Iceland Visitors

This week our friends from Iceland, Steve and Hekla and their new baby Soldis came for a quick visit. We met in DL at the legendary Hotel Shoreham, the hotel you can get a room.

Always some good laughs. Steve worked at Maplelag a couple of winters, met Hekla at Wisconsin Green Bay where they both went to college. Steve skied and Hekla played soccer.

Had to flashback to last time we saw Steve which was when we went to visit him last summer in Iceland.

Beautiful scene in Isofjord, the community they live in now. If you want to go to Iceland, be sure to let Steve know.

The mountain biking was incredible. We only touched the surface. Hope to get back for the Fossvatvan ski race one year.

Jack with Solids.

Jens.

The baby girls. I guess Lily is grown up now.

Lily more interested in getting snacks.

Next morning we hooked up for a trail run, Steve and Hekla ran and I biked. Sun finally came out after what seemed like a week of cloudy weather.

Rock garden action.

Berm action.

Spores on the trail.

Steve gave us a sign last year and we had to show them it was up on the walls! Fun times, thanks for the visit!

May or April

If it wasn't for the foliage and greenery that made it look like late May, this past week felt more like early April than late May. May can drive Minnesotan's crazy. We get fooled thinking warm weather is in place than we get hit with cold and wet like we did this past weekend. Jack had is only indoor meet back on April 2nd and, of course, that would be one of the nicest days in spring!

Sunday I toed the line for the 27th season and the first mountain bike race this year, hitting up the local ski area Detroit Mountain for the second race in the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series. Wrote a race recap in the skinnyski MTB report if interested. Always good to see folks you have met and raced with over the years, probably the best part, and of course, finding that line of pushing it enough without blowing up and enjoy flowing through the singletrack. The temps were chilly, barely pushing 40 with some good ol fashioned mud for the earlier races. Super proud of the Maplelag team that continues to grow from all ages and classes. Great folks.

There were guys racing in sweatshirts, the mud and this flatbed hauling the race steed had it feeling like the old days.

Even walking in the pits, seeing the seasoned grizzled vets. Mike Hall showing son Jeff's race bike for the day. Trailer full of bikes ready for the conditions. Last minute rear tire change to handle the mud. Always good catching up with Mike if even a short while.

Throw back to April 2nd, indoor meet where it was cooler inside than outside.

After the race I bolted down to St Cloud to catch the tail end of nephew Reagan's grad party. If you are a fan of the annual hockey hair video that comes out the end of the season after the state hockey tourney, you might recognize Reagan. Yep, thats him. Was going to cut after the season but held out until graduation. How could he not? Headed up to Canada for a month long canoe trip. Congrats Reagan, well done.

Mom and Dad at both ends of the canoe entertaining as the hockey player dives for a cold beverage.

Big news over the weekend for Jon was his commitment to RPI to play D1 hockey. It happened pretty fast. He had been on their list since the NAHL showcase last fall, talking to the previous head coach after those September games and off and on through the season. The new coach hired few weeks ago had watched tape and did some serious scouting on all the prospects and gave Jon a call. Jon felt the fit was right and committed. He had been talking with a few other schools but one of those things you feel is right and go with it.  The mindset was to play another year of Juniors so it really hasn't sunk in he will be going to college next year. We are very proud and excited to see the future unfold.

Last weekend was fishing opener and Jens has been going out. We have been out the nights we can, catching quite a few, releasing everything except this one walleye Jens caught. We have been having fun monitoring weather trends on the Maplelag PWS keeping track of the bite in relation to pressure, dew point, fronts good stuff like that.  Dew point is the most underrated reported weather condition in my opinion. I watch dew point in winter as it is critical for grooming.

Family friend Rick scoring a great sign for the lodge over the week. Good stuff!

Chicago

Mother's day weekend I took my mom to Chicago for nephew Marco's graduation from Moody Bible Institute which is located in downtown Chicago. We drove out there, breaking the trip up by leaving Thursday afternoon than arriving Friday afternoon. Arrived bit later than expected into Chicago due to bad timing of some heavy traffic. 

 First night spent in Osseo, WI. Been well over 30 years since been to Norske Nook. Great place to savor Scandinavian fare.

Lease wrap, Swedish pancakes with Lingonberries. Great stuff.

 Swung out to Levis Mound trail Friday morning. Hadn't been there before but heard/read a lot about.

 Awesome trail. Didn't have time to check out entire the trail system but found the "Sidewinder" trail so much fun, ended up doing three laps. With most new trail overbuilt, wide and flowy which is fun for sure, good to find the old school stuff. Like the natural technical features.

