Day 30 -- And the corn is as high as an elephant's eye . . .

July 19,2005

ROUTE: Worthington to Mankato, MN

DISTANCE:  102 miles

WINDS: Out of the south; we were going NE.

WEATHER: Sunny, windy, warming from 60F in AM to a high of 87 in PM

TERRAIN: Flat

TOTAL CLIMBING: 1,480 feet

RIDE OVERVIEW: Most had breakfast this morning at Country Kitchen. Some of us even ate breakfast with the mayor of Worthington and several city councilmen. It seems that this is their morning gathering place before going to their offices. We recognized the mayor (he has a long full beard) because his photo appeared in the newspaper along with an article about Len and Paul reaching their goal of $100,000. After breakfast, the last rider got on the road about 7:25 AM. I was riding Sweep today so swept out of the parking lot behind this rider. It was cool at ride start (60F) but I wasn't complaining. Who me? Complain about cool temps? Never. Our route today was undemanding and the wind helped boost riders along and also helped keep us cool later in the day when the sun did become a factor.

Uff da! and welcome to Minn-e-so-ta . . . the state where the women are pretty, the men are good looking, and the children are all above average . . . according to the Prairie Home Companion.  Our ride today was on Hwy 60 out of Worthington to Windom where we took back roads to Madelia and from there it was back on Hwy 60 to Mankato. The scenery all day was vast farmland, and those who liked to see corn, must have been in heaven. The word of the day was "green."  It's a sharp contrast from what we were seeing in South Dakota where the rolling rangeland and large wheat fields were mostly brown.  Everywhere you looked today all you'd see was green. If it wasn't corn or soybeans standing in perfectly straight rows that stretched to the horizon, it was tall grass that gave a different hue to the green patchwork that dominated the landscape.  It's nice to be back in country that looks fertile again and, according to NPR, these farms are run by Norwegian Bachelor Farmers . . . mostly (ever heard of Powder Milk Biscuits?).  I think we are going to see a lot of corn and gently rolling terrain for the next few days. You betcha.

Also I must remark again on how well kept the houses and farms are. The grass grows right up to the barns and outbuildings and is mowed and trim. Flowers are everywhere: Big flower gardens on the farms and along the fields near the farm, hanging baskets and window boxes in the small tidy towns we passed through. This middle America seems very fertile. The earth in the plowed fields was nearly black, and the corn was 10 to 12 feet tall (really). The country roads we've been traveling in Minnesota between all these farms and corn/soybean fields are--like all else I've seen in this state so far--very well kept up and marked.  They usually have two sets of full-lane rumbles before stop signs, however, so we cyclists must be alert or we'll shake ourselves up.

Today Bob, Byron, and Larry went off route to visit Thomas Hartberg, a co-worker/friend of Byron's from the 70's who threw over a high tech job to return to and run the farm he grew up on. They marveled at the old wood barn, circa 1939, with its arched and timbered roof. They also received the royal tour and got to ride in and see all the outsized equipment it takes to run a huge farm like those we passed through all day. Their favorite piece of equipment was the corn picker, and yes, it does look like a giant vicious insect of some sort (right).

Shortly before the second SS in St. James at mile 64.7, these three met me and the two riders I was sweeping. When these riders decided to sag in from SS#2, the guys asked me if I'd like to have lunch and ride the remaining 40 or so miles with them. Yes to both. We went to a little place downtown that was the essence of Minn-e-so-ta, you betcha. Our waitress was a cute little 21-year-old who worked for her uncle, the owner of the restaurant. When asked if the potato salad was good, she replied, "Yes, it's delicious. I made it." When asked how the cocoanut cream pie was she replied: "It's fabulous. I baked it this morning, and the sour cream/raisin pie, too." She grabbed up my water bottles and promptly filled them with ice, and in general charmed us all. Byron treated us to lunch, and when he went back to leave her a tip, he found her in the kitchen washing the dishes. We think her Uncle has a good thing going.

Most of yesterday we passed pig farms--immaculate pig farms but odoriferous nonetheless. This morning several pig transports passed us, pink piggy snouts poking out. I wonder if Wilbur was aboard.  I hope not. Besides having the propensity to scarf down everything they see, pigs have a lot in common with humans: They are very susceptible to many human diseases and to sunburn and heat stroke, too. One must gown up and wear a mask to visit the piglets and suckling sows at the OSU teaching pig farms, for example.

Just before the first SS today, the road was crumbly and had several pavement differentials. This mean spot took down two riders--Daughter Jill  and Don. They got bruises and road rash, but no broken bones. After getting patched up, on they pedaled. Mike went back and marked this nasty area with danger signs and arrows to warn the last riders of the hazard.

We four last riders got in at 4 p.m. today. We had rap in the pool area before dinner, and dinner was at a Country Buffet . . . about 5 miles from the motel, so we shuttled the riders to it. It served up a great smorgasbord.  If anyone went away hungry after tonight's spread, they weren't trying. 

Tomorrow we ride another century.  It won't be long before we'll wave good bye to this beautiful state, but tomorrow we'll enjoy another day in the corn.  See you then.                     Susan

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:

·  "Go Lance!" 

· "I think this was my best riding day yet." 

· "Who would have thought a century could be so easy!" 

· "The SAG, the SAG. I'm dreaming of a SAG banana."

DUH OF THE DAY: "At first I would have said that this ride was perfectly flat, but then--DUH!--I remembered that the earth is round!"

PRANK OF THE DAY: This past Sunday, Albert tried to buy a beer only to be told "We do not sell alcohol on Sunday." So, last night after dinner when Albert went shopping in a nearby grocery store for some cheese, Josh, Joe, and some others decided to pull a prank on Albert and primed the checkout girl. When Albert asked her where the cheese was, she replied: "I'm sorry but we do not sell cheese on Monday."

PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

A mural in the town of Madelia depicting the Younger Gang's
last days . . . a shoot-out that apparently took place about 10 miles from Madelia

Several riders detoured into the cornfields
and soybeans today for a change of pace.

Because the route was over 100 miles and because it was
hot and windy, Mike thought it wise to assign Bob the duty
of carrying the back-up water supply on his specially designed helmet.

I've decided that at the end of the tour, one of Dave's shoulders
will be lower than the other. A former bike messenger,
Dave S. wears a heavy messenger bag slung over one shoulder all day long.

The Flying Dutchmen flying past another cornfield.

The A-Team and Team Life is Good mixing it up
as they pass some black-eyed susans.