Packed May 2014

Summer has finally arrived in full swing as I stare out the window filled with sunlight at the Steam Espresso Bar in Denver.  I have not updated this blog with some of my most recent adventures... so while I wait in this 95 degree heat to pick up a second friend from the airport- I will write some of my thoughts down and post more pictures in a later post.

Cycling USAFA
In preparation for biking up Pikes Peak, my roommate recommended biking around the USAFA campus.  Yes there are hills on that loop.  Not many, but that is because it's mainly one long ascension.

Katie's Birthday
Following weekend was hanging out at Fox Run park and attempting to not break my foot again.  We also played a new (to me) game, Wise and Otherwise.

Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds had their yearly a demonstration for the USAFA graduation ceremony (presuming they have the budget).  This made a great lunch time treat especially with the Top Gun sound track playing in the background.

Memorial Weekend Backpacking
Amazing hiking weather.  Heavy pack. Plus extra weight in food in my pack from two people in the group meeting up later.  Hailed as we setup camp.  Remained raining for the rest of the evening as temperatures dropped (in addition to the 11,000ft in elevation that we stopped at).  We called the trip a day short since the next morning it briefly hailed and looked like there was only a few hour window before steady rain showers continued.

Cycling Pikes Peak
13 intense miles over a mile in elevation gain with a total of 26 miles round trip for Cycle The Campus.  This event is usually in Midland MI, however since I was in Colorado why not bike Pikes Peak?  Turns out I was definitely not prepared as I hoped.  My legs held out to the tree line fairly well, however the switch backs and crosswinds on the devil's playground were a killer.

More pictures to come!

Maroon Bells in Aspen

I wanted to get in a fall bike ride in Colorado to enjoy the changing colors of the trees.  With a suggestion from Bryan I discovered the Maroon Bells road in Aspen, CO.  Additional research indicated the beginning of October was generally the time the trees change in Aspen.  I was a bit nervous about driving the Independence Pass due to a snow storm that hit a few days before the weekend but figured this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The morning started in the low 20F temperatures with 15 to 20 mph winds.  So I began the cold drive glad that I books a cheap room (for Aspen) instead of camping.  The four hour drive was filled with sweeping patches of colors, vast skylines of mountains, and snow dusted firs.  Descending Independence Pass the aspens could be seen sparkling gold. 

Due to the government shutdown, the road leading to the Maroon Bells lake was completely closed to cars leaving an open road to only hikers and bikers.  Cars were parked on the side of the road near the gate.  With no cars, trees full of color, and the snowy mountain peaks this has been my favorite 10 miles of biking.  The views were like an avalanche of colors down the side of the mountains with only sounds of flowing water in the valley.  With the sun shinning and diminished winds the weather was perfect for the five mile climb up to the Maroon Bells lake.  The five miles back down did not require any pedaling although the cold winds detracted from cruising fast.

I went for a short walk around downtown Aspen before heading to the Snowmass resort to check into my room.  The room had an amazing over look of a small park.  However, with the sunset closing in, I quickly hiked up a muddy ski slope for a decent view.

Sunday I took advantage of the free gondola ride up Aspen Mountain as advertised due to the government shutdown of Maroon Bells road (bonus #2).  After putting a few discs, spending devotional time, and eating lunch on the mountain it was time to head home.  The views were just as grand heading home. 

Back in Colorado Springs safe and sunburned I finished the weekend with some delicious P.F. Changs with Caleb.  Now to start packing for a bunch of moves this weekend.

"31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!"
 -     1 Chronicles 16:31-34

Midland and South Haven, Pure Michigan

As I write these words, the smell of campfire smoke still lingers.  It is the distinct smell easily associated with s'mores.  This past weekend was Pure Michigan at its finest.  Driving the country roads, cycling the rail-trails, watching the glow of a campfire with a painted sunset over Lake Michigan culminates the essence of Michigan.  All of which words do little justice and pictures only offer a glimpse.

Cycle the Campus was a great trip with delightful biking weather in Midland, MI.  The day consisted of 7 hours driving and about 6 hours of biking.  David and I spent about 2.5 hours for 35 of the miles and then rode with Johnson to the finish line.  I have snagged the following partial group picture of the WMU clan.  Notice this is before due to my lack of sunburn.

