With my bike hanging from the cycle rack, pumped up the tires. The promise of temperatures in the fifties this coming week had stirred the fair-weather cyclist within me. A quick wipe-down with a damp rag, and a dose of chain lubricant, and my bike will be good to go.
Category: Move
Skyway Sanctuary
The sun was shining, but the wind was biting, so four miles of my walk found me in the Minneapolis Skyways where I rediscovered gems like the lobby of the 1923 Medical Arts Building.
Avoiding the ER
Icy sidewalks drove me to the skyways, where I walked through interesting spaces, including the Westin in the former Farmers and Mechanics Bank building.
Still Waters
We took our usual Sunday walk along one side of the Mississippi River, then headed back on the other side. The weather was comfortably in the mid-30s, and there was no wind. Even the river was calm.
Thames Path Walk
Next September we’ll walk with two friends along the Thames Path from Oxford ① to its source ⑥ over five days. Today I booked our hotels. Some are quite small (one has just four rooms) and few and far between. One was already booked up, so we had to juggle with dates.
Train Tracks and River Trails
Cycling with a friend visiting from England, we followed the Mississippi north to Interstate 694, crossed the river, and returned to Minneapolis, lingering at BNSF Northtown Yard to be entertained by the constant train traffic and hissing air brakes.
Cafe + Bike Shop in a Railroad Trench
I was surprised to see that the Midtown Bike Center had reopened after closing in 2020 due to COVID. It’s located in a former railroad trench that’s now a bikeway. Inside, I ordered an Americano (in a real cup) and explored the remodeled space, which will soon include bike sales and repair services.
Dueling Amps
As I walked by, Fraternity Row at the University of Minnesota was buzzing at 10am. Each frat house was hosting its own party with blaring music. I could hear the cheerful cacophony from many blocks away. Later, they might attend a Golden Gophers game. Maybe.
Start of an Inn-to-Inn Hike
Two friends have joined us for a multi-day Inn-to-Inn hike in Northumberland, England. Tomorrow we’ll start out from the Black Bull Inn, Wooler, where we have rooms for the night.
Talking about Hiking
Reading materials were spread out at Rouge Urban Salon where Emily cut our hair today. But we didn’t talk about hair fashion; instead we talked about travel and hiking. Emily will soon be walking part of the Camino de Santiago starting in Lyon, France, and we’re about to hit the trails in England.