31 miles tandem, Odometer: 2059 – Camp Namekagon, WI to Hayward, WI
KEVIN – Suzi and I rode the tandem today and found some hills and headwind. Luckily it was a planned short day. Tomorrow I hope to log more miles.
SUZI – Blogging will now take a backseat to fun with our trailer crowd! My notes from today: morning in camp; played with Leslynn with water faucet; quick bike loop for Kevin and Leslynn; rode the tandem with Kevin 31 miles from camp to camp, hot and windy; swimming with the girls; laundry; delegated taco dinner prep; bathed L; rocked L to sleep 🥰
Bring less stuff. Did you say “well…it could be helpful…?” Leave it at home.
Kevin has snacks hidden everywhere. Just take a look around.
Seize every ice cream opportunity. 10 years from now you will not say, “The trip was great but I shouldn’t have had so much ice cream.” You will simply remember the joy of watching Kevin’s evolving bike tan lines.
Best Thing: Wisconsin seems to sell ice cream at every highway exit. I will never bet on a lack of ice cream options.
Worst Thing: Talking about ticks may lead to haunting tick dreams. They cannot be escaped.
What I Learned: 10-year-olds think I am very cool, and bubbles solve everything when your company is a 2-year-old.
66.4 miles Trek, 17.0 mph, Odometer: 2025 – Grantsburg, WI to Namekagon Camp, WI
KEVIN – I rode alone today with a helping wind. I took a more direct route on our way to tomorrow night’s campground. I keep seeing references to the “North Woods.” This appears to be an area with lots of recreation. I see people floating rivers in tubes, fishing off bridges, and many campers.
46.4 miles tandem, Odometer: 1959 – Isanti, MN to Grantsburg, WI
KEVIN – Uneventful ride over highways, county roads and some bike trail. Minnesota was good to me. I will remember this fondly, unlike eastern Montana. (We skipped spring. We went from winter to summer.)
Elizabeth has been a trooper (Mike Seikel’s highest praise.) She rode across Minnesota without missing a chance to ride, 267 miles in five riding days.
ELIZABETH – Last day. This trip was amazing! And in a week, I rode 267 miles! I wish I could stay longer but I have plans. Today was easy only did 46 miles. It was pretty low key.
Best moment: Finding out how many miles I rode.
Worst moment: That I have to leave.
Surprise: That it went by so fast.
What I learned: That trying new things is worth it.
SUZI – After two nights in good places with swimming pools, we suddenly struck out. St. Croix Campground just over the Wisconsin state line was the best we could find for Friday night in the right area, close enough to get to the airport on Saturday etc. Lots of campgrounds and RV parks were booked solid for the weekend. We landed in camp early. It was hot and humid. We managed a hike to the St. Croix River bank and took a swim. The water was cool and refreshing but the bugs were incessant. Back in camp we discovered ticks everywhere. Yuck. And we lost the electrical hookup that we thought we’d scored. So hours of sweaty grouchiness ensued (mostly mine) while we waited for cooler nighttime temperatures and our new guests, Kathey and Hannah to arrive. We high-tailed it out of there the next morning.
72.9 miles tandem, Odometer: 1913 – Royalton, MN to Isanti, MN
KEVIN – Elizabeth and I rode some heavily trafficked roads today, uneventfully. We were in camp by 2:00. We made our 68 mile day into a 73 mile day with a few side trips (looking for a bathroom, the woods don’t count; and lunch). Riding with Elizabeth’s bladder full may be a good strategy. Consistent power from the stoker was noted while searching for an acceptable site.
ELIZABETH – Today we rode 72 miles! Mostly on highways the amount of semi trucks I saw is RIDICULOUS. Me and Kevin saw a baby deer and its mama was running away, poor little guy. I got some gummy worms at the gas station.
I’m told that a pop culture footnote is needed. “A Prairie Home Companion” was a weekly radio show on NPR with music, storytelling and lots of humor. Kevin and I often listened to it until it ended a few years ago. There is a movie version that’s OK, but listening to one of the shows would be a better introduction. Lake Wobegon is the fictional setting of the “News from Lake Wobegon.” The closing words of the monologue each week were, “Well, that’s the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.”
40.7 miles tandem, Odometer: 1840 – Melrose, MN, to Royalton, MN
KEVIN – Today was an easy day. We wanted to stay at Two Rivers Campground to go swimming. The first 30 miles were on the Lake Wobegon Trail, where Elizabeth was definitely above average. The last 10 miles were on the road with some (not heavy) traffic. Elizabeth noticed the first semi truck but was unfazed by the rest. We crossed the Mississippi River near the end of our ride and camped on its bank. Tomorrow we will freelance on the roads. We expect a 68 mile day.
Every day I hear meadowlarks along the way. I am traveling close to the ground at a speed that lets me notice and avoid caterpillars crawling across the road.
Elizabeth inquired about the depth of the Mississippi River, here near its origin, and we surmised that it is shallow, based on the mostly flat banks. Later we watched a deer walk and swim across, with the swim portion appearing to be about 10 yards.
ELIZABETH – Today was great – no bike problems!! Me and Kevin rode 40 miles. We got a little bit lost but made it to the campground. There is a swimming pool, mini golf, a laundromat and ICE CREAM!
