Mi = 97 

Springvale, MN - Wheeler, Wisconsin 

We were relieved to see Matt get up this morning and reach for his biking clothes.  He seems weak and looks a little pale, but he seems to have a lot more color and energy than yesterday.  We left by 7am with a high goal of 120 miles, depending on how long Matt could last having not eaten at all yesterday and not much today.  It actually turned out not to be Matt that held us back; it was the severe thunderstorm hovering over us most of the day, daring us to push further.  Watching clouds form miniature funnels got us off our bikes at the end of the day–the storm won.  We ran into a bar…surprise, surprise…funny how we can always depend on bars to be open when we need them most.  Staying at a place we found on warmshowers.org.  Tom and Beth Arneberg and their 5 children allowed us to invite ourselves into their home for the night.  They fed us a home-cooked meal around a super-large table and shared bicycling stories.  We also received a home-circus juggling concert.  

 Mi = 0Springvale, MN - Springvale, MN 

Poor Matthew!  He woke up really sick today!  Problems coming out both ends.  We think it was food poisoning.  After much deliberation, we decided to stay another night here in Springvale, MN.  The people here were so understanding; they didn’t even charge us for a second night.  It felt like we were staying in someone’s backyard.  In fact, we had a visitor all day–a cat.  She rubbed our ankles, curled up in our laps, and took a nap with Matt. Matt slept most of the day while Barb, Laureen, and Jon researched a new route to cut out miles.  We’ve heard other cyclists rave about crossing Lake Michigan by Ferry and so we looked in to it.  Weaving a highlighter on and off of back roads, we found a way to cut off a few days of bicycling.  Excited about beginning tomorrow–hope Matt is feeling better!

Royalton, MN - Springvale, MN Mi = 72 Another rainy day but we had to push on.  No definitive thunderstorms.  Although, a few hours into cycling, we got caught in a quick storm.  Luckily, we were near a town when it hit and were able to use a convenience store for an umbrella.  After that break, we felt energized enough to push on to 100 miles, which was further than we had planned.  Jon’s tire had other plans.  The only tube left was an old patched one, and we weren’t sure how far he would make it…. back to our original plans and called it a day at 72 mi when we arrived at a campsite in Springvale.  What a beautiful facility hidden on the back roads of Minnesota….large pool, clean showers with hot water, and friendly people…….and of course our Barb!  :)   

When you are bicycling every day for at least 6 - 7 hrs each day, you spend a lot of time in the sun. Depending on what you wear, you get strange tan lines. Check out these embarrassing marks:

Can you guess whose hand is whose?

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The answer is Laureen on the left, Jonathan in the center, and Matt on the right.

2. And how about these embarrassing marks:

Can you tell whose leg is whose?

Scroll down for the answer.

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The answer is: Jonathan on the left, Laureen in the center, and Matt on the right.

Miles = ZERO

Woke to the music of thunderstorms.  Checked the weather–thunderstorms all day, winds SE (against us) at up to 60 mph in some parts and chance of hail.  We certainly weren’t bicycling.  God wanted us to have a rest day.  When the 1st storm cleared, we finished our junk food and Jonathan’s 1st experience with the card game “Eucre”,  and finally came out of the tent.  On our trek to the office to pay for another night of camping, we discovered a lounge and game room, where we turned on ESPN for the boys while Laureen borrowed Barb’s makeup and nail polish to feel like a woman once again.

Check out this game room and lounge:

We spent the majority of the day playing cards and board games.  Matt, Laureen, and Jonathan learned how to play cribbage from Barb, who is very patient with rookie players.  Matt vs. Laureen => Matt won ; Barb vs. Jonathan => Jon won  Boys ruled and girls drooled in that game of cribbage, but for the game of Eucre, the girls won.  We also tested our vocabulary with the game of Scrabble, which Laureen won with a 7-letter word “BANDANAS” earning her 36 points + 50 bonus points.

In the evening, the girls sat on the dock while the boys dominated one another wrestling in the Mississippi and the Platte once again.

We cooked cheddar bratwursts on the fire, followed by marshmallows for making s’mores.  Towards the end of the night, Jonathan headed to the lounge for free wi-fi while the older folk read by the light of the campfire.  Thank you, Lord, for this rest!

