Grand Gaspé Tour – Cast of Characters

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Molly

With the start of our Grand Gaspé Cycling Tour just one day away, it seems appropriate to introduce the intrepid cyclists who are taking the plunge on this great adventure. It’s worth noting at the outset that there are two classes cyclists here. Two of us are doing the whole kahuna. We’re the crazy ones anticipating traveling and carrying all our worldly goods for two months and over 2,000 miles on our bicycles. We are the ones venturing into the Canadian Maritimes with only a general route in mind and several detours already under consideration. The other two are more sane. They are merely tackling the first 500 miles with us along the coast of Maine, with hotel reservations already in place, guaranteeing a shower and dry bed at the end of each day. Either way, it’s going to be a Grand Tour.

Rich – Full Route

This was all his idea. My husband is the veteran of five past cycling tours, all but one self-planned. He loves playing travel agent, researching the details and making the reservations. In fact, he has dreamed up far more future trips than we could ever execute. Rich is a steady cyclist who detests hills (especially with loaded panniers) and loves the thrill of plummeting downhill. He embraces sightseeing stops on his cycling tours, sometimes to the consternation of his fellow cyclists. A Northern Pike shaped car and vivid purple cow are mere examples. He’s also an avid photographer, so photo opps are valid reasons to tarry along the way.

Most looking forward to: Seeing the next “purple cow”

Biggest worry: How my body will hold up over 2,000 miles of cycling

Molly – Full Route

That’s me. I was cajoled into trying cycling by Rich a mere 19 months ago. I wasn’t sure i wanted to trade marathon running for cycling. But following my first trip I was hooked. I’ve now completed two long distance bike tours and despite the audacity of this itinerary I was quick to agree to the plan. My cycling style tends to be more intense. I’m not one to dawdle. I like to push the pace, put the miles behind me and have to be convinced to stop and smell the flowers. Rich and I probably balance each other out pretty well – he makes sure we have fun along the way and I make sure we get to our destination.

Most looking forward to: The coastline, with its cliffs, waves and lighthouses

Biggest worry: Cycling in heavy rain

Carl – Maine Only

Carl is our middle child. He has always prided himself on making his own decisions. While the rest of the family played the accordion (that’s another story), he adamantly stuck to guitar and banjo. In a family of marathon runners, Carl pursued serious cycling. Interesting that now two of us have come around. Carl has done two long distance cycling trips, one being a father-son tour with Rich. So he knows what he’s getting into on this trip. Carl has the only road bike among three touring style bikes in the group – still the individual. He’s also the fastest among us. And to be fair, the has the youngest legs by 30 years. We’ll see if he forges ahead or stays with the pack.

Most looking forward to: Acadia National Park

Biggest worry: I am bit unsure about what it will be like biking in a group of four people when everyone probably is used to going at different paces.

Myra – Maine Only

Myra’s still wondering how she ended up on this trip. She’s been a friend of mine since Jr High, and in an era when few sports were available to girls in school Myra played them all. So it’s no surprise that she’s been cycling for years, and when I took it up we discovered we were well matched. To date we’ve logged two century rides together. It was only in casual conversation about the trip that I threw out the idea that she join us, and with little hesitation she committed. This is Myra’s maiden long distance bike tour. But I’m not concerned. Myra is able to keep up both a solid pace and a steady conversation for miles and miles. And she always seems to have the energy to go farther – as long as she’s well fed.

Most looking forward to: Just getting out and riding through beautiful country and enjoying it from a bicycle.

Biggest worry: How many bagels should I bring and how will I keep them fresh and how much will they weigh?

Tomorrow this motley crew will gather in Exeter, New Hampshire to begin our ride together. Look out sea coast, here we come!

Cycling en Route

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Molly

Having pushed through Ontario, our reward was having short driving days for the remainder of our trip to the East coast and time to do a few bike rides. After all, it's not enough that we are heading out to start a 2,000 mile bike trip. We still want to cycle through some of the scenic areas along the way.

