Pumped up the tires, lubed the chain, and reacquainted myself with a favorite urban route. Avoided puddles and potholes and piles of snow. With temperatures climbing towards 60° it felt good to be out.
Category: Cycle
Tomorrow it Snows
Wrapped up well for a bicycle ride and coffee with a friend.
Hotel Cycle
Checked into Hotel Cycle (yet again, third time), Onomichi, in a repurposed warehouse on a wharf. You can cycle right up to the front desk, then leave your bike on a rack outside your room. To mitigate bicycle separation anxiety, you can hang your bike on a wall rack in your room. I’ll rent tomorrow.
In the Heights
Cycled to the highest point in Minneapolis, Deming Heights Park. At one point we dismounted and pushed.
Fireside Table
Stopped at Bordertown Coffee to warm up from a chilly cycle ride with a friend. In the colder months, there’s often a fire going, but apparently today wasn’t cold enough.
Gateway Trail Iron Bridge
In glorious fall weather, cycled across the Gateway Trail Iron Bridge, one of the few remaining wrought iron bridges in Minnesota. Built in 1873, this is its third location. A sign warns the maximum load is 250 bicycles (presumably with riders).
Annual Airport Ride
Watched regional jets take off from runway 12L while, simultaneously, mainline jets used runway 12R on the other side of the terminal. My annual ride to MSP.
Spring Lake Regional Park
Our cycle route to Hastings included Spring Lake Regional Park. As expected, the trees were starting to turn, but a surprise was the amount and variety of prairie flowers. My friend’s wife met us in Hastings so we could drive back to a light rail station.
Finding Stories
Explored St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood. Found some gems: the former Hollyhocks Club, a 1930’s-era gangsters’ hangout; impressive landscaping and construction at the former Ford Plant; the 1871 Mattocks School, a one-room schoolhouse, now a Spanish immersion classroom.
Ready for Pre-Dawn Getaway
My new daypack, pregnant with bicycle helmet, ready for a pre-dawn getaway tomorrow. A friend and I are off to Chicago for the day, taking advantage of a cheap fare. The old pack was beyond worn out; when we arrive back at MSP at 10:00 pm, we’ll be likewise.