My wife and I went to Ely last weekend to bike the Mesabi trail. This was our second time on the trail. On Friday, we went out of Ely and turned around at Eagle Nest. On Saturday, we pedaled north out of Embarass. If you're into biking, it's a wonderful ride. However, it was very hot and the bugs were bad. Oh well...still beats staying at home.

Two interesting things:

1. On Saturday, we saw a Delorean driving in town. I'm not sure if this car is a regular fixture in Ely, like the guy with the Army jeep and the aft-mounted replica M-60. But it was really cool. Is the Delorean a regular in Ely?

2. On Friday, biking east from Eagle Nest back to Ely, I rounded a slight uphil corner. About 50 yards ahead was momma bear and three cubs. We were a respectful distance apart. She stared at me, I stared at her...and her cubs dawdled around her until they all ambled into the woods. My wife was about a minute behind me, and she missed the show by (literally) three seconds. I felt bad...but what a cool experience.

Mike

That's awesome recon! I've been wanting to ride there since they started building it. I'll take hot up there over hot here any day. Good deal you saw the bears before running into them. That would create a pucker we could do without.
I'm sure the ride was beautiful.
Thanks for sharing.
martian

I don't know if we'll get there this year, but the Mesabi Trail is definitely on our biking radar screen for sometime in the near future.

Sounds like a great weekend.

Jackfish: "I don't know if we'll get there this year, but the Mesabi Trail is definitely on our biking radar screen for sometime in the near future."

Definitely do it, Pete. If you do the Mesabi Trail, I'll finally do Quetico!

Do a map recon as it's a completely different experience on the Grand Rapids side versus the Ely side. Let me know if you have questions.

Mike

MikeinMpls: "My wife and I went to Ely last weekend to bike the Mesabi trail. This was our second time on the trail. On Friday, we went out of Ely and turned around at Eagle Nest. On Saturday, we pedaled north out of Embarass. If you're into biking, it's a wonderful ride. However, it was very hot and the bugs were bad. Oh well...still beats staying at home.

Two interesting things:

1. On Saturday, we saw a Delorean driving in town. I'm not sure if this car is a regular fixture in Ely, like the guy with the Army jeep and the aft-mounted replica M-60. But it was really cool. Is the Delorean a regular in Ely?

2. On Friday, biking east from Eagle Nest back to Ely, I rounded a slight uphil corner. About 50 yards ahead was momma bear and three cubs. We were a respectful distance apart. She stared at me, I stared at her...and her cubs dawdled around her until they all ambled into the woods. My wife was about a minute behind me, and she missed the show by (literally) three seconds. I felt bad...but what a cool experience.

Mike

"

Cool experiences! I haven’t seen that Delorean.

I have property within a mile of where you biked and I can tell you that there are many bears in that area. Some of my neighbors feed them, and other neighbors are very much not happy with the situation. I haven’t had this property long and I’ve easily lost count of the number of bear encounters I have had so far.

The ride from Ely to Eagle’s Nest is a great ride. I too recommend it if you like to ride.

The bear situation there is a very unique. Some residents and cabin owners feel it is okay to habituate bears to humans and food. Some bears have lost fear of humans. Many cabin owners are very frustrated with it and feel it is just a matter of time before something bad happens. There have been plenty of “situations”.

I saw the DeLorean too. It’s new in town this summer.

Fun stories.

I read once that Ely is the area with the most Minnesota millionnaires (or where they have homes). I was surprised at the time but I guess it makes sense.

BWPaddler: "Fun stories.


I read once that Ely is the area with the most Minnesota millionnaires (or where they have homes). I was surprised at the time but I guess it makes sense."

This started happening years ago. Now it has reached a level looking more like a takeover. Same is happening east of the park. Parking in Grand Marais is like going to the Uptown art fair.

Findian: "

BWPaddler: "Fun stories.



I read once that Ely is the area with the most Minnesota millionnaires (or where they have homes). I was surprised at the time but I guess it makes sense."

This started happening years ago. Now it has reached a level looking more like a takeover. Same is happening east of the park. Parking in Grand Marais is like going to the Uptown art fair. "

That's funny! I was talking to an Ely business proprietor last weekend...spouse of a logger. I made the off-hand comment that "I remember when Grand Marais was a logging community." This person rolled their eyes, and said "I do, too."

Mike

Why are you using all those big words I need to look up.

dawdled (basically to linger / hang out a bit)
ambled (to slowly get the hell away)

Mike's my bud, but for real, I had to look these up.