Jay Richards

Last week my nephew Marco had a cc meet in Bagley. Marco runs for the International Falls Broncos. It was maybe of the largest meets in northwest MN. All teams from the border towns and as far south as Pelican Rapids, east as Pequot lakes (where we ran in to fellow mtbker Brandt Elson waving the Maplelag flag nicely) and west as Hawley (which is partnered with Ulen Hitterdal for cc and has the Fighting Walleye as the mascot).

After Jake was done with his intern work, we went the hour north to watch the meet but first made a stop on the west side of Itasca Park to check out some forest roads I have always wanted to explore. It was raining pretty good but we still went out to grind some sand in to the drivetrain and what not. We picked up the Cox Lake forest road just east off of hiway 37. To the west is the White Earth State forest land. I have not quite ridden the trails from the lake cabin all the way to 37 so this is an easy way to see what things look like east as I continue to formulate a master plan Ha! for a possible future point to point/gravel grinder/ mountain bike adventure type thing.

Blessed to live in area I feel is the most beautiful in the world this time of year. The trails and roads were just like Chequamegon pretty much. The rain intensified and what was bone dry a few days ago, got pretty greasy muddy. Fun stuff. Jake was a trooper. Thanks Jake.
I am in a video making mode, having discovered a new program that is super easy and doesn't take much time. Highlights below.


Jake said he was fired up for the ski season after watching. The atmosphere of the teams tents very similar and just awesome seeing all those kids active.
We were going to stop at Ice Cracking for a burger on the way home but good thing we called ahead to find out closed so we floated around 113 and stopped in to the Elbow lake store/bar/cafe for the first time ever. There was a little too much microwave door opening and closing for me but the best part was talking to the owner and observing the areas finest. The owner was on the phone talking to his relatives about some heart issues he had no idea...."yeah, they said my resting heart rate was 160 but I had thought she was all good". Got the run down on bear season, ducks, grouse and everything else awesome about the northwoods.
Fun trip with Jake. Good times.