riding into the heat of july

[emily_in_nc]

Yes, 41 miles in this heat is excellent, Crankin! Hope you are feeling much better.

We did 35 on the Lake Wobegon Trail yesterday in the 90-degree heat. We needed to do laundry in the morning so didn't get out until after lunch -- ouch. We pretty much had the trail to ourselves, just a couple single riders and one poor guy hiking in the blazing sun and heat. Ouch!

It's a very pretty trail we'd done a little of, before we had to turn back due to rain, in 2014 when we visited Minnesota. Now we'll hopefully get to do the entire thing before leaving this spot. I must say it's nice to ride in flatter country again after Missouri and Iowa hills!

[north woods gal]

Now that is flat! Send some my way.

Not that hot, today - just low 80s - but the humidity was over 70 percent. Hard to even breathe. Once, again, headed back into the woods to get out of the sun, but I really do need to get some serious road bike work going. My monthly miles tally is way off with all the mountain biking, but, hey, I am having fun and that's what counts.

[Crankin]

Finished up our trip with a 16 mile ride that was the opposite direction of the 21 mile route we had done Friday, with a bit removed. Mostly flat, until the last 5 miles, which is a set of rollers.
Cleaned up in the powder room at the inn , as we had already checked out and drove straight home.
All in all, a good trip, and we were able to be flexible with the rides because of the heat. We did miss out on doing the one other traditional long 45 mile ride we usually do, but there's always the next time.
Our friends are moving to Amherst in 2 weeks, which is also in western MA, but not in the Berkshires. My older son went to school there, so we are very familiar with the area, but have only ridden there once. It's also very hilly, so we are looking forward to doing some riding in new places, as it's only a little over an hour from here.

[emily_in_nc]

We did a grocery ride this morning mostly on the Lake Wobegon Trail, just a short 17.3 mile round trip. The nicest part was that we had a decent tailwind on the way back with the groceries, plus it's ever so slightly downhill from Sauk Centre to Melrose, so we were flying!

Tomorrow we're riding east to St. Joseph and back, which will be over 50 miles, and uphill (slight) and into a headwind on the way back. Unfortunate, but it's our last day here, so it's now or never! We have a few stops planned as there's a good bakery on the way, a Little Free Library (I have a couple books to donate), and a DQ. We will not starve. Looks like a pretty day with a low of 58 in the am and high of 86, so we'll have a wide range. I doubt we'll get going before it hits 70, though.

[emily_in_nc]

Finished the Lake Wobegon Trail today -- a lovely day, though a bit windier than predicted. The entire way back we rode with a fully-loaded solo tourist who was going across the US east to west. He started in Mass. He was really strong, especially considering how much weight he was carrying on a heavy bike. He drafted behind us for 26 miles and was very interesting to talk to.

Ended up with 58.7 miles total, my longest ride of the year. Yay!

[Crankin]

Emily, was he from here? If so, do you happen to know his name?

[north woods gal]

Way cool, Emily, to meet such a biker. I've often dreamed of packing up and riding across the country on my bicycle, but have never really been in a position to do so. I'm retired, now, so I do have the time and I can still do it, physically (even have the bikes and most of the equipment to do it), but my hubby couldn't handle it and not sure how smart it would be to go that far riding solo. I get spooked enough as it is, just riding solo in my neck of the woods.

[emily_in_nc]

Emily, was he from here? If so, do you happen to know his name?

Crankin, his name is Brent, and I didn't ask which city in Mass. he was from. Sorry! Super nice guy, though.