Pre-quarantine travels to Jordan

In the bold north of Minnesota, the weather in January is considered especially heinous. Citizens who leave the region in these dark times are numerous, stumbling their way through snow and ice in search of light, greenery, and the outdoors.

These are my stories.

I mean I guess one story with some different parts.

It's about going to Jordan in January. 

Here are some facts about Amman: It's a city covering tons of hills (seven) where people have lived for ages and ages (since 7250 BC) and on which have been bestowed numerous names (Ain Ghazal > Ammon > Philedelphia > Amman). During the medieval/post-medieval period everyone accidentally forgot about it, but then some Circassian immigrants settled there in 1867, and it's been a city ever since.

                                 

                                       Snow on the way to Petra!


Petra was a very successful trading post for the Nabateans so the Greeks invaded in 312 BC. They weren't successful, but then there were other invasions and an earthquake, and by the 8th century AD it was basically abandoned. But not completely, many of the Bdol tribe lived there until the 1980s.


Other fun facts about Petra -- It's huge! In my Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade informed ignorance I thought the treasury was the whole thing! But it's not! The Treasury is just the beginning! Are you satisfied with just the beginning of Petra?!?! No! Do the whole TWO HOUR hike to the end to see the monastery and other miscellaneous amazing views.

The camels and donkeys are one of Petra's most important parts.

The Dead Sea. Here is a Dead Sea tip! Swim on your stomach and flutter kick your legs. This makes you look super funny because the water is so dense, causing general hilarity and merriment. Cover yourself in mud of dubious mineral quality. Find free mud along the shore, or pay to have it done for you.

Also make time to swim in the Red Sea. Go to the Berenice Beach Club near Aqaba and rent snorkeling equipment. There's a beach section for partying and one for being calm. And a pool in case you drink too much salt water.



The Wadi Rum is an adventure. Hop in the back of a Jeep and get carried away by rugged feelings of reckless freedom before stopping for a stay in the Bedouin style camps where you sleep in a bed and the guys running things cook this great dinner in a hole in the ground. Everyone smokes shisha and eats together and then there's a dance party with traditional Jordanian dances that devolves into the Macarena and YMCA.

The only disappointment wrecking havoc within my heart is a failure to see Jerash, a huge city of ruins north of Amman. Take this torch upon thyself now and correct this mistake (I'll be joining you).

Mountain Biking Adventures: Crosby, MN

Ok Friends, 

A few weeks ago I went mountain biking in Crosby, a small town near my aunt's cabin.
 

Side note: here we are doing some typical lake cabin activities.

Our first inkling of Crosby biking opportunities happened one summer when we stopped at Red Raven Bike Cafe after horseback riding. The coffee is hipster-level and they sell expert bike stuff.

We were all like, 'Wait, expert bike stuff?' ‘Who are all these expert bike people in bike gear with bikes in this small Minnesota lake cabin town known for its antiques?’ And, ‘Good heavens, there’s also a brewery.’

Then we forgot about it for a few years.

Well everyone now knows the answer to this question: Crosby, MN is a major center of serious mountain biking.

Around 2010, someone looked at the Cuyuna Iron Range mining hill, had thoughts, and took steps. Now the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area has 28 miles of mountain biking trails.

It's a Silver Level Ride Center!!

It goes without saying I have no idea what that means, but there are only 11 of them in the world.

In addition to beautiful views, fresh country air, and bold adrenaline rushes, here are things anyone can easily experience while mountain biking: riding into trees, crashing into boulders, SMASHING YOUR FACE, falling over, getting stuck on a hill and tripping on things, sailing off a cliff, flipping off a cliff, and tumbling down a cliff like a drunk goat.

It was great!!

The wunderkind bikes we rode were cool and serious with big shocks and big tires. You can bring your own wunderkind bike, or rent one if you want to save funds for your injuries.

This was easily the most exciting workout of my life. And a reminder adventures can peacefully thrive alongside lake cabin traditionalist and relaxationary forces. 

In addition to the mountain biking I jumped in the lake.