Cycled through this calm place on my random steamy ride. Industrial areas like this one in St. Paul are best explored on weekends, away from the hustle of weekday truck traffic.
Category: Cycle
The Purple One Slept Here… in a Movie
On my random cycle ride, noticed The Kid’s House was being refurbished. In the 1984 movie, Purple Rain, the Prince character (The Kid) lived in this modest house with his mother and abusive father. It sat empty after Prince bought it in 2015. His estate recently signed off on it being an Airbnb ‘Icons’ property.… Continue reading The Purple One Slept Here… in a Movie
Train and Smoke
While cycling past the BNSF Northtown Yard today, watched a freight train roll by. The air quality is noticeably poor due to wildfires in the West and Canada.
Quiet Morning at Lake Harriet
Cycled a favorite loop today, including breakfast sandwiches at Bread and Pickle overlooking Lake Harriet. Plane traffic approaching and departing MSP had been shifted to the southeast, so we didn’t get to watch planes. Coincidentally, actual ducks were also absent.
Literary Cycle
On my random cycle ride through a residential neighborhood, spotted this free library that had morphed from a bicycle. Watched it in action as a father and child interacted with this creation and selected a book. There were controls to pull, spin (shelves), pump (a balloon), and to operate a puppet made from bicycle parts… Continue reading Literary Cycle
Riding Above Floodwaters
Today we explored beyond the Twin Cities. Took a bike ride on the Cannon Valley Trail from Cannon Falls to Welch and back. This well-maintained rail trail offers scenic views of the Cannon River, which is currently overflowing its banks. Impressive embankments, built in 1882, kept us safely above the floodwaters and ensured gentle gradients.
Post-Hooky Cycle Ride
Fourth of July (tomorrow) looks like a rainout, but today was perfect for a bike ride on half of the Minneapolis Grand Rounds. We cruised the mostly quiet trails (why were the trails quiet?–It was a perfect day to play hooky) and ended with a late lunch/early dinner at our neighborhood watering hole. Here, Minnehaha… Continue reading Post-Hooky Cycle Ride
High Water, No Scoops
Cycled up one side of the Mississippi from Downtown to Interstate 694 then back down the other side. We’ve rarely seen the river this swollen. Flooded paths were not a problem, but Fletcher’s Ice Cream, closed on Mondays, was a disappointment.
Roses and Pastries
The rendezvous point with a friend was here on the Martin Sabo Bridge. We planned to head west, but ominous clouds rolling in from that direction convinced us to change course. Our new route took us through the Lake Harriet rose garden, looking fine after all the rain, and Patisserie 46 where almond croissants were… Continue reading Roses and Pastries
Spinning
Cycled down an unfamiliar street lined with old industrial buildings. Escaped rain by ducking into a coffee shop in one of the renovated structures. While I rested my legs, two women at an adjacent table were industriously spinning yarn on antique spinning wheels, their bare feet working the treadles.