Our first stop was the Lake Champlain Islands. A string of islands at the top of the long narrow lake, they are joined by causeways and crisscrossed by bike routes. We pitched our tiny tent in the Grand Isle State Park Campground and set off to explore the island by bike. It was a hot, sunny afternoon but most of the cycling roads clung to the lakeshore, and just looking out at the deep blue water was refreshing.

The affluence of the area was unmistakable, with quaint homes immaculately landscaped and picturesque little villages full of artsy shops and restaurants. Yet in the interior, i was surprised to see that there were also working farms, busily making hay as we passed. I can never resist a Farmers' Market, and we stopped at one with everything from ethnic foods to iced cider to homespun wool. Oh yes, and a few vegetables and local blueberries as well.

Molly cycling on Grand Isle

Rich sampling food at the farmers' market

Today brought us to Dartmouth College, Rich's alma matter. Naturally, our first stop had to be the boathouse, where young crew members were going out for their morning training. As a former oarsman, it was tough for Rich to drag himself away from the rowing to begin our bike ride.

Our route took us up the Connecticut River on the Vermont side, hugging the river's edge and cycling through pretty little towns. We had another picture perfect day, and naturally couldn't resist stopping for ice cream at the far point of our ride. Those were the biggest “small” cones we'd ever seen! But we didn't complain. We returned via the New Hampshire side of the river, encountering some major climbs and descents on that route. Good training for our upcoming trip, I kept reminding myself. I especially enjoyed going through Lyme NH, which Rich and I visited when we were just dating, oh so many years ago.

Students rowing at Dartmouth

Rich cycling along the Connecticut River

Yummy ice cream at Whippi Dip!

Molly in Lyme NH

It's a good thing we didn't do a longer ride, or get larger ice cream cones. We barely had our bikes back on the car when the afternoon's threatening rain materialized in a heavy downpour. Whew, timing is everything! We can only hope to continue that luck on our Grand Gaspé Tour.

Gaspé Prelude

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Molly

I’ve checked and double checked my detailed list. My panniers are packed with my cycling clothes and gear. My duffel bag is full of all the things I’ll need on the drive. Food and picnic items are prepared for the journey. Ancillary items are poised to go into the car. Are we ready to go?

Today we start the trip to the beginning of the trip – driving from Duluth out to New Hampshire for our Grand Gaspé Cycling Tour. We have decided to drive north of Lake Superior and continue on through Canada. We’ve never been past Nipigon at the top of the lake, and are looking forward to seeing the more remote Canadian side of Lake Superior. Having allowed extra time, we can linger and explore along the way and maybe even do a bike ride or two.

Logistically, I think we’re ready. We’ve done enough cycling trips to know what we need to bring. We’re physically fit and have plenty of cycling miles behind us. Our bikes have been in for maintenance, and have an assortment of fresh new parts. We’ve increased our stock of spare tires and repair tools. And we have quality gear. Yes, we’re in good shape there.

Mentally, are we ready? This summer has been so busy that we really haven’t had time to focus on the reality of this cycling trip until now. Sure, we planned the route, digested the magnitude of the distance, took a deep breath and enthusiastically exclaimed “Yes, let’s do it!” But I don’t think the reality of spending two months or more on our bicycles has really sunk in. Spending all that time traveling, just the two of us. Pedaling through good weather and bad, uphill and down, with the wind and against it. Deciding day by day where we will go next. How far and where we will stay. For all that time. Two months or more.

The novelty of the plan has carried us this far. It’s been great fun to talk about the trip, visualize ourselves out there on the edge of the continent, and tackling an unfathomable distance on two wheels. Perhaps that’s enough. It’s better to go into it feeling the thrill of the challenge, rather than worrying the details.

We’ll have plenty of time to think about it in the car. But I’d rather concentrate on the sights along the way. After all, it’s a trip in its own right, the prelude to Gaspé. And I’m ready to go!

Gaspé – The Ultimate Cycling Tour

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Molly

It’s been in the planning stages for months. I’ve alluded to it in several previous posts. It’s only just over a month away. So I think it’s time to elaborate on our plans for our most extensive cycling trip yet – The Grand Gaspé Tour.

