The Road to Boot Camp is a Single Track

[Max Wedge]

 Sometimes windows of opportunity open, and you need to climb through them, or so I always thought. I had such window open for me when my youngest son had some time off after boot camp, and my oldest had time before he left for boot camp. I had vacation time, and a yearning to do some single track in Michigan when the fall colors were peaking. So plan came together, take a couple of days, invade my sister-in-laws cottage, and spend some time with my boys before they are sent all over the globe.

 I had a couple of other alternative titles for this post, like, "I ain't never gonna ride with them Army boys no more" or "One man's ride is another man's adventure", but ultimately decided on the one above. Anyway, without further ado, here is the report:

After loading up the trailer with bikes, gear, beef stew, chili, venison-cheddar-jalapeno salami, cheese curds, and beverages, we headed north to arrive at my SIL's place, which was our camp for a few days.



This is the view out the back



and the view out the front



so far so good.....

[Max Wedge]

 We settled in for the first night, but the 'Army' dudes stayed up way past my bedtime, and this should have been a sign to me, but I paid no attention. My younger son has been helping my older son get in shape for boot camp, so they are in pretty good shape, and are faster riders then me on dirt (reckless younguns!), but I've been running a couple a miles a day for a while so I thought I wouldn't slow them up too much. They assured me- no problem, we'll wait for ya.  

We were ready to go-



Yes, those are 1985 vintage Sinisalo pants, but I'm proud that they still fit! Kind of.

This is a shot from the first road intersection we came to on the trail, where they stopped and waited for me to catch up. This is the way they looked when I rolled up. Was I that slow or they that fast? Now in my defense, they have raced MX since they were 10, and usually place in the top 5-10, depending on what class they run, but they look a little too casual to me.



This is the trail ahead, how bad could it be?

[Max Wedge]

 I have explored this trail a little bit before, but I never had the time to run the full loop. This trail is Michigan single-track at it's best. If you love narrow, deep, sandy trails with whoops that are 4 feet deep, scattered with  rocks the size of softballs to large tourister luggage, this is your place. Add some trees that are 2-3 feet apart, with root systems that create 3 foot steps, and you got yourself a long days ride.
 
 I don't have pictures of some of the roughest stuff, because, to be totally honest, I was too tired to stop and take a pic. Some of the trails climbed up at 30 degrees and switched back in a five foot diameter and continued to climb up a sandy rocky trail. Once I was rolling on these I wanted to make the top.

 My boys would stop at the top of a tough section and wait to watch me climb it. "You're not trying to keep up, are you Dad? Just ride your own ride." Hell no-I'm in survival mode. I definetly learned that I am no longer 19 or 22.

This is a couple of shots from some of the easier sections that lent themselves to photography.





A spot on the trail where we took a break

[Max Wedge]

A couple of shots to prove that I didn't just have my KLX air-lifted in for the shots and actually rode.



Poor shots, due to being over cast, but I'm sure you get the idea.



As we got back closer to the starting point of our journey, I realized that these guys were just having a nice afternoon ride, and this wasn't even much of a workout for them. I'm wondering what a heart attack feels like. Notice who's face is red here.







Do I have that " Let's go up through Mongolia and get back to Russia where there are roads " look in my eyes?

[Max Wedge]

 Even though they had different adventure than I did, we did have fun and get to spend some time together before the future will bring what it will for them, and me. A post a read here a week or so inspired this trip, where some one had posted that they would give up every possesion they had to have a week trip on bikes with their dad. This was as close as I could get with the window I had, and I loved every heart-pounding moment, whether it was on the bike or eating salami.

 We made plans for another adventure, this time more on my turf, with worse food and more miles. I don't know when that will be, but when that window appears, I won't hesitate to climb through it.

[Mac]

Outstanding report. Beautiful pics.

[Fourstring]

That looks like a hell of a lot of fun.  I remember taking mountain bikes on single track like that.  What a blast on a dirt bike.

[stefrrr]

Looks like you all had a good time. Best of luck to your sons.

[1moreroad]

Excellent.  Great pix.

[xdbx]

Gotcha here Matt!  Good read, but that KLX isn't just a barely legal bike.  That looks like a perfect baja bike!  I mean look... it's even got lights and signals!  

oorah!