Road Trip Day One

July 29th, 2013

"A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.”

~ John Steinbeck~

It's that time of year again.  My son is with his dad and grandparents in another state for 19 days.  I asked my mother to keep my daughter for a bit so I could continue my annual tradition of road tripping at the end of the summer.

I've been anticipating this since the last  extended road trip ended.  In May I sampled a tiny taste of it when I headed out near Minneapolis, MN to stay with my brother for a couple of days.  It was a 4 day, 3 night getaway, but it just didn't feel quite long enough.

 Looking for a trail to ride near Minneapolis?  Lebanon Hills is the hot spot.  It's one of the most well maintained trails I have ever ridden, with maps at every intersection, clearly defined terrain, and skills sections with awesome features like wide bowl-like berms and pump tracks.

But I digress...

My first stop today was at Castlewood State Park just outside of St. Louis, Missouri.  After getting turned around for 30 minutes I finally found the park and a friend who was waiting for me.  Lesson learned?  Don't trust all the GPS coordinates you find online.  

I rode there for a couple hours with my friend before setting out to find a camping spot.  I spotted a lake with camping nearby on a map and set out to make the 45 minute drive.  I plugged in my iPhone and used google maps.  Pretty soon I find myself at a barricade at the end of the road and the GPS says, "Park your car near Big Bend road and walk the rest of the way to your destination."  

Say wha?!  I don't think so....

More research ensues.  I find an exact address...nice!  15 minutes later I arrive at Horseshoe Lake.  It's a small lake with fire pits, picnic tables, and a couple outhouses.  I pick a spot near a water pump because I still reek of a bike ride.  A splash down will have to do as there are no showers here.  

I don't anticipate trouble sleeping tonight....I'm exhausted.  And tomorrow beckons!  The only factor I see keeping me from sleep at this point is my own lingering stench.