This trip is Rich’s brain child. That’s nothing new, he plans most of our adventures. But the sheer magnitude of this one makes it unique.

The inspiration is his missed opportunity to take a college graduation trip. While his friends piled into old cars to cruise the USA, Rich dove right into work at his first job. It’s a decision he came to regret, and one he expects to rectify with this trip. Having taken all three of our children on graduation trips when they finished college, now it’s Rich’s turn.

Our route through Maine, New Brunswick, the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec City and New Hampshire

Since we are now both retired, we have plenty of time. Rich took that concept literally and dreamed up a 2-month, 2,000 mile trip through the Canadian Maritimes. When he proposed it, I jumped right on board. After all, it combined my passion for fitness and love of travel.

The idea is to take small roads and hug the coastline as closely as possible, taking in the stunning scenery. It must be our Duluth upbringing – we just can’t get enough of coastline and water views. We will also visit Quebec City for the first time.

For the first week our son, Carl, and my high school friend, Myra, will be cycling with us as we travel up the cost of Maine. That week is well scripted, with reservations already in place at small motels along the way. We plan to spend an extra day in Acadia National Park, and reach the border of Canada by the week’s end.

From there on, we’re on our own. And it’s all virgin territory. We’ve never cycled with such an open agenda and flexibility before. We know that if we maintain our normal pace, doing about 60 miles a day, we could complete the route in under 6 weeks, even taking one rest day per week. But the idea isn’t to just cover the miles. We have enough extra time to allow spontaneous side trips. If we like a place, we can stay longer. If the weather turns rotten, we can wait it out. Even our end date is loose – we can extend that too, if we choose.

Some of our kids keep wondering just why we’d want to do this. Who in their right minds would spend two months on a bicycle with only the contents of their paniers? We just smile and nod, looking forward to the challenge and seeing the countryside up close, at cycling pace.

So come August and September that’s where we’ll be. On the Grand Gaspé Tour. You can’t miss us. We’ll be the ones sporting the lighthouses.

The Second Century

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Molly

After the cold and wet weekend, it was hard to believe the forecast for a beautiful sunny day on Monday. Crossing our fingers, my friend Myra and I planned our second annual Century Ride, and were pleased when the weatherman was right for once.

Our inaugural 100-mile bike ride last summer was a flat out and back ride on a smooth bike trail. A good start for novices. This year we took on a more ambitious route. We wanted a circle tour with nice scenery, good roads and little traffic. We quickly settled on the little town of Brimson for our destination, and by manipulating the course with a few detours to add mileage, we finally came up with a good route. My husband Rich warned that it was too hilly for such a long ride, but that only solidified our determination to stick with the plan.

The good news was that we did most of our hill work at the outset. Before the sun had an opportunity to heat up the day, we had the bulk of our climbing behind us. Once inland, we only had rolling hills, and those created more interest than nuisance. It was a very green route, lined by trees and with little other variation besides the wildflowers blooming on the wayside. We had hoped to see the numerous lakes that line Pequaywn Lake Road, but they were hidden by those same trees. However, we did enjoy the unique mailbox that confirmed there must be a lake nearby!

Lunchtime brought us to Brimson, which conveniently happened to be our half-way point. We didn’t find much evidence of a town, but Hugo’s Bar and General Store provided shade for our picnic as we refueled for the next leg our of ride.

Having attained a nice altitude, our payback came on our descent into Two Harbors. It was a straight shot down toward Lake Superior, but it wasn’t as smooth sailing as expected. We found ourselves pedaling straight into a stiff wind which checked our pace. I didn’t mind. It saved wear and tear on my brakes. On the intermittent uphills Myra admitted to drafting behind me, but somehow I doubt I was much of a windbreak.

