Microblog

Boxes of irrigation parts waited to be taken downstairs to the mail room. I upgraded our houseplant irrigation system and sold the old parts on eBay to benefit Doctors Without Borders. Everything went. Boxes and packaging materials were rescued from a dumpster.

Tonight: our first taste of Minnesota corn this season.

While chasing down a rattle, Dwight discovered we’d probably driven from Up North with an important bolt missing from the roof bike rack. Replaced the bolt, grateful we didn’t do any hard stops followed by my bike running down the windshield. Note to self: check bolts.

Just booked a flight from Fukuoka to Sapporo/New Chitose for a trip next summer with our teenage nephews and their dad. We’ll have rail passes, but it’s a 1,200 mile journey by bullet trains. The boys will have a field day with one of the airport codes.

Our view for the evening, after riding rolling hills. Our room in a comfortable old hotel, Up North.

After cycling 20 miles along the Heartland Trail, it was time to enjoy this view then cycle back via a small-town bar for lunch. One of the first rail-trails in the country, it’s an easy ride, no serious climbs, shaded by forest most of the way.

We didn’t stop as we turned left at the giant walleye and continued our journey Up North. We’re staying in a comfortable old hotel by a lake where the Paul Bunyan and Heartland State bicycle trails converge

A neighbor parked in one of our spots. Today, when she saw the note on her car, she realized her error, bought us a gift card for a nearby wine store, and wrote a contrite apology note. Classy, plus she couldn’t have thought up a more useful gift.

Started digitizing and (digitally) pinning photos to a map of Japan. Dwight’s uncle took the photos when he was a soldier in the occupying army when World War II ended. We may visit some of the locations when we explore Japan with our nephews (13 and 14).

As I pedalled I could taste the air. Because of Canadian forest fires, exacerbated by drought, we have the poorest air quality ever measured in Minnesota. Meanwhile, another mile of shale oil extracted from the Bakken formation of North Dakota made its way east.

On my cycle ride: space between.

Saw the light: semiannual cleaning and checkup.

A friend asked us to sample two types of brownies baked by his wife, then choose our favorite. They got shaken in my backpack on a cycle ride, but that didn’t affect the experience. Halved each to be sure we each sampled each type. Concluded they were equally good.

On my cycle ride: World War II guard tower built to protect a Norden bombsight factory. Today, tenants of the old factory buildings include a distillery and a company that develops LEGO military model kits. (The LEGO Company has a strict policy against selling military models.)

Spent my Sunday afternoon with a crimper, a heat gun, and a soldering iron. Built the wiring harness for up to seven capacitive soil moisture sensors for a 3-level rack of houseplants. The box holds a microcomputer that wirelessly communicates with our home automation hub.

Watched the Aquatennial fireworks from our balcony.