July 26 – August 1, 1989
July 26 (Day 29): Minneapolis MN
17.6 miles
Totaled the damages – charged $434.31 to replace the stolen equipment. Cash on hand is $280 – not much.
Went to Regina and Diane’s in St. Paul for dinner. We had some kind of pasta, bread, salad and string beans. Dessert was fudge brownies and homemade peach ice cream.
(2007) Regina and Diane were my sister Marcia’s roommates when she attended grad school at the University of Minnesota. For a year or two I took on Diane’s sister Linda Niemela as a pen pal. I remember writing something stupid and thoughtless once; that ended it.
July 27 (Day 30): Minneapolis MN
20.6 miles
I cleaned the tent today. It really needed it. Mom and Dad sent $120 via Western Union this morning.
I cycled around the lakes today. Then I had iced tea and chocolate cake at an outdoor café. Tomorrow I’m going to do a short ride, fully loaded, to make certain that I’m all set. Only foreseeable problem: some kind of hemorrhoid or something.
I can’t wait to get home.
July 28 (Day 31): Minneapolis MN
Trip Part II begins tomorrow morning. Rain is in the forecast – motel time. It has been a month – time for the “State of the Cyclist” report.
Bicycle – re-outfitted with new equipment, it seems capable of finishing. It’s clean, too.
Bicyclist – mind: in and out of homesickness, depression, anxiety, impatience, joy, happiness, and contentedness. Also tired.
Bicyclist – body: tanned nicely. Legs – good; right knee is healed; right quad no longer sore. Arms – right shoulder still hurts; apparently sleeping on it does no good. Sun poisoning on right upper arm is okay. Neck muscles – still a little stiff. Feet – frequently numb, especially at the toes. Butt – very sore; it might be a hemorrhoid – very swollen, some blood. Not at all pleasant. This is my most pressing problem. Will I ever get a break? (no pun intended). Body also tired – so I’m taking vitamins.
July 29 (Day 32): Minneapolis MN
No ride – pouring rain.
July 30 (Day 33): Minneapolis MN to Red Wing MN
70.0 miles
8:00 pm CDT
I did myself a real favor today. On county road E, in Wisconsin, after having ridden 50 miles, I crashed at 30 miles per hour. I got slight abrasions on both arms, knees, my right shoulder and back. I got a very nasty abrasion and cuts from rocks on my right hip. I could have used a stitch there but turned it down. I bruised a muscle in my right groin which makes walking very difficult. I hope I can ride tomorrow.
After I crashed, I had to cycle fifteen miles south to the hospital emergency room in Red Wing. Right now, I have a headache and chills – not too good. But I am fortunate that I had my helmet on (it’s scratched) and that I broke no bones and that the bicycle is okay. I ache a lot and I’m tired. But the scenery today was nice.
I’m at Godfather’s eating pizza – when I finish it’s back to the Super 8 Motel for a nice (stinging) shower. I spoke to Brad today – he said I should come home – I said I am, by bicycle.
I’m going to (stubbornly) try to ride again tomorrow. With all my physical woes. I’m better off in motels, so it’s a good idea to keep moving (from a financial standpoint). This was not a good start to Part II.
(2007) Stayed in room 106 of the Super 8 – $36.97.
July 31 (Day 34): Red Wing MN to LaCrosse WI
103.9 miles
14.0 mph avg
8 pm CDT
I needed that nice, warm bath tonight. Doing a century today was not a good idea. But this town is seven miles off the route, so that’s why. I also sliced fifteen miles or so off the route by sticking to highway 61 for the most part. So, except for some hills (a killer mile, in fact) it was an easy century. I got swamped by “no-see-ums” fifteen times or so; in fact, I think one got in my right eye for a moment – tonight it’s red and has some goo in it (ewww).
I am somewhat sore from yesterday’s crash. A spot on one of my ribs is sore that wasn’t yesterday – I have a vague recollection of hitting something there. My right knee still hurts but I can walk a little better now. Right hip looks like a day-old sausage pizza.
Scenery-wise, today’s ride was beautiful. The monster climb up County Road 3 was well-rewarded with some spectacular views, especially of LaCrosse from County Road 1. Lake City was especially nice, so was Lake Pepin (which is really the Mississippi River).
It might be a good idea to do a shorter ride tomorrow. Had pasta at the Ground Round and slept at the Night Saver Inn.
August 1 (Day 35): LaCrosse WI to Dyersville IA
115.0 miles
12.5 avg
10:50 pm CDT
What a beautiful day! It began foggy but cleared by 9:30. I overslept an hour to 7 o’clock and didn’t get started until 8:30, so I rode the bike until 8:00 pm.
I had a nice breakfast in Brownsville, MN, a huge burger and fries in Marquette, IA, where I had originally planned to stop after 70 miles at 4:00. But I felt so good I had to go on. From Marquette I took the “Great River Road”, a series of roads that parallels the Mississippi, to US 52 to IA 136. The hills were very long (3-4 miles) and steep (6-7%). But the views were worth it.
The little towns in Iowa are really clean and nice, just what I hoped for. I also sliced about 30-35 miles off the Bikecentennial Route. RAGBRAI was here Friday night – too bad I missed Dave Berning by one day. I’m exhausted and feeling nauseous. Bedtime! About 1000 miles to go!! I’m probably over my fear of speed (from the crash): max speed was 45.2.
(2006) Interesting note – Dyersville Iowa holds the famous cornfield where the movie “Field of Dreams” was shot. When I passed through, the baseball diamond had been returned to production as a cornfield. Several years later, for tourism, it was restored to a baseball diamond. I had no idea until today (11-16-06) just how close I came to it – I cycled east on Dyersville Rd, passing Lansing Rd – I was within one mile.
I stayed at the Colonial Motel (1110 9th Street SE, Dyersville). $26.00.
At this point, my injuries were such that my right hand hurt a lot, I limped when walking, my ribs were sore, but I could ride the bike with only a little pain. I was not aware at the time, but I probably had a broken rib.
