Day 45: To St. Paul, MN - - - HOME!!!

Fri.,  Jul 7, 2017
Stats:  Today - 35 miles; 2267 total miles for our ride
  Elevation climbed:  351 ft;  55,584 total elevation gain
  Temp. Low: low 60's High: mid 80's
  Sunny, light winds

We had a nice afternoon and evening with our niece, Jordyn and my brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Gloria.  Thank you Rick and Gloria for your hospitality and Jordyn for your character.

For the final day of our trip, we had pleasant weather conditions.  We found our way back to the MRT, rode the MRT for about ten miles, then relied on Google Maps to guide us until we got to familiar streets near home.  We were home by early afternoon and were greeted by our daughter, Christina.  (Philip was at work.)

As we look back on our trip, we realize that this blog really served two purposes:  1) to invite you to come along on our trip in a limited way, and 2) to serve as a journal for us to help us remember our trip.  So, thank you for reading along.

The Rum River in Ramsey, MN

Nearing Minneapolis along the Mississippi River

Back on the MRT

Some flooding from a storm a few weeks ago.

Home!!

Day 44: To Ramsey, MN

Thur.,  Jul 6, 2017
Stats:  Today - 60 miles; 2231 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   518 ft;  55,233 feet to date
  Temp. Low: low 60's High: low 90's
  Cloudy start, sunny later, minimal wind, humidity 60+%, dew point 60+%

We had a nice evening of sharing bike stories and learning about each others' lives with our warm showers host Stephanie.  As with most of our other warm showers hosts, Stepanie has also done some long distance bike trips and it was fun to hear her stories.  It was also fun to connect with her in a shared faith in Christ.  Thank you Stephanie for your hospitality.

After a nice send-off breakfast, we left St. Joseph following the same route we took yesterday to get to St. Cloud.  In St. Cloud we connected to the MRT (Mississippi River Trail) also known as USBR 45 (US Bike Route 45). The MRT is a bike route that follows the Mississippi River from the headwaters of the Mississippi at Itasca State Park down to the Gulf of Mexico.  It mostly uses roads but utilizes trails where possible.  In Minnesota it is also known as USBR 45.

On this very hot day we started off early under cloudy skies and by the time the clouds broke, the sun came out and the temperature started to rise we had a good start to our ride.  Minimal winds and good roads also helped.  Along the way we made a few stops for cold drinks.  By 3:00 we were at Ron's brother's house in Ramsey, MN and glad to be in an air conditioned house.

Mary with Stephanie

Mississippi River

Day 43: To St. Joseph, MN

Wed.,  Jul 5, 2017
Stats:  Today - 37 miles; 2171 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   292 ft;  54,715 feet to date
  Temp. Low: low 60's High: low 90's
  Sunny, minimal wind, humidity 60+ %

Our arrival in Albany meant the end of following the Northern Tier Route and the beginning of trailblazing our own route.

Today's destination of St. Joseph was just fifteen miles from our starting point in Albany.  Since we had a warm showers host lined up in St Joseph, we took advantage of the opportunity by riding through St. Joseph and riding eleven more miles to visit Mary's aunt who lives in St. Cloud.  After spending some time looking at our trip photos with Sister Sandra we rode back to St. Joseph to stay with Stephanie Hart, our gracious warm showers host for the night.  Today we were thankful for a low mileage day as the temperature and the humidity were high.

The end of 101 miles of trail.  Back onto the road.

Day 42: rest day in Albany, MN

Tues.,  Jul 4, 2017
Stats:  Today - 0 miles; 2134 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   0 ft, 54,423 feet to date
  Temp. Low: upper 50's High: mid 80's
  Sunny, breezy


Happy Independence Day!!

Today was a relaxing day.  We did a lot of reflecting on our bike trip and just thanking God for the wonderful time we've had, the protection He's given us and all the great people we've been able to meet and hear their stories and pray for.

