Northome to Three Island Lake 15/6/11 74km, 3.5hrs
Woke up about 5am with a remarkably healed bum. Made some quaker oats and a couple of coffees. Then went across highway to Northome township and got guy to remove broken stand at servo, bought some apples and oranges and 2 bags trail mix. Then slipped over to the only cafe in town.
Tried pancakes and egg with bacon. I started talking with the woman who was about 40 working there about this tipping deal she said it’s about 10%. Anyway she went on to tell me shes been there 4 years, lives up stairs and gets paid $6.50 an hour and cant even afford a car.She said she needs every tip she can get.
It’s hard to believe people are paid so little in this country. On that note Cal you should be saving heaps.
Anyway hit the frog about 1030. It was a lovely day about 21 degrees, no wind and patchy cloud. The road is smooth and mostly down hill, the surrounding country is now part of the Mississippi catchment.
The Road had no shoulder till I hit the thriving metropolis of Black Duck.
People were lined up at the servo in boats buying leeches as live bait.
Near Turtle River I decided to leave the highway and head west up a road that had a camping sign. About 5miles up the road there was a sign it was an RV resort. I pulled in and enquired about a site, it was $49 for a tent site I quietly declined while thinking something totally different. I had read where these guys dont differentiate between tents and RVs.
A couple of guys working in the park told me about this 3 Island Park and how they used to camp there as kids. They offered me a lift back in there truck, however I was in good knick and declined.
On that note I decided not to wear those padded riding pants and just wear my quick dry shorts over ice breaker Boxers. The best thing I did all day, the scrot can breathe making it a less than ideal environment for jock rash to set in. I can now see why touring cyclists like the Brooks leather sets.Mine now appears to be broken in.
I will stick with this attire for a couple of days to see how it goes, if satisfactory I can say goodbye to a few hundred grams of clothing in the shape of padded pants, the only other use could be to help fill my pillow slip.
I am sitting in this idyllic day rest area at the outlet of Three Island Lake, a fish ladder made from boulders creating rapids sends a relaxing vibe through the scattered trees in the well maintained area.No one else is here.
On my way in down the gravel road the ranger was heading out, saw me and hastily did a U turn stopped ahead of me and informed me camping was prohibited.Following a yarn and a few laughs he said just leave early.
I am hoping to make this journal not only as a chronicle of the trip but also to pass on a few tips that may come in useful should anyone reading it consider a self supported cycle tour.
Here’s a few that you may find helpful.
· Carry a face flannel in the bar bag or on the bars to wipe sweat from your face.
· Leave the contents of each pannier alongside it as you remove items. That way you dont have to refer to a contents doc to remember where stuff went.
· Carry a mesh bag on the outside at the back with stuff in it that can get wet, it makes room for food in the panniers.
· Keep a light weight camp chair strapped on here also.
· Just keep eating,for me oranges, trail mix and any other fresh fruit is great.
· Take a pillow slip to fill with clothes at night.
Though known by many people who ride I have been riding in whatever gear keeps the chain most parallel to the frame, this reduces wear.
Unlike home many people here love to fly the stars and stripes, upon reflection it so iconc, so simple just stars and stripes in colours that are very vivid and combine strikingly. So many sights so far bring back images in many movies, there wouldn’t be to many people who dont know what a letter box here looks like, they are all the same with US mail embossed on the front flap.
Had to laugh back up north for about 20 miles ( the post boxes are on poles with a 45 degree bend towards the road so a postie in a car can deliver the mail) the postie must have owned a shit box as at every letter box was an oil slick the size of one end of a 20L drum. Apart from the red flag each box has a fresh slick was a sign he had been.
Also very noticeable is the lack of litter on the roadside. Groups can adopt a section of highway and keep it clean. Although these roads are more practical for people to walk alongside whilst picking up litter. No trees near the sides.Unlike home.
Seeing a small lake off the road north of Black Duck with a bit of a track to it I thought a little break from pedalling would be good. Anyway as it turned out the locale was home to some beaver. Talk about a few tree stumps about, they all had pencil points, one tree had a diameter of at least 300mm. It had been felled and left where it came to rest. Probably a beaver with some spare time and tooth ache. Thinking why not drop a 40 footer just for the hang of it. One local described them as rats. He said they still trap them.
Will be cooking tonight, there are camp fires in the park, so if it is a nice night a campfire could be on the cards. It’s nice not to be walking around without a piece of sandpaper taped on each side of my scrot.
