power. It's
just crazy to do something artificially that could be integrated much
better into the day.<br />
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Yes, too often I had to drive in order to fit in the exercise.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-40249022222978600542018-08-02T17:09:00.000-05:002018-08-02T17:13:05.939-05:003 to 113It's been a while since I posted something here. Life did throw me a curve ball last year and my adventure of 2017 ended up being an exploration of the health care system.<br />
<br />
Now that I'm sewn together again (literally) I need to get back to doing stuff again. There is still the <a href="https://adventurelaus.blogspot.com/2013/03/crazy-story-county-bike-rides.html">Crazy Local Ride Ideas</a>. I successfully completed <a href="https://adventurelaus.blogspot.com/2013/06/story-county-incorporated-towns.html">visiting all towns on a bicycle ride in Story County</a> but the same for Boon County still needs to be done. So what better way to go start things out, going from 3 to 113?<br />
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Yes, I haven't been doing much riding lately. Only commutes to work which are about 3 miles one way. This makes it more of a challenge to visit all 11 towns. What better way to have fun?<br />
<br />
Watch my <a href="https://twitter.com/Adventurelaus">twitter feed</a> to see when I start and cheer me on.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTdlbx0tV8U/W2OAChFgikI/AAAAAAAABoY/ST5sja_wqFk-WNXoEvL-FbmoS6o5o1KOgCLcBGAs/s1600/Boone%2BRoute.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="964" height="306" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTdlbx0tV8U/W2OAChFgikI/AAAAAAAABoY/ST5sja_wqFk-WNXoEvL-FbmoS6o5o1KOgCLcBGAs/s400/Boone%2BRoute.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towns of Boone County Route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.komoot.com/tour/40903482/zoom" target="_blank">interactive route map</a>)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-64902047348544359512016-09-25T20:59:00.000-05:002016-09-26T09:54:37.704-05:0010 Different Routes ChallengeI guess I have a chronic disease that causes me to get bored of a
"normal" life. So I seem to seek always something crazy to spice my
life up. But on the same side I don't want to give up the "normal" life
either. Anyway here's my latest thing, the 10 different routes
challenge:<br />
<br />
<br />
Without really verifying that it's possible, I pledged to commute by
bicycle to work and back using 10 significantly different routes. The
ultimate goal is to do this within a week. You are welcome to join me
in this ridiculous challenge. Feel free to leave a message below how
it's going for you or tweet using <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/10diffRoutes?f=tweets" target="_blank">#10diffRoutes</a> .<br />
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<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-9856038711101574432016-09-13T09:11:00.001-05:002016-09-13T09:17:39.143-05:00Superior Hiking Trail<br />
I spent eight days hiking the northern most 120 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail. My car was parked at the Lake County Road trailhead as I was initially planning to hike a longer distance (see <a href="https://adventurelaus.blogspot.com/2016/09/hey-wasnt-that-supposed-to-be-thru-hike.html">Hey wasn't that supposed to be a thru-hike?</a>). I took Harriet's shuttle up to the Otter Lake Road trailhead. She gave the scenic route and took me to top of Palisade Head and a tour through Grand Marais on the way there. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palisade Head</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Of course I had to climb the 270 degree overlook before heading south on the SHT. The views from the overlook are amazing and it's a worthy terminus. Of course at that time it's my first overlook from which I did see the vast expanses of the trees. It might have been more boring if you'd hiked already from Duluth up to here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zV4_QAUhBeY/V9b34Zl2d5I/AAAAAAAABdI/SO93grcb4MEcdPXwpTD8aBIhaw0aMFqNACLcB/s1600/End%2Bof%2Bthe%2BSuperior%2BTrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zV4_QAUhBeY/V9b34Zl2d5I/AAAAAAAABdI/SO93grcb4MEcdPXwpTD8aBIhaw0aMFqNACLcB/s400/End%2Bof%2Bthe%2BSuperior%2BTrail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End of the Superior Trail </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zbDrASNGZ6U/V9b3iFVtn3I/AAAAAAAABc4/_VZzwmGxZDgTzUL6V5pTqP2sbcbohHF5gCLcB/s1600/Border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zbDrASNGZ6U/V9b3iFVtn3I/AAAAAAAABc4/_VZzwmGxZDgTzUL6V5pTqP2sbcbohHF5gCLcB/s400/Border.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canada-US Border</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMAxqDCSaVY/V9b4GQu1iHI/AAAAAAAABdQ/sIMFFsrUaokDiqPqnSI_LE7z2jIO8vJwwCLcB/s1600/Highest%2BElevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMAxqDCSaVY/V9b4GQu1iHI/AAAAAAAABdQ/sIMFFsrUaokDiqPqnSI_LE7z2jIO8vJwwCLcB/s400/Highest%2BElevation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highest Elevation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The first day already shared with me the highest point of the SHT hiking trail as well as blisters on the heels of both feet. I shared the Jackson Creek Pond campsite with two other ladies that were planning to do a thru-hike as well at a slower pace.<br />
<br />
The next morning I was a bit rushed in breaking the camp as it started to rain and water pooled up at the camp site. The second night I spend at Hazel campsite which I didn't share until late at night. I didn't see Mike until later during the third day of hiking when he provided me with moleskin and medical tape for proper taping of the blisters. I only had duck tape and a few band aids.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRmGcFK9XYc/V9b3zs9n-NI/AAAAAAAABdE/IM-4oX_TnBoWYq6I00IaErK2iSOsNleHQCLcB/s1600/Devils%2BKettle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRmGcFK9XYc/V9b3zs9n-NI/AAAAAAAABdE/IM-4oX_TnBoWYq6I00IaErK2iSOsNleHQCLcB/s400/Devils%2BKettle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devils Kettle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6LIzJAwe5Sg/V9b5jAiwNiI/AAAAAAAABeA/_ijmSrOl2HAI2k1T5FAjS-RL9ZtlEkL1gCLcB/s1600/Woods%2BCreek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6LIzJAwe5Sg/V9b5jAiwNiI/AAAAAAAABeA/_ijmSrOl2HAI2k1T5FAjS-RL9ZtlEkL1gCLcB/s400/Woods%2BCreek.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woods Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHlxvk2c1rw/V9b3gI4H4II/AAAAAAAABeE/frPz2Dk76JQFh-0uGq8NU6u8ZEyK36-gQCEw/s1600/Board%2BWalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHlxvk2c1rw/V9b3gI4H4II/AAAAAAAABeE/frPz2Dk76JQFh-0uGq8NU6u8ZEyK36-gQCEw/s400/Board%2BWalk.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Board Walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next day I went to Grand Marais to get tape and moleskin
for the rest of the trip. While I was in town I met Mike again and
hiked with him to the South Bally Creek Pond campsite for my fourth
night out on the trail.<br />
<br />
BTW, Mike already has some long
thru-hikes under his belt and has some crazy ones planned for the
future. His adventures can be followed at his <a href="http://www.improbablebutpossible.com/" target="_blank">Improbable But Possible</a> blog.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dT8HGne2L5I/V9b5KOTafAI/AAAAAAAABd0/wtRzhOeNgsEoozLGHkU-UUKhksh3cI5JwCLcB/s1600/Sundling%2BCreek%2BDan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dT8HGne2L5I/V9b5KOTafAI/AAAAAAAABd0/wtRzhOeNgsEoozLGHkU-UUKhksh3cI5JwCLcB/s400/Sundling%2BCreek%2BDan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sundling Creek Dam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ReKFW0HwtBA/V9b3sv-3hUI/AAAAAAAABdA/UJE-E-Pew1Qftme4lOJPnd4Q9dYNgrzXACLcB/s1600/Caution%2BTrucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ReKFW0HwtBA/V9b3sv-3hUI/AAAAAAAABdA/UJE-E-Pew1Qftme4lOJPnd4Q9dYNgrzXACLcB/s400/Caution%2BTrucks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caution Trucks (but there was nothing but trees and this little path)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The trail passed many amazing and sometimes huge beaver dams, some of which the path goes across, as seen on the photo of the Sundling Creek. The Brule River, Cascade River, Temperance River and many smaller rivers have awesome gorges, waterfalls and rapids.<br />
<br />
After slipping and falling off a 3 to 4 foot high half broken bridge I ended up with a healthy dose of gephyrophobia of two planks wide or fewer bridges and boardwalk of which there were plenty. Luckily besides some bruises I wasn't hurt and nothing was damaged.<br />
<br />
I also saw three trees falling during my hike and heard that a bear took the food from a camp site near which I stayed two days earlier.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjVh8aRcXuA/V9b4lBpii9I/AAAAAAAABdc/2_4sWMN27DoGNmTfvpAuAd0375ParQ-FQCLcB/s1600/Moos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjVh8aRcXuA/V9b4lBpii9I/AAAAAAAABdc/2_4sWMN27DoGNmTfvpAuAd0375ParQ-FQCLcB/s400/Moos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rest Time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-69Kc-spvbSE/V9b4hI-JQ6I/AAAAAAAABdY/FJ0LH_6KhFIZavPXLg6xh3pVBFpiBLaJwCLcB/s1600/Lookout%2BMountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-69Kc-spvbSE/V9b4hI-JQ6I/AAAAAAAABdY/FJ0LH_6KhFIZavPXLg6xh3pVBFpiBLaJwCLcB/s400/Lookout%2BMountain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lookout Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Becoming wet is just part of such a long trip. So I started the practice to take a longer lunch break where I'd dry out the tent, sleeping bag and anything else that could benefit from the sun.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PI7wDIjWlV4/V9b4QccJ6EI/AAAAAAAABdU/FzLQ1galSc8jNckzVN_la5AF6VlFUz5_wCLcB/s1600/Hunters%2BRock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PI7wDIjWlV4/V9b4QccJ6EI/AAAAAAAABdU/FzLQ1galSc8jNckzVN_la5AF6VlFUz5_wCLcB/s400/Hunters%2BRock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunters Rock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ysaBGJL9Ps/V9b3jJdRTMI/AAAAAAAABc8/_jMdwKG3B-o_FJLI3Jw1ubxQywKRy7rDACLcB/s1600/Agnes%2BLake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ysaBGJL9Ps/V9b3jJdRTMI/AAAAAAAABc8/_jMdwKG3B-o_FJLI3Jw1ubxQywKRy7rDACLcB/s400/Agnes%2BLake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Agnes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lFpUhdu6LI/V9b40YabZPI/AAAAAAAABdk/DGXDOE9dEbY_d73HdCdYn98xb6EksOYegCLcB/s1600/Poplar%2BRiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lFpUhdu6LI/V9b40YabZPI/AAAAAAAABdk/DGXDOE9dEbY_d73HdCdYn98xb6EksOYegCLcB/s400/Poplar%2BRiver.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poplar River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On Saturday I meet a large portion of the runners that were doing the 100, 50, or 26 miles. That was quite the change of the solitude that I enjoyed earlier but wasn't so bad that I couldn't get miles in for that day.<br />
<br />
During the same week I was on the trail, the freshman groups of Northwestern University had their outing. It did cause me to have to find other campsites on several occasion, since their group of 10 pretty much takes over the whole campsite. I.e. I had to skip the nice campsite at Lake Agnes. A swim in that lake would have been nice. But I did get to swim in Lake Superior, that was great and definitely a highlight of my trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GfwW3kCmV7c/V9b4-raT_5I/AAAAAAAABds/AFoFnYB3BDMVdJCZVyJmUZW77t5jbeIFQCLcB/s1600/Race%2BSignage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GfwW3kCmV7c/V9b4-raT_5I/AAAAAAAABds/AFoFnYB3BDMVdJCZVyJmUZW77t5jbeIFQCLcB/s400/Race%2BSignage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHT Race Signage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdNlgvaS354/V9b3_Wc4TWI/AAAAAAAABdM/Tv1lTveWGRMrZ0G8MMOdSbYGWBDqHhSoQCLcB/s1600/Gondola%2Bto%2BMoose%2BMountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdNlgvaS354/V9b3_Wc4TWI/AAAAAAAABdM/Tv1lTveWGRMrZ0G8MMOdSbYGWBDqHhSoQCLcB/s400/Gondola%2Bto%2BMoose%2BMountain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gondola to Moose Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I ordered some Leukotape from Amazon with one-day shipping and had it sent to my Lutsen resupply point. The tape I had from Grand Marais wasn't very wide and this one is much nicer to tape the blisters. Unfortunately logistics caused the shipment to be delayed a day so I was waiting all afternoon for the UPS truck in Lutsen. To make up some lost time I took the gondola out of Lutsen. The spur trail connecting the upper gondola station to the SHT was quite scenic.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rz_VChz-ZGs/V9b5DxIE7CI/AAAAAAAABdw/_2bA2p4TnO0LeB9P4CDva_3Lv3ZJR10ygCLcB/s1600/Rugged%2BTrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rz_VChz-ZGs/V9b5DxIE7CI/AAAAAAAABdw/_2bA2p4TnO0LeB9P4CDva_3Lv3ZJR10ygCLcB/s400/Rugged%2BTrail.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHT, the Rugged Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOgY950BJwk/V9b4o-X4VwI/AAAAAAAABdg/L9jPC_3htaoXesgIu5tEfCYgJfEPkwm5gCLcB/s1600/Moose%2BMountain%2BSpur%2BTrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOgY950BJwk/V9b4o-X4VwI/AAAAAAAABdg/L9jPC_3htaoXesgIu5tEfCYgJfEPkwm5gCLcB/s400/Moose%2BMountain%2BSpur%2BTrail.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moose Mountain Spur Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As mentioned in the <a href="https://adventurelaus.blogspot.com/2016/09/hey-wasnt-that-supposed-to-be-thru-hike.html">Hey wasn't that supposed to be a thru-hike?</a> post I started to decide not to attempt the thru-hike but finish at my car. But then the unfortunate situation where I couldn't find my scissors to cut the moleskin and tape up my feet for the 8th day prompted me to terminate the hike.<br />
<br />
As mentioned I've seen a lot that can be seen at the trail and I think I was ready to finish the trip anyway. So on the 8th day I hiked to the trail head from Sugarloaf Pond campsite and hitched a ride back to my car in Two Harbors.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZINR2e7K-ag/V9b5hozT1KI/AAAAAAAABd8/WprjM5pJ8g4Q1DrhtTkUC6QTD7Nx6_0wQCLcB/s1600/Temperance%2BRiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZINR2e7K-ag/V9b5hozT1KI/AAAAAAAABd8/WprjM5pJ8g4Q1DrhtTkUC6QTD7Nx6_0wQCLcB/s400/Temperance%2BRiver.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temperance River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bvtaN7iunJk/V9b5WkSoRnI/AAAAAAAABd4/YHQ5rZh6_ZsUJASVZSI8rnizwsFdJtqAACLcB/s1600/Superior%2BLake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bvtaN7iunJk/V9b5WkSoRnI/AAAAAAAABd4/YHQ5rZh6_ZsUJASVZSI8rnizwsFdJtqAACLcB/s400/Superior%2BLake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superior Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Summary:</h3>
<ul>
<li><b>Day 1:</b> 9.5 miles from Otter Lake Road trailhead to Jackson Creek Pond campsite via 270 Degree Overlook</li>
<li><b>Day 2:</b> 13.2 miles from Jackson Creek Pond campsite to Hazel campsite</li>
<li><b>Day 3:</b> 23.4 miles from Hazel campsite to Durfee Creek campsite</li>
<li><b>Day 4: </b>16.6 miles from Durfee Creek campsite to South Bally Creek Pond campsite (additional 3.5 miles were hitchhiked into Grand Marais)</li>
<li><b>Day 5:</b> 20.3 miles from South Bally Creek Pond campsite to West Lake Agnes campsite</li>
<li><b>Day 6:</b> 14 miles from West Lake Agnes campsite to West Leveaux Pond campsite (additional 1 mile via gondola)</li>
<li><b>Day 7: </b>21.7 miles West Leveaux Pond campsite to Sugar Loaf Pond campsite</li>
<li><b>Day 8:</b> 1.3 miles and hitchhiked 47 miles back to the car</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>Links:</b></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://hikearizona.com/map.php?MY=23082&M=2" target="_blank">My actual GPS track</a></li>
<li><a href="http://hikearizona.com/map.php?MY=22806&M=2" target="_blank">GPS track I prepared for the thru-hike</a> (large, may take a while to load)</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-59154952991539683852016-09-11T19:33:00.005-05:002016-09-12T16:11:36.929-05:00Hey, wasn't that supposed to be a thru-hike?<span style="color: orange;">Hey, wasn't that supposed to be a thru-hike?</span><br />
<br />
Yes, this was always supposed to be my first thru-hike. Having hiked
some of the Appalachian Trail and followed some YouTube channel of
someone's thru-hike I was dreaming of the same. Of course I knew I
wouldn't be able to thru-hike the AT. For that I'm to much bound to my
current life. No way I could leave my family for the better part of the
year. And who knows in what condition I'll be once the kids have
graduated and don't require my support.<br />
<br />
<br />
When I came across the Superior Hiking Trail I realized that there
are shorter thru-hike options. And this one being somewhat close and
short would be the excellent opportunity. I warmed up my wife to the
idea of being away for three weeks to do the hike over about a year,
having September 2016 in mind from the start.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">So why stopping so early?</span><br />
<br />
The hike was though from the beginning. On the first day I got
blisters on both of my heels which was something new to me. In the past
I never got blisters from hiking and thus I wasn't prepared for them.
