Cycled with a friend around Railroad Island, a St. Paul neighborhood hemmed in by train tracks. An Italian restaurant, an Italian market, and a supermercado highlighted its strong immigrant ties. Riding along mostly quiet residential streets, we passed the oldest brick house in St. Paul and stopped by an urban farm holding an open house.
Category: Cycle
A short cycle ride to the 26th Avenue North Overlook
My nephews would’ve enjoyed scrambling on the climbing net at the foot of the beacon… maybe a dozen years ago. The beacon leans out over the Mississippi at this overlook in North Minneapolis, a short ride from our home. This was my first outing in three days: the study treatment has kept me laid low, which means it’s doing something! It felt good to be out among people clearly enjoying the beautiful day.
Where the bison roam
Had a great bike ride through Spring Lake Park Reserve with a friend. We’ve cycled this stretch that includes bluffs above the Mississippi, downriver from St. Paul, plenty of times, but today was different. It was the first time I actually got to see the bison up close on the restored prairie.
Annual airport ride
It was time for my annual cycle ride to the airport. Sadly, planes were landing on other runways as I passed by these approach lights. At Terminal 1, I “discovered” the car rental building, a place I would normally never visit, of course. Escalators go directly to different companies’ rental counters and cars. I took the Blue Line home, which was the main reason for visiting the airport today; until today, the LRT had been closed for a few weeks for upgrades.
A steamy ride
Delicious! The study nurse brought in a fan and pointed it right at me. I’d arrived overheated and soaked after a steamy 16-miler complete with a breakfast stop at Lake Harriet with Dwight and a huge rubber duckie.
Mind the gap
It seemed safe enough to ignore the diversion signs while running errands. The 20-year-old Blue Line LRT is closed for seven weeks for major maintenance, including replacing some track and upgrading signals. I sometimes take my bike on the train to reach further-out trailheads, and it’s our go-to route to the airport.
Topping off the tanks at Duluth Junction
Cycled home from Stillwater. At Duluth Junction, a nod to the rail trails we were riding, we stopped for a water break. There, we had a nice chat with our photographer: a woman who lives in a seniors’ building and was out for her daily 15-miler.
Cycle to Stillwater for the night
Cycled to Stillwater, off-road trails all the way, taking about four hours. It was scorching hot, but the trails were often shaded, and we cooled off at lunch in a dark dive bar. We’re spending the night in Stillwater, then heading home tomorrow. Here, we’re taking an after-dinner stroll, about to cross the St. Croix River, looking toward Wisconsin.
Lunch in the park
Cycled downriver to Minnehaha Park for lunch. Sea Salt Eatery has a cooked-to-order menu that is quite sophisticated for a park concession. We got the usual: fish tacos, delivered to our table, washed down with a local draft IPA.
My bike’s a screamer
The loud squeak when I apply my front brake is a feature; I’m loath to fix what is probably just a minor misalignment. Today the trail to the fish shop was blocked due to light rail maintenance, forcing me to choose between a busy road and the sidewalk. I chose the sidewalk. The moment I applied the front brake, people practically leapt out of the way. Cycling on the sidewalk is legal in Minneapolis areas zoned residential, but, um… I was definitely in a commercial zone.