Dirt Spanker- Duluth

Last weekend we made the trip up to Duluth for the MNMBS stop #3, the Dirt Spanker. We left Saturday morning to arrive in time to meet our Friends Jane, Ryan and Andi for Lunch at the Fitger's BrewHouse. Pretty much our standard stop in Duluth for good eats!

Then we were off to Mont Du Lac to meet Wade, Julie, Gabby & Carter to set up camp and for Wade and I to hopefully get in a pre-ride. When we arrived we found the lot for camping was flooded from the rain all week prior. We then found some high ground and got camp set as the rain started to come down. No pre-riding to be had, we hung out and let the kids play in the mud.
There was a Ultimate Frisbee Tournament in Duluth that weekend and Mont Du Lac hosted a party that evening with live music by the Boomchucks and Charlie Parr along with Beer Sponsor SURLY! So a night of sweet tunes and Surly Furious was on Tap..Pun intended!

Saturday morning was forecast-ed with sun, but with fog and no sun to be found the race course was due to be a mud slinger, with a few riders doing an early morning pre-ride coming out muddy, but then it only got worse.

I was racing Sport and with a 11am start and still a pile of Citizen Racers still on course it was for sure going to be an interesting race. I started in the Second Wave and with the BIG climb to start I went into the single track in 2nd from my wave and in front of a bunch of first wave riders. The first hill found everyone off their bikes and pushing them which continued to be the trend the rest of the race. I tried to be on my bike as much as I could but found it hard with all the lap traffic, but not being much of a runner I found myself running with my bike trying to stay ahead of those in my wave. Towards the end of the lap was the roller coaster section and slightly drier which was nice to ride those sections and running into Jay Richards snapping photos was perfect timing as I was thinking just prior how this is the type of Mudder he always writes about being his favorite kind of race. So with the last climb/walk to the top and a slalom like downhill to the finish I rolled across 1st in my age division and 8th overall out of 91 riders.


There were a lot of angry and frustrated riders on course with bikes locked up with mud and broken derailleurs, it was nice being able to finish and not majorly damaging my bike which is now tore apart in the garage for a serious cleaning top to bottom.

Photo by Dana Schoppe Photagraphy
Eggbeaters doing their job in the mud with no issues clipping in.

Eleni and Marlo both were signed up for the Shimano Kids Race.
5 and Under were called up with Marlo being the youngest racer at age 2.
She put forth a good effort with a smile and stopped mid race to tell me, "Daddy, she has a bike like ME!"
Kids Photos by Grizzly-Adam
Eleni Did her two laps in the 6 and up division. Good times for them which made them feel apart of the festivities.
Making the most out of a fun weekend for Sure!

CHEERS TO 3 YEARS!

Happy Anniversary Nicole, I Love You!

Spring Fun!

Looks like we've got a nice looking week ahead of us!

We got a bunch of projects knocked off the to do list this past weekend.
I didn't make it out and wet a line for the MN Fishing Opener instead,
Nicole got the front door painted along with some trim painting around all the doors outside.
I got the garden cleaned out and a load of new top soil added along with a few things planted, more to go on the planting project. Last year was our first year for a garden so it was a learning experience for what worked for us and the amount of sunlight that we get back in the woods, so hopefully we can peg it better this year and yield some produce.
I did take time out though to make it up to Maplelag Early Sunday for a session on the singletrack.

Ready for Planting

Cousin Hannah and Marlo Cuisin' at Marlo's Birthday Party back in the beginning of April. These two could be trouble in a vehicle in about 14 years. You can see the front door prior to painting last weekend.
Eleni participated in the Roosevelt Elementary Science Fair. She demonstrated the capillary action of water in plants by putting food coloring in the water and watching the carnations change colors.
The one on the far right we split the stem and put half in Blue water and the other in Red. Pretty cool display that drew some attention and she loved showing everyone with paper towel demonstration.
We hit Dunton locks last weekend for a hike with the dog and the girls biked and did really well with Eleni challenging herself with the hills. Marlo has got her new Strider dialed and loves the down hills and lately she's been finding the small drop in our yard and hitting it fast lifting her feet. Her balance has really improved in a short 3 weeks time!