 Scenic overlook off Sidewinder. There are some pretty tight turns and sketchy edges with 50-75 ft drops below.

 Friday evening met up with my sister and her family for dinner. Walking around downtown Chicago.

 Commencement Saturday morning at Moody Church. Beautiful building. One of the best commencement address I've ever heard.

 Congrats Marco!

 With Grandma.

 After lunch we walked around downtown Chicago checking out some local sights. Sister's family above.

 The "bean"

 The way things have been going lately, this might happen sooner than you think!

Sunday morning we went to a church in west town near Garfield park where Marco has been helping out the youth program for all four years. The church is brick building that doesn't look like a church at all. The congregation is mostly youth. Many of the kids coming from broken homes, 90% not having really any family. Some sad stories with shootings and the crime/drug scene.

 Very proud of Marco not only on graduation but his commitment to the church and the influence he has had on the folks there.

Before heading out we stopped at a local favorite for hot beefs and home made lemon ice. Great stop excellent italian hots, lemon ice was fantastic with real slices of lemon and meats cooked over charcoal as advertised . Drove straight home after which wasn't the most pleasant drive but home safe and sound and a great trip overall.

Prom Weekend

This is the seventh go around for prom. Not a big fan really. Prom always a guarantee for lots of likes on social media. Kids like dressing up. Parents worry a lot. 

 Jack went this year. Photo with mom and dad post grand march.

 Jens, Jack and Jon.

 With the grandmas.

 Jack's friend Tuner taking care of the high heels and didn't get the reasoning on the baseball.

 Wasn't in the cards to hit up the first Minnesota series race on Sunday. Missed the people more than anything. Dirt therapy on Sunday at local trail Mountain View in Detroit Lakes. Sweet hand built classic old school trail laced with roots.

Local school kid bow fishing had to stop and ask how it was going. Caught a few he said.

Craig Fredrickson Invite

Thursday Detroit Lakes hosted the Craig Fredrickson Invite. The meet is named after Fredrickson who was an outstanding athlete at Detroit Lakes and passed away to young at the age of 29.

After some chilly and snowy weather as of late, you couldn't of asked for a better day. Temps in the upper 60's, light winds and abundant sunshine.

Jack was running the mile. Solid field for the start.

 Running with team mates in the start. Photo: Jo Johnson.

Jack on the finishing stretch, en route to a PR. Nice job Jack.

Skier bud from Moorhead Eric Gibbons.

Cinco de Mayo eve dinner with Jonell.

Weekend Home

For most of last weekend, it was not only a weekend home for Jonell and I but a weekend home for all the boys. We haven't been all together since Christmas. Jake living in Duluth working and Jon home for a break in between playing JR hockey and heading down to the cities for summer training. 

Post whiffle ball game. Playing all time pitcher increases the risks for getting beamed. Survived.

Evening action with Jake and Anna's new dog Sully in the mix and Jon's girlfriend Sofi covering third.

Jack was down in Spring Lake Park on Friday with his track team. Team mates Aaron and Connor sporting the singlets from 87 and 88.

The spring mountain bike riding at Maplelag has been on of the best I can remember for April. If you look back on this blog, there have been more months we are usually skiing into mid April versus mountain biking.  Has been great hooking up with riders including last Sunday a fun group ride with Steve Wenzel above who has been railing the trails out here since day 1 in 1990. Steve cleaning the last stiff climb at the end of the lakeside drop segment which he helped cut and build back in 1990. Time flies.

  Jake and I hooked up with Ben Olson Saturday. Ben is relatively new to the sport but has incredible talent for technical singletrack and a big engine to go along with it. Ben lives about a hour away so we are able to hook up once every 1-2 weeks which has been fun. Ben groomed the Twin Lakes loop in the winter for fat biking which ended up being amazing and I couldn't thank enough for doing so.

Peder Arneson in the group on Sunday. Peder has been in the Fargo/Moorhead area for a few years and gets out to Maplelag for skiing and fat biking in the winter and mountain biking in the non-snowy months. We hook up on occasion and always good outings.

Jake and Steve rolling through a rock garden.

Jon and Jake coming up from the lakeside drops. Been fun getting out with Jon a few times while he has been home.

Jon riding a berm on Twin Lakes.

We got the dock in and been jumping in the lake. Freezing cold but most refreshing.

Enjoying another one of Jonell's awesome brunches.