Day 29--Sioux Falls, SD to Worthington, MN

Day 29—July 17, 2006—Sioux Falls, SD to Worthington, MN—65 miles—1850’ climb (somewhere)

UFF DA! AND WELCOME TO MINN-E-SO-TA . . . STATE NO. 5 WHERE THE WOMEN ARE PRETTY, THE MEN ARE GOOD LOOKING, AND THE CHILDREN ARE ALL ABOVE AVERAGE . . . YOU BETCHA!

This morning after breakfast at the motel (with an optional supplement at next-door McD’s) riders took to the road. I rode the first half of the day and Christine rode the second half. We pedaled a couple of blocks on city streets and then took to the Falls Park Bike Path for 9 miles. Those staff in the vehicles skirted the city and caught up with the riders on Rice Road, about 10 miles into the ride. The paved FPBP runs by the falls and is protected from the low morning sun in most areas by tall trees. We passed a handful of walkers and other cyclists, saw ducks dabbling in the river and Canada geese on the mowed areas, and dodged squirrels darting across the path. I also kept seeing new rider John Shea. He passed me twice, and once I looked up and saw him pedaling across the overpass we were riding under. The last time he came up, he said: “You’ve ridden this several times haven’t you? Maybe I should follow you.” But . . . the man’s built for speed, so this thought lasted only as long as it took him to think it.

Recumbent styles--left is a Bachetta recumbent;
not sure what the other more traditional one is

At about mile 34, we encountered a detour. Now detours in this area can be tedious because the fields run for miles between paved roads. We had all been struggling with a strong crosswind, but when we turned north onto the detour, we hit full frontal headwinds with gusts of 25 to 30 mph. Our turn northeast four miles later brought us back to the crosswind, so all of us were waiting for the turn south back to the original route . . . when we’d have a stomping tailwind. Finally it came, but we were already in Luverne, so we had less than half a mile of tailwind before pulling up to the SS at mile 41 rather than mile 37. Those first four windy miles north were our only bonus miles, but maybe we should count them twice as they required twice the effort.

Our detour (and indeed most of the route) took us through Minnesota corn fields. The farms along the route were impeccable, each situated in a grove of trees and having a neatly painted house and outbuildings, flower beds, and nicely tended lawns.  No extra cars or farm equipment lying about.  Each farmhouse again sitting in the midst of vast cornfields and soybean fields . . . vaster even than those in South Dakota. With the wind blowing as it was, this sea of green even rolled and had waves like an ocean.

It was Chris Herrly’s 14^th birthday today, and since Chris has been right-hand-man to the staff, we all chipped in and gave him an ABB staff polo. His mom had a birthday cake with cowboys and Indians and even a covered wagon on it brought to his table at dinner at the Country Kitchen. I bet this is a birthday Chris will remember a lifetime.

Tomorrow we’re off to Mankato on a century ride. All riders are hoping for a favorable change in wind direction. Two things will be in their favor, however: 1) The route is not challenging, and 2) the temps are supposed to be in the 80s rather than 90s. Tune in tomorrow and see how the ride progresses.

OVERHEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:

•    “This is an awfully corny day!” 
•    “It’s so green. Are we in the Emerald City of Oz?” 
•    “I don’t know, but I’m sure we’re in the tornado that carried Dorothy there.”