Big M Mountain Bike/XC Ski area - Manistee National Forest, Michigan
What can I say about the trip? Tons.
First off, I have to give a big shout out and thumbs up to MSR and their Hubba Hubba tent. After watching my Dad throw this thing up in a matter of minutes, I am impressed that it kept me warm and dry during the worst storm I have ever experienced in my entire life.(Dad slept in the car) I learned the next day that I camped through a tornado warning and approximately 10 inches of rain. Go me.
the race course. this is not a joke.
Next...mosquitoes. Oh. My. GOD. I'm pretty sure Manistee is the old Native American term for "don't you dare stand still or the mosquitoes will eat you alive". Thank God I brought a pair of long pants. I also brought some long shirts, but apparently sleeves were not much of an obstacle for these guys to overcome. That's one more good thing about the Hubba Hubba, it's mosquito proof. I closed myself up in my tent at 7 one night because I couldn't handle them swarming around me any longer. Ugh. I will never complain about the mosquitoes at my house ever again. Never, never.
Ok, so the whole reason for the trip - race time!
6:45am. Ready to go! Brr!
getting ready for the 3rd lap
last one!
final time through the bog (it was really nasty)
why would you do this on a tandem?
all done!
getting ready for the 3rd lap
last one!
final time through the bog (it was really nasty)
why would you do this on a tandem?
all done!
Finishing time was 11 hrs and 40 some odd minutes - way to go!
A quick race review can be found here.
My gift to dad on father's day was to drive him home on Sunday. :)
A quick race review can be found here.
My gift to dad on father's day was to drive him home on Sunday. :)
9 comments:
wow it looks very pretty & woodsy up there. man those mosquitoes must've been bad if you say the ones at your house are nothing compared to them (cuz I got bit a buncha times at your house & we were only outside for a few mins!)
So it was in Michigan? How fun...it has been crazy weather here...the state bird is the mosquitoe:) ha those suckers are really bad. Im glad you had fun. Love the pics!
How does it manage to rain before every single one of these things? I don't get it... Those pics make me glad I wasn't pedaling through that muck and smacking mosquitos all day.
You guys look like you had fun!
Oh my goodness, I would expect mosquitoes like that in some tropical place like the Amazon, but not in Michigan. Sharon, I hope it isn't like that where you are. Actually Sharon, we drove right through your area to get there, but it was really late and we just wanted to get to Manistee.
Dave, the pictures are a little misleading because only a small section was mucky. The rest was bone dry and super sandy. (weird)
Cool pics! I hate mosquitos!! ...but I hate cicadas even more ;( they won't go away!! Be safe on those bikes...that would make me nervous!
so Bit - do you just go to the races and cheer your crazy dad on or do you ride too? :)
HA! No way, I don't do those things! You gotta be a little messed up in the head to want to punish yourself like that.
Strangely enough, these are the only two I have ever attended.(except for Leadville, but I didn't actually go to the race, I just went to Colorado)
So, I'm done with mountain biking for the summer, which means I'm going to have to get more creative with my blog content.
misquitoes are yucko... and yes, michigan is somewhat less than tropical. glad you survived and your dad too! yea ed! maybe you could start an photographic inventory of all the cats in the 'hood, that should keep you busy....
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