A cycle ride with a friend included St. Paul’s Midway industrial district. We were surprised by the vibrant murals scattered throughout the district, including this one. The stylized butterfly behind the girl honors missing and murdered indigenous women. Later, I learned we had stumbled upon the Midway Chroma Zone where local and national street artists… Continue reading Unexpected Art
Category: Cycle
Bicycle Expressway
My bicycle route today included several miles of trail from St. Louis Park to Minneapolis that have recently opened after being closed for several years for light rail construction. The trail has been upgraded and now includes underpasses under roads and this structure that bridges the light rail tracks, a freight track, and a busy… Continue reading Bicycle Expressway
Visiting Minnesota
It was a perfect summer’s day for a long cycle ride with a friend visiting from the UK. Here we paused at Bde Maka Ska (Dakota for “White Earth Lake”), formerly named after a slave owner and slavery advocate who never visited Minnesota. Later we stopped for grilled cheese sandwiches (a favorite) at Longfellow’s named… Continue reading Visiting Minnesota
Pushing Our Limits
A friend and I made our annual expedition to Reservoir Woods and up to a 30-million gallon tank serving St. Paul. We cycled slowly up in low gear, realizing in coming years we’ll need to dismount and push. The humidity was high, so by the end of the ride we both felt we’d had a… Continue reading Pushing Our Limits
Malcolm Yards
Cycled with friends to Malcolm Yards, an excellent food hall rising out of the shell of a (formerly) dilapidated 130-year-old industrial building There’s a cycle path all the way and beer is self-service (charged by the tenth of an ounce), what more could I ask? Enjoyed good company and a flavorful cauliflower dish prepared with… Continue reading Malcolm Yards
Starting Low and Slow
Prepared a dry rub and applied it to baby back ribs which I then placed in an oven at 250°F. Low and slow. This was a chance for a slow cycle ride, ducking occasional rain. As the afternoon progressed, the sound of thunder intensified, prompting me to crank harder on my return home. Back home… Continue reading Starting Low and Slow
Taking the Pressure Off
Cycled rail trails with a friend: part of the Gateway Trail to Brown’s Creek Trail down to Stillwater. Refueled with coffee, we cycled across the historic lift bridge (and back) before heading uphill for the return journey. This was our longest ride this year so it felt good to pause and stand to take off the pressure and admire this lush bank of ferns.
Bison, Bluffs, and Blizzards
Cycled the Shars Bluff Trail, a rail trail that provides great views of the Mississippi. Spotted a recently reintroduced herd of bison resting in the prairie land of Spring Lake Park Reserve. Afterwards, treats at a Dairy Queen. An excellent morning out!
Almost Post-Blossom
Cycled in search of remaining blossoms. Tried to resist using my once-a-year lexicon including ephemeral, fleeting, and transient.
Pit Stop at Cossetta’s
It had been raining overnight, but it stopped just in time to hop on a train to Fort Snelling and meet up with a friend. We then cycled a loop via downtown St. Paul, taking in each side of the Mississippi. In St. Paul, we refueled at the legendary Cossetta’s, with its extensive selection of… Continue reading Pit Stop at Cossetta’s