You gotta love it when even though things don’t go as planned, it turns out being a perfect adventure. That pretty much sums up yesterday. Jake and I planned to take one of our friends, who is new to mountain biking, out on a easy, 6 mile downhill cruise on the Mickelson Trail. Since Jake rode the 110 miles of the Gold Rush Gravel Grinder on Saturday, an easy recovery ride was definitely on order. But as life would have it, things got all jumbled and plans fell through. Just when it looked like the day wasn’t going to be salvageable Jake and I decided to go ride on the Mickelson Trail anyway and if we were lucky, maybe Moonshine Gulch Saloon (one of my BH Bucket List adventures!) would be open when we were done.
If you’re a cyclist, riding the Mickelson Rail-toTrail should be on your to-do list. Although the trail is 109 miles long (or 113 miles depending on who you talk to), the numerous trailheads provide lots of options for rides of various length and vertical gain for riders of every level. With it’s crushed gravel surface it’s incredibly popular with families with small children. And, by Black Hills standards, you can consider this trail flat. (This translates into a gentle grade that continues for what might feel like forever but it doesn’t kill you right off the bat.) The ride we decided to do was from Rochford to Mystic, for a 16 mile round trip. Both are historic mining towns and the area around them is still actively being mined. It makes a for a great look into history and gives you lots of stuff to stop and checkout.
The last time we rode this stretch was last spring while pre-riding the Tatanka 100 race. By the time we reached this section of our ride I was super low on water and bonking. Needless to say, it isn’t one of my most favorite memories. Since my focus the last time was on keeping the bike moving, I didn’t take the time to really enjoy the trail. This time, properly fueled and hydrated, we took our time explore and take in the scenery.
One of our side jaunts took us into the townsite of Mystic to the old church. The church has been made famous by artist John Crane so getting to explore it first hand was exceptionally cool. We also stopped to check out an active pit mine and dilapidated cabin. The craftsmanship from that era is beautiful! By the time we made it back to the Rochford trailhead our stomaches were ready for some chow. Since the Moonshine Gulch Saloon is right there we figured it was worth a shot to see if they were open.
We were in luck! And to make it even better, a group of local musician were jamming outside. We didn’t hang around long as our stomachs soon reminded us why we were there. Stepping through the screen door, the smell of wood smoke from winters past and bacon fill the air. Our footsteps fell on ancient timbers as we made our way though the dimly lit saloon. Behind the bar, the owner, bartender and legend in her own right, Betsy, greeted us. She is as much a part of the legend as the saloon is and although she’s nowhere near as old as it is, I wonder if one can survive without the other.
We ordered bacon cheese burgers, found a couple of comfy wooden bar stools and settled into a game of cribbage. I could definitely envision myself hunkering down next to the double-barrel wood burning stove with a hot cup of coffee and the old-timer’s tales for entertainment for hours in this saloon come winter. Sitting there, counting our cards, you could almost feel past came alive around you. When our food arrived I was doubly impressed. That bacon cheese burger might very well be the best in the whole Black Hills and I’m positive the french fries are. It might not be a five-star restaurant and locals are a bit wary of outsiders but this place is legendary for a reason!
It wasn’t the Sunday we had anticipated but at the end of the day, it was a perfect weekend adventure anyway. Don’t ya love it when things just fall into place?! What sort of adventures did you find yourself on this weekend?