With the help of a fellow hiker I got some mole skin and proper tape for
the second day. With that my mood improved greatly and I did see a way
to continue the hike. On the third day I bought mole skin, tape, and a
multi-tool with scissors in town for the remainder of the hike. But to
get there I had to resort back to using duck-tape, whose edge this time
rubbed another wound into each heel.<br />
<br />
None the less, with proper taping of the heels I was able to continue
hiking, after working through the initial pain every morning and after
most stops. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">So the blisters caused you to stop early?</span><br />
<br />
Kind of but not really. My car was parked by the trailhead north of
Two Harbors (Lake Co. Rd. 101) because I didn't know how to resupply
without going into town. So I was pondering how I would continue my
hike after I reached the car. I had several options but finally settled
to asking the Betty's Pies if I could drop my backpack there in the
morning while I'd drive my car to the north Duluth trailhead (Martin
Road) and bicycle 4 hours back to Betty's to pickup the backpack, stash
the bike at the trailhead and start hiking back to the car.<br />
<br />
Some other things I noticed are that I'd skip most vistas and water
fall views that the trail doesn't directly cross. Not just because
they'd add miles and would get me out of the rhythm of moving but
because I'd already seen it. The vistas are either of green tree
covered hills or, more rarely, the big ocean. I've just gotten an
overdose of these things and there wasn't anything new and different to
the sights.<br />
<br />
I started not seeing a value to continue after reaching my car. It
would be the same thing just adding more miles. I also missed my
family, shower and bed. The latter two could probably have been meet
with a zero day and a bunch of $$$ (it's not a cheap area).<br />
<br />
<br />
By the seventh day of hiking I made up my mind that I'd most likely
call quits at Two Harbors and call it my through hike. The Superior
Hiking Trail has a thru-hike identity anyway, where the southern
terminus could be the Wisconsin border, Jay Cooke State Park, or Martin
Rd. So why not Two Harbors?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">Yes, yes, yes but you never hiked to Two Harbors!</span><br />
<br />
That's right. The morning of the eights day I noticed a tragedy, I
couldn't find the baggie with my batteries, finger nail clippers, pocket
knife, and multi-tool with <b>scissors</b>. Everything that I could use to cut the
moleskin properly was gone. That zip-lock bag probably was left at one
of the two stops of the day before. Either when I dried out everything
or when I filtered water. I suspect the latter stop.<br />
<br />
Without the ability to properly tape my heels and being more than a
day worth of hiking from any store I needed hitch a ride back to
civilization. The most reasonable place was my car but that removed the
remaining goal/need to hike back to the car.<br />
<br />
So why figure out the logistics (aka pay for the shuttle back to the
Sugarloaf Road trailhead) just to hike 5 days though the same trees. I
just couldn't find a reason to encourage me besides being able to brag
that I walked more miles.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">So did you enjoy the hike at all?</span><br />
<br />
Yes, of course I did. I think I've hiked the best parts of the
trail. I've seen several awesome river gorges with rapids and water
falls, awesome views of several lookouts, huge beaver dams, all kinds of
trail conditions, meet interesting fellow hikers, encountered six North
Western College camper groups, and seen the spectacle of the SHT race.
Best of all I swam in Lake Superior.<br />
<br />
I've also shown myself that I can hike long days even with blisters and wet feet. And rain doesn't have to cause misery.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">Will you try to thru-hike the SHT again?</span><br />
<br />
Probably not. I also don't see the thrill of through hiking the AT
anymore. Maybe the reason is that even as a kid I really only wanted to
hike above the tree line in the Alps. There is just not much variety
walking in the trees and so on a long haul it gets easily boring.<br />
<br />
The SHT does offer some nice sights and I could see myself visiting
the area again for day hikes or an overnight hike. Something where you
can enjoy that waterfall or view and also see the end of it.<br />
<br />
As for any other thru-hike, I dunno. Does the Colorado Trail go
mainly over mountains? Maybe that one is more interesting over a longer
distance. And maybe my family could go along. Who knows. Never say
never.<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE:</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">Any regrets now that you found the baggy with the scissors in your pack?</span><b> </b><br />
<br />
No, not at all. I'm quite happy of how much I achieved and that I'm back with my family. It's kind of crazy that the bag was at the bottom of the water bladder pocket in the backpack afterall. With the bladder being filled fully I didn't noticed that at all at the campsite. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-28533813905518104682016-08-12T06:00:00.000-05:002016-08-15T23:11:31.163-05:00Dreaming of a Thru HikeSomehow I kind of got stuck watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/wmwood2001">Red Beard's through hike of the Appalachian Trail</a> on YouTube in 2014. An AT through hike would be an awesome thing. I have hiked the AT approach trail to the top of <a href="https://adventurelaus.blogspot.com/2014/04/springer-mountain-hike.html">Springer Mountain</a>, the most of the <a href="https://adventurelaus.blogspot.com/2013/06/standing-indian-loop-hike.html">Standing Indian Loop hike</a> was on the AT, and a section hike from Winding Stair Gap to NOC in North Carolina. These hikes were awesome but you wonder if you ever could complete a through hike.<br />
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Of course with kids in school, a job, a wife, and otherwise a life that doesn't support a year long break a through hike isn't feasible. At least not at this stage in my life. What a bummer! Until last year that is, when I learned about the Superior Hiking Trail. It's much shorter than the AT but seems to be a nice hike and with 255 to 300 miles it's offers the challenge of a through hike. Something that I could take vacation from and reluctant approval from my spouse. So I've been dreaming of that thru-hike ever since and made my plan to go in September 2016 of this year while slowly acclimating my wife to that idea.<br />
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The summer came and is ending soon. Life has been progressing, too. While my wife seems to be somewhat lukewarm to the idea and somewhat supports my craziness, work has gotten me onto another project where some major release date is in September as well. Not just that, now I also heard that Red Beard is hiking the Superior Trail this September. There is this huge urge in me that wants to experience the trail myself before seeing someone else's detail video diary of the hike. From my experience, it's always best to go into any adventure without any expectations on how things will be. Not to mention that this year makes the 30th anniversary of the Superior Hiking Trail and the 100th anniversary of the North County Trail. And of course I'm not getting any younger so there is some urgency, desire and plenty of reasons to get it hiked this year. <br />
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I got a new glimmer to get this happening after all. When I inquired our release and other important project, throwing in my idea of taking three weeks off for the hike, there seems the possibility to get the time off. I'll have to check if the grandparents can help out with the kids, tell my wife the great news (bad for her) and officially request the vacation.<br />
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I'm pumped, excited, cheerful ... later I'll worry about food supplies and re-supplies, gear, the miles and all the other "easy" details.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnzvLtiTs7c/V7KQ8Na5M4I/AAAAAAAABaI/k_M4MsaT8m84hlPYsh3hdYorIGjyAAbWACKgB/s1600/shtexcitement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnzvLtiTs7c/V7KQ8Na5M4I/AAAAAAAABaI/k_M4MsaT8m84hlPYsh3hdYorIGjyAAbWACKgB/s400/shtexcitement.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superior Hiking Trail excitement</td></tr>
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<h3>
<b>Update:</b></h3>
Woohoo!!! I got the green light from everybody. It's a GO, I'm going, waking, hiking...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-81381972692887375032015-05-22T17:06:00.000-05:002015-05-22T17:10:28.488-05:00Fun in the Mud<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1XnehPDNzHE/VV-eLyxrqQI/AAAAAAAABYA/PBVXno-zyKQ/s1600/Skunk%2BRiver%2BGreenbelt%2BTrail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1XnehPDNzHE/VV-eLyxrqQI/AAAAAAAABYA/PBVXno-zyKQ/s400/Skunk%2BRiver%2BGreenbelt%2BTrail.png" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skunk River Greenbelt Trail<br />
(<a href="http://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=29041">interactive map</a>)</td></tr>
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I found a cool off-road biking/hiking route that's really close by. At first I was thinking of doing it as part of a bigger loop starting and ending from my home but then I got the opportunity of taking the kids along for a one way trip along the Skink River Greenbelt Trail. It's a mix of single track and gravel road path that I haven't explored before.<br />
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The one thing we found out quite soon is that the path was still on the too muddy side. While it added a lot of experiences to our trip, I do agree with the sign about not biking along the trail in muddy conditions. The mud clogged up our bikes pretty badly in the first part. Front wheel blockage of my daughter's bicycle caused her to fall. After that we had to push (and drag a little) our bikes through the rest of the muddy parts. Unfortunately my hands were full so I didn't get much chance to capture that with the camera.<br />
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Later on the path got more solid and the riding got better. Although my daughter isn't a fan of single track riding, especially because of the hills. Maybe with more and better experience she's getting a bit more excited to do so. Keeping in mind it's her first time.<br />
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The gravel road was also a welcome change as there wasn't much traffic, no washboard, and all together easy to ride. A few highlights of the trip were the suspension bridge hidden in the forest, a tree trunk crossing that was home to a toad, and the river crossing.<br />
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I'm looking forward to another ride on the trail when it's not as muddy and hopefully still without mosquitoes.<br />
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PDF map of the Skunk River Greenbelt Trail: <a href="https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2418">https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2418</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfCI-6Qyo1o/VVrKwKr04bI/AAAAAAAABVA/HHKvl3NROKU/s1600/DSCN3480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfCI-6Qyo1o/VVrKwKr04bI/AAAAAAAABVA/HHKvl3NROKU/s400/DSCN3480.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail head</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4XnKhxXSGw/VVrKvme3P-I/AAAAAAAABU8/54aKTGE2tZc/s1600/DSCN3482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4XnKhxXSGw/VVrKvme3P-I/AAAAAAAABU8/54aKTGE2tZc/s400/DSCN3482.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy forest path</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A0mesFfJNAU/VVrKxfkqbxI/AAAAAAAABVI/xNrqXB_Wj-I/s1600/DSCN3485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A0mesFfJNAU/VVrKxfkqbxI/AAAAAAAABVI/xNrqXB_Wj-I/s400/DSCN3485.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Iowa, too</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRVTTJvqJtg/VVrN3-ILgiI/AAAAAAAABXU/1Wu5bgT7nyc/s1600/DSCN3489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRVTTJvqJtg/VVrN3-ILgiI/AAAAAAAABXU/1Wu5bgT7nyc/s400/DSCN3489.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding into the meadow</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zA489cdbuoc/VVrKzYbfimI/AAAAAAAABVQ/VTNyKqiMD80/s1600/DSCN3491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zA489cdbuoc/VVrKzYbfimI/AAAAAAAABVQ/VTNyKqiMD80/s400/DSCN3491.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are we lost yet</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m4ZkMPUGtD0/VVrK0Bzp3OI/AAAAAAAABVY/360KYYy7tys/s1600/DSCN3498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m4ZkMPUGtD0/VVrK0Bzp3OI/AAAAAAAABVY/360KYYy7tys/s400/DSCN3498.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No time to pose for a photo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kIt_Lgu_eY4/VVrK1QFjrQI/AAAAAAAABVg/5AsZkJ_J7z4/s1600/DSCN3503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kIt_Lgu_eY4/VVrK1QFjrQI/AAAAAAAABVg/5AsZkJ_J7z4/s400/DSCN3503.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud taking its toll on us and the bikes</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Liu5DldU_jY/VVrK2qn_L3I/AAAAAAAABVo/A4Zh1JZ1xg0/s1600/DSCN3506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Liu5DldU_jY/VVrK2qn_L3I/AAAAAAAABVo/A4Zh1JZ1xg0/s400/DSCN3506.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of a few logs across the path</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A4NhJX3CgCE/VVrK4ZgImII/AAAAAAAABVw/EaWk67L9eCo/s1600/DSCN3510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A4NhJX3CgCE/VVrK4ZgImII/AAAAAAAABVw/EaWk67L9eCo/s400/DSCN3510.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daughter and dad</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zZGz2CDtzs/VVrK6OqRkYI/AAAAAAAABV4/B-jbiTpCUTQ/s1600/DSCN3517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zZGz2CDtzs/VVrK6OqRkYI/AAAAAAAABV4/B-jbiTpCUTQ/s400/DSCN3517.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th Try Bridge, what a weird name for a bridge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTF9gyZjn4Q/VVrK7dWIHYI/AAAAAAAABWA/DmoFyXYomS8/s1600/DSCN3519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTF9gyZjn4Q/VVrK7dWIHYI/AAAAAAAABWA/DmoFyXYomS8/s400/DSCN3519.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud blockage</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyBChCOTu8s/VVrN5edf2vI/AAAAAAAABXc/4uxdzsSmid0/s1600/DSCN3520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyBChCOTu8s/VVrN5edf2vI/AAAAAAAABXc/4uxdzsSmid0/s400/DSCN3520.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice non-muddy path</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIAyh2Qd31g/VVrK8-TDxFI/AAAAAAAABWI/dMXF4sNg-7U/s1600/DSCN3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIAyh2Qd31g/VVrK8-TDxFI/AAAAAAAABWI/dMXF4sNg-7U/s400/DSCN3523.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zooming on the gravel road</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhgSHS7dH1Y/VVrK-NJTHWI/AAAAAAAABWQ/Hsi9_ZJcva8/s1600/DSCN3527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhgSHS7dH1Y/VVrK-NJTHWI/AAAAAAAABWQ/Hsi9_ZJcva8/s400/DSCN3527.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hydration time</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XvD0vbys9E4/VVrK_JpYG_I/AAAAAAAABWY/c_kdyqihLoU/s1600/DSCN3529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XvD0vbys9E4/VVrK_JpYG_I/AAAAAAAABWY/c_kdyqihLoU/s400/DSCN3529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rare photo of the boy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tzTxWxuL9vU/VVrLAj5_NvI/AAAAAAAABWg/A_MzMXR566A/s1600/DSCN3534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tzTxWxuL9vU/VVrLAj5_NvI/AAAAAAAABWg/A_MzMXR566A/s400/DSCN3534.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found a hidden suspension bridge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZ_b3J5-ebc/VVrLCAoNyyI/AAAAAAAABWo/zs7ddbYMUj0/s1600/DSCN3540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZ_b3J5-ebc/VVrLCAoNyyI/AAAAAAAABWo/zs7ddbYMUj0/s400/DSCN3540.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and had to enjoy it a bit</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ1u8WcdKpA/VVrLEND2X1I/AAAAAAAABWw/rlsyPb_mRb4/s1600/DSCN3542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ1u8WcdKpA/VVrLEND2X1I/AAAAAAAABWw/rlsyPb_mRb4/s400/DSCN3542.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding along Skunk River</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EabOFNPEAZ0/VVrLGA-Q39I/AAAAAAAABW4/z_SLYq6a-vE/s1600/DSCN3549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EabOFNPEAZ0/VVrLGA-Q39I/AAAAAAAABW4/z_SLYq6a-vE/s400/DSCN3549.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Play time - river crossing break</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5uALQ3Y4QCc/VVrLIEjDIVI/AAAAAAAABXA/E4OedPfSC0A/s1600/DSCN3555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5uALQ3Y4QCc/VVrLIEjDIVI/AAAAAAAABXA/E4OedPfSC0A/s400/DSCN3555.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another hill</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QGVNkTs9L2I/VVrLJwYckEI/AAAAAAAABXI/zjixE6YlcHU/s1600/DSCN3563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QGVNkTs9L2I/VVrLJwYckEI/AAAAAAAABXI/zjixE6YlcHU/s400/DSCN3563.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path north of McFarland Park along the interstate</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Story County, IA, USA42.143767963778913 -93.576054687542.049598963778912 -93.7374161875 42.237936963778914 -93.4146931875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-85445866005685433402015-02-21T17:06:00.000-06:002015-02-21T17:30:50.016-06:00Android Skiing App ReviewWe are lucky to have a great skiing hill near by. It's nothing in comparison to the Alps or Rockies but it's still great because it allows us to go skiing every weekend. The owners of <a href="http://www.sevenoaksrec.com/" target="">Seven Oaks Recreation</a> are also very passionate about slope preparation, snow making and providing the best skiing opportunities possible. Personally I think their skiing is so great because they use PistenBullys to do their snow grooming. LOL The cool part this year is the newly created ski race club that our kids are enjoying a lot. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nxwwwCui7M/VOj_1ELB6zI/AAAAAAAABTw/5s2Q0B3JOn8/s1600/Seven%2BOaks%2BSki%2BClub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nxwwwCui7M/VOj_1ELB6zI/AAAAAAAABTw/5s2Q0B3JOn8/s1600/Seven%2BOaks%2BSki%2BClub.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven Oaks Ski Race Club</td></tr>
