It May Be Cool and Windy But Spring Progresses

Temps hovered in the upper 40's - low 50's today with a brisk wind off of Lake Superior. The skies were clear, and if you found a sheltered corner the sun's rays would quickly warm you up. The hillsides are rapidly turning that special shade of green only seen in early spring. Living in an area with a long, sometimes harsh, winter leads to a real appreciation of the renewal that is spring.

Today was the NMTC Spirit Mountain Run. Unlike most of the events in the series it is held on the road; starting at Spirit Mountain and traveling west on Skyline Boulevard (which is 75% gravel) to Becks Rd and back. Due to the popularity of the race a few years ago the start line was moved onto Spirit Mountain, below the Chalet (better parking options at the ski hill) and the race became a 10 miler. Skyline twists and turns as it traverses far western Duluth so there were times that we were running into a headwind both outbound and inbound! I believe this is one of the older continuously run races in the Duluth area. As I have my first ultra of 2017 coming up next Saturday I took it easy today, treating the race as a long, easy training run. It gave me a chance to visit with a couple of running friends who I don't get to chat with too often.

Later in the day I got back outside to do a bit of yard work (knocking the tops off the dandelions in our yard). I took a few breaks to photograph what is blooming in my yard:

Mertensia

Bleeding Heart

Magnolia

This magnolia tree was planted 10 years ago after being rescued from a dump pile at a nursery. It took quite a few years to get established but is now looking pretty happy and provides us with abundant, fragrant blossoms every spring.

Viola species

Viola species

A few years ago the white spotted violet showed up in our side yard. I take special care to avoid them when mowing and weed whipping until they are done blooming.

As I was working in the yard I noticed a ruby-throated hummingbird visiting the bleeding heart and daffodils in the upper garden. Other avian visitors today including Goldfinches, the resident flock of Chickadees, Robins and Cardinals (we have a nesting pair in the neighborhood, not that many years ago they were not a resident this far north, a sign of climate change?).

I also took the time to clear the old hop vines from the front porch and reset the fencing we use for it's trellis. This years hops are quickly growing, with some vines already over a foot tall.  By mid-summer they will be over 25 ft long and cover our entire front porch, providing a nice privacy screen.

This evening my knitting group met. It is comprised of folks that have almost all met via the NMTC runs so we dubbed it the Northern Minnesota Knit Club. Since we decided to meet at Blacklist Artisan Ales it is also called Beer & Stitch. The past couple of months I have taken a break from the Biohazard Socks to do some baby knitting. My most recent project is a sweater (EZ's Baby Sweater on Two Needles; Practically Seamless aka the February Sweater) for a co-worker who is expecting in June and tonight I finished it off by sewing on the buttons exactly one month after starting it at a previous NMKC meet-up.

I had started the sweater using just one strand of yarn but decided it wouldn't be large enough so combined it with another fingering weight yarn. The original yarn was High Prairie Fibers Prairie Spun Journey, a hand-dyed/self-striping yarn. I combined it with some Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift (Sholmit/Grey). The buttons were a great find at Yarn Harbor. A company called Incomparable Buttons. The blue on the birds is a perfect match for the blue in the sweater.

May in Minnesota

It's been another cool spring, but in the last couple of days the leaves have started to pop out on the trees and the spring ephemerals are blooming everywhere. It's hard to get too far down a trail, or road, without noting another species of plant. A variety of frogs can be heard singing whenever you pass a pond or low, wet area. Friends discovered a mass of frog eggs in a garden pond and were able to witness them hatch out into tadpoles. It's a lovely time of year to be out playing in the woods.

Today's run was short, only an hour and a half (tapering for the Spring 50K next Saturday).  It was a brisk morning with a bit of an east breeze but I quickly warmed up on the run from Enger Tower to the Highland & Getchell trailhead. There is a lot of climbing in this section! On one short ascent in the Piedmont area we were surrounded by a carpet of violets, mostly the purple variety with a few white ones sprinkled in. Marsh Marigolds are evident near almost every stream and ditch, always a cheerful sight.

After the run I met a friend to walk on Park Point. We took the nature trail from the end of the road, stopping to see if the tamarack were blooming. It took us awhile to find the flowers, but eventually we spotted one, and then another, and... well then it became obvious how many there were!

We spotted a lot of elderberry bushes with flower-heads just emerging as well as starflower (also just putting forth flowers) and a couple of trillium (most likely nodding). I remember seeing wintergreen in the pine forests in the past but was unable to locate it today. We also spotted a mystery plant, possibly a member of the bleeding heart (poppy) family?

