Day 31--Mankato, MN to Rochester, MN

Day 31—July 19, 2006—Mankato, MN to Rochester, MN—101 miles—2710’ climb

This was a tough day for riders and staff alike. The first challenge of the day was climbing the hill out of town, which was three blocks from the motel and fell just after a big breakfast. The climb was a good punch up, but it was a little like climbing San Francisco’s hills or even biking to the Astoria Column because there were two cross streets that gave riders a little flat on the way up. I’d judge the grade toward the top at over 10%. The climb behind them, riders looked forward to a fast century to the hotel in Rochester. This was not to be.

The next excitement for the day was a torn out portion (2 miles) of Hwy 22. The riders and the support vehicles could get through, but the cyclists had to walk a good portion of it. Some EFI (Every Fabulous Mile] riders took Hwy 83 and bypassed all but a short section of construction. Others found other routes. Riders were coming into Waseca from every direction . . . but come in they did and enjoyed the repast at SS#1, which Chris and I set up in a picnic shelter in a little park on Clear Lake. (Thank you to Bob who donated some delicious chewy candy to the SS!)

Me and Ken standing like fools in the metal shed 
doorway as the storm storms

All this time it had been darkly overcast and even a bit chilly. I rode from SS #1 behind Ken and Rob. We were only 7 miles from SS#2 when  a fierce, black storm struck with heavy rain, wind, thunder, and lightning. We knocked on a farmhouse door and the farm wife opened the “shed” (a big tin bldg. housing their cars, tractor, plow, skidoos, fuel, etc.). We waited in the shed for a long time. Every time we’d decide to leave, a bolt of lightning would rend the sky. Finally we decided to get out and go. Not too much farther down the road, the rain rained down and the lightning lit up the sky. I took shelter in another barn and then rode on to mile 50 where many were gathered keeping the counter help at a McDonald’s busy.

It continued to storm and thunder and lightning all day and well into the evening. Groups would ride from barn to barn. I’ll bet nearly every barn on the route sheltered cyclists for a bit. (See some of their experiences in S&T below.) Most cyclists were met with very kind and trusting people. We thank them all.

The second SS was set up in the road in the town of West Concord. The road had been newly surfaced and was barricaded. First Christine doled out PB&J sandwiches from the back of Box and then Chris took over as sandwich chef and whipped up a big pile of PB&Js from Orange while Box delivered soggy saggers and luggage to the motel. Flower was on the road picking up bikes and cyclists who’d had enough of the rain and lightning. The second SS was operational for seven and a half hours (maybe a record) . . . from the time the first riders arrived until the last ones did. A big thank you to Kirk and his wife, Francis, who served as “supplemental SAG,” ferrying riders to Rochester from SS#2.

The last riders got to the hotel in Rochester at 7:30 pm . . . looooooooooooong day’s journey.

OVERHEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:

• “It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring. . .” 
• “This raincoat could be used as a wetsuit.” 
• “Are we having fun yet?” 
• “I’ll take rain over heat any day.”

SHOW & TELL: 
1) Don and Bill reported that the barn where he and a group of others took shelter raised chinchillas (small winsome animals raised for their very soft, fine fur or in this case for the pet trade). They had a baby chinchilla that fit in the palm of the farmer’s hand. Also a basket full of newborn dachshund puppies. Aawww! 
2) Dana reported that the farmers at a barn where they stopped had just finished artificially inseminating their cows. A lot of tired bovines lounged about. 
3) John reported that the husband/wife at a barn they stopped at seemed a bit weird. They had several pets, including a rat that ran around the wife’s head and shoulders. 
4) Bob reported that at a barn where he and Dave and Lisa took shelter there was what Lisa judged to be a “constipated” duck gazing skyward. Lightning struck very, very close by. Afterward, Bob reported, the duck was not constipated. 
5) Many saw the yellow lab that bit people last summer. This year it was tied up, but that did not stop it from lunging to the end of its chain and barking frantically at riders as they passed. Aren't labs supposed to be the sweetest dogs on earth?