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I've been tracking my skiing just for fun on <a href="http://snow.traceup.com/">Trace Snow</a>, formerly known as Alpine Replay. Other alternatives for Android phones are <a href="http://www.corecoders.com/applications/ski-tracks-android/">Ski Tracks</a> and <a href="http://www.snocru.com/">Snocru</a>. However, it pretty quickly becomes obvious that Trace is by far superior to the other two. Running all three apps simultaneously today only Trace recognized my 32 runs. The app as no issue identifying the lift segments and analyzing the data. Only on the rope tow lift, which runs too slow, does the app have trouble to correctly detect that you're on a lift and not skiing up the very gentle slope. Ski Tracks and Snocru record the whole day as a single run. Basically you could have just run any GPS tracking app like <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.maps.mytracks">My Tracks</a> from Google.<br />
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<h2>
Trace Snow: </h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4RrbLRkzTc/VOj_2ra7AWI/AAAAAAAABSY/z28V7EDNlq0/s1600/Trace%2BOverview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4RrbLRkzTc/VOj_2ra7AWI/AAAAAAAABSY/z28V7EDNlq0/s1600/Trace%2BOverview.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trace Snow - Overview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sFpIX8YRYg/VOj_5E1oZ6I/AAAAAAAABSo/jJ0_peajS2E/s1600/Trace%2BRun%2BDetail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sFpIX8YRYg/VOj_5E1oZ6I/AAAAAAAABSo/jJ0_peajS2E/s1600/Trace%2BRun%2BDetail.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trace Snow - Run details</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
Ski Tracks:</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h29lEiF-VKI/VOj_5KT8M4I/AAAAAAAABSk/A_CRb-jXvuw/s1600/Ski%2BTracks%2BOverview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h29lEiF-VKI/VOj_5KT8M4I/AAAAAAAABSk/A_CRb-jXvuw/s1600/Ski%2BTracks%2BOverview.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ski Tracks - Overview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Op2Pvs6IicY/VOj_88qoXlI/AAAAAAAABS8/OUclkDNfyAA/s1600/Ski%2BTracks%2BMap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Op2Pvs6IicY/VOj_88qoXlI/AAAAAAAABS8/OUclkDNfyAA/s1600/Ski%2BTracks%2BMap.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ski Tracks - Map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmsyJbpBvUs/VOj_6Z6i1zI/AAAAAAAABSw/3Qa16c_2q0Y/s1600/Ski%2BTracks%2BBreakdown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmsyJbpBvUs/VOj_6Z6i1zI/AAAAAAAABSw/3Qa16c_2q0Y/s1600/Ski%2BTracks%2BBreakdown.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ski Tracks - Split data by vertical decent, distance, or hour</td></tr>
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<h2>
Snocru:</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIAJV0n9S6Q/VOj_9rA_xKI/AAAAAAAABTA/9jy6gKPknww/s1600/Snocru%2BSpeed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIAJV0n9S6Q/VOj_9rA_xKI/AAAAAAAABTA/9jy6gKPknww/s1600/Snocru%2BSpeed.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snocru - Speed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHc9ZTlfv-g/VOj__yvmTnI/AAAAAAAABTI/qlXAG-JLE90/s1600/Snocru%2BDistance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHc9ZTlfv-g/VOj__yvmTnI/AAAAAAAABTI/qlXAG-JLE90/s1600/Snocru%2BDistance.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snocru - Distance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uIlQ74Y1J6I/VOkACyknJuI/AAAAAAAABTQ/CMJQVG4wJmU/s1600/Snocru%2BAltitude.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uIlQ74Y1J6I/VOkACyknJuI/AAAAAAAABTQ/CMJQVG4wJmU/s1600/Snocru%2BAltitude.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snocru - Altitude</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMSVBvv_2yc/VOkAGLlkIYI/AAAAAAAABTY/mlpivKLh_70/s1600/Snocru%2BVertical.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMSVBvv_2yc/VOkAGLlkIYI/AAAAAAAABTY/mlpivKLh_70/s1600/Snocru%2BVertical.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snocru - Vertical decent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JTTyCMPnwFM/VOkAKJzwoaI/AAAAAAAABTg/pJVnld_bLWk/s1600/Snocru%2BRuns.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JTTyCMPnwFM/VOkAKJzwoaI/AAAAAAAABTg/pJVnld_bLWk/s1600/Snocru%2BRuns.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snocru - Runs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Besides tracking, Trace and Snocru advertise their social features of the app. Here Ski Tracks stands out by not requiring an account. All data of Ski Tracks are stored on your phone so privacy can be guaranteed. <br />
<br />
Snocru is purely an mobile app platform. Only the top stats of the leader board is published on their website, every other interaction is done through the mobile app. You can befriend other Snocru members and chat with them apparently. But at least for my region, the app doesn't show any Snowcru users. Even the Near Me features that should identify business such as restaurants doesn't show anything. So while Seven Oaks is listed as a Resort, it doesn't appear with the Near Me feature either. From what I see Snocru is pretty much a let down in the social aspect of the app as well.<br />
<br />
Trace also has a decent web interface where you can review your skiing tracks, follow friends and other skiers at your resort. Even Seven Oaks has already 18 different Trace members on their leader board. It's no Facebook though. While you can easily reach out to other skiers, the social interaction doesn't seem to be a main activity by its member. Which is totally fine with me, it's much more fun to ski than to sit in the lodge over your phone checking messages.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-38216585092906001052015-01-12T23:30:00.000-06:002015-01-16T09:33:48.185-06:00I should have known something was wrong<div dir="ltr">
Having gotten a barely used set of studded winter tires my argument of never riding when there's snow or ice on the ground changed. These tires do such a great job in packed snow that its a lot of fun riding them. On dry asphalt/concrete ther work but you'll wish the packed snow back. The ride will sound like riding on a crushed limestone path. I also have the feeling that turns need to be taken with care when on dry road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yH8YBJRsAQ0/VLktea3khtI/AAAAAAAABQs/eoy1pfbimEk/s1600/spike%2Bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yH8YBJRsAQ0/VLktea3khtI/AAAAAAAABQs/eoy1pfbimEk/s1600/spike%2Bride.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bicycle commute on a warmer day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div dir="ltr">
Today was the first commute with these tires, and the first bike ride of the year because of the snow. I loved it. It was really fun. Strangely on the ride home I got the chills and for the first time my fingers got cold with the Outdoor Research Alti Mitts. It wasn't any colder that evening compared to the morning. -3 (-9 wind chill) versus -1 (-11 wind chill) fahenheit. Recalling it now I remember the cold being a chill, totally different than the freezing your limbs off.<br />
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<div dir="ltr">
Yes, tonight I got miserably sick. Probably the stomach flu that everybody but me got over the holidays. I guess even with sickness I'm slow to catch on ;) Hopefully I can go to bed, rest and get well soon. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-50204035370962077032014-09-07T11:16:00.000-05:002014-09-09T21:16:32.353-05:00Red Rock Kayak CampingWhat better way to experience your first overnight camping kayak trip than to take your whole family and friends along. I relied on my experience of prior overnight bike and hike trips but packing for 7 people seemed to accumulate lots of stuff and I seriously doubt all the stuff would fit into the kayaks and that the kayaks would be overloaded. <br />
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The bad part of the Midwest, or at least Iowa, is that it's all heavily fertilized and chemically treated farmland around here. So even with the great filtration system out there I don't want to drink that water. That meant packing 9 gallons of water for a two night trip on top all the other stuff. Surprising though everything fit into the kayaks without a problem<br />
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This trip was also the first time kayaking for our friends. Even loaded down they didn't have any problems of their new found sport. We all had an enjoyable 1.6 mile paddle from the Whitebreast beach to the Hickory Ride hike-in/paddle-in campsites. Oskar was our guide as I made him study satellite images of our campsite and the route to it.<br />
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No, these kayaks aren't ours but I just noticed now, writing the blog, that Oskar's kayak is the same one he paddled on our <a href="http://adventurelaus.blogspot.com/2011/08/little-kayaking-adventures.html">last trip</a>.<br />
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The kids had a blast at the campsite. Lots of swimming in the lake and kayaking around. <br />
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Hickory Ridge used to be time share campground. The layout of the wilderness area does give a hint of this. Some electrical poles can be seen here and there. The only structure still standing is a large shelter with picnic benches. Iowa National Heritage Foundation purchased the site after it had been vacant for 10-15 years. Army Corp of Engineers now manages the 47 acres with eight camp sites of which four can be reserved. Source: <a href="http://www.kniakrls.com/2011/07/in-depth-hickory-ridge-to-open-2/" target="_blank">local radio recording</a> Additional <a href="http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Portals/48/docs/Recreation/ODR/121125-A-NN408-010.pdf" target="_blank">campsite info</a> At present the water hydrant and vault toilet has not been installed. A port-a-potty did exist which could have used a servicing.<br />
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Besides the usual animal sounds like coyotes howls and owls hoots we
heard a whole bunch of dogs barking. It sounded like a puppy mill was
across the lake finger. They did eventually quiet down for a few hours
that night.<br />
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Next morning we paddled up the finger into the Campetine creek all the way to the Kennedy street bridge exploring on the way and watching a gray crane.<br />
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Yeah, we wimped out and didn't stay for the second night. I knew there was a thunderstorm coming through the second night and was somewhat prepared. I even brought a huge tarp along. But at the end we decided that there is not much gained from staying the night and instead headed back while we are still happy campers. <br />
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One of the girls was picked up earlier in the day so I towed an unmanned kayak back. Not fun at all. The kayak didn't stay in a straight line and zig-zagged around behind me. It even got loose once which I didn't notice right away. Towing Heidi in her kayak was much nicer.<br />
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One part we paddled past was rocky and neat. I've seen other pictures of Lake Red Rock and there apparently many interesting shore lines to explore on the lake. Certainly worth to come back sometime for another kayaking trip.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Red Rock Lake, IA, USA41.369567191226615 -93.03801965771481341.345733191226614 -93.078360157714812 41.393401191226616 -92.997679157714813tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-42206604234103553602014-04-27T21:17:00.000-05:002014-04-29T21:53:40.257-05:00Springer Mountain HikeAnother short adventure with a co-worker in conjunction with a work trip. This time we picked a roughly 20 mile hike to Springer Mountain to spend a night up there. We were lucky to get flight that arrived 9:30am at the Atlanta airport which gave us plenty of time to do the hike on the same day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steps by the Amcalola Falls</td></tr>
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The hike starts from the Amicalola Falls State Park where we paid $5 to enter and park overnight. For the overnight parking and hike we had to register at the visitor center. At first the lady there thought we would be going to the Hike Inn and suggested for us to park at the upper parking lot. Once she figured out that we were "section hikers" she corrected herself and told us to park right across the visitor center. With that we got to hike up the 600+ steps by the beautiful falls which turned out to be the most strenuous section of the whole hike. I guess this is a privilege that the Hike Inn guests don't get to enjoy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hike Inn & Appalachian Approach / Springer Mountain trail sign</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asUFPsXrR90/U2AdFPMoPmI/AAAAAAAABEc/IGgfwekG_YI/s1600/2014-04-27+62+Travis+on+the+hiking+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asUFPsXrR90/U2AdFPMoPmI/AAAAAAAABEc/IGgfwekG_YI/s1600/2014-04-27+62+Travis+on+the+hiking+trail.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once above the falls, by the upper parking lot, the real trail began. Winding through the foresty hills up and down, the trail takes one up another 2000 feet until one arrives on top of Springer Mountain. Most of the view from Sprinter mountain is blocked by trees except for a bolder area to the south-west. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKqh-4eVINA/U2AcT3cy6aI/AAAAAAAABDg/_oNZY7jY7PI/s1600/2014-04-26+13+Springer+Mountain+panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKqh-4eVINA/U2AcT3cy6aI/AAAAAAAABDg/_oNZY7jY7PI/s1600/2014-04-26+13+Springer+Mountain+panorama.jpg" height="76" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view from Springer Mountain</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFMh03zhq-s/U2AcwpjBhlI/AAAAAAAABEE/9xO03h9W7ds/s1600/2014-04-27+57+Claus+with+the+Appalachian+Trail+plague.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFMh03zhq-s/U2AcwpjBhlI/AAAAAAAABEE/9xO03h9W7ds/s1600/2014-04-27+57+Claus+with+the+Appalachian+Trail+plague.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appalachian Trail plaque</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Smrv5cgzxek/U2Ac2MJkPeI/AAAAAAAABEM/Z6HmfPfk7T0/s1600/2014-04-27+60+Claus+and+Travis+on+Springer+Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Smrv5cgzxek/U2Ac2MJkPeI/AAAAAAAABEM/Z6HmfPfk7T0/s1600/2014-04-27+60+Claus+and+Travis+on+Springer+Mountain.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Springer Mountain peak</td></tr>
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</table>
<br />
Several hikers watched with us the sunset but left us alone for the night, either hiking back to the Springer shelter or the trail head north of Springer Mountain. With the gorgeous weather we decided to sleep under the stars and forgo our tents. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKuZ1nTDZgw/U2AckEkoQdI/AAAAAAAABD0/ay2vsBhhBbQ/s1600/2014-04-26+26+Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKuZ1nTDZgw/U2AckEkoQdI/AAAAAAAABD0/ay2vsBhhBbQ/s1600/2014-04-26+26+Sunset.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on Springer Mountain</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GyxrLKxXZ6g/U2Ace7LjtII/AAAAAAAABDs/zgKPoL4wF9A/s1600/2014-04-26+17+Trees+and+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GyxrLKxXZ6g/U2Ace7LjtII/AAAAAAAABDs/zgKPoL4wF9A/s1600/2014-04-26+17+Trees+and+sky.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open sky from where we slept</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dwKlsEmkoo0/U2AcojOmjUI/AAAAAAAABD8/Kleiec2nPXA/s1600/2014-04-27+42+Camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dwKlsEmkoo0/U2AcojOmjUI/AAAAAAAABD8/Kleiec2nPXA/s1600/2014-04-27+42+Camp.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campsite in the dawn</td></tr>
