Day 42-43-44

DAY Fourty-Two Park Rapids 0km REST DAY
Sept 20 Thursday D11.82 km M 25.3 A 15.3 PT46min RT 3h total 3347.7 km


Overall: Well it poured rain all night and into the day. We spent until noon in the tent…. Reading and sleeping! [Ken] Now that’s a true day off!

We cycled back into town and spend the afternoon at a internet café. The best lunch we have had so far! Great paninis @ the Bella caffe’ in Park Rapids! For sure a spot if you come here! They had to shut the place down with us still in it at 6pm!

DAY Fourty-Three Park Rapids to Pine River 75 km
Sept 21 Friday D 75km M 40.5 A 20.0 PT3.5h RT5 h total 3422.2km

Wind started off from the south, so we were into a head wind and side wind and by end of the day more west so it pushed us the final bit to Pine River
Temp nice and warm overnight [after a horrific thunder and lightening and hail storm =dime size]15C to 22C
Road Condition all good except SR 64 little shoulder, 87 new pavement no shoulder, no traffic. Hwy 2 ok shoulder
Accommodation: well after carrying a soaking wet tent all day we thought a motel would be in order but the information fellow said it was not to rain tonight and city park is free to cyclists. So here we are all by ourselves in a nice park with running water/flush toilets, small shelter, raised fire barbeques… with lake view!
Food: Breakfast ate in a ray of sunshine avoiding the new black flies that hatched due to the storm
Lunch Stopped at Betty’s Bloomers Greenhouse corner of SR64 and CR2 They were batting down the hatches before the storm hits today. Wind very strong at the moment. Had our picnic in their yard… they supplied Ken coffee! And we left with a home made jam….. nice people. Betty and her husband will take cyclists in as campers too!
Supper Kelly Kettle soup and sands in the park.
Overall What can I say it was a really easy ride compared to other days.
Pedal Pedal….lizard
Pedal Pedal…. Skunk parts
Pedal Pedal…. Car
Pedal Pedal….. pine trees, gorgeous fall colors [leaves changing with this cool weather]

UPDATE: We did see a strange site in North Dakota… even stopped to look at why a farmer had tall lights like a baseball field made in his pasture!…. we thought later that is where the movie Field of Dreams was shot!

We checked to see if our friend Don made it back to Quebec… saw his bike there but his email comes back not home..where oh where are you Don Forbes

Walked all over the town of Pine River… just under 1000 in pop. Not near the town that Park Rapids is, but does have an internet café…. Closes at 4pm on Friday night! Nothing open later than 5
DAY Fourty-Four Pine River to Crosslake 28 km
Sept 22 Saturday D 28.2 km M 35.7 A 18.8 PT1h3 h RT2 h total 3450.6km

Wind out of the south…. So side wind most of the day
Temp warm overnight and all day blue sky no clouds
Road Condition good shoulder no traffic
Accommodation: Fabulous visiting with ski friends
Food: Breakfast usual
Lunch Boat picnic as they took us on a long boat ride thru at least 3 lakes… there are channels connecting the lakes.
Supper Scrumcious veggie lasengna …home made!
Overall Very shot cycle day along lakes and resort areas. Had one DOG chase, but otherwise uneventful ride. I really must get one of those Dog Taser Whistles.

George and Maxine were home when we arrived so had a great visit, washed our really smelly clothes, got in a boat ride and then a tour of the “town”. Some really large homes around the lakes… summer cottages! Lots of pontoon boats and fishing boats. Must have been a fishing competition as they were all going in to the marina at the same time. Couldn’t ask for a better relaxing day…. Like a day off! And indoor night! The leaves seem to be changing and then just falling off… maybe because it was so dry. Definitely a little piece of Paradise… they planned their own home and it is really gorgeous with a stream thru the yard and all natural with no lawn to mow! They have a electric fence to keep the deer out as they eat everything!