Cycling and Executive Decisions

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Day 4 - Prairie du Chien to Caledonia 62 miles

Day 4 - Prairie du Chien to Caledonia 62 miles

By all rights, you should not be reading this post. We are supposed to be in a tent, sans Internet. But we caved. Instead, we are in a modest but well-equipped Mom and Pop motel room. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Today we crossed the Mississippi River and headed back North. It started out really well. We were on a much smaller road with little traffic. We were at river level, meaning it was nice and flat. And the wind was finally behind us for a change. The first thing that I noticed was that in Iowa, they managed to squeeze houses, shacks and mobile homes between the railroad tracks and the river. Some of them were wisely built on stilts. I'd just never seen an elevated mobile home before! But it was justified – the river has just come down from flooding its banks, and trees were still marooned in the middle of the river.

Trailers alongside the Mississippi River

Early on we stopped at a National Monument to see some effigy mounds. There we met friendly volunteers, one of whom clued us in to the long, steep hill we were about to climb. We were grateful for the forewarning, as the 3-mile hill lived up to his predictions. What we didn't know was that it was only the first of four such brutal ascents we would face today! Every time we left the edge of the river, it meant a stiff hill to mount the bluffs. As long as we were in river country, that meant a steep downhill back to river level. Rich loved plummeting down at great speed, but to me (who hates speeding down) it was just unravelling all the hard work we'd just done. Our final hill took us inland for our detour into southeastern Minnesota. That time it felt rewarding to stay “up top” for the remainder of the day's ride.

Altitudes of today's ride
Looking back down the hill doesn't do it justice!

We were definitely in the heart of farmland, first in Iowa and then Minnesota. Pretty farm buildings, tilled fields, curious cows and a few horses were the primary features of the landscape. We even set one herd of cows off in a running pack as we passed. Given the quiet country roads, it was a very peaceful ride.

Rich repairing his tire

We managed to spend some extra quality time among the farms while Rich repaired a flat tire on the rear of his bike. It was our first repair job of the trip, and happened as we were closing in on the last major town for the day. While it was a straightforward repair, it did set us behind and Rich in particular was already rather fried from the hill work. (Is this where I mention that considering his 57 years of age and the added burden of carrying camping equipment that he decided it was A-OK to walk up the steepest hills? He said I could… To be fair, then I need also include the fact that I would have been hopeless at replacing that inner tube. So I guess we're even.)

It was at that point when Rich announced he was making an executive decision. We would seek out a modest motel instead of camping tonight. After all, he reasoned, it was our anniversary. Who was I to argue? I did feel a quick pang of regret that we'd given in so easily, but it was easily squelched.

Rich and Molly toasting their 30 years

And so it was that we enjoyed a nice dinner and a bottle of wine to celebrate the occasion this evening. It also gave me the opportunity to drag Rich to the Dairy Queen to consume ice cream cones, just like we did on our wedding day 30 years ago. We have plenty of nights to spend in a tent. I enjoyed the outcome of this executive's decision.

 

Anticipation!

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Today my husband and I celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. To celebrate, we have treated ourselves to a B&B while on our Upper Mississippi River Cycling Tour, otherwise known as our 30th Anniversary Tour. In addition to looking forward to many more happy years on this “ride through life,” we anticipate many good things today:

  • Breakfast! Normally, a staple of our cycling trips has been to stop for a hearty breakfast after logging about 20 miles, but that hasn't panned out just yet. We can't miss today, it's right downstairs. I can almost smell the coffee brewing!
  • Flying with the wind. After battling fierce headwinds all the way down the river, we can't wait to turn North this morning and enjoy a tailwind. We should have a speedy ride today! It won't last, as we can already see a change to NW winds in the forecast, but we'll take it as an anniversary present today.
  • A bit of cooler weather. I love the sun and warm weather, but even I will appreciate temperatures below the 80s today. And my sun-ravaged arms and legs will be thankful for the clouds.
  • Camping. Yes, our anniversary night will be spent in a tiny tent it in a park somewhere. Dinner will likely be a picnic – whatever we can squeeze in with the rest of the gear on our bikes before leaving the nearest town. Marriage is an adventure, right?

For 30 years it's been a great ride. I anticipate many more together!

Rich and Molly (Note the wedding picture in the corner!)

 

Clinging to the Mississippi River

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Day 2 - La Crosse to Prairie du Chien 60 miles

Day 3 – La Crosse to Prairie du Chien 60 miles

Today we hugged the Mississippi River all day long. In contrast to the previous two days when the Great River Road frequently swung away from the river, this portion faithfully remained in sight of the river. The bluffs backed away from the river, allowing room for farmland, homes and vacation rentals opposite the river. Towns were small, infrequent and sported few businesses (you guessed it – a dearth of restaurants!). That left the river and it’s surroundings as the main attraction. On a beautiful sunny day, that was ample for us.

