Day 3 Nashwauk to Cook, Mn.: 64 Miles

Day 3 Nashwauk to Cook, Mn.:  64 Miles:

THIS BLOG ENTRY AUTHORED BY JOHN T.

MONDAY MORNING BEGAN WITH THE READING OF A POEM ON THE JOYS (AND SORROWS) OF BIKE RIDING BY STEVE WILHITE, WHO WAS INTRODUCED TO US AS OFFICIALLY THE THIRD SMARTEST MAN IN AMERICA (I.E., HE CAME IN THIRD IN A NATIONWIDE DEBATE).  FRENCH TOAST FUELED OUR MORNING RIDE TO BEAUTIFUL BUCK LAKE, WHERE ONE OF THE RIDERS SPONTANEOUSLY LED THE ENTIRE GROUP IN A RAUCOUS RENDITION OF A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN BUT VERY JAZZY BIKERIDING SONG.  ENROUTE WE EXERIENCED THE SATISFACTION OF COASTING DOWN THE LARGE HILL THAT ALMOST BROKE US AS WE CAME IN YESTERDAY.  SEVERAL OF US APPPOACHED 35 MPH, BUT NOT BOB ("WITH ONE O"), WHO COULDN'T STOP THINKING OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HIS FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF.  IT APPEARS THAT CALIFORNIANS AREN'T TERRIFIED ONLY OF MOSQUITOS AND TICKS.  

ON THE RIDE TO BUCK LAKE, JOHN M. GRACIOUSLY COMPLIMENTED RICK C. ON HIS COORDINATED RED AND WHITE BIKING OUTFIT AND BIKE.  APPARENTLY WANTING TO  MAKE  SURE THAT I DIDN’T FEEL SLIGHTED, AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT JOHN ADDED, “AND YOU’RE NOT TOO BAD, JOHN.”  I’M NOW BEING REFERRED TO AS “NOT TOO BAD JOHN” (TO DISTINGUISH ME FROM “BLOW-OUT” JOHN M.), AND I’VE SELECTED AS MY EPTAPH “HE WASN’T TOO BAD!”

WE’VE ALL BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY THE HOSPITALITY OF THESE MINNESOTAN BIKERS, MOST OF WHOM HAVE DONE THIS RIDE MANY TIMES (SOME ALL 37 YEARS).  “MINNESOTA NICE” LIVES!   WE’VE MET TEACHERS AND DOCTORS AND WRITERS AND LAWYERS AND MANY OTHERS (INCLUDING A STATE LEGISLATOR AND A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT).  REMEMBERING ALL THE NAMES IS A BIGGER CHALLENGE THAN POWERING UP THE HILLS.   ON OUR FIRST RIDE WE WERE SURROUNDED BY STRANGERS.  ON TODAY’S (THIRD) RIDE VIRTUALLY  EVERY  FACE IS FAMILIAR AND WE ARE GREETED WARMLY BY ALMOST EVERYONE  WE PASS (OR WHO PASSES ONE OF US).

 TODAY’S RIDE FEATURED SOME NEWLY PAVED, SUPER SMOOTH ROADS (FOLLOWED BY LONG STINTS OF RIDING INTO THE WIND), THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF BUCK LAKE, BPJS FOR SNACK, SLOPPY JOES FOR LUNCH. A FEW SORE BEHINDS, AND A BRIEF LIGHT RAIN SHOWER JUST AFTER WE GOT OUR TENTS UP IN COOK.  RUMOR HAS IT THAT RICK C. HAD SOME TYPE OF EPIPHANY ON THE ROAD TODAY AND HENCEFORTH WISHES TO BE KNOWN BY THE UNFORTUNATELY ALLITERATIVE  “PASTOR CASPER.”

TOMORROW IS OUR LONGEST RIDE YET, 75 MILES TO INTERNATIONAL FALLS.  BUT THEN WE GET A DAY OF REST.

The City of Nashwauk, Minn, Night 3

64 mile route from Nashwauk to Cook

Camping in front of Nashwauk High School

Water Color of Nashwauk High School

There is fluoride in the water in Minnesota

the vibrancy of cycling shirts

Mary, Val and Dan

Tent City  At the High School in Cook

John T. writing todays Blog Entry

abandoned Mining pit, filled with water

Brothers Bob and John at the Nashwauk mining pit

Danc'n twins

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Gloria, Suzanne and Bob at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Five star restaurant and spa