We Did It!

We followed the Paul Bunyan Trail for the first part of our last day. Of course we needed to stop to visit Paul a bit.

The scenery has definitely changed in northern Minnesota. Instead of seeing cornfields as far as the eye can see, we now are riding among huge pine trees. After a short rain it even smelled a little like Christmas. There are lots of small lakes and LOTS of mosquitoes. We took home lots of mosquito bites. I even found my first wood tick on my arm. One of the women went to get her hair cut and the hair dresser found one in her hair. That night I had nightmares about wood ticks.

Finally the day arrived and we reached Lake Itasca State Park. Pat and I rode the last few miles to the headwaters of the Mississippi. I needed to cross the river one more time. This time in bare feet walking on the rocks.

This cross country bicycle tour has meant a lot to Pat and me. We worked hard and the fact that we were able to keep going has empowered us to know we can do just about anything. At the same time, we also have a healthy respect for our bodies that are no longer junior aged.

Most important we have taken away wonderful memories that we will treasure forever.

Riding With Mary

OH NO! It rained. We got to the Paul Bunyan Trail and before long it rained. Everyone from Arizona knows that Mary doesn't like to have her bike get wet so as soon as we heard it was coming we rode as fast as we could. We ducked under awnings and stopped for lunch but we were still soaked. She and Don went home in their beautiful new motorhome.

Tomorrow is our last day of riding. The weather is questionable and the ride is all day long so we will see.

See you all soon.

Little Falls, Minnesota

We have a day off...we have only two more days of riding and Pat and I are already starting to celebrate. Today we both had pedicures. The first for Pat. It has been a very relaxing and much needed rest day. Michael, aren't you happy that I have been able to influence Pat just a little bit?

Tonight Mary and Don Anderson came to see me. We went to dinner at the Black and White which is a really great restaurant in town. It was wonderful to be with them both. Don is such a great story teller that both Mary and I were entertained. Mary is riding with me tomorrow. Part of the day will be spent riding the Paul Bunyan trail.

Happy Birthday Ernie

Today is June 13 and it is Ernie's birthday. This has been weird to be apart on both of our birthdays. Ernie has a busy weekend because Dirt Cup starts tomorrow. Our brother, Craig is coming home from California to go to this exciting event too. So neither one of them will be missing me or Pat at all. Today Ernie is golfing with his brother Gary and his friend Chuck. I hope his birthday was as fun for him as mine was for me.


Today is also our cousins Lavonne and Gwen and brother-in-law Vern's birthday. Happy birthday to all of you as well.


Yesterday we had yet another glitch in the mileage. We had 8 extra miles. When it is all over it is just fine but the last hour of riding is hard when you already expect to be in.


The temperatures are rising. The mornings start out at 70 degrees and that is lovely. For both yesterday and today the last hour was 90+. I have a thermometer on my odometer and at the end of each day it was registering 98. The official temp is probably 92 but that is in the shade. Do remember our bikes are on hot pavement and we are not in the shade. There was a tiny cross wind that helped keep it all in perspective. Pat tells me that she would throw the thermometer in the river. I try not to tell her how hot it is registering.



We have been traveling through more farm country. Farmers are busy with field work. People are busy with their gardens. We saw this interesting group of old tractors along with a gas pump. I'm adding the picture because I know Ernie will really like it. From the road you see farm land as far as the eye can see.




Today was hard. First one of our cyclists was attacked by a dog. We had all stopped for water at a SAG stop. Five of the riders left to continue on their way. A dog came out of nowhere, jumped on the back of Vicky's bike. She was taken to the ground. When Pat and I caught up, the dog had been taken inside and the women were trying to get the bike bent back into working order. Vicky suffered a lot but she got back on her bike. She is an inspiration to all of us.


Next our route was interrupted by a total road closure. We went down the road hoping to find a way to cross. The tiny tin looking bridge is what the workers use to cross. We were willing to try to use the little walkway but the construction workers would have none of that. We had to find another route. That added 3 additional miles.





But THEN our maps were just inaccurate. When we finished the day we had done 88 rather than 77 miles. We had started riding this morning at 6:15 and we didn't get in until 2:30.

The good news is that our average time was pretty good. (13.1) Secondly, we have a rest day tomorrow and finally I get to see Mary and Don Anderson (from Minnesota and also from Arizona.) Mary is going to ride with us on Friday.



When it is hot like this we often stop for ice cream. Actually I believe we are having a root beer float.

Red Wing, Minnesota

Today we rode only 35 miles. It was our shortest and maybe the nicest ride yet. We rode by Lake Peppin which is part of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi is at it's widest point in Lake City where Lake Peppin is located. That was a surprise to us. We thought that would be someplace between Illinois or even St. Louis where more than one river meet. Lake Peppin is also where water skiing began.

We cyclists all had time for lunch in downtown Red Wing. (This is the city where Red Wing shoes are made.) It is where we are staying this evening. Pat and I visited the park and some nice family took our picture by the town jester. We are pretty excited that we now have only 5 more riding days left. But as for today our weather was perfect. Not too hot, not humid and not a cloud in the sky.

We are in Minnesota

Today was to be a 60 mile ride. Opps, another glitch...it turned out to be 70 miles. We feel tired and we aren't sure why. Tonight we are in Wabasha, MN. This is where the movie, Dirty Old Men was made. This is a picture of our friend, Dusty (from Hot Springs, SD in the beautiful Black Hills) and the Grumpy Old Men.

Only 6 more riding days.

It's My Birthday

I can't remember the last time I was gone from home on my birthday. Miss all you guys. The picture is today after we got into our room and had a chance to clean up.

Today is a really good day. Last night and this morning the weather channels all were predicting severe storms including rain, hail (the size of golf balls), thunder and lightning and the county was on a tornado watch. I was so worried that we would all be picked up along the way due to bad weather. I really wanted to do the entire ride on my birthday. Pat and I got up and were out of Prarie de Chine at 6:30 this morning. There was a wind but today it was at our backs. We flew. We arrived in LaCross, Wisconsin by 11:15. We had 62 miles today just like Monday and Tuesday but those days we arrived at our destination at 3:15. The difference can best be illustrated by telling the story of how we were going up and down hills. On one of the first days this week we noticed that we were pedaling as fast as we could and we looked down to see that we were going 11mph AND we were going downhill. Those days the wind was in our faces. Today Pat was going uphill and looked down to discover that we were going over 14 mph. We got in before any rain and basically other than the wind that was it for the severe storm.

My bike odometer quit a couple of days ago so we went to the local bike shop as soon as we arrived in LaCross. I also needed a new tube in my front tire. It has developed a slow leak and I wanted a bike shop to fix it this time. This bike shop is so great to drop whatever they are doing to help us stay on the road.

We are in downtown LaCross. Tomorrow is a rest day and I'm thinking I need a pedicure for my birthday. Tonight we are all going out to dinner as it is not possible to prepare food in the parking lot here. That will be another treat.

Happy Birthday Jan!

Happy Birthday to one amazing woman!
We know you can make it to the top of that next hill!
With much love, from everybody