With the heat and the recurrence of strong gusty headwinds, we were happy to take frequent breaks to enjoy the view. A fish hatchery made for a peaceful respite, with its majestic Silver Maple trees. We took a short detour into Blackhawk Park, where the Mississippi backwaters resembled a lake. We appreciated the humor of a farm that wished it was in Norway, proudly dubbed Uf-da Acres. And of course, we stopped for ice cream mid-afternoon at a river-side kiosk with a very friendly owner.

Moly relaxing at the fish hatchery
Blackhawk Park
Uf-da Acres
A train thundering past

The other constant I should mention has been the presence of trains. The track lies between the road and the river, and the interval between trains is short. While I wouldn’t want freight trains thundering through my back yard, we have rather enjoyed them as a novelty.

I also have to admit that there is one aspect of this route that I have not enjoyed – the traffic. The Great River Road follows highway 35 through Wisconsin, and there is no doubt that it is well travelled. The traffic is not constant, and for the most part the shoulders are wide and smooth. But when semis come rushing past, my heart races and I grip my handlebars tightly, not wanting to be sucked into their slipstream. It’s a natural hazard of road cycling, but one I could do without.

It’s enough to close with this photo, which epitomizes today’s ride. It says it better than I can in words.

Rich cycling along the Mississippi

Cycling into Hefty Headwinds

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Day 2 - Wabasha to La Crosse 72 miles

Day 2 - Wabasha to La Crosse 72 miles

We said that this trip was to be a test for the longer cycling tour we are doing later this summer. We're trying out carrying the gear and clothes we think we will need for two months. So far so good on that account. Today it was the weather that tested us. After waiting out yet another thunderstorm before setting off this morning, we finally hit the road and ran smack dab into 25 mph headwinds! Since we were cycling through largely open countryside, there was no where to hide from the winds. All we could do was put our heads down, shift down to embarrassingly low gears and pedal like mad.

The only thing worse than cycling into the wind was doing it on an empty stomach. Early on we passing up a breakfast cafe that offered views of a lock and dam but had a waiting line. We should have known better… The following towns had nothing to offer, and our reserves began to run low. I found myself pressing into the wind, counting down the miles to the next town, harboring hopes for a cafe and missing the scenery.

Rich at the Irish pub

When we reached Fountain City we found a wonderful Irish pub with a delightful upstairs patio. Settling down at a shady table for lunch, we soon learned that we were to be well rewarded for the wait. The food was incredibly fresh and well prepared, including the proprietor's grandmother's recipe for potato soup. And boy did it taste good. After that stop, our outlooks improved significantly, the scenery became visible again, and we even tolerated the wind better.

Despite the fact that today's ride was largely over flat terrain, the wind took a huge toll on our forward momentum. The hours passed by and our destination continued to loom far in the distance. The day turned from cloudy to sunny once again, and heated up into the high 80s. But good fortune arrived in the form of a bike trail. After a grueling 50 miles on the road, we headed onto the Great River State Trail. Not only did it shelter us from the wind, but the shade brought welcome relief from the heat. A great combination!

The early section of the trail passed through a National Wildlife Preserve. There we were in the backwaters of the Mississippi, surrounded by wetlands and with tree branches meeting overhead. Birds were in great abundance and the scenery was just beautiful. That gave way to dryer land but continued to protect us all the way to the north edge of La Crosse. What a godsend that was to our weary bodies!

Wetlands alongside the trail
Molly on the bike trail
Molly at the Hungry Peddler restaurant

Bolstered by a stop at a handy Dairy Queen for cones, we made our way across the city – once again counting down the final miles. Nothing ever looked so good as the site of our humble motel for the night. Even better, there was a great vintage restaurant right across the street. We couldn't have asked for more!

I think we passed today's windy test. Regardless, we're not interested in a re-take.

 

Cycling – From Thunder to Brits!

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Day 1 - Prescott to Wabasha 56 miles

Day 1 - Prescott to Wabasha 56 miles

We woke up to the sound rain falling. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed while we packed up the car. We drove to our starting point in a torrential downpour. It was an ominous way to start our week-long cycling trip. But as we neared Prescott, Wisconsin the weather gods smiled down on us, we drove out from under the clouds, and were able to set off without delay. Whew!

Following the Great River Road in Wisconsin, we had beautiful pastoral scenery and ample views of the river. Since leaves have not yet come out in Duluth yet, it was a delight to pass through countryside painted with that bright spring green. Seeing brilliant tulips and daffodils blooming added to our pleasure. It was definitely a day of cycling up and down rolling hills as we travelled through bluff country alongside the Mississippi.

