The kickoff of summer!

On Monday, our dreary holiday weekend weather turned glorious and we got out for a ride.  Then that afternoon, our 1st cycle tourist to visit us for the season showed up!   You should know, no one ever visits or pets me!

Hi Lark! I know from experience that cycle tourists
 are very friendly.

That evening, Tom came over and we all had a hearty meal together.

It's been a long and busy day, I just couldn't
stay awake any longer.

Ya Lark, I'll miss you. I hope your ride across the UP,
then south to your home in OH goes well.
You can come see us any time!

Rhubarb, garbage hike and bridge fun

With all the rain we've got lately, my pack has not been out for any rides.  So as a wet alternative, we've been on some short hikes.

Me and my pack hiked a XC trail today picking up garbage.
95% of it was not dropped by skiers.

Isn't this pretty??  This is why we love to be down here.

The 1st trail project this summer is the replacement of this
little pedestrian bridge.  Can you help??
This is trail mutt approved stuff. 
If you can, just contact my pack at arlyn.aronson-(at)-gmail.com

MMM rhubarb! If you'd like some, my pack has plenty.
Just get in touch...and then you could stop by to see me!!

Swedetown swing II!

With the sun out and trails drying, I've coaxed my pack out a few times and on Tuesday Jim and Melissa were in town so we swung up to ride Swedetown trails with them.   This was our second time there this year.   It was great! 

We are getting ready to go.

We're off!  Sandy got a nice photo of me here.

Here they come.

Vermin spotting is still good,
since the leaves aren't out yet.

South Side trail is always fun.

We met this fellow along they way. 
I'm sure he's friendly but we didn't stop.

Sandy got a nice shot here!   You can see the trail wander into the right side.

 

Now we'll go down Farmer's Well.

We went right through the kitchen.

I checked for the sand hill cranes that we saw here last year.

On our way back now.

We stopped so I could cool off and get a nice drink.

We has SUCH a nice ride with them.

Swedetown creek gorge hike.

With snow falling here overnight and breezy out, my packed headed into Swedetown gorge to look at the bridges down there.  It's always nice and warm down there.

This is one in what we call "the dam meadow".
Looks like it will need some work.

 

This is the "middle bridge" that was built this past summer.

This one we plan to replace this summer with one that's
wider, much stronger and with a railing for winter crossing.
Would you like to help us do that?  Then contact them at
arlyn.aronson(a)gmail.com or 370-2911  Thanks!

 

This is the Sisu bridge we plan to replace in the next two years.

 

We looked under it for damage.  This was SO scary!

Part II, Ely adventures

After the symphony with Sandy's folks, we then headed north to Ely MN.  

We went for a hike on the Hidden Valley ski trails.
They don't allow dogs so they are not trail mutt approved,
at least over the winter.

Gee, I wish they at least allowed trail mutts here.  This looks fun!

 

Back at the Vesel's, busy dogs can really relax here. 

On Monday we went for a nice hike on the Kekekabic trail.
We'd never been on it before.

This starts 25 miles NE of Ely.

Oh this is nice.

We bumped into these fellows who'd been out to camp and hike a 27 mile loop.  They were friendly.

Shortly after that, we bumped into another friendly hiker.

Sandy and Mr Mitchell discussed routes.
Are we camping here tonight?  I hope so!

A fine overlook.

This is an old beaver dam the trail crosses on.

Axe marks.  This is confusing since this is not a wilderness area...

A BIG one that fell across the trail.
 Who's going to axe this one off the trail????

Oh good, a cool pond to lay in.

The trail wasn't marked overly well and few blazes were seen.
Here tape was used.

We stop for lunch.

We cross a cut over section.

We found old trail lumber piled up.  What was it for?

The trail crossed many ancient rock outcrops

We had such a nice hike.
We may come back  and do a three day hike on the 27 mile route
the fellows had did.

Almost back.  These rocks are from the hole to put the power pole in.
Wheres the dirt?

Back to town, I was hungry.

We had such a nice time here.