Cycle the Campus - WMU

Pere Marquette Rail-Trail - Midland, MI

The following day the journey continued to South Haven to visit my parents who were camping.  As is typical for Michigan, the weather went from 80s the prior day to the 50s.  The cold weather does seem to bring out the blue of Lake Michigan.  With that, the weekend concluded with a drive home.



South Haven Pier

South Haven Light House

 

 

The next stop, Colorado!

Kalamazoo in the Spring

Time in Kalamazoo has been great.  Family.  Friends.  Running and various bike trips, even to Assyria!  Springtime is always a pleasant sight to watch the dull winter gloom transform into abundant green life.  Also in this time I had the pleasure to watch my friend Daniel get married. 

Next week I will be participating in Cycle the Campus to support His House, an on campus ministries throughout Michigan.  Afterwards, plans are lined up to continue the road trip adventure in Colorado for the summer.

Kal-haven trail

Assyria

On a tangential note, one of the new tires I purchased last month (3,000 miles ago thanks to a nail), was punctured with a small hole.  A week after I had the tire repaired, the tire obtained another leak and is now on fix #2.  So far this year I have successfully demonstrated my talent for deflating tires.  Unfortunately, this skill does not improve my resume at all.  In fact, I clearly learned the wrong skill:

Michigan LP Bicycle Tour 300: Mackinac to Holland

Adventures happen when ideas culminate and memories remain when those ideas finally come to fruition.

My somewhat ambitious adventure for biking from Mackinac to Holland/Kalamazoo interested four other friends but only one poor soul was crazy enough to commit to the challenge.  Before I continue much further I should elaborate a bit on the adventure.  The idea was to drive up to Mackinac Thursday evening, spend Friday enjoying Mackinac Island, followed by three days of biking back home to Holland/Kalamazoo while camping in hammocks along the way (all self supported/gear carried on our bikes).  The three days of biking would set the daily distance to around 100 miles.

Packing.  Heavy!  I packed less gear than I did on my last trip and I still need to find a way to reduce the weight.  The image below shows the gear I packed (however I did end of leaving a few items behind after seeing the weather forecast).

Since 300 miles in three days was not enough biking, Kevin and I spent the majority of our time biking around Mackinac Island the day before.  A short, 25 mile, warm-up ride you could say.

Visiting Mackinac Island did teach me one other thing:  I'm addicted.  Addicted to Rubik's cubes because I gave in and bought a quad cube (my reasoning is that I would want something to do other than ride a bike when I get back from my trip).  There were so many random items in that store, just to show a few:

One of the items packed for food was non other than the great American tradition: PB&J.  And yes, that is a stack of PB&J. 

With the gear loaded up, Kevin and I headed out.  Saturday, day 1, was from Mackinac, through Bliss's farmer's market, on the Tunnel of Trees, bike paths from Harbor Springs to Charlevoix, onward through the hills of the back roads, and finally 31 to the fully booked Traverse City State Park to sleep for the night.  Thankfully they still allowed us to hang between the trees (not like we would have gone anywhere else to spend the night).  We met a guy named Aaron who was bike from Green Bay to around the Upper Peninsula to Ludington.

For day two Kevin and I decided to bike through Manistee National Forest.  Turns out, 37 is the only reliable non-dirt road we could find.  However, 37 did allow us to keep a decent pace since we started late in the day.  Due to our inability to read a map, our "campground" actually was not a campground at all.  So we found a couple trees in the woods at dusk and stayed a night. 

The last day started out well, however by afternoon I was burning up due to the extreme heat and had to stop at a Great Harvest Bread company.  The last leg of the trip was on a decent road in the shade and went smoothly, especially knowing that I decided to end to trip in Holland.  Due to the delay in Grand Haven (arrival time in Kalamazoo would be around midnight), the fact that I already bike to Holland and back this year, and we cycled 300 miles in 3 days was enough for this adventure.


Summary of the days in pictures (notice how there are fewer and fewer):

Start of the day 1

Tunnel of Trees, taken by a fellow bicyclist

The view from the trail

Recovery

We saw so many airports, so why were we biking?

This is how we park the bikes.

Camp in Traverse City

Never pay full price.

So we didn't pay full price for the next "campground" in White Cloud



Holland and smiling

There was quite a bit packed into this trip, mainly biking, but much of the trip for me could not even begin to fit into a blog post or a myriad of posts.  If you would enjoy hearing more about the adventure feel free to ask, but for now, it is time for me to continue on and focus for the next to come.

Michigan LP Tour accomplished.