We first interviewed @notjakemann in Episode 11 right before he embarked on a two-month bikepacking journey from Truckee to Bellingham, Washington. In Episode 28, the boys catch up with Jake and hear all the good times, scary times, wet times and confusing times he had, including harrowing encounters with skunks and toothless rednecks, abundant cats, and friendly folks happy to accommodate a stinky mountain biker who raised nearly $8,000 for World Bicycle Relief, funding nearly 50 bikes for people in third world countries. The boys also give some listener shout outs, reflect on the first season of Mind the Track, chat about more bear encounters in Sierra County, Reno’s shrinking homeless population, Truckee’s increasing cost of living woes, more Hunga Tonga theories and Snoop Dogg’s Snow Sizzle My Dizzle Powderrific Snow Report.

3:00 – Introducing the return of Jake Mann after his summer-long bike adventure.

6:30 – Listener shout outs.

11:00 – News – Bear attacks man in Calpine, California and bears at Heavenly.

13:00 – Snoop Dog Snow Sizzle My Dizzle Powderrific Snow Report.

16:55 – Thousands of dead fish off the shore of Japan – Hunga Tonga?

20:30 – Reno, Nevada has among the lowest homeless rate in America.

23:20 – Avant Werks, Audi repair in Truckee shut down because they can’t find employees.

26:00 – Winter Solstice – Vivaldi Winter Movement – Looking back on 2023

29:45 – The bicycle adventures of Jake Mann riding from Truckee to Port Townsend, WA, he raised almost $8,000 for nearly 50 bikes for people in third world countries.

33:00 – Riding the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest and the Cascades National Forest.

38:00 – Riding through tons of snow in Lassen National Park.

41:00 – Riding the Bizz Johnson trail in Susanville, CA.

43:20 – Riding through Klamath Falls, Oregon. Allegedly really good mountain biking.

45:30 – Jake Mann gets attacked by skunks.

47:45 – Jake’s favorite food for a long bike ride – cheese.

51:00 – Jake Mann considered moving to Bellingham, but ended up staying in Truckee because of a promotion at his employer, New Moon Natural Foods.

58:15 – Warm Showers – a host program for bike touring. 1:00:30 – Pro Tip: Wearing a head net to keep the face flies at bay.

1:03:00 – Jake Mann is handed a joint in Randle, Washington after riding Dark Meadow Trail.

1:07:30 – Rode into Leavenworth, Washington, stayed in Wenatchee.

1:10:00 – Riding the Olympic Peninsula.

1:14:00 – Jake Mann almost freezes to death in a rain snow storm near Bend on the Oregon Timber Trail.

1:18:30 – The Whispering Pines story.

1:24:00 – Olympic Peninsula – Jake’s favorite place on the trip.

1:25:00 – What’s next for Jake Mann? Great Britain Divide and the Trans Am Tour.

1:28:00 – Wrapping up 2023 and taking Mind the Track into 2024 with thoughts of POW.