Mi = 74

Parkers Prairie, MN - Royalton, MN

Barb cooked eggs (over the way we like them), maple sausage, oatmeal sweetened to our individual taste, and fresh Jersey blueberries for breakfast.  Luxury!

To the Olympic torch tune, we ceremoniously transferred the 45lbs of gear from our bicycles to the support vehicle.  Then, we released a sigh of relief as we gently lifted our bicycles over our heads looking at one another…Ahh–so light!

got the day started riding feathers 34 mi to a town called Long Prairie where Laureen and Jonathan replaced their back tires. (Jon’s rubber had been chipping away and Laureen’s had no tread left for traction.)  Since we were stopped, we ate our usual lunch of pb and honey on wheat bread–only today was the day we had to buy a new loaf, so it wasn’t smooshed or toasted from the hot sun beating on it all day.  Filled up on ice+water and headed back into the sun for another 36 mi, which took us to a BEAUTIFUL campsite past Royalton, MN.  Our campsite was right on the fork where the Mississippi meets the Platte River (check on a map).  We actually swam in the exact spot where the two rivers met!!  Since our first cross of the Mississippi River occurred today, we know we’re at least half way home!

Mi  = 55

Pelican Rapids, MN - Parkers Prairie, MN

Jo had to go to work this morning, so Larry was our host.  Woke up to the smell of a warm breakfast.  We are seriously getting spoiled!   He even sent Jo’s home-baked cookies and banana bread with us.  Guess what we had for lunch?!?!?!?   :)

Last day to carry gear!  Couldn’t wait to see Barb and also to finally have some help.  Real chairs to sit on, food that can be refrigerated, a real stove, more clothes,  guitar, and way more luxuries!!!  JoAnn Sparacio sent us tons of goodies, including a full meal of pork sandwiches, beans, coleslaw, fruits, veggies, home-baked cookies, soda, and pictures of them waving to us.  We shared everything (except the pictures) with our friends John and Jerry.  A feast!

We all stayed where we could watch the scenery in beautiful Adley Lake Park.   

Mi = 60

Fargo, ND - Pelican Rapids, MINNESOTA

Matt at 7:30am–St. Anthony’s Parish with Don and Dorothy Jordan. Super large home-cooked breakfast, too! Talked for quite a bit, enjoying the company and procrastinating the inevitable late start on the bicycles. Took off, left ND within a few miles and entered Minnesota. A few miles after we took a picture of the Minnesota sign, we stopped again to meet a guy coming the other way (East to West) across the country, which he admitted was not the smartest way to come due to the winds out here in the midwest. He’s keeping an online journal as well. He took a picture of us to put on his site. (I’ll put the site up as soon as I find his business card)

A few hours and some rolling hills later, we arrived in Pelican Rapids where we planned to stay with another relative of Tom and Karen Schneider (what great hook-ups they have!). Larry and Jo Schill were SUPER-friendly hosts. They have a summer house on the lake in Dent, Minnesota, which is just a few miles north of Pelican Rapids on a dirt road. Larry picked us up so we didn’t have to ride it and pop a tire. When they showed us the place where we would be staying, we were in awe…the bottom floor of their house is designed as a guest house, complete with bedroom, living room with couch and futon, full bathroom, and kitchenette. This feels like vacation! We were trying to come up with excuses to stay longer!

As tired as we were, the men-folk still had energy to take Larry up on his offer to take them tubing on the lake. They had a few laughs and Matt ended up with a scrape on his eye. Boys will be boys. As soon as they got back, we shared generous portions of BBQ and home-cooking. Thank you SO VERY MUCH!!! Maybe we can find an excuse to turn around and visit again!

Eliot just wanted to say how proud he is of you guys.

We tell him about what you guys are doing everyday during our good night time (when we tell him about all the people who love him).

Miles = 92

Cooperstown, ND  - Fargo, ND

Last day in ND.  Gusts of wind up to 40mph going NW to SE.  It was a love-hate relationship with the wind.  For the most part today, we were headed slightly SE, so the wind helped us.  However, sometimes we had to go a few miles directly S and the crosswinds slowed us down quite a bit.

Stayed with the Schneider family’s relatives, Don and Dorothy Jordan.  So refreshing to shower in a place where you don’t have to put a quarter in every 2 minutes….half-tempted to stay in there for 45 minutes just because we could.  Explained our story around a delicious home-cooked meal.  Wish we had a refrigerator to take the leftovers with us.  Such a warm family!