Riding to Rest

To Lakeville, Minnesota -- 64.2 miles, 14.0 mph, 1650 ft

Yeah. We made it. Yet another major way point as we rolled into the Quality Inn in Lakeville, sixteen miles north of St Olaf’s college where my niece Jamie will graduate tomorrow.

The day started out beautifully. As we rode along the wide shoulder of highway 61, we counted the passing train cars and even tried to keep ahead of the bright red engines. Along the way, my brother Don texted that he, Joan (his wife), and Jamie, (his daughter) would be at Bev’s Cafe in Red Wing for breakfast, just ten miles up the road. Awesome, this would be the first time in more than a year that we’d see them (and, an added bonus, our second breakfast of the morning!)

Us with Joan and Jamie

After a fun meal together, we hopped back on the bikes at 11:00, still with 48 miles to go -- most likely, four plus hours of pedaling. To our surprise, a few miles later we started climbing what was surely our longest climb since New York. Fortunately, the grade was moderate, and we were all feeling good as a blanket of clouds filled the skies… and then the rain set in.

Out came the rain jackets, except for Meg’s as she prefers to stay cool. The rain stopped after an hour, but we all agreed, it’s much less fun riding in the wind and rain. Still, we kept on going knowing we would soon be with De Ann, Don, Joan, and Jamie. And, since everyone would be around through Tuesday, we would now have not just one, or two, but three rest days in a row! Hopefully, our legs would be feeling a little less sore.

Don and Jamie

Kylie and Dex back with Aunt De Ann