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<br />
After breakfast and some dilly dallying we started our hike back via the Len Foote Hike Inn, stopping by for some delicious homemade deserts. One of the staff gave us some expert advice on adjusting our backpacks as well. Surprisingly there wasn't anything really to improve on my pack. At the Hike Inn we also break down and finally weighted our packs at one of the scales that seem to be made available everywhere. Mine came to 30lbs, 10 less than I was guessing. Still I don't see a real reason to weight a pack. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pH9Wt5TENiY/U2Ac9MmE3NI/AAAAAAAABEU/xvIOA6n5aL0/s1600/2014-04-27+61+Travis+on+the+hiking+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pH9Wt5TENiY/U2Ac9MmE3NI/AAAAAAAABEU/xvIOA6n5aL0/s1600/2014-04-27+61+Travis+on+the+hiking+trail.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fspx8tZpXZI/U2AdSApXYpI/AAAAAAAABEs/3k00XSIbszI/s1600/2014-04-27+71+Steps+by+Amicalola+Falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fspx8tZpXZI/U2AdSApXYpI/AAAAAAAABEs/3k00XSIbszI/s1600/2014-04-27+71+Steps+by+Amicalola+Falls.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairs by Amcalola Falls</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PW5h6rSDJoM/U2AXXaRGgLI/AAAAAAAABC8/smlRY44t2d4/s1600/AmicalolaFalls-SpringerMountain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PW5h6rSDJoM/U2AXXaRGgLI/AAAAAAAABC8/smlRY44t2d4/s1600/AmicalolaFalls-SpringerMountain.png" height="400" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hikearizona.com/map.php?MY=6881&M=3" target="_blank">Interactive route map</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Springer Mountain, Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia 30533, USA34.6273115 -84.193526932.9949175 -86.7753139 36.259705499999995 -81.611739899999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-34924316768677922672013-11-02T01:10:00.002-05:002023-06-27T22:37:20.319-05:00Baltimore & Washington DC<h2>
Baltimore </h2>
My wife was in Baltimore for a conference so I took the opportunity to leach off her hotel room and visit the area. Thanks to grandma and grandpa who made this possible by watching the kids. ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT3oZfY5Abk/Umqh2HZ7DVI/AAAAAAAABBI/OBtOiAFxPTU/s1600/DSCN1015.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT3oZfY5Abk/Umqh2HZ7DVI/AAAAAAAABBI/OBtOiAFxPTU/s400/DSCN1015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltimore from the air</td></tr>
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Getting from the airport to the hotel was a breeze with a combination of the light rail and two rides on the free circulatory bus. After dropping my stuff off I searched for food and ended up exploring the charming Federal Hills neighborhood. I saw the Cross Street Marked and assumed it to be a grocery. I was surprised though that this grocery had the length of a block. So curiously I looked inside where I found an indoor marked like the ones in Taiwan. I'm quite surprised to find one in the US. There are several in this area as I found out later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bNY9z0RomJg/Umqh44a2aII/AAAAAAAABBQ/S8ZhCNlpul4/s1600/DSCN1024.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bNY9z0RomJg/Umqh44a2aII/AAAAAAAABBQ/S8ZhCNlpul4/s400/DSCN1024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Domino Sugar Baltimore</td></tr>
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After lunch at the marked I wandered a bit more and saw the gorgeous view of Baltimore and the Inner Harbor from Federals Hill park.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqeR3zSgZNw/VBUL_uBU4hI/AAAAAAAABL4/66No6NYaqHI/s1600/2013-10-23%2B006%2BBaltimore%2Binner%2Bharbor%2Bpanorama.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqeR3zSgZNw/VBUL_uBU4hI/AAAAAAAABL4/66No6NYaqHI/s1600/2013-10-23%2B006%2BBaltimore%2Binner%2Bharbor%2Bpanorama.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltimore Inner Harbor</td></tr>
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<h2>
Biking DC </h2>
Since I've never been in DC and there were a few nice bike path I took the opportunity to ride with the bike into the city for a day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r01w_o_9N0E/UmqP5YcQLvI/AAAAAAAAA-4/QaR0QLW9KW0/s1600/DSCN1028.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r01w_o_9N0E/UmqP5YcQLvI/AAAAAAAAA-4/QaR0QLW9KW0/s400/DSCN1028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrived at Union Station</td></tr>
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The monuments were a slight letdown. They appeared much smaller and less impressive than my mind had them build up to. It's one of the issue having heard of them so much. Maybe you should only visit them as a kid. The white house of course was just a white building behind a fence. Slightly interesting was Penn Ave. and the park behind it, just because of the diversity of people there. As everyone probably expects there are small groups of people that demonstrate for some cause and think they'll change the world by doing that. Truth is that so few people are at Penn Ave. that they get mostly unnoticed. Then there are the small groups of tourists, quite often on Segways, to stop briefly to take a shot before rushing off to the next site. Surprisingly homeless people sleep in the park while daycare providers wheel toddlers in wagons through the park. It's just like any old park in big cities across the US.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhtbM6_rztQ/UmqVV5IIe8I/AAAAAAAABAQ/1iCNPfw8pSU/s1600/DSCN1035.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhtbM6_rztQ/UmqVV5IIe8I/AAAAAAAABAQ/1iCNPfw8pSU/s400/DSCN1035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lincoln Memorial</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TxJS4n9rVXQ/UmqQmp4lbPI/AAAAAAAAA_o/CRbBlGQ0880/s1600/DSCN1059.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TxJS4n9rVXQ/UmqQmp4lbPI/AAAAAAAAA_o/CRbBlGQ0880/s400/DSCN1059.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jefferson Memorial</td></tr>
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Interesting things are the little less talked about side things that one stumbles across. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building for example was architectural more impressive for me than the white house. And the nature areas on the Potomac river while riding the Mt. Vernon trail are a nice sight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4sbZToMndAA/UmqP9Y2maSI/AAAAAAAAA_A/EkGRao6B0RI/s1600/DSCN1046.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4sbZToMndAA/UmqP9Y2maSI/AAAAAAAAA_A/EkGRao6B0RI/s400/DSCN1046.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eisenhower Executive Office Building</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUB6ZPdytdY/UmqQA82H9cI/AAAAAAAAA_I/4Wno8bB2TYk/s1600/DSCN1031.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUB6ZPdytdY/UmqQA82H9cI/AAAAAAAAA_I/4Wno8bB2TYk/s400/DSCN1031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capitol Building</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yi3IlXKkNFU/UmqQVGfVxKI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/7LlsngeB_Bk/s1600/DSCN1054.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yi3IlXKkNFU/UmqQVGfVxKI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/7LlsngeB_Bk/s400/DSCN1054.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Vernon Trail</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O1OpBrkd0RM/UmqQflUfl_I/AAAAAAAAA_g/y_IxG9n3dPY/s1600/DSCN1055.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O1OpBrkd0RM/UmqQflUfl_I/AAAAAAAAA_g/y_IxG9n3dPY/s400/DSCN1055.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dyke March by Mt. Vernon Trail</td></tr>
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As for riding bicycle in DC it's quite nice and easy. There are just a few things to keep in mind. Unless you are OK with locking up your bicycle outside you won't be able to go into any buildings. That meant no Congress or Library of Congress visit with my Brompton. Laws aren't enforced even though DC has a wast amount of police officers, park rangers, and other security personnel. The DC bicycle map states that riding bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited yet all commuters were riding on and off the sidewalks as needed. I ended up riding on sidewalks as well since in some places it just made more sense. At first it was a bit queasy when riding past police officers and park rangers. Right at the monuments I didn't ride and in the beginning even folded up and carried the Brompton since there was an explicit no bicycles sign. But I gave up on that as well when I saw that the guide led the bicycle tour groups with bikes right up to the monuments. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OabX00sEZcw/UmqVjPQ76cI/AAAAAAAABAg/FX40xzApGjI/s1600/DSCN1034.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OabX00sEZcw/UmqVjPQ76cI/AAAAAAAABAg/FX40xzApGjI/s400/DSCN1034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WWII Memorial Detail</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zW715I2FXCw/UmqVaKsXPTI/AAAAAAAABAY/U1rujUHSG4s/s1600/DSCN1061.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zW715I2FXCw/UmqVaKsXPTI/AAAAAAAABAY/U1rujUHSG4s/s400/DSCN1061.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jefferson Memorial as seen from MLK Memorial</td></tr>
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I met a coworker for lunch and we ate at Toki, a Taiwanese soup place which served lunch at the Union Market. The place had only seating for 6 people and a nice and apparently one of the shorter line of customers stood right behind them patiently waiting for their turn. Some unacquainted customers asked if they could have the soup to go or asked for a menu. The cook nicely told them that he only serves this beef ramen soup with whole soft-boiled egg today and that he didn't had more soup bowels. While the soup was great, I think the exclusiveness added a lot to his business nostalgia.<br />
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<h2>
Not everything is bicycle friendly</h2>
The <a href="https://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic_heritage/museum/" target="_blank">National Cryptologic Museum</a> sounded intriguing for the second day. The museum could be quite interesting in a geeky kind of way. I also wouldn't be torture others with a potentially boring subject to them. And also I would have some rest from riding the bike. Oh, and did I mention that it's free. Well this plan fell apart when I was looking at Google map and noticed that none of the streets around there were visible in Street View. This is due to the Fort Meade military base. The only way to access the museum without military credentials is via the freeway and bicycles aren't allowed to ride limited access roads in Maryland. So, no Enigma or Hobo signs for me.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YyzzWsZ3R6s/VBUSPOGEpfI/AAAAAAAABMU/wb6GpV0QHpI/s1600/2013-10-24%2B058%2BBrompton%2Bby%2BBicycle%2Bart.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YyzzWsZ3R6s/VBUSPOGEpfI/AAAAAAAABMU/wb6GpV0QHpI/s1600/2013-10-24%2B058%2BBrompton%2Bby%2BBicycle%2Bart.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must be a bicycle friendly hotel</td></tr>
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<h2>
Gwynns Falls</h2>
So instead I cycled the Gwynns Falls trail which had lots of interesting historical markers and text along the way. Part of the trail was on an abandoned road. Especially the disconnected water hydrants gave the ride an unique feel of abandoness. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KL-WFtarB5w/VBUSa0waNqI/AAAAAAAABMo/gxub8LlTELI/s1600/2013-10-25%2B071%2BGwynns%2BFalls%2Bbicycle%2Btrail%2Bsinage%2C%2BBaltimore%2C%2BMA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KL-WFtarB5w/VBUSa0waNqI/AAAAAAAABMo/gxub8LlTELI/s1600/2013-10-25%2B071%2BGwynns%2BFalls%2Bbicycle%2Btrail%2Bsinage%2C%2BBaltimore%2C%2BMA.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gwynns Falls trail markings</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWcNbkdf9rA/VBUST-9NPOI/AAAAAAAABMg/XcpbrauW-4c/s1600/2013-10-25%2B068%2BAbandoned%2BRoad%2BBaltimore%2C%2BMA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWcNbkdf9rA/VBUST-9NPOI/AAAAAAAABMg/XcpbrauW-4c/s1600/2013-10-25%2B068%2BAbandoned%2BRoad%2BBaltimore%2C%2BMA.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The weird thing I saw was the Terra Nullius. I still don't understand this. If it's truly free land then neither the local or federal government would be able to do any enforcement over this area. That isn't the case. If it were some interesting stuff would probably be occurring there. Instead it looks like a public park to me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kr66rPOPrF4/VBUSLqa2LhI/AAAAAAAABMI/gKuI5YQL7HY/s1600/2013-10-25%2B059%2BBrompton%2Bat%2BTerra%2BNullius%2Bsite%2C%2BBaltimore%2C%2BMA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kr66rPOPrF4/VBUSLqa2LhI/AAAAAAAABMI/gKuI5YQL7HY/s1600/2013-10-25%2B059%2BBrompton%2Bat%2BTerra%2BNullius%2Bsite%2C%2BBaltimore%2C%2BMA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjKcRJZpVvM/VBUSPvSjCKI/AAAAAAAABMY/MBaCKPpAAPY/s1600/2013-10-25%2B060%2BTerra%2BNullius%2Bsign%2C%2BBaltimore%2C%2BMA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjKcRJZpVvM/VBUSPvSjCKI/AAAAAAAABMY/MBaCKPpAAPY/s1600/2013-10-25%2B060%2BTerra%2BNullius%2Bsign%2C%2BBaltimore%2C%2BMA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Annapolis</h2>
The following I rode down the Baltimore Annapolis Trail, which was another beautiful long trail. Cycling in Annapolis itself wasn't that great and the small historic downtown was crowded with tourists. Unplanned and by accident I visited the Maryland State House and learned that it served as the capitol for a brief period.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1uuQr47tN4k/VBUay5twKGI/AAAAAAAABNE/1QFOvaDr8MA/s1600/2013-10-26%2B087%2BNaval%2BAcademy%2Bin%2BAnnapolis.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1uuQr47tN4k/VBUay5twKGI/AAAAAAAABNE/1QFOvaDr8MA/s1600/2013-10-26%2B087%2BNaval%2BAcademy%2Bin%2BAnnapolis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navy Academy and Annapolis</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pTv29Gz83WU/VBUawNGv9vI/AAAAAAAABM4/X1mvrZwUUxE/s1600/2013-10-26%2B078%2BMaryland%2BState%2BHouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pTv29Gz83WU/VBUawNGv9vI/AAAAAAAABM4/X1mvrZwUUxE/s1600/2013-10-26%2B078%2BMaryland%2BState%2BHouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maryland State House</td></tr>
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<h2>
More Baltimore</h2>
After my wife's conference was over we visited the Constellation and Fort McHenry. It didn't click until I was there that this is the origin of the star spangled banner. At least now I got a pretty good grasp of the history around it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UOTTHVUXhO8/VBUedgY-wpI/AAAAAAAABNQ/tU6sqvmyz4M/s1600/2013-10-27%2B101%2BMasts%2Bof%2Bthe%2BConstellation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UOTTHVUXhO8/VBUedgY-wpI/AAAAAAAABNQ/tU6sqvmyz4M/s1600/2013-10-27%2B101%2BMasts%2Bof%2Bthe%2BConstellation.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masts of the Constellation</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tF2kJerCN1A/VBUeiQ5dtdI/AAAAAAAABNg/0y9O7B-Khy4/s1600/2013-10-27%2B094%2BGun%2Bdeck%2Bof%2Bthe%2BConstellation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tF2kJerCN1A/VBUeiQ5dtdI/AAAAAAAABNg/0y9O7B-Khy4/s1600/2013-10-27%2B094%2BGun%2Bdeck%2Bof%2Bthe%2BConstellation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the plastic cannons of the Constellation</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GbVzUZOgTJk/VBUegnNUgqI/AAAAAAAABNY/IE5WcqpUGks/s1600/2013-10-27%2B090%2BMelissa%2Bhanging%2Bout%2Baboard%2Bthe%2BConstellation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GbVzUZOgTJk/VBUegnNUgqI/AAAAAAAABNY/IE5WcqpUGks/s1600/2013-10-27%2B090%2BMelissa%2Bhanging%2Bout%2Baboard%2Bthe%2BConstellation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out aboard the Constellation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2>
US Capitol</h2>
