October 9, 2015

 

I closed on the Cuyuna Bike House! I've got a tight 60-day schedule to remodel & furnish the 5-BR house to get it ready for vacationers. This is my first solo remodel project and being a risk-averse person, I'm swimming in tides of fear and excitement all at once. My fears have lessened a bit after learning the $1.2M funding to build 20 more miles of singletrack in 2016 has been approved for Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. They're also making a big $4.2M push for 2017 funding, with enthusiastic support of local government. The goal is to build 75 miles of singletrack, or 3 full days of unique riding. I believe the area will continue to grow, especially with the newest additions to the area: True North Basecamp and Red Raven Bike Cafe. This is the closest area I know of that has regularly groomed Skate-ski, XC-ski, Fat Bike, and 200 miles of Snowmobile trails, all winter long. The other incredibly unique aspect to the area is that it's closest we Minnesotans have to out-west riding. When on the trails, you feel like you're really out in nature. There's climbing, there are spectacular views, there are ridges and slopes, and there are several networks that are all connected, so you can do as long of a ride as you want. Winter suddenly became my favorite season! Yes, I said it.
 

Well, here goes.......