Mining Towns, Trails and Pits

Hello My Friends,

These rambling reports may be delayed some.
My photographer, dear Bob, is not able to send pictures
Via usual way to web manager. Argh!!
On scale of mattering, this is very small.
We get so used to instant techno functions,
I get thinking it is required.

Heads-Up:
Photos may be from different ride days than write-up.

Trail ride today varied.
Some flat & straight like a train could run on.
Some twisting & climbing like a bike can manage.

Virginia to McKinley, just to see McKinley, MN.
There are some houses, no services.
At some time, MINING CO. closed road through town,
To make new pit mine area.
Oh, my Goodness!

Yet in that tiny collection of houses
Used-to-be town,
We had three people stop their cars or walk to edge of street,
Making sure we were not lost,
That we knew how to go back the 3 miles to trail.
First word out of one driver's mouth was, "Welcome!”

Back to Gilbert, MN
On to Eveleth expecting to buy lunch there.

I have a VERY strong suggestion,
Out of interaction with person at that Trail head / terminus info desk.
Trail head is outside of Eveleth.
We asked for directions to food.

No food anywhere close.
We could:
"Get on shoulder of four lane divided highway" ... then,
"Go off exit ramp to next highway. On shoulder again"  then
"Cross four lanes of traffic to place on left side.”

Probably works well in a car.
NOT good routing for bicycles.
We returned to Gilbert via trail and ate.

My SUGGESTION is that info desks on bike trails
Be staffed by someone who bicycles!!!

Now back in our Virginia motel for another night,
Knowing our ride back went very well.
Bikes worked,
Found food,
Enjoyed pedaling together.

Sending Hugs, Lin