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Friday July 29, 2011. MSP to Decorah IA. Via Red Wing, Lewiston, Lanesboro, MN.
Plan was for the NW gang to meet at MGCC at 9:30 am then travel south and pick up Wayne at the IKEA parking lot. Plan happened but a little delayed. No worries, we are on vacation. Lloyd, who was not able to make the trip came for the kickoff meeting. Scriptures were read, prayers prayed.
Those meeting at the church were John T, Rick S, Greg S, Keith R, Bill N, and Jim G. Plus me (Wayne) at the IKEA makes seven.
We then headed east and south to Red Wing via I494, US 52, 55 to Hastings. Then Ravena Road and associated roads down to Red Wing where we met up with Gordy and Nancy's for lunch. Gordy joined up for the afternoon ride until our ice cream stop in Lewiston after which he turned back for home.
Out of Red Wing roads were US 61 south to County 25 south at Minneiska to Lewiston then County 29 south to Peterson, MN 16 to Lanesboro, County 21 south to Canton, County 23 north to Cnty 10 east and MN 43 back south to Mabel. MN44 east to County 8 south to Iowa and Locust Road to Decorah. All the county roads were great but, by consensus, the road of the day by far was MN 16. It was twisty, brand new and smooth with no other traffic. What a blessing!
Lanesboro meant a stop at a bicycle shop were Jim bought a pair of fingerless gloves because of the heat. You'd think that gloves without fingers would be less money than gloves with fingers but you'd think wrong....
We also stopped in a town called Rollingstone at a town park for hydration. Did I mention it was hot? We also stopped in Lewiston for pie and ice cream. They had peach or strawberry/rhubarb. Since I have always thought that there is no better way to ruin a perfectly good rhubarb pie than to put strawberries in it, I had a great peach pie, alamode of course. We also stopped in Canton, MN but only because we were lost. With some help from a local man and his son we found out where we were and figured out a way to get back on the county twisties.
Decorah, Iowa was a special treat. Our new young Fossil, John, had an air conditioned empty house for us to stay in! It belongs to his parents who were gracious enough to allow us to spend two nights there. Some of the guys had a bed to sleep in, or an air mattress or similar. To no ones surprise, I pitched a tent in the side yard. Am I really that predictable?
As an added bonus, the city was celebrating their Nordic Fest this weekend. We were within walking distance of all the festivities which included many food booths and live music venues. We had pizza at the local pizza joint, then wondered around the festival. Home made Ligonberry Ice Cream was a special treat. Bible study that night was on marriage and the command to love our wives as Christ loved the church.
