Minneopa State Park

 Spring 2023. 

It was a frantic exodus from the cities but the bike was packed and ready to go. I set out westward on  highway 13, down 169 to Mankato. Leaving the Thursday afternoon rush is always a hassle and I didn't really feel underway until I got to Henderson. From here the road starts to follow the river a little more closely and the views are less familiar.  

A quick stop at the closed 7 Mile Creek park, 

high water and land slides had hit the area.

Wildfire smoke from the north was thick in the sky.

That night I camped at Minneopa State Park, a first for me. It's a gem of a park with trails along the Minnesota River's bluff, a bison range, and even an old stone windmill. I hear there's a waterfall there too but that would have to wait for Friday morning.

The State Park signs get an upgrade over the State Forest campgrounds.

Bison range, just behind my campsite.

The bison wander freely across the access road,

only a perimeter fence and cattle grate contain them.

Ride in at your own risk.

the windmill

Keeping my distance.

The campsites are fantastic with enough space between sites.

I was up early Friday morning and fit in a hike before breakfast. The evening before I walked the fence line trail between the range and the bluff. This morning did some birding on the trail that leads down to the river. 

The bluff trail ended abruptly at the flooded floodplain forest.

Breakfast!

I tried some instant coffee with my breakfast, it hasn't gotten any better. I much prefer cowboy coffee from my Walmart cook kit. After picking up camp, I motored over to the waterfalls area for more exploring.

Minneopa Falls.

lots of green

My dad was rode over from Wabasha to meet me for lunch before starting our trek over to Blue Mounds State Park that afternoon. I had a little time to kill which I wasted exploring the roads around the Mount Kato ski area. 

The Blue Earth and Le Sueur Rivers cut down through the landscape

before meeting the Minnesota River.

More or less the route we took over the three day trip.

Sunday's ride was from New Ulm to Mankato and back up 169.

 - Ride North

May 18^th – 19^th | 60s and hazy, 40s at night | 100 mi.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

The park is a day trip that will take you south of the Springs and through the Spanish Peaks. It's about 3 hours each way but well worth the drive, especially if you are easily entertained by the sight of mountains and arid landscapes.

Just before the park entrance there is a private campground that rents sand boards and sleds. It's not a mot-do but it's not not fun. The sand sled is the way to go, the boards require perfectly dry conditions and don't really  carve. It is a little annoying to lug then through the dunes if you'd rather be hiking out past the first volley. 

Between the parking area and the dunes is a little dry creek bead. It would be amazing to be here while it's flowing through this landscape.

- Ride North

April 5th | cool & sunny

Garden of the Gods

 It's been a busy second quarter for the Riden North crew. We've been everywhere from Colorado to North Carolina, and all over the great State of Minnesota. April 2nd was a particularly beautiful day that started early at MSP International Airport and ended with a sunset at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs is a solid medium to large city whos residents can, at anytime, take a 10 minute drive up to this beautiful park and stroll casually down the paved walkways winding their way amoung the red rock monoliths. After a short drive south from Denver, we settled into our Air BnB and did just that.

Sunset is prime time.

Adjecnet to the Garden of the Gods is the Red Rocks Open Space. It's high on my list for hiking next time we're in the area. 

Pike's Peak as seen from the park.

Smooching dromedaries. (Kissing Camels)

Watch for deer.

It was a relaxing end to a day's travils. Our week started with a spring snow storm in St Paul but quickly turned to semi-arid mountains and red rock. There was just enough of the white stuff around to pretty up the peaks but it was "warm" and sunny in the valley.

- Ride North

April 2nd and 6th

St. Paul April 1st. 

It was nice to leave this behind for a week.

The Barr trail and the Incline

 Spring break 2023, we tossed on some hiking boots and boarded a plane to Denver. Ms. North wanted to hike The Incline, a hiking hot spot that raises 2000 feet above Manitou Springs in under a mile. At its steepest, it's a 67% grade; 2800 steps take you to the top.  She gave Jr. and I an out, several times but it just seemed like so  much fun that we couldn't pass it up. 

About a 3rd of the way up.

The steps have markers every 100 steps, adding to the experience.

1500 steps. Jr. making the climb look easy.

Lots of this on the way to the top.

We made it to the top!

2800 steps.

Home is at 600ish feet, making the air at 8000 feet the biggest limiting factor in our climb. Our legs felt okay but the lungs were struggling to keep up; the second half was conquered 20 steps at a time. Thankfully, we had plenty of company at our rest stops. Most tackle The Incline in small bites but every once in a while you'll get passed by someone trail running. And then there's the super humans who run up and the down, we were passed by the same person more than twice!

From the top, the Barr trail either brings you back to Manitou Springs or continues on to Pike's Peak.

The Barr Trail is stunning and can be hiked as an out and back,

 separately from The Incline

- Ride North

April 3rd | 2000 feet

Descending the Trimbelle River valley

This one made "The Gram" but deserves a home here too. It was a "good vibes" ride, slow with a chance of deer. 

I left St Paul a little after dinner to take advantage of the late summer sun and hunt down some Guzzi roads in Peirce County. Uninterested in fast moving, I snuck out Bailey Road to Afton and onward to the headwaters of the Trimbelle River. 

County roads N, J, and W in St Croix county are beautiful motorcycle roads. Perched high above the sunken river valleys, they are open and unpopulated. You can almost peer into the dark, sinuous, deer-filled coulees below. I could ride all day on roads like this surrounded by distance. 

County Road J/W

County Road W descends an opening in the limestone bedrock where underground streams feed a river with ice cold water. To the West, Crystal Cave has been carved out under the Eau Galle River. Here the unnamed cave systems are hidden below farmland.

I feel the pull of County Road O and a leisurely trek back up Highway 35 towards home. It's getting late and the sun sets earlier behind the steep valley walls. The deer will be moving, nearsighted and hurried. I slow down and enjoy my time along the Trimbelle before we both reach the Mississippi river. 

There are deer moving, I can see them in the fields and along the road side. From the brambles to my right an eager doe leaps across my path and into the floodplain. My slow pace paid off and kept us both from harm. 

All but a short burst on I-94 were prime Guzzi roads traversed on a beautiful summer evening. From Highway 61, the sight of St Paul at dusk is welcoming.

- Ride North

July 27th | warm summer evening | 7ish  - 9:00 PM

Scott County

 Went for a Sunday morning ride in the country. Not a lot of "twisties" on this one, just corn and soybeans, small lakes, wetlands, and oaks. The area south of Prior Lake has slightly more topography than the surrounding area and hosts some small lakes and oak groves. Once the corn gives way to pasture and oaks you'll have found it.

Low water.

No water.

Highway 3 south out of Inver Grove is an immediate escape from traffic and strip malls; the pavement is nice. I turned west on 80, a gravel road south of Farmington, and continued on 2 to the Cedar lake area. Just north of Cedar Lake I passed a sign for Fish Lake Campground and did a 180 to investigate. It's a private campground with some long-term trailers but has plenty of "primitive" tent spots too. I don't think it fills up often, if you're looking for a quick getaway.  (try sites 8 or 9)

After my short but enjoyable time in Scott County, I ran up to Fairview to visit my father-in-law for lunch. I prefer highway 13 on the south side of the Minnesota River to 35W but it wasn't too bad on a Sunday.

- Ride North

80 miles | 60s | sunny