Any two guys and a girl turned up a SUV the vehicle of choice for so many people here,6 litre engines and about 8 miles/ gal under load.
They were here for an evenings fishing. By the time the night was up we new quite a bit about our respective countries and cultures. They caught a Northern Pike which I had for tea. Maybe I cooked it wrong but I should have fried it with a rock.
As we conversed one of the guys mentioned he worked at an auction clearance house and had scored a small telescopic rod, enquiring would I like to buy it for $10 I replied sure. While sitting around chatting the other guy was rumaging through his tackle bag and had filled a small tackle box with soft plastics and offered them to me. I protested saying “no its cool I will buy some”. He insisted and said its gift from Minnesota. How kind I thought, now unable to refuse.. These people and their gestures encompass the sort of friendliness and goodwill I have ancountered everywhere. Later on the bridge the other who sold me the rod and I were chatting as he fished. He told me he had 3 step kids and his wife who was here to, had one on the way. They rented a trailer on a property 5 minutes away. In one sentence he kind of summed up their life when he looked at me and in a heart felt way said “its going to be the happiest day of my life”.
A common phrase bandied about is “Minnesota nice”.
So I’m now in a position to supplement my diet with the inhbitants of some of the 10000 lakes in this state covering 5600 sq miles, equating to 1 sq mile of water for every 15 of land.
About 2130 they left for the night to fish at a nearby lake,prior to farewelling each other, Nick said if we catch some more we could bring them to you. Not wanting to insult them I said great.
Anyway I’m sound asleep, having slid there to the soothing sound of river water over rocks and I’m woken. It was Nick with a string of 4 fish for me. I hastily put on some gear and got up. The time was after 2300hrs. So I had more fish.
Back in the nest, my absence from the tent with the door left open was like a lolly shop to kids for the local mozzy population. Fuckin thousands had got in there. I did my best to get them out .If I told you I got more than 2 hours sleep I would be lying. They drove me nuts. The top of the tent was covered in red blotches where periodically through desperation I had culled them through the night. A lesson learnt.
The campsite was shrouded in a pea souper next morn. Cooked what I was going to have for tea last night, pasta beans, broccili, chilli and panchetta, it was great.
So this was my first night out of a motel, so good. Departed about 0800.
Woke up about 5am with a remarkably healed bum. Made some quaker oats and a couple of coffees. Then went across highway to Northome township and got guy to remove broken stand at servo, bought some apples and oranges and 2 bags trail mix. Then slipped over to the only cafe in town.
Tried pancakes and egg with bacon. I started talking with the woman who was about 40 working there about this tipping deal she said it’s about 10%. Anyway she went on to tell me shes been there 4 years, lives up stairs and gets paid $6.50 an hour and cant even afford a car.She said she needs every tip she can get.
It’s hard to believe people are paid so little in this country. On that note Cal you should be saving heaps.
Anyway hit the frog about 1030. It was a lovely day about 21 degrees, no wind and patchy cloud. The road is smooth and mostly down hill, the surrounding country is now part of the Mississippi catchment.
The Road had no shoulder till I hit the thriving metropolis of Black Duck.
People were lined up at the servo in boats buying leeches as live bait.
Near Turtle River I decided to leave the highway and head west up a road that had a camping sign. About 5miles up the road there was a sign it was an RV resort. I pulled in and enquired about a site, it was $49 for a tent site I quietly declined while thinking something totally different. I had read where these guys dont differentiate between tents and RVs.
A couple of guys working in the park told me about this 3 Island Park and how they used to camp there as kids. They offered me a lift back in there truck, however I was in good knick and declined.
On that note I decided not to wear those padded riding pants and just wear my quick dry shorts over ice breaker Boxers. The best thing I did all day, the scrot can breathe making it a less than ideal environment for jock rash to set in. I can now see why touring cyclists like the Brooks leather sets.Mine now appears to be broken in.
I will stick with this attire for a couple of days to see how it goes, if satisfactory I can say goodbye to a few hundred grams of clothing in the shape of padded pants, the only other use could be to help fill my pillow slip.
I am sitting in this idyllic day rest area at the outlet of Three Island Lake, a fish ladder made from boulders creating rapids sends a relaxing vibe through the scattered trees in the well maintained area.No one else is here.
On my way in down the gravel road the ranger was heading out, saw me and hastily did a U turn stopped ahead of me and informed me camping was prohibited.Following a yarn and a few laughs he said just leave early.