After the walk I suited up and got the TW200 out for a ride. This is a fun little motorcycle and I have now ridden it enough to be getting a bit more comfortable with it's idiosyncrasies and how it handles. It is about 200 lbs lighter then my R65 and quite nimble. It is geared quite low so when riding on the streets I find myself quickly shifting up into 4th gear.

I headed up the hill to Skyline Boulevard and then west to the gravel section just past Magney-Snively Park. The road was recently opened and it looks like some more loose, chunky gravel was added. I figured that would be a good place to get more comfortable with how this bike handles.  I puttered along enjoying the views from the overlooks and cataloguing the wildflowers blooming along the road (large-flowered trillium, blood root, marsh marigold, and wood anemone). The woods are full of wild leeks (ramps) as well.

I stopped at the Bardon's Peak Overlook to take in the view and warm up my hands. Temps were in the high 50's today and that is a bit on the cool side for motorcycle riding for me even with a really nice pair of insulted riding gloves. I hung out taking in the views and warming my hands on the rock walls. Once circulation was restored it was time to finish my ride.

Bardon's Peak overlook

Sadly the weather looks to be turning cool and wet again so I brought the TW back to the airport to store it under cover.

All in all a pretty fun day. And topped off by a nice video chat with my daughter and grandson (now 11 months old, walking, very interested in books, things that spin, and a redhead like his mother).

Playing on the Trails and Other Distractions

It's been a busy spring and summer. Between work, playing outdoors and trying to get a knitting project or two done we added another member to our family. 

GDK - 6 weeks

My daughter and her family live near by and we have been spending a lot of time together. It's fun to watch GDK grow and develop his personality. 

Running

I didn't participate in any of the big spring races this year (see above). Instead I had the opportunity to run in many of the Spring NMTC races and headed to the Twin Cities for two trail races (Stigma Breakers Trail Races - 10K and Afton 25K). It was fun to run something that didn't take a significant chunk of my day and left me feeling pretty fresh afterwards. Plus trips to the Cities allow me time with my sister and her family. 

It's been years since I have run a 25k and my training has not been spectacular this year (for multiple reasons) so I was pleasantly surprised to run my third fastest 25K at Afton. I had been doing some  hill work in preparation to heading out west in September and it paid off. I am not fast (in the grand scheme of things) and was getting passed pretty routinely on the flat parts of the course but was able to make up for it on the climbs. I also tried out a new fueling strategy and that seemed to work out well too. 

Saturday is the Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultra and I (foolishly?) signed up to run.  I am going into this race "well rested"; we shall see how that turns out. I have done something similar before - running a 42 mile fat ass on even less training a couple of years ago - so do know it can be done. I just need to run an average of 16 min/mile to stay ahead of the cut-offs. 

Mentally I have not had the drive to push myself very hard in training for the past couple of years (I blame the last two very stressful years at my previous job for this) and that is part of the reason I have not signed up for many races. Couple that with odd, nagging injuries and training has been less then desirable for running ultras. 

Yesterday I did get out to explore a new section of the SHT that was just built in Duluth. It connects two ends of the SHT in Brewer Park allowing for a loop hike in that section. Oh my was it fun! It appeared I may have been the first human on that section of trail since Larry and his crew had built it. Lots of deer tracks but no other human foot prints. I took time to clear some dead fall from last weeks storm and check out the sights. The oddest human artifact I found was a smoker (red, older but not antique) standing alongside the trail quite a ways from any roads. The coolest critter encounter I had occurred after moving a rock to build a cairn on an outcropping. Underneath was a Redbellied snake! It stuck around for a while and allowed me a chance to admire it before slipping away into the underbrush. 

Biking

I have been spending a bit of time on my bikes - splitting my time between the commuter, fat bike and mountain bike. I even managed to get in my longest pedal ever (40 miles) on a lovely summer day. I biked to Jay Cooke State Park where I stopped to enjoy the view of the river, eat lunch and knit before heading back into town. I chose to take the Munger Trail all the way back into town which meant I would have to bike uphill for the last mile to get home. All went well and I even managed to pedal most of the way up the gravel drive into my yard (it's a steep slope).

On my most recent bike ride out to Lakeside and back I encountered a black bear on the Lakewalk. I slowed down so I could observe it and as I drew closer hollered at it to clear the trail - which it did. Turns out this is probably the same bear I took a picture of three years ago in about the same area. It also became famous a couple of days later by laying in a neighbors kiddie pool. 