Best moment: When I went SWIMMING!
Worst moment: When we got lost.
Surprise: That there was a pool.
What I learned: It can get hot in Minnesota.
SUZI – I’ve been admiring these old silos for several days now. Nearly every farm I pass has one or more, same diameter, different heights. Many have the checkered pattern near the top. Today I took a few dirt road detours to try to get some good photos. Unfortunately, photography while driving a 50′ rig is like trying to pick up detritus on the floor while 8 months pregnant.
Here’s an editorial I like about the Hansen silos. Also for your enjoyment, a couple pics of the cows that stood up and came running when I got out of the truck to take their photo. Very friendly (or possibly hungry) cows.
46.7 miles tandem, 13.6 miles solo, Odometer: 1799 – Ashby, MN to Melrose, MN
KEVIN – Last night’s child stoker fix lasted 11 miles. Suzi met us at Brandon, MN and picked up Elizabeth. In Alexandria, they found a bike shop. Jake’s Bikes worked hard and replaced the pedal arms, a definitive fix.
Elizabeth then rode ~35 miles, alternating between a running monologue and awesome power. I welcome her leftover power at the end of the ride. In two days, she has ridden 107.9 miles.
The bike trails parallel the local highways but are mostly secluded. We see a few people on the trails near towns, but for many miles the trail is ours alone.
Leaving Ashby “Resort”
Sauk River Park, Melrose, MN
ELIZABETH – Today was a lot like yesterday. “Why”, you ask? Because we had like two hours of just waiting on the tandem bike getting fixed at Jake’s bike shop. Because the pedal came off AGAIN! It gives me no warning, it just pops off. So me and Suzi waited in the truck for an hour or so. First we got lunch for ourselves and Kevin. Then we took the truck and trailer into a car wash. Suzi sprayed while I used the hanging scrub brush. Then I called Adelynn (my sister) and talked to my cousin Raelyn plus my mom, Charlee. (She’s Rona’s daughter and Rona is Kevin’s sister.) Eventually we got the bike back and rode about 35 miles. For yesterday and today, I rode on the tandem bike … 107.9 miles!
Me and Kevin saw some swans in one of the lakes; they were really pretty.
Best moment: Lunch at DQ
Worst moment: Waiting on the bike
Surprise: That it was soo hot
What I learned: It can get hot in MN
Adams Park, Fergus Falls, MN
SUZI – We lucked into a $20 campsite with water and electric hookups at Sauk River Park in little Melrose, Minnesota. The temperature was in the 80’s but cooled off in the evening. Lovely green lawns and tall trees plus a terrific playground with a zip line. Elizabeth used some spare energy for several sessions in the playground. You just never know how these parks and campgrounds will turn out. The previous night, we were charged an exorbitant rate at the Ashby Resort and Campground. It wasn’t a bad place; Kevin and I enjoyed a quiet moment on a “porch” swing looking out at the lake. But the restrooms were poor and the playground had seen better days. Here’s a look at lovely Sauk River Park in Melrose:
60.8 miles, Odometer: 1739 – Barnesville, MN to Ashby, MN
KEVIN -Highway 52 to Fergus Falls was downwind and desolate. After 35 miles, while we were in Fergus Falls planning to meet Suzi for lunch, Elizabeth’s left pedal came off. The threads are stripped. I now know why Second Wind Cycle fixed the pedals to the crank with something like liquid nails. I went to Home Depot and bought a two-part epoxy and repaired it. We let it cure the minimum time, then rode 23 more miles before it came off again. Tonight I will glue it again and let it cure.
In Fergus Falls, we started the Central Lakes Trail, a paved bike/snowmobile trail.
ELIZABETH – Today was meh; the reason why is the tandem bike had a problem. What happened was one of my pedals came off so Kevin went to Home Depot to get the stuff to fix it. That took about an hour and 20 minutes. After a while, we (Kevin and I) got back on the bike and got going. We took a wrong turn and had to fix that . We got back on track, rode about 20 miles, got to the campground. 😁🤪
Best moment: When I got to play at the park for 1 hour
Worst moment: The times my bike pedal fell off
Surprise: That my bike pedal fell off
What I learned: That the tandem bike is easy to ride
SUZI – My favorite part of this day was hanging out with Elizabeth and, later, Kevin at Adams Park in Fergus Falls, MN. The park includes a lake where shoreline bird habitat has been restored. Ducks with ducklings, geese with goslings, Double-crested Cormorants on nests, Great Egrets on nests; the number of these birds at this small park and lake was incredible.
ELIZABETH – “Coming to the Ride” – Sunday was pretty boring. My first flight got delayed due to maintenance problems so I missed my original flight to Fargo, ND, so then I got to the (unaccompanied minors) waiting room. Waited about 3 hours. Kids came and left then FINALLY I got to go board my plane. Tiffany (the lady that was taking care of me) and I RAN as fast as we could to the gate but got there 9 minutes early. When I got to Fargo, Suzi was waiting for me. Both of us got in the car to meet Kevin. We drove home (Wagner Park Campground).
Best moment: When I met Suzi at Fargo
Worst moment: When I found out that I missed my flight
Cycling with Kevin & Suzi 