Stepping Outdoors With Craig

Hard to believe I was skiing just earlier this month! Now that the snow has made a quick departure, it has been time to pump up the bike tires. I got my first "real" bike last year, by real I mean one that came from a bike shop and not a big box. Granted it is a used bike, but hey I work in radio. Yesterday I rolled the odometer to 103, marking the milestone of my 1st 100 of the year. Of course I have a number in my head of how many miles I would like to bike this year, and maybe I'll share it with you at another time. Last year I did 800 miles, granted a small amount compared to a lot of die hard bikers, but better than the 15 miles I biked the year before! With the earlier start to biking this year, I for sure should surpass that 800 mark, but it remains to be seen if I'll hit that goal! See you on the trails. Below a view of the Mesabi Trail near Hibbing.

This is a fun website to take a trip down memory lane with. Look up the old cars you used to own and see the brochures used to market them back when they were new. Not all the cars I've owned are here, but most of them are. Have Fun!

http://www.lov2xlr8.no/broch1.html

Just up the historic Gunflint Trail out of Grand Marias Minnesota is some of the best cross country skiing in the area. This past weekend it was time for our annual family ski trip to the Gunflint Trail. Several resorts service the two trail systems up here, and again this year we were back at Bearskin Lodge on the Central trails. (The Upper Trail System has 4 resorts, the Central has 2)

Going in early March has assured us of nice weather the last couple of years, and this year was no different. Sunny warm weather, with light to calm winds were the rule for our three day visit. In fact if anything it was a bit too nice, with the deep snowpack of the Gunflint beginning to melt. We still had plenty to ski on, a lot more than around here, but it was getting soft by mid day.

Nearly 70k of trails are available just out our cabin door, and we made an effort to get to most of it. By the time we left only about 10k had not been skied, with my daughter getting the honors for the most k skied. Her favorite, and mine alike, was the expert only Bear Cub World Cup trail. Know for it's monster climbs and screaming downhills it didn't disappoint.

While it maybe too late for this season, if you're ever looking for a great place to get away from it all, cell phones don't work and there are no televisions, the Gunflint trail is a great cross country skiing destination.

One of the reasons many of like to stay active is that we hope we will not only enjoy some great recreation, but that will also live a longer live. But the question is