Motorcycle

I got a new, lower seat for the R65 this spring and got out a lot in May in preparation for an intermediate rider course. Then the weather turned cool and wet. Since we don't have a garage and live on a gravel road it ended up back at Park Point in one of our hangers. June was not a good month to ride as I was doing a lot of commuting across town at odd hours and in various states of sleep deprivation. I am hoping to get out on the bike a bit more in the future. 

Knitting

When there is a baby due the knitting needles get busy!

Tomten

Baby Surprise

Knubbelchen

As you can see I got a lot of use out of one skein of multi-colored yarn! The Baby Surprise is little baby sized so hopefully GDK gets some use out of it before he gets too big. 

I have been working on a project for myself but it has been a bit slower going as it needs my undivided attention. 

Biohazard Sock

I recently picked up a new pattern holder that has allowed me to set up the top of foot and sole patterns next to each other. This has allowed me to make much quicker progress. Our recent extended power outage was good for knitting time too. No electronic distractions, and knitting by headlamp really focuses your attention!

Spring Ephemerals on a Cool and Blustery Day

From yesterday's 16 miler at Jay Cooke State Park:

Spring Beauty (Clayton virginica)

We didn't make it half a mile before I was stopping to snap photos of some of my favorite spring wildflowers, or "old friends" as I called them to my friend Shaun.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) with Trout Lily leaves in the background

Trout Lily/Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium species)

Hepatica (Hepatica americana)

Hepatica (Hepatica americana)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) The leaves clasp the
flower stalk and will fully open once the flowers are done blooming.

Unknown shrub (for the moment).  Leaves were barely emerging but there were plenty of flowers!

Possibly Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Newcomb's has this to say "Yellowish flowers in short, dense spikes; blooms in early spring as the leaves unfold. Leaflets with blunt, coarse teeth, the terminal leaflet short-stalked or stalkless. 2-6' high. Rocky woods, w.N. Eng. to Kan. south."

Shaun insisted on a photo at this bridge.
I think I have a similar one from last year about this time. 

Spring Beauty (Clayton virginica)

Spring Beauty (Clayton virginica)

Catkin

St. Louis River was roaring! 

Looking downriver to the Swinging Bridge

Route included the following trails: Summer; Bearchase; Lost Lake (lower and upper); Spruce; Silver Creek and Ridge.

A Little Bit of Knitting

Finished up the Baby Surprise with attached I-cord edging. This photo was taken under artificial light so the colors are off just a little bit. I still need to search out the right buttons for this little jacket. 

Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock - Everlasting Gobstopper

Every baby, boy or girl, needs a soft friend for snuggles. So, with the remnants of the sweater yarn and other sock yarn/fingering yarn I had about the house I made a Knubbelchen:

Catching Up - A Photo Essay

October 11th - Playing on the fat bike at Hartley Park after a trail race on one of the warmest days of the year.

Finished Wild Duluth 50K - my only ultra of 2015.
I ran this on minimal training and spent a lot of time visiting with volunteers and Hams

Tomten Jacket - knit for friends expecting their first child 

My "granddog" made an announcement

Crewed and paced Ron at a the Ozark100 mile.
In between driving to aid stations I got to hang out with Adam's wonderful crew.

Annual trip to Boulder Lake to go tree hunting

Baby booties to go along with a blanket for another friend who was expecting

Black ice + steep downhill + darkness + fat bike = sudden, and unprepared for, meeting with the ground.
A month later the scabs are finally gone and my knee cap is no longer tender to touch.

Checking out a dam on the St. Louis River during a long run

Socks for Sam! Hawk Ridge color way (Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock Yarn)

Merry Christmas from the Piedmont Trails!

Post-ride on fresh snow at Mission Creek

9th Annual Barely Organized New Years Day Run (we even had press coverage!)

Post-run potluck

One sock done!

How I custom knit socks

January 3rd - view from the newest section of the Duluth Traverse Trail overlooking Lake Superior and the Harbor

Start of the Tuscobia 150(160) bike race in Rice Lake, WI

The bathroom renovation continues with the removal of the old tub/shower unit
 and some interior walls and installation of a new tub

Ready to use! (note: this is our only bathroom so things need to be done in steps that allow for ongoing use)

Knitting Origami, otherwise known as the Baby Surprise Jacket

Fold A to A and B to B...

.... and seam the shoulders. I added a bit of applied I-cord after this photo was taken.
Once buttons have been sewn on it will be ready for the newest addition to our family. 

My fascination with lichen continues