Blue skies + flat roads + a bit of a tailwind + some strong lead out riders in the pace line = a very nice day in the saddle.
We were the last ones out of the parking lot this morning, but hooked up with two strong husband/wife teams, following their pace of 21-22 mph for over 20 miles. Nice! You can cover a lot of ground without working too hard that way. Thanks for the lift! After the first SAG stop, though, it was pretty much Amy, Yuval and me, trading pulls, anywhere between 17 and 20 mph for the rest of the day.
We passed mile and miles of corn fields today with some beans periodically mixed in. We also passed cattle, pigs and turkeys. Occasionally there were a dozen or so windmills dancing on the horizon. Very picturesque! We finished the last 8 miles or so on the bike path coming into Mankato. The path is lined with lots of trees (shade), which cooled things considerably. Nice way to end the day.
Mankato is a town of about 40,000, the 4th largest in Minnesota outside Minneapolis/St. Paul, and is located at the confluence of the Minnesota River and Blue Earth River. You might recall that Mankato was talked about in Little House on the Prairie. It's where the people from Walnut Grove would go to shop.Early to bed tonight, as we ride another 100 miles to Rochester, home of the renowned Mayo Clinic.
Be well. Do good.
Don
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