Lanesboro- Southeast Minnesota's Hidden Jewell

 (Reminder... pictures are clickable to enlarge)

I discovered Lanesboro, MN through a friend during May of 2010 and have now been back to enjoy it three times. For us it is within easy driving distance and serves as a terrific bicycle-based quickie getaway site. Lanesboro has my spouse's stamp of approval... not an easy thing to get, and is popular, but not so much so as to become over-commercialized. There are numerous B and B options as well as our usual lodging the Green Gables Inn. The chief attraction is the Root River Trail, a very scenic, paved rail-to-trail conversion that is operated by the State of Minnesota.

From Lanesboro, you basically have three choices for a cycling destination:
Houston and back- about 62 miles (Whalan, Peterson, and Rushford along the way)
Harmony and back- about 48 miles (Preston is along the way)
Fountain and back- about 24 miles

On last week's Lanesboro outing I rode three times uphill to the little town of Fountain (pop. 374), a destination I had not visited before.What a neat and tidy little community that is! My chief discovery in Fountain was Willie's Market with it's fine beef jerky and locally-made Spring Grove Soda Pop.

This is the trailhead at Fountain

And a few shots along the way

The day we left for home I got in a very early morning ride to Rushford and back, and managed to take a few shots of the great little towns of Whalan and Peterson along the way. This is Whalan:

This is Peterson, with its phone booth!

Before our final departure from Lanesboro we discovered a new breakfast joint, Pedal Pushers Cafe. It is highly recommended and features locally grown/made eggs, cheese, veggies and meat.

Owl Ride 2011= Epic Fail

It sounded like a good idea:

"Join the 2nd annual Owl Ride, Omaha’s nighttime urban cycling adventure, on Saturday night, July 16, 2011, for an active experience in Omaha’s dynamic metro core. The Owl Ride is the largest annual night bike ride between Chicago and Denver.

See the city in a unique light—star light and moon light, as well as street lights. The Owl Ride circles a specially designed 16‑mile route through Downtown, Midtown, Dundee, Aksarben, Field Club and Old Market neighborhoods, with a shortcut available to create a 7-mile ride."

Based on my experience last night at the 2011 Owl Ride, here's my suggestion for future publicity:

"Dare to take your life in your hands riding in the dark in close quarters  with 1800 largely unskilled cyclists who do not have a clue what "hold your line" means. All of this while enjoying humidity in excess of 80 percent. To enhance your adventure, lights on participants' bikes are optional!"

I rode my bike downtown for the start of this ride but bailed and headed for home as soon as I got out of downtown on Farnam Street. This would be a good night ride to do with a group of friends some night when the weather is better... not with 1800 other riders though.

2011 Fireworks Ride

One of the "fun ride" highlights of the year for me is the annual July 4th ride to view the City of Ralston fireworks show. It's a short five-mile trip from Steve and Anne Macklin's house to our viewing point, which happens to be on one of the area's bike trails. The company is excellent and the ride home in the dark is a lot of fun too.

Link to Full Picture Set

Pipestone Pass Video Part 3

Looking Back, Coming Home

I have driven the route to the Bozeman area and beyond many times on family vacations to Yellowstone and eastern Washington.  A town or two along the Cycle Montana route were pretty familiar places. So this trip put me on familiar ground, except of course for the bicycling.  And always when I have turned the car for home there has been, somehow, a palpable feeling of sadness and regret. The open space and the mountains of the northwest just do that to me and I think they always will.

There is lots of time to mull things over driving home alone for two days. I am satisfied with my ride. I prepared well and rode the route about as well as I could have hoped.  The bicycle I assembled for the trip performed flawlessly and none of the usual things that cause pain and suffering on a bicycle gave me any problems. Not that many 63-year-old men with so little experience could have done much better.

As much as practically possible, I tried to take the time to drink it all in along the way. Sometimes after a day’s flyfishing from a driftboat  I have had the feeling that I had somehow, in my intense concentration,  missed out on the beautiful place I had been going through.  And there is still just a little of that in my mind as I take my leave of this beautiful place.

As I get closer to home and family my spirits lift. But riding my bike in this special place was an experience I will not soon forget. All the local miles and routine daily rides made it possible to do this and I’m going to try and remember that when they seem just a little boring.  Thanks to the people I met, however briefly, during this ride. You added much to the experience and the memories.

I will be back to southwest Montana, if I am able. And when I return, I am bringing my bike.

Pipestone Pass Part 2- I Could Do This ALL Day Long!

Here is the second part of the Pipestone descent video. I hit a small hill near the end and inhale a bug about halfway down. Not hair-raising speed maybe, but what fun! There are two more parts to come. Click to enlarge.