St. Paul Minnesota to Hager City, Wisconsin Monday, June 21, 2021
Weird to think that I’ve been out for more than two months, and that now I am in a new season, summer. The sun set at 8:54 (also weird, because it set as late as 9:15 when I was further north and west from here), and from now on, the days will be getting shorter. I will definitely have to do something about my late starts.
The Swansons were all up relatively early, Renée served me a great breakfast, and I was able to get out at nine for a change. Matt picked out a terrific route for me to re-join the Adventure Cycling route, and it took me right into downtown St. Paul again, so I got a picture of the Fitzgerald Theater after all. So here is where most of those great Prairie Home Companions were performed. A historical marker said it was built in 1910. Right now, it appears to be still shuttered for Covid.
It was still 30 miles to get to the confluence of the Mississippi and the St. Croix, which up until now had served as the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota, and rejoin the ACA route, which continued downstream for another 20 miles. This is the so-called “driftless region”: spared by the Ice Age glaciers, it’s crazy hilly, such a change after so many weeks of flat. The scenery was spectacular but hard to photograph, and capture the beauty of the rolling fields and forests—you had to be there to feel it. I did pass a cliff called Diamond Bluff, where they say eagles nest. Looks like they chain-sawed a view up there.
The hills were steep and frequent, but I was happy to see that after all these miles I can handle them without having to walk. Coming down, though, my rear brake suddenly failed. Luckily it’s the front brake that has most of the stopping power, since your weight tends to lurch forward when braking, so I did not have to stop right there to repair it, but I will definitely have to deal with it tomorrow morning.
My campsite for the night was a cute marina and campground called Mr. Sippy, and I met both Mr. and Mrs.
I recorded my fourth podcast session with Steve Shepard, I will let you know when it posts. Funny, on the first day of summer, it is going down to 46 tonight. Good thing I did not send my 20° topquilt back yet.
Addendum: that latest podcast episode just posted, here is the link. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-natural-curiosity-project/id1443160082?i=1000526482435
Distance 56 miles, 2,966 total. Time 9 hours with stops. Elevation gain 2,636 feet.
©️ 2021 Scott Luria
The Ends of the Earth 