The last day we saved for visiting DC. For the first time slot I got us tickets to tour the US Capitol. On the tour we learned that to visit the chambers you need special passes from your state's congress men(or women) and you can even get exclusive tours from them. While the representative offices can only issue passes for the House, the senator offices can issue passes for both. So right after the tour we went by our democratic senator's office. The intern was kind of like "what the heck do you want here" but she did give us passes to the chambers after we told her we're from Iowa and made the request for them. So I wondered how the republican senator's office would welcome us. To our luck a few Iowans had made arrangements for a tour and the republican interns invited us along on the tour.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWmfWvTOUtw/VBUs2pBbAFI/AAAAAAAABN0/C4aq-wjmj9I/s1600/2013-10-28%2B108%2BUS%2BCapitol.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWmfWvTOUtw/VBUs2pBbAFI/AAAAAAAABN0/C4aq-wjmj9I/s1600/2013-10-28%2B108%2BUS%2BCapitol.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Capitol in the sunrise</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DhFNwKbduis/VBUs4WEtyyI/AAAAAAAABN8/I1KvCCkeUQE/s1600/2013-10-28%2B109%2BCorn%2Bcolumns%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUS%2BCapitol.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DhFNwKbduis/VBUs4WEtyyI/AAAAAAAABN8/I1KvCCkeUQE/s1600/2013-10-28%2B109%2BCorn%2Bcolumns%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUS%2BCapitol.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iowa corn part of the US Capitol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-lgKf3-Hq0/VBUs6e_A6EI/AAAAAAAABOE/nKPic9d420U/s1600/2013-10-28%2B120%2BCapitol%2Brotunda%2Broom.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-lgKf3-Hq0/VBUs6e_A6EI/AAAAAAAABOE/nKPic9d420U/s1600/2013-10-28%2B120%2BCapitol%2Brotunda%2Broom.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tourists in the Capitol rotunda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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These private tours start right away off by going through the restricted access subway which is way cool. Of course we saw several of the same rooms in the Capitol but having a different tour guide we learned lots of new things. Unfortunately neither the House nor the Senate was in session so we didn't get to see them again but the tour guide told us we could come back in the evening when the Senate was in session.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6k6Mw83Tddo/VBUuJ4uXIWI/AAAAAAAABOo/wE5Iv4TM2VM/s1600/2013-10-28%2B128%2BOld%2Bsenate%2Boffice%2Bbuilding%2Bsubway%2Bmonorail%2Bcar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6k6Mw83Tddo/VBUuJ4uXIWI/AAAAAAAABOo/wE5Iv4TM2VM/s1600/2013-10-28%2B128%2BOld%2Bsenate%2Boffice%2Bbuilding%2Bsubway%2Bmonorail%2Bcar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old senate office building subway monorail car</td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/77KSS6myp_0" width="320" youtube-src-id="77KSS6myp_0"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Russel capitol subway line</div><br /><p>
</p>
Needless to say we went back to the Capitol after visiting the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court across the street. Btw, I highly recommend sitting in on the Courtroom Lecture. When we entered the Capitol building the visitor center was already closed. It was just us walking alone past the security personnel through the Capitol building. By that time I felt like "home" in this building which is super cool. No sleeping was one of the strict rules for visiting the chambers. After having experienced the Senate I understand why. Not much was going on. At one time Senator Harkin (Dem) was addressing the empty Senate. Apparently it is normal for Senators to hold speeches to nobody but the cameras. After a long time of nothing we decided to head back to the train and call it a day.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eogcWqsDz40/VBUuMsLWPjI/AAAAAAAABOw/o20XkQo4PhE/s1600/2013-10-28%2B144%2BLibary%2Bof%2BCongress.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eogcWqsDz40/VBUuMsLWPjI/AAAAAAAABOw/o20XkQo4PhE/s1600/2013-10-28%2B144%2BLibary%2Bof%2BCongress.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library of Congress</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ujs4OZ9hTZg/VBUs9KgZCgI/AAAAAAAABOM/Zs9qHM3lNL8/s1600/2013-10-28%2B155%2BSupreme%2Bcourt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ujs4OZ9hTZg/VBUs9KgZCgI/AAAAAAAABOM/Zs9qHM3lNL8/s1600/2013-10-28%2B155%2BSupreme%2Bcourt.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supreme Court</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66T7yVpat84/VBUs_jF065I/AAAAAAAABOU/hgUZJhKlp2U/s1600/2013-10-28%2B156%2BSupreme%2Bcourt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66T7yVpat84/VBUs_jF065I/AAAAAAAABOU/hgUZJhKlp2U/s1600/2013-10-28%2B156%2BSupreme%2Bcourt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staircase in the Supreme Court</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaZ4HqQSgGU/VBUtAt6IEYI/AAAAAAAABOc/L0sUiWdcn8U/s1600/2013-10-28%2B164%2BUS%2BCapitol%2Bwith%2Bsecret%2Bservice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaZ4HqQSgGU/VBUtAt6IEYI/AAAAAAAABOc/L0sUiWdcn8U/s1600/2013-10-28%2B164%2BUS%2BCapitol%2Bwith%2Bsecret%2Bservice.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Capitol with secret service</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-69550729382335798562013-09-17T21:34:00.000-05:002013-09-17T21:34:27.596-05:00Hotel RumorosaSo this year will have no major trip in store but lots of smaller adventures. For the fall I'll have two more lined up. I'll be tagging along with one of my wife's work trip to Bostimore (not Boston but Baltimore, sorry insider joke). Using her hotel I'll do bike rides with my folder around Baltimore and at least a day in DC. It'll be the first time for me in Baltimore and the Capitol City.<br />
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My second adventure will be far less urban, the plan is to bike from San Diego via Tecate and Mexicali to Calexico. Then back to San Diego with the Greyhound bus. Yes, that's Mexico, another first for me. The route will have several exciting and challenging features. For one there is the 4000 feet mountain range I'll be gradually climbing up and quickly descending. Sweetened with a desert crossing. But the different culture and the language, which I don't speak, will certainly be the most "adventurous" part of this trip. Of course I'll keep this plan somewhat flexible, especially since I'll be on the road late November and snow is not unheard of in that part of Mexico.<br />
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I'll leave you with a the only two references of <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/hotels/North_America/Mexico/Estado_de_Baja_California_Norte/La_Rumorosa-944456/Hotels_and_Accommodations-La_Rumorosa-TG-C-1.html" target="_blank">Hotel Rumorosa</a> in the world wide web. That is the only hotel between Tecate and Mexicali. I guess I'll better take my tent along. ;)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NY61o96YlAw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you see the hotel in the video?</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-73309304095302366432013-07-06T16:25:00.000-05:002013-07-06T16:59:14.900-05:004th of July RideA quick decision was made to go on a bike ride over the extended 4th of July weekend. I found a nice route to the two Boone County campgrounds that would keep the riding fairly short and enable us to do a loop from our home. We didn't get packing until late Wednesday and had to do the final packing on Thursday. But with only 20 miles for the first day starting a little late didn't cause any issues. Half way we stopped in Slater to eat lunch before continuing on to Madrid on the High Trestle Trail. The night we spend at the Swede county park.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gDPwuN6_co/Udh_t-9QOCI/AAAAAAAAA5w/NneQFlomYNs/s1600/DSCN0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gDPwuN6_co/Udh_t-9QOCI/AAAAAAAAA5w/NneQFlomYNs/s1600/DSCN0586.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swede Park, no worries about tent sites.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Our worries about having difficulties to find a open campsite was not
justified. The park had 10 tent spots that were nicely separated from
the RVs and none were taken when we arrived. Later that night only one
other tent campers came. Swede Park had a nice bathroom/shower
facilities, great tasting water and some nice hiking trail in the woods
to a prairie grass meadow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu-gETss2FU/Udh_t4mOYKI/AAAAAAAAA54/Ag8fv2yKzys/s1600/DSCN0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu-gETss2FU/Udh_t4mOYKI/AAAAAAAAA54/Ag8fv2yKzys/s1600/DSCN0598.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oskar walking along the prairie grass trail.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p6iNtKg_VO8/Udh_twNHB8I/AAAAAAAAA6I/wK0CRSjd1Rw/s1600/DSCN0600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p6iNtKg_VO8/Udh_twNHB8I/AAAAAAAAA6I/wK0CRSjd1Rw/s1600/DSCN0600.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi enjoying the flowers.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-YUvCofdSI/Udh_tzZsCWI/AAAAAAAAA50/prY6z0--7Jk/s1600/DSCN0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-YUvCofdSI/Udh_tzZsCWI/AAAAAAAAA50/prY6z0--7Jk/s1600/DSCN0606.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oskar at the camp fire</td></tr>
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The second day we rode back a short stretch to Madrid to get on the High Trestle Trail and cross the High Trestle bridge. Being spoiled from the day before, we again ate lunch at a restaurant in Woodward and had another nice cold beer.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UfJrHD5U5ps/Udh_t9sqOpI/AAAAAAAAA58/wUtmEmnSrJQ/s1600/DSCN0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UfJrHD5U5ps/Udh_t9sqOpI/AAAAAAAAA58/wUtmEmnSrJQ/s1600/DSCN0608.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi studying birds.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M4mvb-iuuw4/Udh_t-If4zI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/c5-qs1hIRMA/s1600/DSCN0613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M4mvb-iuuw4/Udh_t-If4zI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/c5-qs1hIRMA/s1600/DSCN0613.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family photo on the High Trestle bridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After Woodward we left the well traveled bike trail and headed north on
rural highways. Although not having to cross the Des Moines river again,
the road dipped down at Seven Oaks to the river and we had to ride up a
steep hill. A killer moment for Melissa having to haul Heidi on the
trail-a-bike up the hill in the afternoon heat.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dEBHR1CKgAc/Udh_t6G7moI/AAAAAAAAA5w/PAvCdYKAi38/s1600/DSCN0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dEBHR1CKgAc/Udh_t6G7moI/AAAAAAAAA5w/PAvCdYKAi38/s1600/DSCN0614.JPG" height="300" width="400" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi and Mama riding on a rural Iowa highway.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec0fhdJS758/Udh_t-mQ19I/AAAAAAAAA6c/nrR_WBKzHL0/s1600/DSCN0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec0fhdJS758/Udh_t-mQ19I/AAAAAAAAA6c/nrR_WBKzHL0/s1600/DSCN0620.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi playing with a cat while we rest after a monster hill.</td></tr>
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<br />
Again at Don William county park there was no issue finding a tent spots. After setting up the tent we went to the near by beach and took a long refreshing swim in it. The perfect way to end a day of 35 miles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vs47pbrxMM4/Udh_t1UfouI/AAAAAAAAA6U/BjHhYWJlthA/s1600/DSCN0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vs47pbrxMM4/Udh_t1UfouI/AAAAAAAAA6U/BjHhYWJlthA/s1600/DSCN0628.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impromptu game with shirts and tree nuts.<br />
No need to buy toss games.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lyMPJ1UjHlo/Udh_t0sF0vI/AAAAAAAAA6E/-w0hlErc8IE/s1600/DSCN0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lyMPJ1UjHlo/Udh_t0sF0vI/AAAAAAAAA6E/-w0hlErc8IE/s1600/DSCN0648.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th of July fun with sparklers.</td></tr>
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<br />
For our way back we decided for the route through Boone. Although part of that route is well known to us we decided for this instead of going north to E18 and having to battle the south wind for a long stretch later in the day. In Boone we got to watch the Scenic Valley Railroad getting ready their trains for the day's rides. The kids got a personal tour of the caboose and a demonstration of the railroad switch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8C4fUYvwYE/Udh_t4lN1xI/AAAAAAAAA6M/xScdfuJEPAQ/s1600/DSCN0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8C4fUYvwYE/Udh_t4lN1xI/AAAAAAAAA6M/xScdfuJEPAQ/s1600/DSCN0657.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi and Oskar inside the caboose of the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ER56i1utC-0/Udh_tx9k1gI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/2Xhs32rjYUA/s1600/DSCN0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ER56i1utC-0/Udh_tx9k1gI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/2Xhs32rjYUA/s1600/DSCN0662.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demonstration of the railroad switch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AE_6nmISqMA/Udh_t7hbOuI/AAAAAAAAA6A/1AWj929PQzM/s1600/DSCN0666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AE_6nmISqMA/Udh_t7hbOuI/AAAAAAAAA6A/1AWj929PQzM/s1600/DSCN0666.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi getting on after a short rest.</td></tr>
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<br />
Finally just a quick update on the Garmin Oregon 450 handheld GPS. In the past I've been using it with the display constantly on. So regular batteries only lasted about eight hour, not quite a full day. Because of this I often use the more expensive lithium batteries. I don't want to carry a whole bag of AA batteries with me when hiking. This trip though I used the setting that turns off the display after one minute. One set of regular (alkali) batteries lasted me for the whole trip, although the display light was disabled due to low battery power on the last day. The cost though is that the display is mostly off and I wasn't able to take a quick glance to see how fast I was going without having to touch the screen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-62145531524169024962013-06-23T20:48:00.000-05:002013-07-12T22:17:38.347-05:00Standing Indian Loop Hike<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bp4S-_j_Krc/UeCkc2FEQBI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/mDO4oAQp9ww/s1600/DSCN0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bp4S-_j_Krc/UeCkc2FEQBI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/mDO4oAQp9ww/s400/DSCN0420.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to share this trip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Leaving the kids with the grandparents we get to hike several days in the Nantahala National Forrest. Our route is a 30 mile loop with a significant amount on the Appalachian trail. We arrived late afternoon at the Standing Indian Campground (backcountry trail head to be exact). My wife got to experience the drill of picking up the rental car from the airport and swinging by REI to get the camping fuel for the hike. For some strange reason though we ended up spending more time and money there end ended up with a few gear enhancement including trekking poles for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pEc4MEvLV98/UeC4bvXZh4I/AAAAAAAAA-U/S0-x_X58C8g/s1600/standingindianmap.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pEc4MEvLV98/UeC4bvXZh4I/AAAAAAAAA-U/S0-x_X58C8g/s400/standingindianmap.tif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=21193" target="_blank">Interactive route map.</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LdcLT4JfcnI/UeCkewc0lyI/AAAAAAAAA7g/rcJkeHUiywU/s1600/DSCN0437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LdcLT4JfcnI/UeCkewc0lyI/AAAAAAAAA7g/rcJkeHUiywU/s400/DSCN0437.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packed and ready for the hike.</td></tr>
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Initially our plan was to hike to the newly constructed Long Branch shelter but it was getting late and we found a pretty meadow on the Long Branch creek that was perfect for camping. After we got the tent setup a strong rain passed over us. So we were lucky to duck into the tent and stayed dry. But since the Hogback Tarptent doesn't have a vestibule for cooking we had to wait out the rain to make dinner. Yes, we had a lot of room inside the tent with only the two of us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Odp9UmgYD48/UeCkgorvPaI/AAAAAAAAA7o/G0NkzMU7Xyk/s1600/DSCN0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Odp9UmgYD48/UeCkgorvPaI/AAAAAAAAA7o/G0NkzMU7Xyk/s400/DSCN0446.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First night on the Long Branch trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egq5hQaifyA/UeCklkIebKI/AAAAAAAAA7w/Kb51MpKIYNw/s1600/DSCN0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egq5hQaifyA/UeCklkIebKI/AAAAAAAAA7w/Kb51MpKIYNw/s400/DSCN0463.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild strawberries for breakfast.</td></tr>