Since this was near the motel, we ate here a couple of times.

Possible storms coming.

Day 41: To Albany, MN

Mon.,  Jul 3, 2017
Stats:  Today - 76 miles; 2134 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   466 ft;  54,423 feet to date
  Temp. Low: mid 50's High: low 80's
  Sunny, SE wind, 5-10 mph

centrallakestrail.com

lakewobegontrail.com

Today was another beautiful day for riding, with blue skies, light winds, and a flat trail.  We were on bike trail all day.  We road 26 miles on the Central Lakes trail to Osakis.  Then the trail became the Lake Wobegon trail which we rode for another 34 miles to Albany.

We ate lunch at the Jitter Java Cafe in Sauk Rapids where they had great sandwiches and great ice cold water.  (Neither of us are coffee drinkers.)

After eating our first supper in Albany, we headed north on the Lake Wobegon spur trail toward Bowlus, MN toward our intended destination for the night, a bicyclist only county campground.  This trail was not an old railroad route and featured more curves, some minor hills, and mosquitoes.  After a six mile ride we arrived at the campground.  It was a rustic campground with only pit toilets.  It had a water pump but it was out of order.  We had planned to spend two nights here, but because it had no water and had voracious biting flies we decided for option B.

We went back to Albany and did what we've been doing on our other days off, book-end it with two nights in a motel.  This time we chose the Baymont Inn and Suites.  Actually it is the only motel in town.  We chose a suite...with a jacuzzi.

Our campsite at Chippewa Campground

Clover along the trail

Big Ole in Alex (Alexandria, MN)

Riding the Lake Wobegon Trail

A farm where they grow lakes, as if 10,000 isn't enough - or is it the result of a lot of rain?

Meandering river

A garden along the route.

Another garden along the route.

Memoryville, a collection of things forgotten.

Nice architecture

Bailing hay

Between Melrose and Freeport (about six miles) they had these little motivational signs on the milepost markers.

Notice the little birdhouse (bird church) on the right side of the picture.

A bike hill!

Day 40: To Brandon, MN

Sun.,  Jul 2, 2017
Stats:  Today - 68 miles; 2058 miles to date
  Elevation climbed:   397 ft;  53,947 feet to date
  Temp. Low: low 50's High: mid 70's
  Sunny, light nw winds

The change from the west side of the Red River Valley to the east side is interesting.  On the North Dakota side it is flat and arid.  On the Minnesota side are rolling hills and vegetation is more lush with more trees and lakes.

About three miles out of Pelican Rapids we turned North on Ottertail County Road 3, also known as the Otter Trail Scenic Highway.  Today's blue sky was an excellent backdrop to view the lakes and rolling hills.  We had great views for the twenty-two mile ride to Fergus Falls.

When looking for a lunch stop in Fergus Falls, we met Randall and Jenny who were also bicycling and looking for a lunch stop.  So we found a small cafe and all ate together.  Randall and Jenny are riding from Los Angeles to Long Island, New York.  They've had an eventful trip thus far including the kind you don't want with seven flat tires.  They were also caught in hail one day in an area with no trees or anywhere to take shelter.

After lunch we started riding on a rail trail, old railroad tracks that have been converted into a bike trail.  The first fifty-five miles of this trail is called the Central Lakes Trail.  The next forty-six miles is called the Lake Wobegon Trail.  As you can imagine an old railroad line would make for a relatively flat route.  The biggest benefit is that we don't have to deal with traffic.

Tonight we are staying near the town of Brandon.  We are camping at a county campground in Douglas County called Chippewa Campground.  Again we have a beautiful spot on a lake.

From the campsite in Pelican Rapids

From the campsite in Pelican Rapids

From the campsite in Pelican Rapids

Thankfully the road construction was finished.

The storehouse is full.

A Minnesota lake

A lake with a dock.

Randall and Jenny with us.

Entering the Central Lakes Trail near Fergus Falls.