Safety in Numbers

So while we were at the Bicycle Bunkhouse two fellows, Ryan and Eel (a.k.a. Matthew), came in to stay the night.  They are from England and are doing the Northern Tier as part of a worldwide tour.  Shortly afterward, we were joined by Flavia who is moving from Boston to Oregon for graduate school.  They had met before at another stop.  It was nice to chat with other bicycle tourists.

The next day we set off early.  Flavia woke up right before we left and the guys were still asleep.  It was a truly glorious day to ride – cool, sunny, and with a tailwind.  We thought we were going to ride 45 miles but ended up doing over 60.  We stopped at the city park in Bowlus, MN where we decided to camp.  It is always a bit odd and sometimes dicey at these city parks.  We were feeling a bit uncomfortable, when who comes into camp but Flavia, who was joined by Ryan and Eel, and another cyclist, Bill (who grew up in Medford, MA).  All together there were six of us and we sort of “took over” the pavilion in the park.  It felt much better to have a group of us and there is definitely safety in numbers.

Bowlus City Park - the bathrooms were left open all night for cyclists.

Cyclist refugee camp. Our tent is to the right.

Bill was kind enough to string a laundry line and let us share it.

Picnic tables are always a plus!

Cyclists at rest and organizing in the pavilion. In the background is Bill, the only rider heading east.

We left Bowlus the next day we got out early again and it was cold – I mean really cold.  I put on my long gloves, jacket, and headband. 

It's cold out here this fine august Minnesota morning.

I could have used heavier gloves.  

Heading into the Lake Wobegon covered bridge.

The bridge is short

...and sweet. About 7 AM.

Casting long shadows on a deserted morning road.

Churches are everywhere.

Built like a brick church...

We had a short day of about 30 miles and stayed in Suak Centre’s City Campground which was a quiet campground on a lake.