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The meadow had a large patch of strawberries that my wife picked for breakfast. It made the oats very delicious. Unfortunately that was the only campsite with wild strawberries that we stayed at. I was glad we didn't try to make it for the Long Branch shelter since the intersection with the Appalachian trail didn't state in which direction the shelter was. It turned out the shelter was south bound of the Long Branch trail. We stopped by to checkout the shelter and take a short rest there. Later on we passed the remains of the Big Springs Gap shelter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrDlwisQjmI/UeCksOATiJI/AAAAAAAAA74/SDddQVJFjsM/s1600/DSCN0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrDlwisQjmI/UeCksOATiJI/AAAAAAAAA74/SDddQVJFjsM/s400/DSCN0472.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Branch shelter on the Appalachian trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3DAu8qYF7kw/UeCkxtS1YtI/AAAAAAAAA8I/pESTy7zpr3M/s1600/DSCN0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3DAu8qYF7kw/UeCkxtS1YtI/AAAAAAAAA8I/pESTy7zpr3M/s400/DSCN0473.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torn down <span class="st">Big Springs Gap shelter on the Appalachian trail.</span></td></tr>
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Albert Mountain finally gave us a wonderful view of the area. For an even better view one can climb nearly all the way up the fire tower. The south trail of Albert mountain is quite steep, more difficult and therefore less traveled. We still made it down even if it meant for my wife to butt slide down some large boulders. The trail there was very pretty though with the bushes flowering beautifully.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NNcdXeV_Uaw/UeCkyW3uyzI/AAAAAAAAA8E/e2ZN4fQbisU/s1600/DSCN0477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NNcdXeV_Uaw/UeCkyW3uyzI/AAAAAAAAA8E/e2ZN4fQbisU/s400/DSCN0477.JPG" height="76" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view from Albert Mountain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FujLMS8mugw/UeCk4mLmbPI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/AmHU4YjWBtY/s1600/DSCN0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FujLMS8mugw/UeCk4mLmbPI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/AmHU4YjWBtY/s400/DSCN0482.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appalachian trail sign.</td></tr>
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It was quite busy at Carter Gap, which is probably to be expected on a Friday night. We skipped staying in the small shelter since others were staying there already. The spring was a small little trickle thing further down the hill. This place was certainly our least favorite campsite on this trip but it gave the chance to talk to other hikers. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJeUgkR8ZmE/UeClBnRxPnI/AAAAAAAAA8g/gpH9deq-BAg/s1600/DSCN0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJeUgkR8ZmE/UeClBnRxPnI/AAAAAAAAA8g/gpH9deq-BAg/s400/DSCN0487.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our camp at Carter Gap.</td></tr>
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On the third day of hiking we meet a woman and her son who stayed at the
Standing Indian shelter the night. She was still pretty shaken and
reported of their encounter with a bear. The bear apparently tried to
open their bear canister and then got a hold of another food bag of
their. When he saw them though he ran away. Sadly or luckily for us we
didn't encounter any bears on this hike. I did hang the food at Carter
Gap and the next night. At Carter Gap I tried out the Pacific Crest
Trail style of hanging the food bag. The food bag got suck up there
somehow and poked a hole in one of the bags. We did get it down though
with a lot of yanking and some flex in the branch. I guess one
shouldn't use the PCT bag hanging method on the AT. ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6nqz9s8SXw/UeCk_b5Y9tI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/bXJQdOhk5dM/s1600/DSCN0508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6nqz9s8SXw/UeCk_b5Y9tI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/bXJQdOhk5dM/s400/DSCN0508.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Standing Indian mountain.</td></tr>
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Standing Indian mountain is the highest peak around this area but because of the trees the view is a bit more limited than on Albert Mountain. Tip: a good lookout can be found by going south on the ridge of Standing Indian to a big boulder in the trees. There take a right and go through the bushes and you'll end up on a rock with a great 180 degree view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9k77gTe6uo/UeClIeVD6JI/AAAAAAAAA8o/MgqPT_y96tI/s1600/DSCN0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9k77gTe6uo/UeClIeVD6JI/AAAAAAAAA8o/MgqPT_y96tI/s400/DSCN0514.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Natahala wilderness.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--agj8ydTCyc/UeClQZjXenI/AAAAAAAAA8w/22yxKNfNM18/s1600/DSCN0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--agj8ydTCyc/UeClQZjXenI/AAAAAAAAA8w/22yxKNfNM18/s400/DSCN0520.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our camp next to Kimsey creek.</td></tr>
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Our last night was spend on a mossy patch right by the Krimsey creek. This was by far our favorite spot besides the missing wild strawberries. After setting up the tent we took a nice refreshing bath in the creek. The benefits of not being on the AT.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3cYO1AfapMY/UeClUTEs20I/AAAAAAAAA84/XTT_97E_ZhE/s1600/DSCN0524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3cYO1AfapMY/UeClUTEs20I/AAAAAAAAA84/XTT_97E_ZhE/s400/DSCN0524.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EUJ0guHMC14/UeClahwElXI/AAAAAAAAA9A/aDqTih_t1OI/s1600/DSCN0546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EUJ0guHMC14/UeClahwElXI/AAAAAAAAA9A/aDqTih_t1OI/s400/DSCN0546.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking along Kimsey creek.</td></tr>
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<br />
The vegetation of the Krimsey creek and Long Branch creek are quite
different which helps to make the hike quite interesting. The Krimsey
Creek trail is so close along the creeks that there are quite a few
crossings and muddy ground. Not bad enough but certainly not the
easiest rating a sign up at the beginning was giving it. You'll see a
lot of cool rapids and small waterfalls along the way.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1rugZ3-qJpg/UeClgS6uLNI/AAAAAAAAA9I/E17YLDjwwEA/s1600/DSCN0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1rugZ3-qJpg/UeClgS6uLNI/AAAAAAAAA9I/E17YLDjwwEA/s400/DSCN0549.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking along Kimsey creek.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1X7DpXSYxMM/UeCll6FDhlI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/9Yvyilotidw/s1600/DSCN0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1X7DpXSYxMM/UeCll6FDhlI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/9Yvyilotidw/s400/DSCN0570.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfalls of Kimsey creek.</td></tr>
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Even though we passed a garbage can at the top of Kimsey Creek trail, my wife keep a hold of all our garbage till the end to show how much garbage we'd accumulate on our hike, minus the organic matter that was left at the composting toilets or burred in the forest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z6Ncnhenets/UeClrqr2MlI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/R8hR_4eG-jg/s1600/DSCN0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z6Ncnhenets/UeClrqr2MlI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/R8hR_4eG-jg/s400/DSCN0571.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the garbage we accumulated.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M1ouIqUh1kI/UeClxhSnkvI/AAAAAAAAA9g/DMdvzx8puZc/s1600/DSCN0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M1ouIqUh1kI/UeClxhSnkvI/AAAAAAAAA9g/DMdvzx8puZc/s400/DSCN0579.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufus Morgan Falls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Since we hiked out so early on Sunday we decided to do the short <a href="http://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=21191" target="_blank">Rufus Morgan trail</a> that is near by and goes to a water fall. Both of us had a great time and are dreaming of hiking more of the AT. The Appalachian mountains are quite beautiful in North Carolina. I don't think these photos really show how pretty the Appalachian mountains are in North Carolina.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vi_7o4PQ6gk/UeCl299wtuI/AAAAAAAAA9o/m6bXekTFtyY/s1600/DSCN0582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vi_7o4PQ6gk/UeCl299wtuI/AAAAAAAAA9o/m6bXekTFtyY/s400/DSCN0582.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufus Morgan trailhead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5D-RadXXL5A/UeCl8wgOZ9I/AAAAAAAAA9w/2TnQmPUwGEM/s1600/DSCN0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5D-RadXXL5A/UeCl8wgOZ9I/AAAAAAAAA9w/2TnQmPUwGEM/s400/DSCN0584.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheapest gas seen so far.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Standing Indian Campground, Nantahala National Forest, National Forest Road, Franklin, NC 28734, USA35.0760887 -83.5284305000000139.5540542 -124.83702450000001 60.5981232 -42.219836500000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-9513219888175128882013-06-02T23:33:00.000-05:002013-06-05T21:24:59.874-05:00The scariest thing ever ...... happened on my ride through Story County Iowa to visit all 15 incorporated towns in one day. It was near the end of the day when I was riding down the highway. All the sudden right in front of me crossed a skunk the street. As it went across the street I was passing him. I was scared as hell as it's tail went higher and higher. Its pink butt was clearly visible. Luckily the skunk was kind and didn't release anything. Phew!
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKlfI9w-LLI/Ua6z4i34iCI/AAAAAAAAA1M/v0kYNt4j47k/s1600/Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKlfI9w-LLI/Ua6z4i34iCI/AAAAAAAAA1M/v0kYNt4j47k/s1600/Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collage of Story County towns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The ride itself went great. On the southern part I took the Heart of Iowa trail. It's a beautiful limestone trail. The only downside was that due to the extreme rain and flooding we got a few weeks ago sections of the trail was washed out. This meant it was rough and sandy riding. Passable with the fat two inch tires on my bike but still slow and strenuous. But it was worth it. Throughout my ride I could see and smell the remnants of the flooding across the county.<br />
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For the 110 miles I was 13 hours on the road, which included all photo and twitter breaks as well as lunch and dinner. The detailed route can be viewed at <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1380807">http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1380807</a>.<br />
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Now I let the photos tell the story of the ride:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo5bMWK8fCk/Ua6z4vX61HI/AAAAAAAAA1k/LInktDMLGUk/s1600/DSCN0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo5bMWK8fCk/Ua6z4vX61HI/AAAAAAAAA1k/LInktDMLGUk/s1600/DSCN0332.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPZwFQ5sW98/Ua6z4qqt5jI/AAAAAAAAA2w/KJonON8MNCQ/s1600/DSCN0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPZwFQ5sW98/Ua6z4qqt5jI/AAAAAAAAA2w/KJonON8MNCQ/s1600/DSCN0331.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phone booth in Kelley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cy4hjB0Dl8o/Ua6z4jJ82rI/AAAAAAAAA1c/O9OIODNJd3c/s1600/DSCN0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cy4hjB0Dl8o/Ua6z4jJ82rI/AAAAAAAAA1c/O9OIODNJd3c/s1600/DSCN0334.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8tNY3JY6-eo/Ua6z4j_KpNI/AAAAAAAAA1E/k7qW5SocDMc/s1600/DSCN0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8tNY3JY6-eo/Ua6z4j_KpNI/AAAAAAAAA1E/k7qW5SocDMc/s1600/DSCN0340.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheldahl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsYd0C8CNic/Ua6z4h7XcpI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Gqg076tcD6w/s1600/DSCN0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsYd0C8CNic/Ua6z4h7XcpI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Gqg076tcD6w/s1600/DSCN0344.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart of Iowa trail between Slater and Huxley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPGeNIlv7bI/Ua6z4td_5RI/AAAAAAAAA18/p7qEIxRPMdU/s1600/DSCN0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPGeNIlv7bI/Ua6z4td_5RI/AAAAAAAAA18/p7qEIxRPMdU/s1600/DSCN0348.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huxley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pao5vgmj4YQ/Ua6z4oeaHmI/AAAAAAAAA1o/1F47Zp5UGCw/s1600/DSCN0351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pao5vgmj4YQ/Ua6z4oeaHmI/AAAAAAAAA1o/1F47Zp5UGCw/s1600/DSCN0351.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart of Iowa trail just east of Huxley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--EjbLaG0j7I/Ua6z4ql3ChI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/G2mpSb6xoV0/s1600/DSCN0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--EjbLaG0j7I/Ua6z4ql3ChI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/G2mpSb6xoV0/s1600/DSCN0352.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QWnVSdnLprs/Ua6z4pL7-xI/AAAAAAAAA3E/a_jOvRal_zU/s1600/DSCN0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QWnVSdnLprs/Ua6z4pL7-xI/AAAAAAAAA3E/a_jOvRal_zU/s1600/DSCN0354.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train under Hear of Iowa trail just east of Cambridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTbGsXwZa6Y/Ua6z4st4wkI/AAAAAAAAA1s/aALyrSyxyB8/s1600/DSCN0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTbGsXwZa6Y/Ua6z4st4wkI/AAAAAAAAA1s/aALyrSyxyB8/s1600/DSCN0356.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skunk river bridge on Heart of Iowa trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMK7FdFj8yc/Ua6z4pz0RZI/AAAAAAAAA2k/O89kzWFvYRw/s1600/DSCN0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMK7FdFj8yc/Ua6z4pz0RZI/AAAAAAAAA2k/O89kzWFvYRw/s1600/DSCN0361.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maxwell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZN9o4WSfiAM/Ua6z4r3vz9I/AAAAAAAAA2c/P9eg2UFIJCg/s1600/DSCN0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZN9o4WSfiAM/Ua6z4r3vz9I/AAAAAAAAA2c/P9eg2UFIJCg/s1600/DSCN0362.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bells in Maxwell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wOgy72C7C4/Ua6z4uuGT8I/AAAAAAAAA3g/CL2S2uAOVuw/s1600/DSCN0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wOgy72C7C4/Ua6z4uuGT8I/AAAAAAAAA3g/CL2S2uAOVuw/s1600/DSCN0366.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T86WZ6h5LMw/Ua6z4o3yKHI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/vec7Lr2vay4/s1600/DSCN0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T86WZ6h5LMw/Ua6z4o3yKHI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/vec7Lr2vay4/s1600/DSCN0367.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZMXOYX2Agg/Ua6z4jRA2gI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/K18dD8M8kiw/s1600/DSCN0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZMXOYX2Agg/Ua6z4jRA2gI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/K18dD8M8kiw/s1600/DSCN0368.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Lincoln Highway gas station in Colo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2PoEGDL-CrA/Ua6z4ra1OeI/AAAAAAAAA3w/4C1R57Oc4cM/s1600/DSCN0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2PoEGDL-CrA/Ua6z4ra1OeI/AAAAAAAAA3w/4C1R57Oc4cM/s1600/DSCN0369.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diner in Colo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MKee4QEzvE/Ua6z4saMBAI/AAAAAAAAA24/-3B_y5YhFd4/s1600/DSCN0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MKee4QEzvE/Ua6z4saMBAI/AAAAAAAAA24/-3B_y5YhFd4/s1600/DSCN0371.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nevada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbwEi2XGeno/Ua6z4heCBmI/AAAAAAAAA3s/Jwmmpd8S_EE/s1600/DSCN0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbwEi2XGeno/Ua6z4heCBmI/AAAAAAAAA3s/Jwmmpd8S_EE/s1600/DSCN0372.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus town Fernald, not incorporated and didn't count</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSjwFS0ViJM/Ua6z4j4xGMI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/K9Da5OyBC6o/s1600/DSCN0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSjwFS0ViJM/Ua6z4j4xGMI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/K9Da5OyBC6o/s1600/DSCN0374.