North woods Day 6 - Iron River to Crystal Falls

Sept 29, 2020

Miles about 25
Total time 4:30
Ride time??

Another grey day, and a short ride planned to try avoid the high chance of afternoon rain.
I stop at the tiny local bike shop to top off my tires, which is needed. They don't have any locks or odometers. As I ride away I see my backup odometer now is not working today. Worked fine yesterday, wtf. I futz with it, some time sensor and magnet get out of alignment. What are the odds that I lose use of both odometers on 24 hours. A premonition maybe.
I can navigate along route fine with the excellent ACA maps, but I miss the numbers. I use milage to count down to the next turn or intermediate milestone (e.g. I am 40% done, only 2 miles to go, etc). I use the average mph to motivate pedaling. My psychological crutches are gone!

I backtrack along my hotel detour until back on route, which was the last time I read the lost odometer, but no luck.

Oh well, nothing I can do about it

Ride on

It is hillier in these parts, the hills rising to show layers of colors. Gaps from fields, roads, waters show me glimpses as I pass by.


A few more farms today, and quote a few apple and fruit trees. Some to a few forlorn trees near older homes, sometime many many trees in unkempt areas, mixed with other trees, maybe old orchards. I do get a few apples along the way. The small red ones are have pink streaked flesh, tasted good but a wee bit tart.


I ride past a brewpub in Alpha just 5 miles from my destination, but they are closed on Tuesdays. The tiny town of Alpha also has a shady park with some cool old stone fireplaces where I stop to chill and chew.


I get to the Bigfoot Hideaway Motel, gaily painted up in a deep woods motif with the obligatory Sasquatch figure out front.
Funky crowded rooms, by they worked and keep me out of the predicted waves of rains.

Since I've been in the UP, I seen evidence of community spirit such as "Yooper Strong"

Comments

  1. DonSeptember 30, 2020 at 7:35 AM

    I like these signs. As Art Porter said "Say ya to da UP, eh"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OuttaDoorsDanOctober 1, 2020 at 6:12 PM

      Hey, I am enjoying the local patois.
      Curiously somewhat vaguely reminiscent of my youth.

      Delete
  2. wOwSeptember 30, 2020 at 8:04 PM

    Bummer on the odometer belly up, guess it's GPS motivation now. Way more bummer on brewpub being closed :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OuttaDoorsDanOctober 1, 2020 at 6:14 PM

      Well, serendipitous the meeting with my brother is, as I ordered new odometers shipped to his domicile.
      Gps is a hassle, need the right tool for the right job

      Delete

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