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
Category: Move
Aftermath of a Stormy Night
A storm raged overnight, leaving the odd downed tree to navigate around on our hot and steamy Sunday morning walk. We’re grateful to still have power, knowing many are facing outages today.
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.
Unexpected Art
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
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