Yesterday felt absurdly luxurious. As soon as I woke up, I went to the window to check on the weather & was greeted by a flash of lightning and a torrent of rain. No way we could have ridden out in that. When we went to the lobby area for breakfast, we saw a bunch of girls with friends and families who were speculating about the chances their games would happen. I guess they had traveled to St. Cloud for a tournament. Not their lucky day, but it sure worked for us!
We took our time, but there's not much to pack on this trip. Soon we were driving out towards Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. We figured we might see something from the car if there was no break in the weather. When we first arrived, we got the impression that only flies and mosquitoes and swallows were willing to ignore the storm. We didn't let that slow us down - much - and kept driving around the loop we were offered. Gradually the weather improved and we saw a bit more at each stop we made. Wildflowers - unfamiliar ones, no sandhill cranes but we saw black terns, a bald eagle, a family of trumpeter swans.
We got back on the road and found lunch. I mean Bruce found pizza and I found ice cream, then we easily found Gail's house. It was great to see Gail. She took very good care of us - good food, comfortable room and lots of time to trade family updates and compare our memories of all the family history we have heard. Gail is hoping we can pull together a reunion in a year or two.
Bruce went to the local bike shop and replaced his broken down shoes and helmet and got a rack and panniers. We are both a lot less afraid of a few extra ounces now, and his frame-free bag was a pain in the neck to pack and kept sagging & rubbing on his rear wheel. His panniers are bright yellow. We keep getting more and more visible.
Today we got off to another leisurely start. We saw more wild lightning last night, but it's long gone now. I can't believe how rested I feel after just one day off. Bruce went to return the car and drop off our stuff at tonight's hotel. I rode to town almost entirely on the amazing system of bike trails the area offers. We are definitely back in bicycle territory. Bikes of all types everywhere. The main trail was actually unpaved for about six miles, but it was in such perfect condition I hardly noticed. I ended up between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles. As I waited to connect with Bruce I explored "uptown" a bit. I managed to find the local ice cream hot spot, I think it was called Sebastian Joe's. I felt brave - and hungry - so I tried their own flavor, Nicolet Pothole. It involved dark chocolate, Heath Bar, and sea salt. I toned it down with a scoop of vanilla. Pretty good.
Then I wandered back and rode around lakes, met up with Bruce, and rode around some more. It's another perfect day, 80s with a gentle breeze. The houses around the lake are lovely. On a day like this I picture heading out a lakefront door with a canoe or the bike...but of course most days here are not like this, to put it mildly. But Minneapolis is putting on a great show for us. I find I have ridden about 25 miles without feeling like I have even started yet. We will meet Gail for an early dinner soon, then off to Wisconsin tomorrow.
PS
Dinner was great. Grilled asparagus and a chicken pot pie with wild mushrooms & a puff pastry crust. Much as I loved Montana and North Dakota, they should not enter into any restaurant contests.
Miles today: 32
Total miles so far: 2280
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