Bluffs along the Mississippi
Wisconsin farmland
English 3-speed cyclists

We hadn't gone far when we came upon a number of other cyclists. Only these folks were decked out in classic English garb, and riding all manner of old bicycles. We had stumbled upon the Pepin 3-Speed Tour – a 2-day bike ride fashioned after cycle touring in pre-war England, strictly riding English 3-speed bikes. We happened to share the same route for the day, so we had ample opportunity to stop and chat with many of the 118 adventuresome folks on the tour. Not only were they passionate about their bikes, but they were up for good old fun. Many bicycles sported wicker baskets and the occasional baguette. Tin cups hung from leather trimmed bags, and we spotted a flask or two making the rounds. And I overheard some sore cyclists applying “sticking plasters” to their blisters. It was clearly a highlight of our day!

By mid-day, the weather had improved significantly and we basked in the sunshine on an outdoor patio while eating lunch. By the end of the day, we both sported sunburns. It was the first summery day of the year, and it sure felt good!

Our Warm Showers home

Our destination was Wabasha MN where we had our first stay in a Warm Showers home. We were told we'd know the place by the teepee in the yard, but that in no way prepared us for the gorgeous home right on the river with a pool and enormous deck next to the water. What a treat! We are accompanied by at least 5 other cyclists on various trips, some on 3-speeds, others on rides longer than ours. Trading cycling stories was a must before all bedding down for the night.

Day 1 of the Upper Mississippi River Cycling Tour – we're off to a great start!

 

Pre-Cycling Trip Jitters

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It’s always the unknown that gets to me.  ThisIMG_0891 is now my second long distance cycling trip, so I’m feeling a lot more comfortable than the last time around.  I know what to expect in terms of cycling day after day.  I am looking forward to experiencing the countryside close-up and meeting interesting people along the way.  And I’m even ready to enjoy Rich’s deviations from the path to see something wacky.   Basically I’m ready for our Upper Mississippi River Cycling Tour.

The uncertainty that looms over me is the weather.  Spring is a fickle season.  And this spring is crazy!  With the long lasting winter, I’ve been revisiting the cycling clothes I’ll need, planning to squeeze in an extra layer for warmth.  But today, now that we’re just 2 days out from our start, I can look at the advanced forecasts.  And lo and behold, I see 80s!  Really?  With lows in the 50s, maybe I won’t need the extra clothes after all.  Maybe I should trade them for one sleeveless shirt.  What a quandary!

And then there’s the rain.  Last trip we had so little, it never mattered.  This time I sense we are guaranteed to get wet.  Nearly every day has some chance of rain and thunderstorms.  We have invested in good cycling rain jackets, so that’s a start.  And I insisted on fully waterproof bags for our sleeping bags.  I’m not arriving at a campground to sleep in a wet bag.  For the rest, heavy duty freezer ziplock bags will have to do the trick.  It makes me wonder, why didn’t we get waterproof panniers?

I’ve cycled through rain, but only on relatively short day-rides.  On a cycling trip, the necessity to get from point A to point B in a day rules out a bit of flexibility.  But our distances are reasonable enough that we could probably wait out the worst of it, if necessary.

I’m sure we’ll be able to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws our way.  And it’s always the adverse conditions that leave the most lasting memories, right?  Not that I’m wishing bad weather on us.  Just trying to put a positive spin on it.  To soothe my jitters.

Retirement Speed

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“So, what’d you do this morning?”  It’s a new phrase that has cropped up in this recent phase of our lives.  Two retirees at home, putzing around. (Oh man, does that make us sound old!  We’re not.)  We’re pretty independent types, so we can easily go about our own business, each following our individual agendas without being very cognizant of the other’s activities.

I’ve been at this a year already, but Rich is only two weeks into it.  And being home together is definitely different.  I’ve already figured out just how easy it is to fritter time away.  And how I can still pack a lot into a day, if I want to.  It all depends on the mood, the weather, the day, and my plans.  Rich is still in awe of the idea that “there is always tomorrow.”

Being us, we can spend hours on bike rides, running, skiing and other outdoor activities.  But it’s still hard to get over that feeling of needing to be productive.  It doesn’t take much these days to meet that definition – balancing the checkbook, ordering something on Amazon, and baking cookies all qualify.  It’s enough to say we’ve done something.

iPad Laptop case in Denim - closed trimmedThis morning I decided to fulfill my quota by doing some sewing.  By 9:00am I had produced a laptop case – actually a “commission” project for a friend of Karen’s who admired the denim iPad case I made for her.  So in exchange for a Caribou gift card, I made another slightly larger model.  Once on a roll, I moved on to making a case for my iPad photo connectors.  Talk about a frivolous IMG_9917 trimmedproject!  But designing and completing it was rewarding.  And useful.

I’m not sure what Rich achieved this morning.  But I’d say I accomplished a lot!  Now it’s time for that bike ride.

