Our week started with NEARLY forgetting to pack the 5 lbs of potato salad - our contribution to Saturday night's family cookout - into our cooler. After a 2 day team effort to make it during a busy work week, this would have been a disaster. Crisis averted though, as Jim remembered on one last sweep through the house.
We got on the road early, sans breakfast. This necessitated a stop at the Dunkins in Epsom. It's a little known fact, but they've got the best deal on a dozen bagels around:
And later on, at a market in Quechee, we found this delight. We did not partake, as it was still morning time (so responsible, aren't we?)
What would an Adirondack vacation be without Adirondack chairs? We found many, including some made of old skis on top of McCauley Mountain:
A woman with a mini horse IN HER TRUCK showed up. She was just driving by, but after minimal pleading unloaded the enchanting equine out of the cab - much to the delight of the children AND adults.
Seriously folks, this is something you take a picture of first, and ask permission later.
There was much socializing in the yard, more lounging in Adirondack chairs, and clever t-shirts:
Many peanuts were eaten, and the classic Star Wars toys came out to play. The empty keg was loaded up on Sunday, and the party moved on to the house we were renting.
My niece Marielle was the only one who met the weight requirement to ride the carousel horse outside of the candy shop:
We turbo-browsed the last 25 minutes of an arts & crafts fair at Arrowhead park in Inlet, and I picked up these treasures. Two handmade wooden spoons (made of two different maple wood grains) made by a local artisan and a flask of 6-mo-aged-in-a-bourbon-barrel maple syrup (less than 1 % abv):
Were bikes ridden? You betcha!
Completed the ~27 mile Fulton Chain of Lakes loop on two separate days. I managed an average of 17 mph, decent considering the climbs in the beginning and the fact that last year I only managed 15.4 mph avg. Pretty pleased to see that I'm improving year by year.
Amazingly we rode past Eagle Bay Donuts twice, only stopping to take photos (no donuts were harmed). Too heavy to eat mid-ride on a hot day - imagine the cider donut only a bit bigger and without cider. Yeah, so a fried donut rolled in sugar. That's an Eagle Bay donut. They're pretty delicious. We partook later in the week.
There was much bike lean-age for fun after one of our rides. Mainly as a fun way to highlight some parts of the awesome house-cabin we stayed in. This place comfortably housed 8 of us, and the kitchen was AMAZING:
JUST LOOK AT THIS:
Yep, no toaster oven, tongs or ice maker in this place, but all of that is forgivable given this prestigious appliance.
There was much fun with lobster party lights:
(Even Lobster DI2):
We took a paddle boarding lesson, which after the first 10 mins of shaky knees, was really fun. I think I could do with a repeat of the beginner lesson, but I bet if I got into it I'd have the balance of a ninja!
We saw a couple of fat bikes out in front of Mountain Man Outdoor Supply, and asked about sizing, availability and where we could ride. The shop had one S, one M and one L - said nobody ever rented them - and vaguely pointed us in the direction of somewhere they thought we could ride. They had zero trail maps. Good enough - I really wanted a go at these monster trucks of the cycling world and didn't think we'd do anything serious anyway. Lucky for us they had mis-labeled the pricing at $20/half-day instead of $32/half-day. They honored the mis-labeled price and rolled up two bikes for us. With no attempt to size us properly and only a vague reply as to the pressure we should inflate the tires to - we took off from the shop for a half day adventure.
After a quick buzz down the street to the trail head, we jumped onto some mountain biking trails and started cruising over roots & rocks. 5 second assessment of fat bikes: THEY'RE BOUNCY.
Seriously. Like bounce-off-uphill-and-smack-your-jaw-on-the-handlebars bouncy. Hold on tight.
The trail we were on abruptly looped back in on itself and ended, forcing us to go explore how to get any further on this trail network. We couldn't find an obvious trail, so ended up pushing these bad boys UP A MOUNTAIN. We were literally sweating bullets. They must weigh 35-40 lbs a piece. Up, up, up, try to ride - lose traction because it's too steep. Up, up, up some more. Pant.
Eventually we come to the top (it's about 2000 ft at the highest point according to my Strava track), and find a picnic table and some chairs. Time for photo ops and catching our breath.
Breath caught - Jim goes to hop on his and promptly falls off the first rock and tumbles, luckily catching himself. Remember, we've had about MAYBE 5 minutes of riding experience (pushing part doesn't count) and now we find ourselves face to face with some gnarly downhill single track. I find myself bouncing over rocks, roots and holding on for dear life. I go through a dip and bounce myself off the seat, but not off the bike. Back on, stand up on the pedals, lean way back & hold on tight!
One more quick stop around the bend, because how could you not stop for a tetanus truck?!
Lockjaw DX.
Halfway down, the clouds roll in and the heavens open up. The rain feels amazing, washing the salty sweat out of my eyes, and cooling us off considerably.
We made it down and decide we're not up for hauling these things up the mountain again, so head off to try another less upping / downing trail. The second trail was fast and flowy, bringing us through some great mud puddles / river crossing.
Time almost up, and feeling good about having taken these poor neglected bikes through some proper terrain, we return the dirty bikes back to the shop still clad in our mud caked kits. Not having to wash the bike after a ride like this: PRICELESS.
At this point we're caked in mud, and what idea do we have? Jump in the river to get a coat of dirt off before going in the house. It's a brilliant idea, really. We'll just jump off the bridge into the Moose River. All the kids are doing it. It's deep enough. At least that's what I've been told. Haven't seen a kid not make it yet.
It's just a lot different when you're standing on the other side of this rail, willing yourself to let go:
After maybe 5 minutes, but what felt like 15, I get up the nerve to let go and jump away from the bridge. I harken back to my mom's rhetorical question growing up: "If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?" My smart-ass answer was "Well, yeah, I would. Who wants to live without friends?" Of course this would only get me in more trouble or sent to my room.
The water was quite refreshing. What surprised me most of all was the amount of mud still caked to my legs. I waded through the river, scrubbing at my calves with my fingernails. A couple of minutes and good enough - much more respectable looking. Home to shower and nap before the next adventure.
Later on that week we headed up McCauley Mountain to ride the scenic chair lift. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Pretty rewarding view for such a short ride to the top:
TO BE CONTINUED....