Back on April 24th and 25th I went to the team camp for the Maplelag/Paramount Mountain Bike Team and Sunday was the Maplelag hosted Spring Opener Race. It rained Saturday making for muddy fun conditions but the fun ended early for me as I snapped my chain on the fun ride with Jay, Steve & Matt, Jeremy and Matt Horner, so it was early out for me and got the bike ready to go for Sunday's Race Day. (Thanks Matt for the new chain!)
Sunday race day was a fun lung cleaning day, good to work the kinks out and ride with a good group of people. A great weekend and always a treat staying up at Maplelag and the great homemade food that goes with it!
Photos by Jay Richards

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARLO!

Happy 2nd Birthday Marlo!
(April 5th, 2010)
We just got back from a weekend trip down to St. Louis, MO to visit Nicole's Grandma, Aunt, Uncle and Cousins. We had a great trip spending Easter with them and the weather was beautiful, 80 degrees and sunny. Marlo got to go on an "AIRPLANE FOR MY BIRTHDAY!" as she's been talking about it for the last month.
Crazy 2 years has gone by and our little girl is now two!
More update and photos later....Marlo Rose April 5th, 2008

Marlo April 5th, 2010
"Push Me Fast Daddy!" 4/5/10

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Lack of updates I know, but it's been a busy fall....
Now it's December and three days before Christmas! As I sit here with Marlo on my lap as always with ants in her pants, Miss jabber jaw, miss independent, stuborn, with her "Me Help", "Narno do it" attitude. (She calls herself Narno)
We went through some photos and video to post for the holidays.

Eleni is doing great in Kindergarten and loving it. She's a smart cookie, but too many cookies and she's bouncing off the walls.

We dusted some snow off the pond for a little skating action in the backyard. Eleni's first time on skates and she did very well.

Showing off her new skills

Marlo getting in on the action.

The tree decorating committee, doing what they do best!



We are slow on getting out our Christmas Cards, so maybe we'll do
New Year cards instead?
Until then... Here's some Christmas Cheer
from the girls.




Have a Merry Christmas!

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY ELENI!

Eleni Turns 6 Today!

Recap of some Fall Events-Eleni starts School!

8/9/09 Friends Jason & Kristin got married up on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Beautiful ceremony right on the beach, good times for sure.



Nicole and I camped out at Split Rock light house the night prior and had a pretty sweet site with a large "split rock" of all things right in our site.

Had time for a short ride the morning prior to the wedding, Rode to the top of day hill which had a great view.

The next weekend was the Border Battle bike race in River Falls, WI. MN vs. WI series.
MN Put up a good battle, but WI took the cup again this year. Made it a solo trip and camped out nice relaxing getaway with lots of time to think.

Eleni broke her collar bone on August 17th. She was running with her cousins and got tripped up and fell just right. 2.5 hr wait in the "waiting room" in the ER for x-rays told us what we already knew.. Yep -Broken!

Friends Zach & Susie got married August 29th the girls had a great time dancing. Nicole & Eleni rocked the Hokey-Pokey sticking the RIGHT arm in, but Eleni stuck her left since the right one was on the injured reserve list.

Beach time at the reception.

The first year of our garden was a learning experience. Tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, lettuce, herbs and a few cucumbers. Lots of tomatoes waiting to turn red.


Labor Day, Maplelag weekend of bike racing. Time trial Saturday morning and Short Track in the afternoon. Two new events for me, need to be in better shape for those sprint type races. Sunday was the XC event, paced myself and rode well..always good times.

Short Track Race -Photo courtesy of www.skinnyski.com

ELENI STARTS KINDERGARTEN!
First day of school with her pile of school supplies to stock up her share of the class. Missing a freshly lost front tooth with a nervous look on her face and don't forget the big box of tissues.

Sept 12th, Happy Birthday to me, along with the Dick Beardsley 1/2 marathon which Nicole and her sister Katie did the relay in. I pulled the girls in the Burley and leap frogged the event cheering for all the runners. Record turn out this year and Nicole and Katie did great, Congrats Ladies and well done!

Nicole looking strong at the end of her leg.

A few friends came over for a bonfire that night with a lot of kids running through the woods in the dark with flashlights screaming looking for big foot. Unfortunately forgot to take the camera out of my pocket that night to capture the chaos.

A nice day on the water today. Wish we would have had some days like this earlier in the summer! Lake like glass, kids got to go tubing again FINALLY.

