Monday,
August 18, 2025 Biking Itasca
MEOWT! MEOWT!
I like going outside but there are dogs.
I don’t like that.
Last night,
the weather forecast called for an 80% chance of rain. It did not happen. They are calling for the same this
morning. I doubt it… It did sprinkle a
little, and the cloud cover was thick. But
we got tired of waiting and got the bikes ready to tour the park. It was cool.
I had long pants and a jacket on and was quite comfortable.
We are in
Bear Paw Campground, and the bike trail goes through the woods, and across a
really nice wood walkway. Once at the
street, we pick up the bike trail that will take us all around. Itasca Park is heavily forested. A variety of pines, oaks, maples, aspens and
a whole lot more line every walkway, bike path, and road. The undergrowth is laden with ferns. There are a variety of blooming flowers, like asters,
black eyed susans, what looks like a liatris, and some yellow daisy types, just
to name a few. Even though it is only
mid-august, we do see a few trees here and there that have started their fall
colors. This must be breathtaking in
October!
We cross the
not-so-mighty Mississippi, weaving our way past lakes, meadows and creeks. This looks like it would be Moose country,
but apparently, the moose were hunted out of the area a hundred years ago and
never returned. Pity. After a while, the trail merges onto a one way
road. It is quite wide with plenty of
room for bikes. For the entire time we
were on this road, only 3 cars passed us.
We stopped at Mary Lake for some cheese and apple. There was a sign showing a one ton eagles
nest on the lake. I hiked a bit up the
trail looking for it… BZT! BZT! BZT! I don’t think so… the buzzing of
mosquitoes turned me away quickly! I was
quite happy that I was wearing long pants and long sleeves. I will watch eagles on the webcam… There are gentle ups and downs, and I have to
admit (shhh, don’t tell anybody), that at one point going downhill, I was going
28 mph, and increasing. I had to hold on
to my helmet visor as the force threatened to lift me just like the flying
nun! (For you younger folks, you can
Google the Flying Nun…) The speed limit is only 20mph. OOPS!
WHEEEEEEE!
The loop
took us about 2 ½ hours, and was just under 18 miles. It was a real treat. The sun started peeking out as we
returned. Back at Artie, we cleaned
up. Spouse wanted to enjoy sitting
outside… I tried… I really tried… But the Minnesota state pests (flies and mosquitos)
were too much for me. Spouse lit a fire,
and the smoke really helped for a while.
I am a magnet for no-see-ums… and for see-ums for that matter. I will limit my time outside if I am not
mobile! There is a reason everybody has
a campfire at 2 in the afternoon.
We let Rudy
out, and really check him for ticks when we bring him in. So far, so good. And he wants out big time!
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