- Day 1 -1 Week
- Day 1 -12 Hours
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
- Day 7
- Day 8
- Day 9
- Day 10
- Day 11
- Day 12
- Day 13
- Day 14
- Day 15
- Day 16
- Day 17
- Day 18
- Day 19
- Day 20
- Day 21
- Day 22
- Day 23
- Day 24
- Day 25
- Day 26
- Day 27
- Day 28
- Day 29
- Day 30
- Day 31
- Day 32
- Day 33
- Day 34
- Day 35
- Day 36
- Day 37
- Day 38
- Day 39
- Day 40
- Day 41
- Day 42
- Day 43
- Day 44
- Day 45
- Day 46
- Day 47
- Day 48
- Day 49
- Day 50
- Day 51
- Day 52
- Day 53
- Day 54
- Day 55
- The End
- Retrospective
We woke up and walked back to Route 28. The one good thing about getting lost yesterday was as we came out of the wrong direction, we commented on how at least we would have been able to get breakfast even if we missed out on dinner. However, luckily we actually stayed in a motel close enough to shower and make it to dinner and still be able to walk over for breakfast.
Jerry got the blueberry pancakes, I got the omelet. I know everyone says with all this biking we should be carbo loading, and it seams to work for Jerry but I like my eggs and they seam to work for me too.
The place was surprisingly busy for 7 AM on a Sunday. Actually our waitress was surprised too, saying to at least two regulars, “I don’t know, it’s never this busy on a Sunday!”
In the parking lot, just outside our room there was a man and a woman sitting in a car. It did not look like a good conversation, and I am sure they were happy they had to finish it as we exited the room… Not really as quick as walking out when you both have loaded touring bikes. After I dropped off the key I saw her get in to a second car and they drove away in separate cars. It looked like they were having a much worse morning then we were.
Wisconsin fell behind us quickly. Before we knew it we were seeing signs for Duluth.
There was a short stretch of road that felt like we shouldn’t be on, but there was no real lead up to it, or any real alternate… especially once we were riding on it. However there was a nice big shoulder so even if the traffic was faster there was plenty of space for both of us. There was only one exit that we needed to cross over to stay on the road, but Sunday traffic made it easy.
Sadly once the highway feel ended it went directly in concrete, with large cracks and bumps. The next 3 to 5 miles was pretty uncomfortable. The only real saving grace was the large sign just before town that required all trucks to the left lane.
We continued down the crappy, bumpy road till we came across the dreaded detour sign. Luckily the detour was listed to start tomorrow (Monday) after 5 PM. However looking around, this entire area does not look like a place we should be riding. I check the maps and see we can turn left right here, a few residential blocks and right on Route 2. On the corner of what ever and Route 2 was a huge and beautiful church. We paused to take a look. As we were about to leave a couple walked by and asked where we were heading. We chatted for a moment and they informed us that they are Warm Shower hosts. They had great things to say about the organization and said they’ve had lots of the fun meeting travelers. We said our good byes and headed to Minnesota.
The road finally flattened out just in time for the bridge. As we approached we felt like this might be another place bikes shouldn’t be. And then we saw the sign saying in fact we were not welcome. I looked at the map and saw we might find a more friendly bridge 8 miles south. However, that would be 8 miles south, cross the bridge then 8 miles right back to across the river from where we were… and it might not want bikes on it either… AND it’s Sunday. We agreed a 4 miles bridge with a good shoulder, on a light traffic Sunday afternoon… What sign?
In to Minnesota and Route 2 converges with Route 35. It has a solid no bikes feel. There is a good shoulder, however there is much more traffic on this road and it looks as if there will be many exits we’ll have to cross before Route 2 splits off again. We decide to look for an alternate route. Some map looking and we move ahead through town. A few turns and soon enough we’re coming right back to Route 2, after it has split off from Route 35. On one of the hilly turns we were passed by a city bus with the sign stating it was heading for Downtown via 6. I could not fathom this bus traversing the wooded hills was not only a city bus, but a “Downtown” city bus.
Route 2 was a straight shot from Duluth to Floodwood. There was not much conversation or views. Not in a bad way but we both just head down and peddled.
I did spend most of this time thinking about how yesterday I was thinking about my ability to sit on this tour is my biggest improvement. However, today I thought, I bought a nice, fancy, saddle… of course I’m having an improved ability to sit.
Last time (Manhattan – Maimi) Jerry loaned me his bike. I bought shoes for the clip-less system Jerry’s bike had and bike shorts with the padding in the crotch. Of course I bought cheaper stuff. Not because I’m a cheap person but because I did not understand the value. The shoes are far from great but fine, fine enough to still be using them anyway. The shorts did not work. And I spent most of the tour in incredible pain. Thankfully Jerry continued his generosity and gave me a pair of his shorts that made the second two thirds of the Miami trip semi bearable. But mostly the damage was done. This tour, I started with that pair Jerry gave me last time, and he was worried about me, so he also gave me a second pair before we even left. And of course I bought a nice saddle, thinking of last time. So all in all my ass is well cared for.
But all of this is easily explained… As I just explained it. But the thing I was thinking about today was my right leg is showing incredible improvement. It is kind of a long story but I got hurt in early 2002. After many trials and tribulations I have lived with it, constantly trying for any small improvements. Over the years I have had improvements, but it has been my “bad” leg since. I can get on a soap box about the workers comp system but I’ll save that for here. The important thing today is IMPROVEMENT!
Week 3
Total Distance : 1,419.08
Average Speed : 11.44 MPH
Maximum Speed : 30.1 MPH
Elevation Gain : 58,409 Feet
Max Elevation : 1,684 Feet
( All stats were obtained using Map My Ride)
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