A Mississippi Preview

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We’re under a week now, until the start of our  Upper Mississippi River Cycling Tour.  I was in the Twin Cities for the weekend to spend Mothers’ Day with my children and grandchildren, so I decided to head over to the Mississippi River as a warm-up for our trip.

5-12-2013 5-18-22 PMWe have a favorite cycling circuit we call our “Sunday Morning Route.”  Typically, we do it in the very early morning hours, before the rest of the world wakes up.  But with the chilly spring weather (plus a delicious Mothers’ Day breakfast with my son!) I waited until mid-morning to start.

IMG_0885I enjoy taking the Greenway into downtown Minneapolis, and cycling under the Twins’ stadium.  From there, it’s not far to the river – the Mighty Mississippi.  After following the river through the populated areas downtown, the path became quieter and the river spread out into a more pastoral scene.  I could then start to imagine our trip.

IMG_0888We’ll be following the Great River Road for major portions of our trip through Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, so it was pleasing to see the signs appear on my route.  We won’t usually have a bike path like Minneapolis does along the river, and we’ll be schlepping a whole lot more gear than I had.  But it will be the same river.

Looking for tips on weather and temperatures for our trip, my sources said that the air was cooler near the river.  I definitely found it to be true – just like “cooler by the lake,” the river threw off chilly breezes from the late spring runoff.  Note for packing – an extra layer may be needed.

IMG_0893Leaving the river, I returned on the Midway Greenway.  It’s the bridges that are the highlight for me on that portion of the route.  First, the cycling bridge with its single support and soaring cables.  It reminds me of the bridges in Rotterdam.  That is followed by the sequence of road bridges overhead as the bike path travels below street level through the city.  The parallel structures spanning the distance make a pleasing display.  And down below, it must be warmer as I found blossoming tulips to brighten the spring day.

Covering only 4 1/2 miles along the Mississippi River on this jaunt was definitely only a small preview.  That leaves a whole lot more to discover next week.

 

 

Up with the sun

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Actually, I was up before the sun.  I had to be – I wanted to capture the sunrise.

Yup, you guessed it, I’m practicing my new photography skills.  And what better subject than a sunrise over Lake Superior.  The forecast was for a mostly clear morning, so I roused myself in the early hours of the day.  I could see the first pinkish red hues in the sky as I hustled down to Brighton Beach, wishing I hadn’t lingered for a few extra moments in bed.

I arrived to find a few clouds in the sky – perfect for reflecting the sun’s rays.  And thankfully the sun was still far enough below the horizon to allow me to set up my camera.  Soon it all began happening so quickly, I had little time to think about all the camera settings and different adjustments I should be testing.  It was all I could do to capture the rising sun and its brilliant colors.

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IMG_0806IMG_0813Enter sea gulls.  They were flying everywhere, in and out of my pictures, and I quickly realized that I wanted them IN!  But they weren’t exactly cooperative.  And I wasn’t always fast enough on the trigger.  So I ended up with a lot of pictures just after they flew out of my viewfinder.  Oh well, RAM is cheap as they say, so I just kept snapping away.  Thank heavens we are not using film any more.  But the one I did get with the gull over the clouds is my personal favorite.

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There was something magical about being out there in the crisp morning air, with no one else around.  The placid water had a calming effect, and the sun’s growing warmth was very welcome.  What a wonderful way to start the day.  I was no longer practicing photography.  I was enjoying nature and the outdoors.  It was well worth getting up before the sun.

From Crafts to Photography

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For some time now, I’ve been thinking of taking a photography class.  But that’s as far as I’d gotten on the idea.  Until I went to the Nice Girls of the North Marketplace. There I saw a flyer for a photography class, on the table where I was admiring beautiful photos that were being sold on greeting cards.  That spurred me into action, and a few weeks later I gathered with a small group of students in a photographer’s studio for class.  What a find!  We had three professional photographers to seven students, and six weeks in which to absorb all the skills they so enthusiastically shared.

After two weeks of lecture, and trying to absorb massive amounts of information about using our cameras, we had our first field session.  Gathering at Lester River, we set up our tripods and were given assignments – setting up the scene, getting the lighting right, framing the picture and other basics of photography.  The hands-on experience was invaluable, particularly paired with close oversight from our cadre of instructors.  In fact, the woman photographer from the craft fair came to assist as well, and became my personal mentor for the evening.

With her help, I moved down river and IMG_0771worked on capturing the moving water.  First we focused on stopping the action of the water. While the photo itself may not be all that interesting, I was extremely pleased to see the splashing water drops caught in mid-air.  After many shots,  camera adjustments and gentle tutoring, I finally got it.

IMG_0797The next assignment was to blur the water.  I enjoyed that even more.  The camera settings actually began to make sense as I manipulated them time after time and could see the resulting effect.  And I ultimately achieved the milky whiteness I was after.

Who knew there were so many techniques to explore in photography?  And I’m only just starting.  I’m so glad I decided to go to that craft market.