Tag: Minnesota

IM18 – Stillwater

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Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin to Stillwater, Minnesota Distance: 35.5 miles Ascent: 2,171 feet http://cyclemeter.com/51ced2364be66c17/Cycle-20160807-1143 Cumulative Distance this tour:  844.8 miles Cumulative Ascent this tour: 34,412 feet Up early this morning.  It had been a perfect night of camping – serene and perfect temperature.   I took another long stroll around the apple orchard.  Magical stuff.  At one point I startled 2 deer who bounded away in giant leaps.   Around the pumpkin patch were lots of plants that reminded me of childhood in Pennsylvania…milkweed, goldenrod, and many others with unknown names. Back in camp it was peaceful and slow.  Jack and Phil were

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IM17 – Nesbitt Nursery

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Wabasha, Minnesota to Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin Distance: 55.9 miles Ascent: 3,183 feet http://cyclemeter.com/51ced2364be66c17/Cycle-20160806-0812 Cumulative Distance this tour:  809.4 miles This morning we breakfasted in the AmericInn lobby with something masquerading as eggs and sausage.    We learned that last night Phil was audience to a snoring duet between me and Jack somewhere about 1:30AM.  He said it only lasted about 30 minutes. Out of Wabasha, we took to the ACA route starting away from the river (MN60) and into an immediate 450 foot climb.  Sorta hurts with no warmup.  It reminded me of a similar morning back in 2011. (http://www.twowheeljournal.net/?p=2869). As

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IM16 – Long and Lovely Day

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Brownsville, Minnesota to Wabasha, Minnesota Distance: 73.1 miles Ascent: 2,033 feet http://cyclemeter.com/51ced2364be66c17/Cycle-20160805-0731 Cumulative Distance this tour: 753.5 miles As previously noted, this was one fantastic campsite, the best yet on this tour. Sunrise over the Wisconsin bank. Mist rising off the river waters. Very dewy conditions due to yesterday’s rains. Magical. Phil got up real early, with Jack and I lagging. We arose to winds from the north between 5 and 10 mph, so our early riding took us into a headwind. The scenery along the river road, however, was again marvelous, blue skies with white clouds and the wide

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IM15 – Doesn’t Get Better

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Monona, Iowa to Brownsville, Minnesota Distance: 68.2 miles Ascent: 3,583 feet http://cyclemeter.com/51ced2364be66c17/Cycle-20160804-0808 Cumulative Distance this tour: 680.5 miles Wonderful overnight tenting in Monona’s Gateway Park. Once packed, we each headed over to Subway or Quillin’s grocery store for things like lemon-filled donuts and coffee. In the center of Monona we picked up Pleasant Ridge Road headed east, and took it 14 miles in the early morning mist prior to sunrise, through fields of corn and soybeans. Reaching the river bluff, we were rewarded with a 500’ drop in elevation to reach the town of Marquette. Giddy-up! Marquette is a tiny

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