Maya on the Moon

NASA

 Took the Moonlander to a large area that has had a bunch of earth movers working it into a future neighborhood.  It kind of looked like the surface of the Moon.

I have no idea why Maya was making these cute faces from wonderment, to concern to terror.  Perhaps it is the lack of gravity or oxygen here on the Moon.  

Fear not Maya I have a Moonlander to ride over this barren surface.  Well yea Maya you will have to walk.  But I with my Moonlander will be floating over this rough surface in efficient comfort, safety and style.   Maya's inferior bipedal locomotion proved no match on this lunar landscape.  She was quickly dropped.  

Tandem Cargo Bike Conversion

 Had this idea today.  Knew the internet would not let me down on it being already done.  Thanks to this guy Andy for making it happen.   

The only problem I can really see with the system is that it allows way too much stuff to be carried.   On the other hand it is already set up to carry the weight of another person so the bike can handle whatever you  have the legs to pedal.    

Last Ride I Reken

 Took the Reken out for what may be a last ride this evening.  With any luck I will be selling it in the near future.  Explored a Minnesota Nature area in South Chan just north of Shakopee and the Minnesota river.  Basically near the point the LRT south trail ends at the MN river.   The area was developed some time in the past and had some remains of a dam below that I suppose had this whole wetland area turned into a lake long ago.  I also found a lot of granite remains some polished as if grave stones were made here.   If you look closely someone has dropped one of the granite pieces down into the dam and broke it.  I love stumbling upon areas like this while out doing daily tasks.  Having a bike in the car helps make these unexpected rides possible.

Last shot is the back yard farm.  It always seems to hold still for pics which is part of why I film it so often.

Morel Mushroom Time

Next door neighbor came over last night with a gift of the nicest morel mushroom I have seen.  I have been in the woods near the house looking for morels two times this year near his find and come back empty handed each time.  I think he found the right time.  I will be back tonight to find more.   I hope an additional spot I tried to spread spores last year was fruitful.  I mean fungal.  

Morel's are hollow inside.    

These released a lot of moisture. 

Just some butter, salt, pepper and garlic

A cream sauce over noodles would be perfect.  I had rice available and did not want to wait. 

 Fantastic.  

I got married 12 years ago today.

Wife's gift helps confirm it was a good choice.  Thanks for the purchase help Heath.  

 I had fully accepted that a Moonlander was not going to happen this year and had been putting effort into making the Pugsley the best it can be.  Husker Du tires and bags all around.  Feels a little like I am cheating on the Pug's but I will get over it.

 I need more rides on the Moony to know if it will be my do everything bike the pugs was becoming or if I will want it primarily as my flotation bike for snow and sand.

 The bike is art.  It is lighter than my Pugsley and the 28mm rear offset is really weird looking in person.

 The sparkle paint is cool.  Cool the way your bachelor uncles 1980's sparkle paint speed boat was cool.

The Easter Island pic is here because it goes well with the pic before, it is really big and heavy like a Moonlander and it also kicks ass.   

Ibis Maximus

No it is not photoshopped.  Link

Phone pic dump

This is Maya being me when she is in trouble.  

I really enjoyed making and eating this chicken parmigiana. 

Bone pile I rediscovered in some woods near the house while looking for early morels.

Ella and Mazy on a Louisville Swamp hike to some not super old ruins.  

The new Gran Bois tires did well on the ride around MPLS and to Artcrank.  Sadly even with a giant trailer I managed to crunch my poster.  The trail system, bodies of water and parks in the metro area are amazing.   They also appear to be used by more people than ever.  

Mazy got her baby making parts cut out.  She is mostly very proud of her collar and will actually bring it to me to put it on her at times.  Much better side vision than a cone.  

Easter was fun.

Looking for a good hossenfeffer recipe.

Saw cool stuff riding along the Red River in Fargo.  Really like riding on river banks with the Pugsley.

Took the girls to the Dead Zoo (Cabella's) on the way back from Fargo.  

Back home

Bikepacking

Been playing around with Instagram.  I like it so far.  Basically Twitter with pics and words if you want.  

Bike packing with Heath

We rode in an area north east of Detroit Lakes MN here is a link to a map of the area.   This was one of the best trips I have taken and hope to go back soon with others.  

We didn't ride far or fast but the weather was perfectly cool with great sunlight.  The Pugsley with my new gear set up really seemed to be in its element.   

We heard an ATV in the evening but otherwise we were free of all other people for the trip.  

I used two industrial strength bungees and nothing more for my tent.  So simple yet it worked perfectly.  On fast rough descents the bike and gear seemed to disappear underneath me as I floated down the trail.  

I don't like pic's of me any more than anyone else but I think this one shows my gear set up well.  Tent on the front, sleeping pad and bag in the back, cooking, clothes and tools in the frame bag, snacks and phone in the gas tank bag.  I really started to understand why the Tour Divide riders use this bag set up.  It did great with bumps while going fast and it handled bushwhacking and brush from the trail well since it is less wide than me.   My new Husker Du tires were a joy.  Rolled fast, gripped well and softened the rough stuff with all that fat bike float.   

12 new pounds of coffee roasting potential

Flight 5 1941

I have been enjoying the Minnesota history photo Link Heath provided the other day.

Date:	30-OCT-1941
Time:	02:04
Type:	Douglas DC-3A-269
Operator:	Northwest Orient Airlines
Registration:	NC21712
C/n / msn:	2124
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 15
Other fatalities:	0
Airplane damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Moorhead, MN -    United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Minneapolis, MN
Destination airport:	Fargo, ND

Narrative:
Crashed in fog due to icing. Twelve passengers and three crew were on board. The pilot Clarence Bates was the only survivor

Here is what else I could find:  The plane crashed where the Crystal sugar plant is now and the pilot Clarence Bates was found wandering 250 feet away.  He was thrown out the cockpit windscreen.   

 

Almost exactly one year later on October 28 1942 the 42 year old Clarence crashed a  B-24 Liberator he was testing for the military.  The crash happened at take off in St. Paul and he did not survive this one.  He is buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.  The following is written by his son from an obituary:

Clarence Bates, was a romantic, barnstorming white silk scarf and helmeted pilot in the 1920s and 30s.
He loved flying more than money. In that era the idea of greed did not enter the minds of those who were pursuing their dream. He joined Northwest Airlines as operation manager at Hector Field in Fargo in 1933. He flew the mail run to Chicago and Winnipeg in a plane with skis. Amelia Earhart was stranded at the Fargo airport and he invited her to our home for supper where she regaled our family with tales of her exploits. He was promoted to Minneapolis as co-pilot in 1934. When he became captain he was elected as chairman of the pilots union where the issue was safety, not money. His love of flying was shared by his fellow pilots along with his loyalty to the company under Croil Hunter.
My father was killed testing B-24s for the army on Oct. 31, 1942, while on his vacation from NWA. 

A nap sounds nice