Minnesota: Alexandria to Cambridge 121 miles

Friday Aug 28, 2009 Alexandria, MN to Cambridge MN ( 121 miles )

I have ridden my bike about 2100 miles so far on this trip. I think I am just a little over half way to Maine.

Went to bed in the city park Thursday night. Incognito camping. Small park – no where really to stay but they had a porta-potty on the side of the park. Good enough for me. I got a couple of quarts of hot water from The Depot Restaurant after eating a nice catfish dinner there for $6.95. The park had a few kids in it but it they left and it got quiet about 11:00 and so I washed up and threw my sleeping bag down by a park bench and went to bed. Didn’t think I should pitch a tent there – park too small. I woke up about 4:00 AM with lightning flashing in the distance and knew I might be in trouble so I went back to bed and went to sleep. Woke up at 5:00 AM and it was raining. I packed up my gear pretty quick and loaded my bike and left in the dark. No sense trying to sleep in the rain with no tent. I rode a half mile and saw a 24 hr grocery store called Eldens. Nice Store. I bought a milk, a Bavarian donut and a banana and made a sandwich from a roll I had on my bike and part of a catfish fillet I had left over from dinner. Milk, donut, banana, and a catfish sandwich – Breakfast of Champions.

I rode down the bike trail for about 50 miles. What a great trail. Smooth, wide, no cars and hardly any bikes. I took the trail to St. Joseph and then worked my way over to highway 75 to 23 to 95 and took 95 to Cambridge. Had two detours because bridges were out and that made me ride a few extra miles which is always nice when you are on a Hot Rod Bicycle.

I saw some cows (See photo) and they always stare at me with great intent as if they have NEVER Seen a Fat Guy on a Bike before . . . . Whatever !

The country side scenery is changing little by little. I am seeing a lot of pine trees now, smaller farm fields, and more woods and rolling hills. Some of the old style barns are beginning to show up. Still very Beautiful to see.

When the sun came up today, I saw 2 tiger salamanders, 4 or 5 cottontail rabbits, several chipmunks, 4 or 5 LIVE Frogs, and a Doe and a Fawn deer. No Doves stopped to talk to me today.

I’m a little tired, sore, and my left knee hurts. I have no idea why. I must be a little wimpy. Dingle-Fritz (One of my other personalities) has been whining most of the day. He’ll get over it eventually. I just ignore him. I had a pizza tonight and have enough left over for two more meals. I don’t know where I am going to sleep tonight so I still have one more small adventure left for tonight. I thought I might go find someone’s hot tub and just sit in it for awhile. If I am real quiet, maybe they won’t notice.

I washed my shirt in the bathroom sink of the restaurant I had lunch in. Still no Washboard Abs. What a rip off – I ride my bike for a month and I still look like a Tadpole.