On the Road to Pepin AM - Day 37

After leaving Northfield, we rode 14 miles to breakfast in the backyard of a Cycle America employee.  During breakfast we took a group picture of the coast-to-coast riders in our new jerseys which we received last night.  We had a bicycle jersey custom made for the coast-to-coast riders in order to commemorate our intended accomplishment.  The next stop was Cycle America headquarters in Canon Falls, MN where Greg and his employees arrange these wonderful trips.  It was a beautiful sunny day for riding.  The Canon Valley Trail, which is a paved bike trail starting in Canon Falls, took us the next 20 miles to lunch in Red Wing, MN.

Northfield, MN Rest Day - Day 36

After the campus visits, I walked the downtown.  The Canon River flows through downtown with a delightful park on one side and storefronts all along.  I spent several hours finishing my book on a park bench as the river flowed by.  While exploring the river walk, I chatted for 15 minutes with Jim, resident and local insurance agent, who was cleaning in front of his store.  He gave me a history of the area.  Then I enjoyed a big burger and fries for lunch at the Rueb 'n' Stein Pub as I watched a stage of the Tour de France.   Bob, another riding friend from home who has signed up for two weeks, arrived today.  Now we are back to two since Tom will not return until next week.  Our group kick-off dinner for this week was at the Archer House ( in the picture above) which is the historic old hotel in Northfield.  After a delicious East Indian dinner, we received our custom made coast-to-coast bicycle jerseys which about 20 of us ordered several weeks ago.  Now I am off to bed in anticipation of another week of riding and exploration.

Exploring Northfield - Day 36

After sleeping in until 6:30 on Sunday, I spent the day exploring Northfield on foot on my own.  Northfield is a college town with Carlton College and St. Olaf College ( a good Lutheran institution) both located within a mile of downtown.  I started with breakfast at the Blue Coffee Cafe downtown, walked the grounds of Carlton and then walked through St Olaf.  I ended my tour with a second breakfast at the Olaf Cafe near the campus.  Both campuses were full of beautiful old stone buildings similar to the chapels at each campus shown in the pictures.  Carlton's is the white one on top and St Olaf's is below.  It was a delightful clear sunny day for a walk as you can see.

Northfield, MN - Day 35

Stats:  We rode 100 miles today from Hutchinson to Northfield under partly sunny skies with temperatures in the high 70's.  There were mostly tailwinds on flat terrain which resulted in a speedy 17.5 mph average for the day.  It was just a grand day to ride a bike through the Minnesota countryside.  Still a lot of flat corn fields and soybean fields but starting to see more tree-filled rolling terrain.  Upon arrival in Northfield, Philippe and I headed to the Contented Cow Pub to share a drink with Jerry, Fred, Martin and Joe before heading to Northfield High School to set up camp.  This evening about 25 of us had dinner at the Tavern in Northfield.  For Saturday night dinners we are on our own.  We were dining with several of our fellow riders who are leaving the trip early for various reasons.  After sharing the agony and thrills of riding, the toils of setting up and tearing down camp each day and the hot and cold showers each night, it is sad to see fellow riders depart.  However the mail must get through and those of us remaining will continue east Monday morning.

Hutchinson, MN - Day 34

Stats: We rode 84 miles under cloudy am skies and sunny pm skies. Temperatures were very pleasant in the high 70's.  We had a fast paced very enjoyable ride on flat terrain similar to the last 3 days.  The weather has been very kind to us all week.  Scenery consisted of more fields of soy beans and corn.  The amount of production capacity our country has for food is amazing.  We had lunch in Olivia at mile 46 which proclaims itself "The Corn Capital" hence the shelter at their park.  With the early finish today I first stopped downtown at the DQ for refreshments and then joined the crew at a sports bar which I happened to pass on the return to camp.  Both provided vital nutrient replenishment.  Upon arriving at Hutchinson Middle School, our campsite for the night, we learned that their indoor pool was available  for our use so we had a very refreshing hour swim.  Dinner tonight is at the school.

Montevideo, MN - Day 33

Stats: We rode 84 miles on flat terrain under overcast skies with an hour of drizzle in the am and turning partly cloudy in the pm.  The temperature was in the high 70's.  Today we left SD and moved into Minnesota.  There was no welcoming sign so we made our own.  Five states done and 8 more plus 1 province to go.  With our faster rides ending at 1 to 2 in the pm due to the flat terrain, we are now on a 4 meals a day routine.  With dinner not until 5:30 we are stopping in town for milk shakes or beers and a sandwich when first arriving.  At least eating whatever I want is the reward for peddling 6-8 hours per day.   Today Bill and I had a meal at Victorio's Italian Restaurant in downtown Montevideo before the final climb to the campsite at the Montevideo Middle School where dinner was served.  I can always count on Bill to join me when I need that 4th meal.

On the Road to Montevideo - Day 33

After enduring several hours of rain last night and eating breakfast at the school, we headed for Montevideo, MN under overcast skies with an hour of drizzle in the am.  Today we were treated to a steady dose of cultivated fields of corn, soy beans and wheat as far as the eye can see.  We have traded the views of  the wide open ranges of the west filled with sagebrush, stubble and rocks for this, the cultivated fields of the Midwest.  After a refreshing stop at DQ at mile 65, we passed the Gnome Village where little gnomes were doing little gnome like things.  There was Dr. Savage lecturing to the fireman and the baker.