Thursday, 22 June; Crosby MN

It was a bit damp outside and high clouds, but certainly didn't appear as if any huge storm had moved through.  We drank our coffee inside.  I worked on the blog for a little bit but Rob started getting antsy.  He has a full day planned.  He wants to go ride again, play golf and we are getting together with Chuck and Laurie this eventing for dinner.  Busy schedule.

We took Bella out for a walk again and she discovered some floating dock or stage or something that was up on land and had all sorts of ins and outs to it.  There is some critter or critters living under it.  First it took us about 10 panicky minutes to find her and then she wouldn't come.  I finally got her out of there and scolded her and put her on a very short leash until we got to the ball field.  The I had a big talk with here about coming when called and let her free.  I told her I was going to test her and I did and she did come.  

We threw the ball for her a lot to get her worn out again and then returned to the rig.

We rode from the rig again, but this time through the neighborhoods and onto the MRT Mississippi River Trail.  It goes through the entire state of Minnesota following the river.

We got into the Cuyuna State Park-Portsmouth Campground and picked up the Mountain Bike trails.  We did a bunch of new trails around one of the lake areas.  We did about 3 loops and then followed a trail over to the area where we rode yesterday and did some trails over there.  There are several lakes in the park with trails between them.

This is looking over one of the lakes with another off in the distance.  Toward the top, between the two lakes is a day campground with picnic tables and access to the water.  We rode around the upper lake then across the campground and followed the trail up to here.

 This is what that portion of the trail looked like.
While we were riding I was thinking this is like a roller-coaster ride.  You go slow up the hill (because you have to pedal up) then you hit the top and down you go twisting and turning and little ups and downs, climbing turns and descending turns then up again, then  down again.

This is a picture Rob captured off of a video he was doing.

We rode back and Bella was sooooo happy to see us.

Rob changed clothes and went off to play golf.  I decided to stay home and rest.  I showered and felt so much better.  We have to spray bug spray all over us due to the mosquitos, wood ticks and horse flies.  It feels terrible.

It turned out to be a really pretty day, sunny and warm. When Rob got back we walked down to the lake so he could go for a dip!

Bella was so upset that he went into the water.  Especially when he goes under.  First she barked and barked at him, then she got in my lap and cried until he got out. Funny little dog.

Rob showered and then we waited for Chuck and Laurie.  They came and picked us up and we drove about a mile into Ironton to a Bar-B-Q place called Louies' Bucket of Bones.  Chuck and Laurie know the owner.  We sat outside and had a "family style" meal of St Louis Ribs, coleslaw, baked beans, Potato wedges and cowboy bread.  Yum

We walked down town looking for some desert.  There was nothing there so we drove back to Crosby.  

As we walked to find a place we came upon this sign.

These are all the parks and Campgrounds in the area.  You can see the Serpent pictured in the upper left.  That is where we are staying.

We ended up stopping in the same place that delivered our giant pretzel.  It was actually a cute little cafe/bar.  We had cheese cake and a flourless chocolate cake plus decaf coffees.  We looked over the map of Baja.  Our friends Talon and Heidi just went down there, but they went to some different beach places than what we did.  Chuck and Laurie are going back down to Los Barriles in March and wanted to remember where we went, as well as where Talon and Heidi went.  

Chuck always plays the $dollar game where you use the claw to try to pick up a toy and drop it in the slot.  

When we first walked in he did it, we didn't even realize it, and won a little beanie baby stuffed toy which he immediately gave to Bella.  She loved it.  On our way out he played again and got a stuffed lion.  Rob of course had to play it as well.  It is one dollar for two tries. 

He didn't win.  

Bella carried her new toy all the way back to the car!

It was pretty cute.

They took us back to our rig and came in for a few minutes.  We showed them the pictures of our build out back at the Ranch and I also showed them some racks that I use for dishes in our RV.  They are the ones who traveled all the way through Mexico with their Scampi, ("egg" as we all called it)  Now they have a 27' travel trailer.

We said our good byes with big hugs.  It will be a while before we see them again.  They may stop in at the Ranch on their way back from Mexico.  

We went to bed after they left.