Sunday, September 4, 2011

Hey! What you doin?

Took the fat tires out to do some off-roading yesterday.

Bro, MB and yours truly crossed that one road and road along and came to what looked like a trail into the woods. We rode around this system of trails for about 20 minutes and as we were riding along, some dude without a shirt on asked, "Hey, What you doing back here"? We stated we were just riding around and we thought it was public land. He told us it was private property, so, we left and continued our ride elsewhere.
After riding for a bit more, we stopped and had a beverage, when a woman driving a four wheeler, the kind that is more of a work vehicle, drove up and asked if we were with the Webers? We said no and she then stated that her husband used that land for shooting practice and that was why he did not want us back there. Then she said her husband had put his gun away and it was okay for us to return, we declined.

Ride,beer,ride,beer,pizza,beer,pick up beer,grill,beer,look at stars.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Dam!!!

65 and counting.

I have driven to work 5 times in the last 9 weeks. It is ancredible to me, how much money I have saved by noy buying gas. The last time I put gas in my truck was late June. Dude, thats like two months!!!!

Anyway, its road trip time.......

Arrived at MB's cabin friday evening and we went for a ride. Bro,MB and myself rode to TCat Dam. Nice rodes to ride on, they are alot like really wide bike paths that wind through the woods. It was a bit over 16 miles. Check this out, beer,ride,beer,fish fry,beer,sleep. Now, thats my kind of evening.

Can't wait to see what today has to offer.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Just Another Day....

In the saddle.

It has been a while since I have posted so here we go.

38 days, and counting?

Rode to work today, in the rain. That's OK, I had a warm shower and dry clothes waiting for me.

I have ridden to work all but three days over the last 5 weeks. I keep trying to change up my route for my ride home, but, I am rather limited. They have closed the Highway 7 crossings at Blake Road and Texas Ave. So, on occasion I have ridden to Louisiana and south to the trail or to Lake Street, where I can ride by "the hood".

The other day, on my way home I rode by some kids playing soccer, or something like it, and I heard one kid say, "hey did you see how fat those tires were"? I think I like the comments from the kids better then any other. They seem to be almost awestruck.

So yeah, 38 days, and counting?

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Over to the other side...

Of the river.

Bro, Myself, Cuz, Cuz2 and NAB rode to UncaR's house for a visit.

It was a beautiful day for a ride, warm, a bit humid, a bit breezy. We took the Greenway to West River Parkway. Crossed the river at Marshall and continued along the river on N. Mississippi River Blvd. to Sheppard Road. Took Sheppard Road to 35E and crossed the river yet again. Went east on Highway 110 to Victoria and rode, I believe south, to Marie. Rode East on Marie and the climbing began. That was about a mile of climbing. Once we arrived at UnaR's house we hung out in the shade of a tree in the front yard for a few minutes and headed inside for a visit.
Una told me the Lienie Girls were at the liquor store and asked if we wanted to ride up there. Well, how can I pass up a chance to go for a bike ride with my Uncle. So we rode to the liquor store and they were handing out free pizza, hotdogs, chips, water, pop and ice cream. The Lienie Girls were inside the liquor store giving out samples of beer. Bro and UncaR went inside. We rode back to UncaR's house and visited more then we rode home.
The ride home was a bit different, first off, Marie was downhill, that was awesome.
We retraced our route, except we crossed the river at Ford Pkwy in stead and took W. River Pkwy to Riverside Park, that was where they stored the pieces of the collapsed 35W bridge. We stopped for a drink of water and rode on. We rode along the river until we came to the Cedar Lake Trail, took that back to Bros.

That was quite a ride, Saint Paul is pretty hilly. I am surprised at how much hillier St. Paul is when compared to Minneapolis.

50+ miles with family, how van it get any better?

Sunday, July 24, 2011

THE Night Ride

Saturday evening we went for a ride. Me, Bro, SBro, Cuz2 and AneB rode toward the river. We got to West River Road and it was closed off for the Aquatennial Fireworks, very crowded. We crossed the Stone Arch Bridge, very crowded as well. Got to University Ave. and rode to TCF Bank Stadium to check out the scene at the U2 concert.

Much to our surprise, we were able to a good portion of the stage, the video screens, the spire and the top 1/2 of "the claw". We were also afforded fine sound from all the speakers high atop "the claw". When I first made the suggestion to ride down to the concert I never imagined we would see or hear anything, much less be treated to a free concert. So, we stood outside and stayed for the entire show. We played in the rain, we danced, we sang. Fun was had by all. There were lots of people hanging out around the stadium, across the street, atop buildings. Once it started raining, most people stayed, there were some that left, but, most stayed.

