Category Archives: Uncategorized

Little Falls to Milaca, Minnesota. Wednesday, June 16, 2021 Today was a day of little hassles and great joy. I am having supplies sent ahead to a friend of mine in Wisconsin, but I had to follow up on emails and online orders to make sure stuff would arrive in time. I discovered that theContinue reading “Making connections”

Brainerd to Little Falls, Minnesota Tuesday, June 15, 2021 In Fargo, this is where Marge Gunderson keeps saying where she’s from. Alas, as authentic as this iconic movie feels, there’s almost nothing in it that is true. None of it was filmed in Fargo, or Brainerd. That great accent, referred to as “Minnesota Nice” isContinue reading “Up Brainerd”

Walker to Baxter, Minnesota. Monday, June 14, 2021 Was this ever a delightful day. I spent the entire day on paved bike paths, principally the Paul Bunyan State Bike Trail. Except for a few tree roots, and occasional construction, it was in great shape. Add a strong tailwind, and I was on Easy Street onceContinue reading “Land of 10,000 Lakes”

Lake Itasca to Walker, Minnesota Sunday, June 13, 2021 It seems to follow a pattern, a busy day is followed by a low-key one. Maybe it’s because the time it takes to document the first eats into the second. Markus came over to inspect the German engineering of my bicycle, and we talked for aContinue reading “Transitions: Back to the ACA”

Bemidji to Lake Itasca, Minnesota. Saturday, June 12, 2021 Another perfect, but event–filled day. Mary made me a wonderful breakfast of blueberry pancakes and whole grains, with real maple syrup. She was a terrific host. As always, the challenge is getting going in the morning, when there is so much to talk about. I hadn’tContinue reading “Veritas caput”

Deer River to Bemidji, Minnesota Friday, June 11, 2021 Bemidji. About as cute, mysterious, and exotic a name as I’ve yet encountered. Today was a simple matter of following the Mississippi upstream on US 2, my old friend. Smooth, flat, and wide, not much traffic, and a tailwind. There was not much to see, justContinue reading “Bemidji bound”

Swan Lake to Deer River, Minnesota. Thursday, June 10, 2021 Today was low-key compared to yesterday‘s Easter egg fest. It started out with more great conversations with Tom and Karen, we have so many stories to share, but they are more disciplined than I am, and managed to depart quite early. I had some anxiousContinue reading “No peeking”

Chisholm to Swan Lake, Minnesota Wednesday, June 9, 2021 Turns out, Moonlight wasn’t hard to find, there is a mural right in the center of town, at the Mesabi Trailhead. He caught WP Kinsella’s imagination as he wrote Field of Dreams, as a right fielder who only played one inning in 1903, and never gotContinue reading “Tangled up in blue”

Eveleth to Chisholm, Minnesota. Tuesday, June 8, 2021 It was actually 3:30 before I left the campground, I decided to do my therapist call sitting down for once. The campground manager kept swinging by in his golf cart, looking at me questioningly. He thought it was too late to leave, that everything would be closedContinue reading “Highways vs. bike paths”

Duluth to Eveleth, Minnesota. Monday, June 7, 2021 Didn’t I say goodbye to Lake Superior on Saturday and Sunday? I’m like the guest who wouldn’t leave. I felt fine this AM, yesterday’s drama was clearly a combination of heat exhaustion and separation anxiety. It’s funny, this fancy hotel has no breakfast or even coffee, soContinue reading “The long goodbye”