Exploring out West.

 Thursday turned out to be a dang fine day.   West winds 7-10mph and temps nearing 40 degrees.  Don't get me wrong.  I've turned the corner and am wanting snow.  But I will enjoy a 40 degree, sunny day in December too!

I waited for it to warm up a bit before heading out.  8:30 was go time.  This time I jumped on the Cutthroat.  I like that bike for heading West.  The gravel tends to be a bit loose and soft.  Getting to the gravel isn't easy.  The direct route would be going through town, which would lead me through other towns as well.  So per usual I headed down County Road 8 before making my push West.  

One of the first sections of gravel.  So brown.

I ended up heading North through the chain of lakes area to Richmond.  Really the exploring of gravel doesn't happen till I'm back North of Highway 23 and West of Richmond.  Before that I know most of the areas. I did jump on the bike path to Rosco before finally getting near new to me terrain.  It's hard to remember if I've been on certain roads or not, especially out West as it's the area I ride the least.  According to Wandrer.earth I netted a bit over 20 new miles.  I'll take it!

Traveling though the chain of lakes area I noticed all the lakes were frozen.  I'm not sure how thick but it's glass!  Ice skaters need to get on this!  Later on I did see a few people out ice fishing so it's getting thicker. 

This is from Wednesday morning in Friedrich Park.  This is as far as I went.  Seems solid but I'm chicken and it was super slick.  No studs on the Krampus.

Even though I end up riding many roads I've already been on I feel a bit "lost" when I'm riding out west of town.  I know where I am at but I don't know "exactly" where I am at.  If at any point  I would decide to head North to the Wobegon Trail I would have a hard time telling you which town I'd end up by.  I love that!  I also love finding and riding the Dairy Land Trail.  My understanding is it's the old Soo Line South train tracks.  It runs from Elrosa to Greenwald.  Actually past Greenwald now, to New Munich.  With plans to run to Albany and the Wobegon Trail.

It's not a paved trail, which I am ok with!  

I haven't taken this trail much as I usually just stumble across it.  But all the times I have taken the trail I have yet to see another person.  Perfect!  Once it hits Albany I suspect that will change.  From what I can see they have at least one bridge to build so that most likely is the hold up...money.

After the trail I took a few more gravel roads before being pushed onto the Wobegon Trail in Albany.  By this time is was getting later in the afternoon so I was ok with zipping home on the trail.  I actually took the trail all the way to it's end in Waite Park.  Taking 3rd street home around 4:30 kind of sucked.  Lots of traffic.  

The Ride.

I planned on riding this afternoon a couple hours on the trails but Toby had me up at 5:30.  So more than likely I will head out this morning on the Krampus bopping around on the trails.

Have a great weekend.