After the show, we headed to Town Hall to have a pint, or two, who counts. Then we headed west on the Cedar Lake Trail and turned left to go to Pizza Luce. We stopped at the Bee Hive, to use the biffy and have another beer, beers I had stashed in the weeds earlier in the day.

I do believe this was THE night ride of night rides.

Friday, July 22, 2011

15 days, and counting?

Have been riding to work for the last two weeks. 9 of the last 10 work days. It has been hot lately, I have been having some fun changing up my route home, trying to see something new now and again. Wednesday, I tried to see how flat I could make my route, that lead to a lot of twisting and turning, extra miles equals extra work. I got up close and personal with nature when I got stung byu a bee. That sucked. Oh well what can you do.

This last week has been all 1x1 riding, maybe next week I will switch to a bike with some gears, Stay tuned.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Steamy Sunday

Rode to Paws with Bro, man was it hot. I was soaked with sweat. It did feel good to be riding though. This was the 11th day in a row that I rode a bike, a new record for me. We stopped by Parkers Lake and I picked some berries. Had an whole handful and were they ever tasty. Sat on our ususal bench and watched some guy in a canoe with his young son on something like a kayak/board thing. The kayak was tied to the canoe and the son had a kayak paddle that he seems pretty good at handling. He was a bit shy about his dad pulling him with the canoe. A moment later the mom and two sisters arrived, they had been checking to see if the raspberries and blackberries were ripe yet, something tells me I won't be getting to many more of those. They all climbed into the canoe and paddled away. We finished our beer and continued on our trip to Paws. Stopped one more time to check out a new spot and had a drink. Got to Paws and had some frozen lemonade smoothie thing the sisters were making, yummy! Cold and refreshing!

The fun started when we rode home, the temp had dropped about 5 degrees from when we arrived at Paws but the humidity and the dewpoint had both remained very high. I commented that it might feel good if it rained on us on the way home and it was as if someone had been listening and before we could get 1 mile it started to rain. Bro comment taht he had heard it raining bfore we saw it rain. It was fun riding in the rain, once I got over my initial reservation about getting my shirt dirty from the crud splashing up from my back wheel. We stopped at Parkers Lake Park and had a beverage and then continued on. It was quite interesting to hear the different sounds the rain was making as it hit the leaves as we rode along. It rained and then it stopped and then it rained and then it stopped, the whole way home it kept switching on and off. We stopped and had one last beer and then arrived at Bros house. Changed out of wet clothes and shared one last beer before I called my lovely wife to pick me up. I was not going to put those wet clothes back on. All in all a fine ride, I look forward to riding in the rain again some time soon.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Another night ride.

Last night we went on a night ride. And who'd a thunk it would turn into an art crawl.

Myself, Bro, Cuz, Cuz2, and Baby Sis.

We headed to the river and took a breather along the river, just east of the Hennepin Ave. Bridge. Saw some art, along the river there is a walkway/sidewalk that has a bench like wall along side. Atop of this wall there are many small pieces, snails, snakes, toads and even a turtle. Next we rode to I believe it was 4th and 4th in downtown Minneapolis. In front of the Federal Court House, there are a bunch of mounds of grass with these "things" sticking out. These puffy mounds of grass are of all sizes, pretty much all of them were oval in shape.

Here is where I have to say that I am not in favor of publicly funded "art". I also feel that calling this "project", that is in front of the court house, art, is a stretch. I could not help but look at it and think that if I had something like this in my front yard the city would come and tell me I had to take it away.

Back to our ride....
Next we headed toward Loring Park and Joes Garage for a beverage. Parked our bikes at Baby Sis's shop, a place to purchase artfully created paper products, and walked to Joes. It was a nice cool break from the hot, muggy air.

Next we headed west to Pizza Luce for an artful slice and a pint.

From there I headed home as the others continued to Bros. It was a fine night ride/ art crawl.


Night Riders!!!!!!

Another Week

This was posted on Uncle Tom's Question Time by mistake....

Posted Thursday, July 14, 2011

Another week has gone by as have many a miles.

Last Saturday, Bro and I had a night ride.