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternative energy - blessing and curse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJzH799GgRA/Ua6z4qrhj_I/AAAAAAAAA3M/y8Rkro6Ew9U/s1600/DSCN0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJzH799GgRA/Ua6z4qrhj_I/AAAAAAAAA3M/y8Rkro6Ew9U/s1600/DSCN0380.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zearing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLgcDeY1cAo/Ua6z4seOwiI/AAAAAAAAA3o/bwu86d7HW50/s1600/DSCN0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLgcDeY1cAo/Ua6z4seOwiI/AAAAAAAAA3o/bwu86d7HW50/s1600/DSCN0384.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McCallsburg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kF1Y5rsmzo/Ua6z4jjIcjI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/WNjyi2G6FqM/s1600/DSCN0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kF1Y5rsmzo/Ua6z4jjIcjI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/WNjyi2G6FqM/s1600/DSCN0387.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ByQ_TvGw_Vw/Ua6z4tBSxLI/AAAAAAAAA1I/2-yQ9VhhZPM/s1600/DSCN0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ByQ_TvGw_Vw/Ua6z4tBSxLI/AAAAAAAAA1I/2-yQ9VhhZPM/s1600/DSCN0390.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Story City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-II71dEXVlgU/Ua6z4rES-_I/AAAAAAAAA2E/9T95HcbC8jg/s1600/DSCN0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-II71dEXVlgU/Ua6z4rES-_I/AAAAAAAAA2E/9T95HcbC8jg/s1600/DSCN0392.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gilbert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mxLc-XMNguI/Ua6z4rXCrLI/AAAAAAAAA1U/txQPCVaCeFY/s1600/DSCN0393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mxLc-XMNguI/Ua6z4rXCrLI/AAAAAAAAA1U/txQPCVaCeFY/s1600/DSCN0393.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ames</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-40817707262169749172013-04-27T18:04:00.001-05:002013-04-27T18:04:50.696-05:00Weird Rural BarsOK, today's bike ride isn't really worth to blog about since it was just a ride with my daughter to the next town for lunch and back. Yet still it brought something interesting that seems to be a trend: weird small town bars. See our Katy Trail blog entry <i>(yet to be written ... I promise it will happen ... I just don't know when)</i> of the bar with the deer butt and the pile of naked barbie dolls.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzgraT2ScNM/UXxYHnexUdI/AAAAAAAAAsE/aipkZwboFB8/s1600/2013-04-27_14-24-17_964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzgraT2ScNM/UXxYHnexUdI/AAAAAAAAAsE/aipkZwboFB8/s400/2013-04-27_14-24-17_964.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm glad I'm not this apple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="header">
<br /></div>
<div class="header">
On the ten mile ride to the neighboring town a topless cyclist was passing us and naturally my six year old daughter was asking about it. So the conversation ended with why women couldn't go topless in our society while some societies don't have an issue with it and for others it's even tabu for women to show their faces in public. So of course it's natural that <i><span class="itemprop" itemprop="name">Sports Illustrated: The Making of Swimsuit 2013 </span></i><span class="itemprop" itemprop="name">was running on the big screen TV at the bar where we eat lunch. I must say they were visiting some cool location so I'm not at all surprised that my daughter watched the show while the guys at the bar only payed attention and hooted when the girls in the bikinis were shown. </span></div>
<div class="header">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNGs-nhzLz0/UXxXPqX551I/AAAAAAAAAr0/nzitwFBDQ_A/s1600/2013-04-27_13-18-23_387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RNGs-nhzLz0/UXxXPqX551I/AAAAAAAAAr0/nzitwFBDQ_A/s400/2013-04-27_13-18-23_387.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every bar needs a stingray ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="header">
<span class="itemprop" itemprop="name"></span></div>
<div class="header">
<br /></div>
<div class="header">
<span class="itemprop" itemprop="name">Anyway, the weird and kind of cool part was that the bar had a stingray model and a stuffed bear trying to get a bee hive in a glass vitrine. I sent the photos to my wife and she was wondering if we were in a museum. LOL I wonder how many more interesting bars are out in rural America. Maybe I'll have to stop at more with my daughter.</span></div>
<div class="header">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G0ZqOtyffKY/UXxXW9cEV7I/AAAAAAAAAr8/Uw1qn-PwfDo/s1600/2013-04-27_13-25-42_395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G0ZqOtyffKY/UXxXW9cEV7I/AAAAAAAAAr8/Uw1qn-PwfDo/s400/2013-04-27_13-25-42_395.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and some stuff animals.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="header">
<span class="itemprop" itemprop="name"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-56363657181829219602013-04-20T10:41:00.000-05:002014-08-17T22:23:36.206-05:00Central California Coast Bicycle TourWork took me to Newport Beach, CA and I got the opportunity to ride the Pacific coast once more. This time I was able to include a more remote portion of the coast, the Big Sur region. In six days I rode 400 miles from Monterey to Newport Beach.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0r7w75f2CXo/UWtEWmauRyI/AAAAAAAAAro/t2UCJISfMN0/s1600/2013-04-09_14-48-23_580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0r7w75f2CXo/UWtEWmauRyI/AAAAAAAAAro/t2UCJISfMN0/s400/2013-04-09_14-48-23_580.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific, Brompton, Highway 1 and I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The usual drill of arriving by plane involved this time taking a rental car to the hotel, dropping off everything besides the necessaries for the cycle tour, stopping by REI to grab a camping fuel canister and then driving up to the Monterey airport where I would be dropping of the rental car. It took forever to drive just to drive through LA. Then in the valley I was stuck in a traffic jam for hours because a truck just burned out and there was no way around it. So I got to ride from the Monterey airport to the Veterans Memorial Park campsite in the dark. Luckily the built-in lights on the Brompton are nice and bright so this wasn't an issue. That the hiker/biker campsite is on top of a hill was a killer with me having been traveling for 20 hours straight.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXdX28JEZUw/UabI4OOpYKI/AAAAAAAAAxU/4iw8A79lwZY/s1600/Central+California+Coast+Rice+Overview+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXdX28JEZUw/UabI4OOpYKI/AAAAAAAAAxU/4iw8A79lwZY/s400/Central+California+Coast+Rice+Overview+Map.jpg" height="363" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview Map<br />
<i>(green: route)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b>Detailed GPS Route</b></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1361243">Day 0: Airport to Veterans Memorial Park</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1361244">Day 1: Monterey to Kirks Creek</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1361245">Day 2: Kirks Creek to Morro Bay</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1361246">Day 3: Morro Bay to Lompoc</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1361247">Day 4: Lompoc to Carpinteria</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1361248">Day 5: Carpinteria to Santa Monica</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1361297">Day 6: Santa Monica</a> <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1361249">to Newport Beach</a></div>
<br />
Everybody at the campsite was asleep already when I arrived there at around 10pm. Monterey has some military academy whose trumpet play greeted me in the morning. I chatted a little bit with fellow campers and took off after breakfast.<br />
<br />
The scenery for the first two days was stunning. Highway 1 follows the rocky coast line in a relatively remote area that only serves tourists. Since it was early in the year I didn't have to battle mass amounts of RVs and other vacationers. The ones who did drove mostly midday, moving to their next camp site.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glaf056Q9ZQ/UaQlMLDxD0I/AAAAAAAAAvI/QIdsS7R5O7A/s1600/2013-04-09+004+Point+Sur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glaf056Q9ZQ/UaQlMLDxD0I/AAAAAAAAAvI/QIdsS7R5O7A/s320/2013-04-09+004+Point+Sur.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Point Sur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The route is quite hilly and on top of one particular long steep hill that seemed to go up forever I swear I could see Japan in the far distance across the ocean.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AJbLiMTvnSk/UYOiyELTKII/AAAAAAAAAsc/KNXvqsdiOOI/s1600/2013-04-09_14-27-33_320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AJbLiMTvnSk/UYOiyELTKII/AAAAAAAAAsc/KNXvqsdiOOI/s320/2013-04-09_14-27-33_320.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brompton and the Big Sur coast line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I stayed overnight at the Kirk Creek Campground from which one has a gorgeous ocean view. There is no running water so I stopped 2 miles earlier at the Limekiln Campground to fill up my water bag. Although, there is a stream next to the campground which one walks along to go down to the ocean beach that allows for filtering water. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FUSUIPALBvA/UaQlMJTC5yI/AAAAAAAAAvY/pDh3xMbGsXI/s1600/2013-04-09+023+Ocean+by+Kirk+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FUSUIPALBvA/UaQlMJTC5yI/AAAAAAAAAvY/pDh3xMbGsXI/s320/2013-04-09+023+Ocean+by+Kirk+Creek.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocean by Kirk Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3m88n41PlFc/UaQlMOZE3qI/AAAAAAAAAu8/GPGP31iMJps/s1600/2013-04-10+028+Banana-Nutella+bread+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3m88n41PlFc/UaQlMOZE3qI/AAAAAAAAAu8/GPGP31iMJps/s400/2013-04-10+028+Banana-Nutella+bread+breakfast.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple breakfast at the hiker/biker campsites.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had to send a photo of my breakfast to my daughter. She really enjoyed <a href="http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/books/boywhobikedtheworld/">Alastair Humphreys' book <i>The Boy who Biked The World</i></a>. She started to request for banana sandwiches just like the boy in the story always ate. Currently you can even see her photo of a recent bike overnight trip we did together as a family on his site. Really cool! I have to confess though I just ate Nutella on bread for breakfast and bananas on the side. It was great and quick but after four days I was glad the bread was gone and I ate at the restaurant for breakfast.<br />
<br />
The ride in the morning from Kirk Creek was the best. I had the road nearly to myself since it's so far away from any towns and campers usually don't' go out and drive around that early. It could only have been better by sharing this experience with the whole family.<br />
<br />
Later in the day I got to the chip sealed road that all the cyclist have been complaining about. Since I rode left of the white line it wasn't as bad. With chip seal, the shoulder won't ever get better since it's the cars that over time press the gravel into the asphalt and make the road smoother. Only a few cars honked at me. ;)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gwryOEtPsPo/UaQlMJ5RUbI/AAAAAAAAAvM/0DX_kKbRQfg/s1600/2013-04-10+031+Sea+lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gwryOEtPsPo/UaQlMJ5RUbI/AAAAAAAAAvM/0DX_kKbRQfg/s320/2013-04-10+031+Sea+lions.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Lions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The town Guadalupe made me feel like I was in Mexico. Around the town are large flat expansions with tomato fields where Hispanic workers were hard at work with the occasional packing plant in middle of nowhere. The fields are quite blocked off with no trespassing signs and signs ordering one not to talk to the workers. Most of the third day of riding took me though scenery like this while I was battling strong winds. Breaks were extremely difficult as the wind was trying to blow everything away that wasn't securely attached to the bicycle. It's interesting to see what kind of industrialized monoculture our food is coming from. A great thanks goes out to the free delicious strawberries that I got from the Little Peter farm.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3A8BhfhMq4/UaQlMJKtmBI/AAAAAAAAAvE/RZ3wKt4qzlc/s1600/2013-04-11+041+Kyle%252C+Claus+and+John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3A8BhfhMq4/UaQlMJKtmBI/AAAAAAAAAvE/RZ3wKt4qzlc/s320/2013-04-11+041+Kyle%252C+Claus+and+John.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyle and John</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-beVAVD-R-5U/UaQlML6veLI/AAAAAAAAAvg/Pvsc24tRWYA/s1600/2013-04-12+0+43+Hwy+1%252C+101+near+Gaviota+state+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-beVAVD-R-5U/UaQlML6veLI/AAAAAAAAAvg/Pvsc24tRWYA/s320/2013-04-12+0+43+Hwy+1%252C+101+near+Gaviota+state+park.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hwy 1, 101 near Gaviota State Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tessU-DiqAY/UaQlMKmbsdI/AAAAAAAAAu4/0XOGkq1e4t4/s1600/2013-04-12+044+Beach+of+Santa+Barbara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tessU-DiqAY/UaQlMKmbsdI/AAAAAAAAAu4/0XOGkq1e4t4/s320/2013-04-12+044+Beach+of+Santa+Barbara.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Barbara beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUSgmcbYW-s/UaQlMCyhgHI/AAAAAAAAAvA/VibbHM2aZjU/s1600/2013-04-13+045+Airplanes+at+Naval+Base+in+Ventura+County.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUSgmcbYW-s/UaQlMCyhgHI/AAAAAAAAAvA/VibbHM2aZjU/s320/2013-04-13+045+Airplanes+at+Naval+Base+in+Ventura+County.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Airplanes at Naval Base in Ventura County</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CN9H5UkARGc/UaQlMPBFAGI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/8Desx05eCIY/s1600/2013-04-13+051+Room+at+Santa+Monica+Hostel+International.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CN9H5UkARGc/UaQlMPBFAGI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/8Desx05eCIY/s320/2013-04-13+051+Room+at+Santa+Monica+Hostel+International.jpg" height="400" width="300" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Monica Hostel International </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDCc5RtHYN0/UaQlMMPboOI/AAAAAAAAAvc/dXDdsbrr3jM/s1600/2013-04-13+053+Bromption+in+locker+at+Santa+Monica+Hostel+International.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDCc5RtHYN0/UaQlMMPboOI/AAAAAAAAAvc/dXDdsbrr3jM/s320/2013-04-13+053+Bromption+in+locker+at+Santa+Monica+Hostel+International.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brompton in locker at Santa Monica Hostel International </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Riding two days through LA was quite difference. Instead of camping I stayed in a hostel in Santa Monica. Luckily I was tired enough that night to sleep otherwise I wouldn't have gotten any sleep. The communal sleeping room was quite stuffy and several snored quite loud. Thank you ear plugs. The nice part was the large locker at the hostel that could store my Brompton folding bike and luggage with lots of room to spare. It probably would have been a much nicer night if I had slept at the beach while storing my stuff in the locker.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3kUK6ZH1vk/UaQs4eE3IaI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/igyK6bS_Ozk/s1600/2013-04-14+057+Claus+at+Huntington+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3kUK6ZH1vk/UaQs4eE3IaI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/igyK6bS_Ozk/s320/2013-04-14+057+Claus+at+Huntington+Beach.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huntington Beach </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YzHD3omlecg/UaQs4bljeOI/AAAAAAAAAwU/LP1tsL-SZjU/s1600/2013-04-14+059+Balboa+Island+ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YzHD3omlecg/UaQs4bljeOI/AAAAAAAAAwU/LP1tsL-SZjU/s320/2013-04-14+059+Balboa+Island+ferry.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balboa Island Ferry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ma6Gz_26YkI/UaQs4TqwxeI/AAAAAAAAAwY/0CkmKwD6m7E/s1600/2013-04-14+062+Arrived+at+the+Marriott+in+Newport+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ma6Gz_26YkI/UaQs4TqwxeI/AAAAAAAAAwY/0CkmKwD6m7E/s320/2013-04-14+062+Arrived+at+the+Marriott+in+Newport+Beach.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victory pose at the hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
