Things that don't bother me.

I've lived at my current residence for seven years. I know every river road within one hundred miles but not where the yard waste compost site is. I know where all the little bluff roads are and a hand full of coffee shops but not the Trader Joe's (trendy grocery store). I think it's a few blocks north of my house, no more than a mile. I do know where the city's oil recycling and household hazardous waste site is, although I don't get there as often as I should.

Rooster's rules of the road.

Dogs love to spend their winter evenings swapping near-catch motorcycle stories.

More rules of the road and a proper introduction to come.

- Ride North

Squirrel cheeks

Fall can make a man cagey and hurried. Unwilling to accept the end of a season, unable to embrace the beginning of another, we seek opportunity wherever it can be found. Another nugget for our cache. Soon they will all be gone.  

Mississippi River, Monday 7:00 AM

The St. Paul Boat Club

Light returns to the city.

Looking west as the sun comes up behind me.

Bridges and band-shells.

For now, anxiety gives way to wholesome satisfaction. 

Trollstigen on TX500

This is too good to not share. 

Ride Norway!

The end of summer getaway

Fall is a busy time of the year around my house. With temps in the 50's (10 Celsius)  the race is on to get outside projects wrapped up. Waterfowl hunting seasons are in full swing by mid October. Trips to the park, apple orchard and pumpkin patch must be made. For some this is canning season, I make beer: stouts and porters for the upcoming holiday season, and hard cider. Fall is truly the most wonderful time of the year.

The only way to properly prepare for this self induced tail spin is to take an end of summer trip. Five days of running around the north woods, 200 miles away from the nearest to-do list. And that's just what we did.

My wife is a natural instigator of good times, a trait which she inherits from her father. When she sets her mind to something, it's going to happen. (fly fishing lessons, Garth Brooks tickets, a campsite at a casino) This is how we ended up at a cabin on Lake Superior's Madeline Island.

the port of Bayfield, Wisconsin

Who doesn't love a ferry boat ride?

The boy and I watching the "sun pop-up" from our back yard.

Hiking at Big Bay State Park

9:00 AM snacks at the town park beach, we're prepared for anything.

We had rain on our last evening but it cleared up just in time for a double rainbow!

The scene from our fire pit.

The town park overlook.

The boy's first canoe ride, I think he's hooked.

The Apostle Islands off Wisconsin's north coast.

If this was the extent of my travels, I would not get board. (I would however miss North Dakota)