I am hoping to make this journal not only as a chronicle of the trip but also to pass on a few tips that may come in useful should anyone reading it consider a self supported cycle tour.
Here’s a few that you may find helpful.
· Carry a face flannel in the bar bag or on the bars to wipe sweat from your face.
· Leave the contents of each pannier alongside it as you remove items. That way you dont have to refer to a contents doc to remember where stuff went.
· Carry a mesh bag on the outside at the back with stuff in it that can get wet, it makes room for food in the panniers.
· Keep a light weight camp chair strapped on here also.
· Just keep eating,for me oranges, trail mix and any other fresh fruit is great.
· Take a pillow slip to fill with clothes at night.
Though known by many people who ride I have been riding in whatever gear keeps the chain most parallel to the frame, this reduces wear.
Unlike home many people here love to fly the stars and stripes, upon reflection it so iconc, so simple just stars and stripes in colours that are very vivid and combine strikingly. So many sights so far bring back images in many movies, there wouldn’t be to many people who dont know what a letter box here looks like, they are all the same with US mail embossed on the front flap.
Had to laugh back up north for about 20 miles ( the post boxes are on poles with a 45 degree bend towards the road so a postie in a car can deliver the mail) the postie must have owned a shit box as at every letter box was an oil slick the size of one end of a 20L drum. Apart from the red flag each box has a fresh slick was a sign he had been.
Also very noticeable is the lack of litter on the roadside. Groups can adopt a section of highway and keep it clean. Although these roads are more practical for people to walk alongside whilst picking up litter. No trees near the sides.Unlike home.
Seeing a small lake off the road north of Black Duck with a bit of a track to it I thought a little break from pedalling would be good. Anyway as it turned out the locale was home to some beaver. Talk about a few tree stumps about, they all had pencil points, one tree had a diameter of at least 300mm. It had been felled and left where it came to rest. Probably a beaver with some spare time and tooth ache. Thinking why not drop a 40 footer just for the hang of it. One local described them as rats. He said they still trap them.
Will be cooking tonight, there are camp fires in the park, so if it is a nice night a campfire could be on the cards. It’s nice not to be walking around without a piece of sandpaper taped on each side of my scrot.
Any two guys and a girl turned up a SUV the vehicle of choice for so many people here,6 litre engines and about 8 miles/ gal under load.
They were here for an evenings fishing. By the time the night was up we new quite a bit about our respective countries and cultures. They caught a Northern Pike which I had for tea. Maybe I cooked it wrong but I should have fried it with a rock.
As we conversed one of the guys mentioned he worked at an auction clearance house and had scored a small telescopic rod, enquiring would I like to buy it for $10 I replied sure. While sitting around chatting the other guy was rumaging through his tackle bag and had filled a small tackle box with soft plastics and offered them to me. I protested saying “no its cool I will buy some”. He insisted and said its gift from Minnesota. How kind I thought, now unable to refuse.. These people and their gestures encompass the sort of friendliness and goodwill I have ancountered everywhere. Later on the bridge the other who sold me the rod and I were chatting as he fished. He told me he had 3 step kids and his wife who was here to, had one on the way. They rented a trailer on a property 5 minutes away. In one sentence he kind of summed up their life when he looked at me and in a heart felt way said “its going to be the happiest day of my life”.
A common phrase bandied about is “Minnesota nice”.
So I’m now in a position to supplement my diet with the inhbitants of some of the 10000 lakes in this state covering 5600 sq miles, equating to 1 sq mile of water for every 15 of land.
About 2130 they left for the night to fish at a nearby lake,prior to farewelling each other, Nick said if we catch some more we could bring them to you. Not wanting to insult them I said great.
Anyway I’m sound asleep, having slid there to the soothing sound of river water over rocks and I’m woken. It was Nick with a string of 4 fish for me. I hastily put on some gear and got up. The time was after 2300hrs. So I had more fish.
Back in the nest, my absence from the tent with the door left open was like a lolly shop to kids for the local mozzy population. Fuckin thousands had got in there. I did my best to get them out .If I told you I got more than 2 hours sleep I would be lying. They drove me nuts. The top of the tent was covered in red blotches where periodically through desperation I had culled them through the night. A lesson learnt.
The campsite was shrouded in a pea souper next morn. Cooked what I was going to have for tea last night, pasta beans, broccili, chilli and panchetta, it was great.
So this was my first night out of a motel, so good. Departed about 0800.
Top spot
A campsite with a tree is always handy
northern Pike