No matter what you do, flying takes a beating on your luggage. Sometimes you really wonder what's going on once you hand over your luggage. This time, on my flight out, the integrated luggage strap of the B&W Clapton Box that holds the Brompton came unglued. I was pondering if I should use epoxy to glue it back on so it wouldn't get snagged on the flight back. Customer support of B&W was so kind and called me back and I learned that the strap does come unglued and a heavy duty double sided carpet tape should be used to tape it back on. I used that in addition to duct tape just to make sure. No issues on the flight back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nfUuK27NitU/UaQlMDrUOOI/AAAAAAAAAvU/p-Gc3ZFbhbU/s1600/2013-04-15+073+Loose+luggage+strap+on+BW+case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nfUuK27NitU/UaQlMDrUOOI/AAAAAAAAAvU/p-Gc3ZFbhbU/s400/2013-04-15+073+Loose+luggage+strap+on+BW+case.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loose luggage strap on B&W Clapton Box case</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
This tweet from the bike shop where I got my Brompton shows again how small the world is. I even biked to Irvine to get tape to patch up the B&W case and eat dinner at a brewery on campus.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Shipped a S2L Brompton to Irvine, CA yesterday.Our customers come from near and far.Come on warm weather!<a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23brompton">#brompton</a><br />
— All Ability Cycles (@allability) <a href="https://twitter.com/allability/status/324852027454799872">April 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
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I'm excited to see where my next Brompton tour will take me but next is a three day hike with my wife. More on that later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-14853830518157523352013-03-06T18:30:00.000-06:002013-03-06T18:30:02.372-06:00California Coast Ride: I'm ComingIt's done! I'll be riding the California coast from Monterey to LA with my Brompton folding bicycle in 32 days. Flights are booked and vacation has been scheduled. <br />
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Now I just have to complete the details. Creating a packing list, which will be minimal since I won't be able to carry much asides the tent, mat and sleeping bag. Food will be my main concern as I can't carry much and the route will be more isolated than the ride I did in Oregon last year. The exact route needs to be determined and uploading it to the Garmin Oregon 450 GPS.<br />
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My heart rate is already up. I'm excited with a touch of anxiety since I haven't ridden for quite a while and not been doing anything asides downhill skiing at a tiny local hill. The route should be beautiful and have much less traffic than what I encountered in Oregon.<br />
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More to come soon. Watch this space.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-72849855992881675712013-03-04T19:00:00.000-06:002013-03-04T19:00:05.003-06:00Crazy Local Ride IdeasWinter time is the time for pondering about crazy ideas. Last year when I was riding with my bike to Webster City, Iowa for lunch I started to get the idea to bike through all towns of my home county on one ride/day.<br />
I picked to ride through all incorporated "cities" of the county, as these towns have their own elected major and some accreditation by the county. Yes, cities is in quotes since most towns have fewer than thousand residents and most of us wouldn't call that a city, but it's the official terminology used. The smallest "city" is Kelly with a population of 309 and the largest one is Ames of 58,965. Ames is home to Iowa State University while Sheldahl with 319 people splits them between three counties. Gilbert with a huge population of 1,082 and 1,364 K-12 students. Maybe during the ride I'll learn about more courtesies of this county.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDQ27e_YbcU/UTUG1EcCtZI/AAAAAAAAArQ/XM36hnaY8F0/s1600/All+Incorporated+Cities+of+Story+County.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDQ27e_YbcU/UTUG1EcCtZI/AAAAAAAAArQ/XM36hnaY8F0/s1600/All+Incorporated+Cities+of+Story+County.png" height="230" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Story County Incorporated City Tour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />The ride is a little more than 100 miles which would make it a really long day for me because of my snow speed. Starting from Ames it goes counter clockwise through Kelley, Slater, Sheldal, (Slater), Huxley, Cambridge, Maxwell, Collins, Colo, Nevada, McCallsburg, Zearing, Roland, Story City, Gilbert and back to Ames. Alternatively the route could be taken clockwise, however the head winds would still remain the same. The route mainly follows county highways with the exception of the southern part where it follows the Heart of Iowa Trail which has crushed limestone. Thanks to Nevada the route has to go briefly to the center of the county. It's so tempting to skip the county seat to significantly shorten the day.<br />
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The next idea was to create a route that would circumnavigate the county. Funny enough on asphalt roads it's nearly the same route as the city tour with Nevada skipped. But most of the time I'd be riding a couple miles from the edge of the county. But gravel roads nearly perfectly surround the county.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OgbW88f4uvU/UTUG1eM66SI/AAAAAAAAArU/BlsjH0FPwGA/s1600/Circumnavigate+Story+County.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OgbW88f4uvU/UTUG1eM66SI/AAAAAAAAArU/BlsjH0FPwGA/s1600/Circumnavigate+Story+County.png" height="248" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Story County Circumnavigation</td></tr>
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So this 110 mile route primarily follows the border via gravel roads except on the north west where County Road R38 makes up the border. There is even a short stretch of level B maintenance road in the north. After a route like this I may be on the way for a good start for the <a href="http://transiowa.blogspot.com/">Trans Iowa race</a> LOL.<br />
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The second route would even be tougher than the first with the loose gravel on the gravel roads. I'm not yet sure that I'll do either of them. So feel free to leave your encouragement or comments about these crazy ideas below.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-1061531910235658862013-02-23T07:46:00.000-06:002013-02-23T07:48:19.055-06:00Snow NightFor a long time I was pondering about camping in the backyard during wintery weather. Lately winter here was little or no snow but bitter cold and strong winds. So with the lack of my idyllic romanticized image I wasn't to motivated to do it.<br />
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However, yesterday while being out on a lunch date with my wife I realized that this night would be great chance to do just that. It had snowed four inches the night before and the forecast for the night wasn't to bad either with a low of 10 degrees Fahrenheit and a west wind of 10 miles per hour.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-eFb3oblXA/USjBYCShxbI/AAAAAAAAAqM/R_34AzjdSnE/s1600/snownight1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-eFb3oblXA/USjBYCShxbI/AAAAAAAAAqM/R_34AzjdSnE/s400/snownight1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tracks through the snow</td></tr>
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It has been a long time since I last slept in the snow. As a kid my dad and I went on a backcounty ski tour up a mountain in the alps where we stayed overnight. We build a snow shelter but ended up moving into the adjacent hut early that night as our shelter started dripping melt water on us.<br />
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This time though I didn't worry about a snow shelter and just used my moment tarptent. For warmth I doubled up on everything. Two layers of woolen long underwear, two 20 degree Fahrenheit sleeping bags, a self-inflating and a closed-cell mat, a thin balaclava and a beanie hat. Only one thick pair of wool socks though.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y6Kf-P723YU/USjBZSI5quI/AAAAAAAAAqU/mq7eZ4oBKvM/s1600/snownight2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y6Kf-P723YU/USjBZSI5quI/AAAAAAAAAqU/mq7eZ4oBKvM/s400/snownight2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tent in the snow</td></tr>
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Early in the night I got way to hot with the two sleeping bags. It was still 23 degrees Fahrenheit so I unzipped the outer bag most of the way. As the night went on it got colder which meant cinching down the sleeping bag opening, putting on the beanie and finally zipping up the second sleeping bag in the early morning hours. By the time I got up the temperature dropped to 8 degrees Fahrenheit with windchill around -4 degrees.<br />
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Throughout the night I was warm and comfortable. I got lots of great sleep and woke up quite refreshed. Of course I still had the amenity of a warm house near by, which meant I didn't had to eat, do my business or whatever outside. Maybe next time I go somewhere further than my backyard to camp in the snow.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-40796320943367803122012-08-19T21:32:00.000-05:002012-09-13T00:04:05.925-05:00Oregon Coast Ride: Back to PortlandFinally caught up with the blog posts of the Oregon Coast Ride. The night went OK. I setup the tent at dusk behind some trees out of sight from the street and neighbors. I was a little worried about the neighbors not knowing what was going on but nobody bothered me. I got up and tore down the tent at the crack of dawn and left the area. For the morning wash-up I stopped by the public restrooms at the tourist information again.<br />
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At the bus stop and <a href="http://porterstageline.com/">Porter Stage Lines</a> office quite a few people gathered to ride the bus. Quite a bit of the discussion was about the bad economy in this area and that the logging restrictions/environmentalism is the major cause of it. It was surreal riding on the bus and seeing how quickly we rode through most of yesterdays ride. In Eugene I purchased the Amtrak bus ticket to Portland and had a delicious brunch at the Morning Glory Cafe right next to the station.<br />
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The next week I spend mostly working with my team at the hotel but I did get some nice rides in. One morning I did a loop along the Willamette River. Another morning I rode up to the Japanese and Rose Garden and looped around Washington Park and Hoyt Arboretum.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NgML4If7YHE/UE5-z-msBXI/AAAAAAAAAnk/Riko4vnrwYk/s1600/2012-08-23_07-34-43_482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NgML4If7YHE/UE5-z-msBXI/AAAAAAAAAnk/Riko4vnrwYk/s400/2012-08-23_07-34-43_482.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portland Rose Garden</td></tr>
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Oh, and for my next adventure I'll probably start writing daily paper blogs and then publishing them after the trip. Writing blogs on an android phone is near to impossible and I can't upload full resolution photos with labels. Also tweeting caused me issues as so many tweets failed to be send. So I ended up writing most of the blog a couple weeks after the ride which is not ideal. I guess low tech is the way to go in the future.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3805072493672250550.post-30823153790697952432012-08-18T23:30:00.000-05:002012-09-13T00:04:05.916-05:00Oregon Coast Ride: No Room at the InnBennie and Julie invited to ride with them today. Our speeds are fairly similar. The only times I lagged behind was going down hill. At around 16 mph I top out with pedaling and rely purely on coasting. My bike also didn't seem to coast as fast as theirs but with 16 inch wheels I really didn't need to go any faster. From my GPS track it looks like the top speed was about 28 mph on the monster hill of Thursday.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NAXBoDtHL7U/UDXME65A0UI/AAAAAAAAAjg/MWlXmHHTegI/s1600/2012-08-18_08-51-08_939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NAXBoDtHL7U/UDXME65A0UI/AAAAAAAAAjg/MWlXmHHTegI/s320/2012-08-18_08-51-08_939.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julie and Benny.</td></tr>
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Quite a bit of today's ride was away from the ocean. Either through the forest or behind the large sand dunes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j30OPHpgxYc/UDXMY5CmR4I/AAAAAAAAAjs/q7Y1iZNp8rA/s1600/2012-08-18_15-35-22_120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j30OPHpgxYc/UDXMY5CmR4I/AAAAAAAAAjs/q7Y1iZNp8rA/s400/2012-08-18_15-35-22_120.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand dune.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALURn_PPX4s/UDXMioZA5AI/AAAAAAAAAj0/5RAndygsKsM/s1600/2012-08-18_15-35-29_39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALURn_PPX4s/UDXMioZA5AI/AAAAAAAAAj0/5RAndygsKsM/s400/2012-08-18_15-35-29_39.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and Julie on highway 101.</td></tr>
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At the end of the day we had to cross the Coos Bay bridge. We pushed the bikes along the narrow sidewalk of this huge bridge. At the middle of the bridge I dropped a flower and watched it's way to the water. It was amazing to see how long it took because the bridge was so tall. After the bridge I bid farewell to Benny and Julie as they continued on to the next state park. I kind of envied them for being able to continue on, especially since the next section would be away from highway 101. But I needed to head back to Portland tomorrow and attend to the real business of my trip to Oregon. Yes, I'll have to do some real work.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eqtB_il8Jz4/UDXMqnIXqvI/AAAAAAAAAj8/fF7cGU6lk_4/s1600/2012-08-18_15-43-05_424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eqtB_il8Jz4/UDXMqnIXqvI/AAAAAAAAAj8/fF7cGU6lk_4/s400/2012-08-18_15-43-05_424.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory bike route sign photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nCOZdEAjyg/UDXMyTNNQRI/AAAAAAAAAkE/B79JGDNt5SE/s1600/2012-08-18_15-44-04_452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nCOZdEAjyg/UDXMyTNNQRI/AAAAAAAAAkE/B79JGDNt5SE/s400/2012-08-18_15-44-04_452.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julie and Benny checking out the monster bridge we need to cross.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Getting a bus ride is apparently quite simple. You just pay the Porter Stage Line driver and then get the Amtrak ticket in Eugene to continue to Portland.<br />
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The tricky part is that the bus leaves at 7:15am and all state parks and campsites are pretty far away. The RV park right next to the Casino in Coos Bay doesn't allow any tents. Neither does the city in any of their parks. Hotels are all full with the exception for some suites that have prices that should pay a taxi to Portland.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sXb-h-keaNA/UDXM-RzA4UI/AAAAAAAAAkM/Q2XeopUPq0k/s1600/2012-08-18_17-15-00_895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sXb-h-keaNA/UDXM-RzA4UI/AAAAAAAAAkM/Q2XeopUPq0k/s400/2012-08-18_17-15-00_895.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrived at Coos Bay</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SypX9tapIJY/UDXNOT5J-RI/AAAAAAAAAkY/E0W7ArZoq40/s1600/2012-08-18_17-17-25_368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SypX9tapIJY/UDXNOT5J-RI/AAAAAAAAAkY/E0W7ArZoq40/s400/2012-08-18_17-17-25_368.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tugboats in Coos Bay</td></tr>
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<br />
When asking the pastor at the local Catholic church if he knew a place to pitch a tent, the church had a pretty nice grassy courtyard, he suggested the local shelter.<br />
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After having been turned down by hotels and the RV park I was going toward the shelter. On the way I rode through a residential area and saw Tim working on an inflatable boat in his yard. I tried my luck and asked him if he'd knew anywhere or anybody that would let me pitch a tent for the night. I told him my story about having ridden down the coast and catching a bus at 7 in the morning. He offered the open lot across the street. I asked if it's really OK with the owner and he assured that it is.<br />
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I went back to downtown and the boardwalk where I could use the public restroom and cooked my last freeze dried meal for dinner before heading back to the open lot at sunset.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIBEFXoGGe4/UE6D_PyVVbI/AAAAAAAAAoY/3wtYzf7LYFE/s1600/Oregon+Coast+Day+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIBEFXoGGe4/UE6D_PyVVbI/AAAAAAAAAoY/3wtYzf7LYFE/s400/Oregon+Coast+Day+4.png" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4: 75 miles<br />Carl Washburne State Park to Coos Bay<br />
<a href="http://www.bikemap.net/route/1807258">http://www.bikemap.net/route/1807258</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0