I left Janesville somewhat disappointed, but my habit was quickly satiated in the very next town, Waseca, and indeed there was espresso in Zumbrota, when I got there. So it looks like Minnesota has decided to give itself an alternative to the coffee served in the roadside cafes. Five hits in the six nights in this state is a pretty good ratio.
As I was entering the small town of West Concord I met a lady crossing the road and got to chatting about my adventures, and when she asked how my wife felt about this trip, I told her that I had agreed to call home every night to get some good use out of the 800 number that was "given" to me. She started to say, "When you talk to her tonight...", but I stopped her, and, pulling out my pocket tape recorder, I suggested that she could tell her directly. She continued, "He looks great and he's going to make it, without a doubt." With that reassurance, there IS no doubt. I think Judy was pleased to hear it.
There's a good bit of bicycle advocacy going on in the towns surrounding Zumbrota. They are all very small communities, and each town is eager to get as much funding as possible to complete a series of interlinking rail trails in the area. There are so many abandoned rail lines that the possibility exists for a real network of trails. Very few public works projects are as well received as public trails, but the public has to realize that these trails are neither free nor are they a certainty. There are forces arrayed whose sole aim is to prevent railtrail conversions, and the size of the opposition is formidable. If the townspeople want these recreational trails, then now is the time to step up and be heard.
As I approach the Mississippi River the roads are getting gradually hillier (just enough to make things interesting).
We remained two nights in Minneapolis, receiving many courtesies from the local wheel clubs and pleasant notices from the press.
Minneapolis is a fine city for wheeling, and is going to be much better, as many miles of smooth pavement are being laid at the present time, getting in readiness, as it were, for the fall conventions. St. Paul is not so good a wheel city on account of the hills, but there is a bicycle path eight miles long between the Twin Cities, which is fine. It was built entirely by subscriptions from the wheelmen.
At Minneapolis we changed our route and concluded to come south through Minnesota and Iowa, cross the Mississippi at Dubuque, and so avoid the hills and sand of Wisconsin. Everything seemed to indicate that the southern route was best; wheelmen said so, teamsters agreed, and finally a lightning-rod agent who had driven all over both states testified to the fact, and we hesitated no longer.
Zumbrota was reputed to have a covered bridge, but it seems to have wandered away from its river and is now situated in a field in the city park. There is a plan to relocate the poor structure; it looks rather pathetic where it is.
Tomorrow I cross the Mississippi and begin a week of cycling through Wisconsin. I have been looking forward to this for many years, and I am not deterred by sand.
80 miles total yesterday, but the tailwind made them very easy. The forests are beginning to be more pronounced, and I'm seeing more rolling hills.
On the road, where life is good,
Dennis