Made one goal anyway

On Sept. 29 NW and I concluded the 2025 GCC Challenge with a 23-mile ride from Akeley to Dorset and back. Quiet sunny Monday. NW reached both goals of funds raised and mile ridden. I made the distance but came up short on $. Oh well. You do what you can...

Nice lunch at the Iron Horse in Nevis. Took a break at Dorset where nothing was open. Nevis offered the Giant Muskie and the old piano at the town park. And public restroom. Thanks Nevis!

Neighborhood Bonus Ride: 12 miles

Sept. 25: Nancy needed more miles toward her pledged goal, so we trekked around BP this morning to get a bonus ride in. Perfect weather. She only has 17 to go now. We did 12 today. Happy Trails!

Shingobee

Sept. 23 Nancy and I pedaled and absorbed the beauty of the Paul Bunyan Trail from north of Hackensack to the junction with Heartland Trail south west of Walker off Hwy 34. This Shingobee stretch of mixed forest and hilly curves always yields lungs full of natural oxygen,as well as sights to freshen one's brain cells. The 22 miler round trip fulfilled another part of her promised September total and pushed me over my lesser mileage pledge for 2025. Fall colors were muted by dry conditions and climate change phobia. Oh well. We negotiated the highway 371 work zone through Hackensack and encountered very few bikers.

Crow Wing State Park

22 miles on Monday, Sept.22, the first day of autumn here. Baxter to the park south of town on the Paul Bunyan Trail, a pretty sweet route following a group from the Nordic Ski Club on an off-season tune-up trek. Great group of friendly, healthy seniors. Most, but not all, riding e-bikes.

Nancy, Peter, and I were glad to see the fog lift and some fall colors appear. Traffic was moderate. The biggest surprise was our first passage on sidewalks and roundabouts in the urban residential sprawl that is Baxter, including multi-unit three-story apartments. What a difference a decade makes. "Taxter" thrives.

Walker-LaPorte

Sept. 14 Sunday ride of 12 miles to LaPorte from Walker (24 rdtrp), with fall colors appearing on the Paul Bunyan Trail. Nasty bumps at LaPorte area, but dodged without incident. Great fragrance from damp conifers and approaching autumn. Three wooden bridges, plus one modern passage over Hwy 371 that heads north toward Cass Lake. Fair temps still.

Still Summer

Breezy Point is quieter and warm with humidity today for a one-hour neighborhood pedal around town. Rode 10 miles on city streets. Golfers still wacking their balls. Few folks walking, not many cycling. Water still looks good and calm. Bigger ride planned tomorrow.

Match Day Ride

16 miles on the day when all donated amounts are matched, so those who contribute $$ have their contribution doubled! What a deal!

Nice weather (70-73 and sunny, little wind) and minimal traffic on Paul Bunyan Trail from Nisswa to just beyond Merrifield and back.

Still fair number of vehicles with hitches and racks at the Nisswa parking trailhead.

Kickoff Ride

Jeff, Nancy and I rode 22 miles this morning - Sept. 1, a beautiful start to the Challenge Month of September. Merrifield to Olson Road, Pequot Lakes. Jeff didn't give us too much grief about riding our e bikes, thankfully. He is a most congenial and gracious pedaler. Also one of the most dedicated GCC associates in our state or anywhere. He had already logged 1,200 miles this year just because he is an "animal." Someone should do a feature on this fellow! He is worthy, and oh-so humble. A great model for donating to causes such as the fight to end Kids Cancer -- and all cancer for that matter. Plus, he drives all the way from the outlying Twin Cities area to be part of our team!