One year ago today we were still skiing, thanks to a two foot dump of snow. We hadn't been on the trails other than some snow riding. This year things are pretty much average with ice~frost out. A few low areas still holding water but overall the bike course is in great shape for April 28th. We have been blowing out the track when we can and hope to have things done this week. In a way it is nice to have the leaf coverage when it rains, like it did this weekend, and the leaves keep things from getting too muddy and traction is pretty good. 12 full laps logged this year already compared to 0 at this time last year. In fact last year we didn't have the full loop ready until June with so much deadfall to clear. This year after the winter, only two trees requiring chainsaw action. Probably will have a wind storm tonight now!
A jam packed weekend so not much time for riding. Did sneak a few laps when I could. After hundreds of laps on the home trail, every year is still a kick. Didn't seem to appreciate the track enhancements we did before last years race in the Fall...this year really notice it. Things are riding very nicely. The lakeside drops are flowing and don't seem to present the challenge like other years. Was thinking near the end to run the trail farther up and add some new stuff. We'll see. Finishing the new loop to the west is priority for the Spring for new trail building.
Izaak Walton group over the weekend. Having worked at Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, we keep on slipping the Inn. Essex was orginally named Walton to draw attention to Izaak Walton the conservationist but was too confusing so they changed the name to Essex. The Walton ranger station still exists in Glacier Park. I found one of the orginal Walton depot signs in a old shed in Essex and asked the Larry, the owner at the time about it but he said not for sale. They sold and know I wonder if that sign is still in the shed. Anyways, the theme for this year was working with community. Nice to see local commissioners, the mayor and other city officials partake. Hopefully a focus of silent activity drives through instead of the atv focus certain groups in the county are trying to push through. One thing nice about Becker county is the non-development of atv trails like you see in eastern MN and Cable/Hayward area.
Jon had a full plate of hockey over the weekend and yesterday with his first practices with the Ice Hogs in Moorhead and then practice and scrimmage with the Fighting Loons in Bemidji. I was on driving patrol and caught all the action. It is great opportunity for Jon to skate with these teams. The Moorhead team is pretty much top skaters from Moorhead that played both squirt and pee wees. Two West Fargo kids and two Crookstoon kids including a goalie that is probably one of the tops in NW MN make up the rest of the team. The style of play is typical Moorhead being hard work, aggressive and systematic play. Up to 5 coaches on the ice at one time and focus on detail. The Loons team consists of more northern kids with skaters from Grand Rapids, TRF, East Grand, Warroad, Roseau, Duluth and a couple kids from Ontario Canada. The style of play is creative and bit more wide open but very physical sometimes after watching the scrimmage on Sunday. It has been fun talking to the parents on both teams, getting the run down on the inside scoop players and teams. The recruiting and etc. at this level is something I had only heard about. All good and so far we have been having a good time with it despite the travel. Big tourney in Grand Forks this weekend at the Ralph so looking forward to that. Jon will be skating with the Loons for this tourney since he committed first to that.
No one in our family has lost a tooth like Jens did this past week. Playing Wii boxing and in the heat of the moment landed a uppercut to himself and knocked a tooth out. He scored a $2 bill from the tooth fairy for that one.
Jake headed west again for the weekend, getting some
riding in with the Wenza boys on the Mah Da Hey trail. Jake said the riding was pretty much like Sea Otter. They got rained out on Sunday so missed riding that day which was a bummer since they hauled out there but had a good time.
A jam packed weekend so not much time for riding. Did sneak a few laps when I could. After hundreds of laps on the home trail, every year is still a kick. Didn't seem to appreciate the track enhancements we did before last years race in the Fall...this year really notice it. Things are riding very nicely. The lakeside drops are flowing and don't seem to present the challenge like other years. Was thinking near the end to run the trail farther up and add some new stuff. We'll see. Finishing the new loop to the west is priority for the Spring for new trail building.
Izaak Walton group over the weekend. Having worked at Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, we keep on slipping the Inn. Essex was orginally named Walton to draw attention to Izaak Walton the conservationist but was too confusing so they changed the name to Essex. The Walton ranger station still exists in Glacier Park. I found one of the orginal Walton depot signs in a old shed in Essex and asked the Larry, the owner at the time about it but he said not for sale. They sold and know I wonder if that sign is still in the shed. Anyways, the theme for this year was working with community. Nice to see local commissioners, the mayor and other city officials partake. Hopefully a focus of silent activity drives through instead of the atv focus certain groups in the county are trying to push through. One thing nice about Becker county is the non-development of atv trails like you see in eastern MN and Cable/Hayward area.
Jon had a full plate of hockey over the weekend and yesterday with his first practices with the Ice Hogs in Moorhead and then practice and scrimmage with the Fighting Loons in Bemidji. I was on driving patrol and caught all the action. It is great opportunity for Jon to skate with these teams. The Moorhead team is pretty much top skaters from Moorhead that played both squirt and pee wees. Two West Fargo kids and two Crookstoon kids including a goalie that is probably one of the tops in NW MN make up the rest of the team. The style of play is typical Moorhead being hard work, aggressive and systematic play. Up to 5 coaches on the ice at one time and focus on detail. The Loons team consists of more northern kids with skaters from Grand Rapids, TRF, East Grand, Warroad, Roseau, Duluth and a couple kids from Ontario Canada. The style of play is creative and bit more wide open but very physical sometimes after watching the scrimmage on Sunday. It has been fun talking to the parents on both teams, getting the run down on the inside scoop players and teams. The recruiting and etc. at this level is something I had only heard about. All good and so far we have been having a good time with it despite the travel. Big tourney in Grand Forks this weekend at the Ralph so looking forward to that. Jon will be skating with the Loons for this tourney since he committed first to that.
No one in our family has lost a tooth like Jens did this past week. Playing Wii boxing and in the heat of the moment landed a uppercut to himself and knocked a tooth out. He scored a $2 bill from the tooth fairy for that one.
Jake headed west again for the weekend, getting some riding in with the Wenza boys on the Mah Da Hey trail. Jake said the riding was pretty much like Sea Otter. They got rained out on Sunday so missed riding that day which was a bummer since they hauled out there but had a good time.
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