September Nice

This week was about as good as it gets for September. Cool nights, warm and pleasant days and dry weather. 

The frost last weekend kicked the fall color in to a high gear and things are really starting to change fast. One of the best times of the year! 

Last Thursday Jack had a cc meet in Little Falls. There were a ton of schools there with over a 1000 runners!!

I remember running there in high school, we did just one meet there. Some kid thought it would be funny to move the markers during the race and make things interesting. We never went back.

Jon played in Grand Rapids last week with his Great Plains team in the HS Elite leagues. We had a wedding going on at Maplelag but the second game wasn't until 8:30 on Saturday night and I was able to sneak away after the ceremony with the Scamp. We spent the night in the fairgrounds area. Nice spot.

Facing off vs Team North. Great hockey vs northern and outstate kids. The Grand Rapids arena is a southern range/northern classic. Great lighting, fantastic seating and sight lines. Other than the tender having a off day, a great game.

Jon setting up goal from the corner.

Before the game, snuck over to the Legion trail right next to the arena. Only rode about 20 minutes but a sweet trail right in town and definitely the closest singletrack to any arena I have been to in MN.

To make sure the car engine stayed warm, we went over to Duluth on Tuesday to bring a car for Jake. Jake and I rode a couple hours, hitting up my favorite trail in the Midwest, Piedmont and the new track at Brewer Park. After a hour or so, we went over to Hartley Park where I fielded off a bonk and exhilarated myself following Jake's wheel. Damn that kid rides smooth. Piedmont is classic old school mountain biking. Love it. Brewer Park is machine built, pumpy flowy stuff that is fun to ride. Pumps and berms in between the rocks. I was impressed they had trail open just days after building it. Seems like most trail won't open up until months after and it not good form to post pictures of people riding but say not open.  

Rolling a large rock.

Ready for a day of trail building.

Wednesday was the annual FFA Fall Rally day at Maplelag. 400 kids learning about Ag related occupations. We have been doing this for 15 years and have to say this year the kids were incredibly well behaved and hardly any garbage left behind and kids climbing on cabooses like some years. Great leadership is key.

20 school buses and the 52' food semi truck coming in as well. All coming in and turning around etc.with no paved road or parking lot. Nice work drivers.

Jens and I have been fishing at nights whenever we can in the old duck boat, with the no cover old Johnson 5horse motor.  Haven't caught much but nice to be out enjoying the sunsets. We're gonna catch a wall hanger before the lake freezes over!