We were surprised how quickly the miles mounted up behind us. Without any major sights to distract us, we took just a few breaks for food and to replenish our water supplies. Our final rest was a requisite DQ stop in Two Harbors. After all, what’s the purpose of cycling if we don’t have ice cream? Heading down the Scenic Highway back to Duluth, we welcomed the slightly cooler breezes delivered by Lake Superior. By that time we were counting down the miles – not that we were tired or anything…

It felt good to finish, with a great sense of accomplishment. And we were still smiling!

Myra, as well as our son Carl, will be joining Rich and me for the first week of our Grand Gaspé Cycling tour later in the summer. On that trip we will need to push on, day after day, regardless of what the weatherman delivers. No matter how relentless the hills. Whatever the road conditions. I think we can handle it.

Post-race Rehash

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Molly

A marathon or half marathon takes only a few hours to run, but requires at least two days to dissect and re-live. Since yesterday’s Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon my son, Erik, and I have been doing just that. It’s best to have a family member with whom one can share this activity. It just doesn’t have the same appeal to those who did not participate in the race.

The first rush comes in the finishing chute. Erik was there waiting for me, and we quickly shared notes on our finishing times. He clocked a fast 1:33 compared to my 1:52 finish, but we both beat our goal times and shared a common surge of accomplishment. The cold, foggy, windy day was perfect for running, but did not encourage lingering after the race. Basking in the afterglow soon cooled to shivering in the wind, so we headed home to continue reviewing the race.

The initial burst of analysis is focused on times. With the aid of our Garmins GPS watches, we could quickly distill the race down to mile splits and paces. “Here’s where I slowed down,” and “Look how I picked up my pace at the end” punctuated our detailed view of the data. Even if we don’t remember the nuances of our progress along the course, aided by technology we could reconstruct the journey.

The instant availability of race results online takes the discussion in a whole new direction. Suddenly we can see how we stacked up against the whole field of runners, our sex and age classification. The topic takes on renewed energy, as we then hunt down the results for family, friends and loose acquaintances who ran the race.

Once showered, fed and sporting our new Finisher T-shirts, the intensity of our scrutiny dwindles, and we can even engage in normal conversation. But fair warning to family members – any comment can readily trigger a return to the race route and a related comment. Particularly over dinner that evening when congregated with spectators and supporters.

Morning brings the newspaper coverage of the race. Admittedly it is already dated, and although we rarely read the physical print edition any more, the race requires a purchase. There is nothing like pouring over the list of finishers in tiny print, checking the times of the top age group runners, and reading the stories of victories and personal experiences. It not only refuels the post-race frenzy but spawns new ambitions and challenges. “If only” in this race is converted to “next time.”

Didn’t I tell you I’d be reconsidering a return to the full marathon? It must be catching. Erik just signed up for the Twin Cities Marathon. I think I need more time to rehash that decision before committing. Maybe next year.

Full or Half Marathon?

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Molly

There’s a big difference. After a couple of half marathons back in the early 90s, I went for my first marathon – Grandma’s Marathon. Once you move up, it’s hard to go back. Or is it?

There’s no denying that being a marathon runner carries a certain prestige. It’s a badge of honor we runners love to wear, and after running 15 of them, I feel I’ve earned that right. It’s such a thrill to walk into the Expo before the race, surrounded by other marathoners, going up to collect my bib. The energy exuded by the crowd of runners is palpable, and it’s easy to get pumped up about the race. At that moment, everything seems possible. I just know I can do it, and it’s going to be a good race. Bring it on!

Arriving for a half marathon, surrounded by marathoners, it’s hard not to feel like a second class citizen. I can’t help but experience a tug of envy, wishing I were one of them. It’s not as if running 13.1 miles is something to sneeze at. It’s just not a marathon.