As you may know, I have been trying to find some lights to mount to my wheels for night riding, well, after several attempts I have found what appear to be some winners. They clip onto the spokes and they have a pretty strong magnet in the base. They seem to work pretty well so far, although they had an ill effect on my odometer/computer, so, i was not getting credit. Man that sucks.

Anyway! After a short strategy session with Southern Bro, we headed down to the river. It was a great night, nice weather, great company, and cold beer. Went to Town Hall for another. Then we rode toward my house, got another beer and rode toward Bros house and we came accross a fabulous spot to have a beer. Comfy chairs!

Sunday roled around and I rode to Paws house. It was a hot one, that is for sure. Took one of the more common routes, stopped along the lake and picked some berries, YUM. They are not quite fully ripe, but, they are getting there. Still enough to pick a hand full anyway. Went west on county rd 6 and got onto 101 at the elementary school. As I rode on 101, I realized it was going to be a hot sunny ride unless I did something, so, I switched to the other side of the rode and took advantage of the shade along the sidewalk/trail. Got to Paws house and sat in the shade and shared a beer with Paw and CP and his girl B. The boys were at the parade. As we watched the last few trucks and floats from the parade go past Paws house, we look up and see some guy walking down the street with a camel. Yes, a CAMEL. Now I don't know about you, but, that is not something I see every day. Time to ride home and I was simply not feeling it, but, I slogged on.

Monday came and I rode to work. On my way home I stopped at one of those vegetable stands you see in the mall parking lots this time of year. I purchased a cantaloupe from the young man working the stand. Got home and cut up the melon to eat with dinner. I must say that was one fine melon, just ripe.

Tuesday rode with Bro, SBro and AH down to the river and over to, you guessed it, Town Hall. Had some fries and a couple beers. AH had a black bean burger, said it was great. From there we rode to Pizza Luce. Had a couple slices and a couple beers. Yet another fine ride with my Bros. On my way home, I swung by 33Bikes and there was Ben and Matt putting stuff away, getting ready to go home and Ben called me over to show me that the antique shop next to him is now gone, empty. He is expanding and he is very excited as one might imagine.

Wednesday found me taking a ride with Bro that ended in a night ride. We headed west and stopped in a park area behind Tonka City Hall. After a beer we rode west on the trail along Minnetonka Blvd. Took the path around the school and through the marsh and crossed under Hwy 7. Rode around Purgatory Park and went back the way we came, except we took the trail into Hopkins and stopped and drank a beer and shot the s#*! on the bridge over Hwy 7. Back to my house for another. It was a fun ride, first time to ride that trail in the dark. My new lights worked better this night. Had no obvious ill effects on my computer/odometer, got full credit. Something like 85 miles for the week so far and I still have several days left.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

God Bless America


Rode with Bro today.

From my houuse to the Happy Gnome, near Selby and Dale.

A beverage and on to the Muddy Pig.

A beverage and its off to Town Hall.

A beverage and a walleye hoagie and west to Bro's house.

One more beverage and I head for home.

When I got home, I shot off a couple bottle rockets.

Something like 40 miles.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Where has the time gone

WOW, has it really been a year plus since I last posted anything?

It has been a busy last couple of weeks.

We had a group ride to Town Hall and then to Pizza Luce. Beer and pizza during a bike ride, can it get any better?

Euro Bro came to town and so Myself, Bro and Euro Bro took a ride to Town Hall, the Cardinal and then met up with Baby Sis and walked to Matts for a Juicy Lucy. That was a fine burger, and Matts is even getting into selling good beer these days, man it just keeps getting better.

Last Saturday Bro and I took a long ride, we rode west on the Luce Line to Watertown, stopping along the way to rest at our favorite benches. From Watertown we rode dirt roads south to Mayer and from there we rode the Dakota Rail Trail from its very western edge back to Wayzata. From there we rode to dads and met Southern Bro shortly after his arrival. 68 miles total, that GT is a heavy bike and those were some well earned miles.

This week all 5 of the Bros got together and we went for a ride. First we rode to 1309 and checked things out, it has changed alot now that they have torn down two houses, two apartment buildings and the office building by the creek. We had a beer on the swing set and a neighbor was kind enough to snap a photo of us. He also told us of the long range plan which includes tearing down all of the single family homes and all the double bungalows that surround the park, with the exception of the few houses at the eastern end of the park. In a few years we will hardly recognize the old 'hood'. After our trip down memory lane we rode to #3's house and played some ping pong and made some adjustments to Southern Bros bike. Dad was also there for the ping pong. Fun was had by all.