Marlo and Cousin Ella getting a lesson for next year (maybe?)

Finally Added Photos;

Added Photos to previous post.

Sorry for the Lack of Updates!

I've been slacking on updates, I get intentions and then fail.
We've been busy to say the least. A short recap of the "Summer that Never Was"......
-June 19th-21st: Glendalough Canoe Trip with the Westrums.

Evan, Marin & Eleni doodlin' by headlamps.
-June 27th: Karl Family Reunion in Park Rapids

Marlo on the Rod Karl Tribute Tractor
-July 4th: Floyd Lake Boat Parade (actually felt like Summer!)

A lot of tired Chicks after the chicken dance.


-July 11th: McFarren Family Reunion in Park Rapids

-July 22nd-25th: 10,000 Lakes Festival

Front row for Gomez. Awesome Show!

Eleni taking in Tea Leaf Green
-July 24th: Nicole's Birthday!

Nicole scoring a Loki Sweatshirt w/mittens and balaclava built in!
-August 1st-3rd: Our Friends Jessie & Scott from Colorado were here.

Marlo showing off her stitches w/Lachlan.

Eleni & Brodie

And coming up this weekend, Nicole and I are off to the North Shore for our friends Jason & Kristin's Wedding. We'll be camping at Split Rock Lighthouse S.P. on Saturday and then at Superior Shores Resort for the wedding on Sunday. Looking forward to just "the two of us" getting away. Thanks goes out to my parents for taking the girls this weekend!

Duluth-Bike Race

Saturday June 13th Nicole, Eleni, Marlo and I headed up to Duluth for stop #3 of the MNSCS mtb races. After a stop at our favorite eatery, the Fitzger's Brew House for lunch we headed to the race event location at Mont Du Lac to set up camp. After camp was set up and the rain shower passed I got in a pre-ride lap of the race course. Huge climb to start it out but with that out of the way sweet flowey singletrack followed, sweet course! Back to camp for some dinner and met a few of the other riders and their families.

Sunday (race day) was sunny and hot. I was racing in the sport division and which started at 11:00. Nicole got up early and went for a run with Marlo in the jogger and then we whipped up some pancakes with fruit for breakfast. At race time Nicole, Eleni and Marlo hiked to the top of the hill to watch and for water feed after the first of two laps. My goal was to just ride comfortably, set a nice pace and just see where I fall. Finishing 8th in my age group and 55th out of 112 races gives me a nice room for improvement. Feeling I had more left in my tank afterward and wishing I wouldn't have hung on a guys wheel so long leaves me looking forward to the next race itching for more. FUN TIME!

Right after the perfect bottle hand off from Eleni, off for lap #2.

photo courtesy of Dana Schoppe Photography
Eleni Raced in the Shimano Kids race right after I was done. A great event to include the kids and she had fun and finished 1st!



Another Weekend of camping and canoeing coming up with our friends the Westrums.

Summer Kick Off....weather pending?

Marlo rocking her pony-hair is growing!

Memorial Day usually means the kick off for Summer, but with recent temps one wouldn't know it.
(Frost warnings tonight-June 5th!!!)
Memorial Day weekend was actually pretty nice for the most part. We got the boat in for a quick ride along with a pontoon cruise with Nicole's Sisters and Cousin's who were in town. Bonfires and cheers with beers were had.

Marlo testing the water (no fear!)
This past weekend we had some friends get married at Maplelag. We joined Amber and Chris for the weekend which was nice being it was 2 years since we were married there. Good times were had for sure and I got in a ride Friday and a super fun one with Chad Jansen on Saturday before our "wedding helper" duties kicked in.

Nicole(Matron of Honor) with Mr & Mrs Carr

Cousin Clara & Eleni at the reception

Waving the Maplelag colors.
This afternoon I headed back up to Maplelag to ride again to get the lungs and legs ready for next weekends MNSCS race up in Duluth. Ran into a couple of guys (Dave Simmons & Grant) from Fargo and checked out the new singletrack Jay and Jake started on last fall. Ran into Jake out on the trail fine tuning a section.
That's going to be some fun stuff! Then we did a loop of the already famous single track and lakeside drops (wished my new brake pads would have shown up)
a few close calls into the lake were almost had. Fun Ride!

photo courtesy of Jay Richards & Maplelag