But it does have its advantages. Tomorrow I’m running the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, not Grandma’s Marathon. Were I running the full marathon, I know I’d have had a case of nerves all week. I’m not conscious of worrying, but more often than not I haven’t felt well leading up to the race. This week? No problem. I barely knew the race was coming up. If I were running the full marathon, I wouldn’t be blogging right now, I’d be obsessing about what clothes to wear, what the weather will be, and how early to get to the starting line. Tonight I’m not too concerned – after all, I will only be out there for a couple of hours at most. I think I’ll bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies instead of fussing. To run the full marathon, I would have had to devote hours and hours to training, and would have followed my own tried and true training plan to the letter. My half marathon training was rather haphazard. How could it be otherwise, when I took a 500 mile bike trip in the middle of it? No matter. I know I’ll finish. It’s just a matter of how fast. Or how slow I will be.

I expect to just go out and enjoy myself tomorrow. It will be fun, and I’ll catch the enthusiasm of the runners and spectators. Going back is a lot easier. But I won’t kid myself. I’ll be thinking about returning to the full marathon as soon as I cross the finish line.

Two Techie Cyclists

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Molly

We admit it. We love our technology. My husband, Rich, and I are avid cyclists and have taken to doing long distance cycling trips. We love the slower pace and more engaged style of travel that it encourages. We have mastered the art of traveling light, even when camping. And that includes our techie toys.

First on the list are our Garmin GPS watches. We haven’t updated them in years, but perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. Although the older models are much bulkier, they have bigger displays for our aging eyes. We wouldn’t dream of going for a ride without them. They not only display our mileage, pace and time as we go, but when we get home we download them to SportTracks where we can view our route on a map, and analyze other data ad nauseam.

That brings us to the next item – our tablets. Absolutely essential. In addition to blogging (of course!), we download all our photos each night, to edit and organize them. And of course we use email, maps and other apps. They are the most economical use of space for any device we bring – particularly as they allow us to read an unlimited number of books along the way.

Smartphones are our lifeline while we’re gone. We don’t use them much during the day, but they are there if we need them, and keep us connected to family back home. And then there are the maps. Rich can download Google Maps locally on his Android phone ahead of time, and even without a cell connection he can use GPS to pinpoint us on a map and clarify where we really are. Or where we need to go. It has saved us many a wrong turn.

Not bad, just three devices each. But now that we’ve taken to doing longer trips and camping, we face new challenges. Our Garmins only store a limited amount of data – four full days is about the max mine will hold before the detail gets written over. Even if we trade off using them on alternate days, it’s still not enough. Enter Sportablet. It’s an Android app that Rich has loaded on his Nexus 10 tablet, and now we can both download all our GPS data nightly and save it for the duration of the trip. It works like a dream! So we have our data licked. (And to give Android its due, clearly there are some things it does much better than Apple – handling external data is one of them.)

Power is not an issue when staying in motels, but what about when camping? We turned to solar power on our last trip, using the SolarMonkey Adventurer. I strapped it onto my sleeping bag to charge during our ride in the daytime, and at night we were able to recharge two Garmin GPS watches, two cell phones, and it still had additional power capacity. At 15 oz, we deemed it worth carrying. Power solved, at least if the sun shines…

Our next trip will be 2,000 miles long, and will keep us on our bicycles up to two months. Sunshine and satellites willing, and the occasional internet connection, we will be happy techies.

A Perfect Cycling Grand Finale

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Molly

Day 8 – Northfield to Shakopee 48 miles

Our last day of the Upper Mississippi River Cycling Tour. Even after seven straight days of cycling, I was sad to see our trip nearing completion. On the other hand, I was eagerly looking forward to the 30th Wedding Anniversary Celebration that awaited us at the end of the road.

It wasn’t the most beautiful day, with clouds overhead and temperatures in the low 50s, but a day earlier the forecast was for rain, so I considered it a good day! The winds had picked up too, but fortunately they were mostly behind us – a treat after all the headwinds we’ve had on this trip.

My head was definitely in a different place today. It wasn’t the same as the other days of our tour, when we were fully in the mode, taking in all the sights and making the most of the journey. Today was really all about the destination. Sure the farms were picturesque, we enjoyed the cows and horses in their pastures, and we had a tasty stop at Patty’s Place for a snack in New Prague. But we were eager to reach the end.

The closer we got to the outskirts of the Twin Cities, the more the farmhouses looked like suburban homes. They looked a bit incongruous in the center of large working farms. We encountered our first lake with about 10 miles to go. We’d seen plenty of rivers and ponds, but no true Minnesota lakes. We were zeroing in on home territory.

As planned, we rode to our daughter’s house where all of our children, grandchildren and a few close friends were gathered. We had a lively welcoming party, as they cheered us down the final street to the house. The afternoon was pure enjoyment, surrounded by those we love. It was filled with much laughter, many hugs, good food and warm feelings.Our kids collaborated on not only the party, but the entertainment. In true Brewer style (ie my family’s tradition) they collectively authored an epic poem, which they recited with great animation to commemorate our lives together – meeting, dating, marrying, birthing and parenting. It was an amazing piece of work and an hysterical tribute. Karen upheld her theme cake decorating reputation, producing Cake Cones in honor of our detour to the Dairy Queen after our wedding 30 years ago. That called for a re-creation of the scene when we arrived at our reception, cones in hand, linking arms to lick them!

The tour is finished, but the memories will live on. We had many great moments on our trip – met wonderful people, worked through cycling challenges, appreciated beautiful scenery and appreciated experiencing it all up close from the seat of a bicycle. But the best memories will be holding tight to our family members and friends at the grand finale. It was just perfect.

Dallying through Southern Minnesota

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Molly

Day 7 - Mantorville to Northfield 47 miles

We emerged from our tent out into a clear crisp morning. The sun was already warming the chilly air, but not before we noticed the frost on the picnic tables! We stuck to the sunshine as we packed up our sleeping bags and tent, drying them out from the heavy dew as best we could. It felt good to be outside and moving, and we deemed the camping experience a complete success.

We knew we had a shorter ride than usual today, due to having altered our route yesterday. And with the change in wind direction, we had a tailwind for a change to help us make good time. So we allowed ourselves a leisurely breakfast at the coffeehouse, which had the added benefit of wireless Internet. That set the pace for our day. With brilliant sunshine, reasonably warm temperatures and quiet local roads, it was easy to enjoy our surroundings and stop for frequent photo sessions. We passed through a number of nice little towns, and the farmland became picturesque once more. I decided to focus on capturing images of Middle America, or America's Breadbasket as Rich likes to call it in honor of his family's farming heritage.

We took a short detour to visit Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park. There the main attraction is the woods, which is the largest remaining portion of the hardwood forest that once covered Central Minnesota. A short hike took us to Hidden Falls, which was both pretty and peaceful. We were sure we could see a secondary falls under the main flow, probably from water seeping through the limestone. Spring was in full force and the woods were filled with new blooming wildflowers. It was a nice respite from our cycling.

While Rich stopped for a snack in Nerstrand, I ventured down the street to take a few photos. Imagine my surprise when a motorcycle stopped alongside me, and its rider asked where to find Rich! Who the heck could that be? It turned out to be Randy, our host for the evening. We were staying in another Warm Showers home, and knowing our route, Randy decided to swing by and see how we were getting along. We shared a good laugh over that, got advice on the best roads to take, and Rich happily handed over a sleeping bag and tent for Randy to transport. Being a purist – for whatever silly reasons – I held out and continued to schlep my gear.

It was an easy peddle up to Northfield, where we quickly settled into comfortable accommodations with Randy and his wife, Lois. Admittedly, after camping the shower was especially welcome. Although Northfield is a nice town with plenty to explore, the idea of having time to relax proved to be a greater draw. We enjoyed a good meal and sharing stories with our hosts, and were happy to continue dallying right on into the evening.

Superior Footprints

Life and the Outdoors in the Northland

Category Archives: Keeping Fit

Grand Gaspé Tour – Cast of Characters

Cycling en Route

Gaspé Prelude

Gaspé – The Ultimate Cycling Tour

The Second Century

Post-race Rehash

Full or Half Marathon?

Two Techie Cyclists

A Perfect Cycling Grand Finale

Dallying through Southern Minnesota

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