A bright, sunny day here in Albany. Hopped back on the Lake Wobegon bike trail ready to make some good miles. And I did. Found myself in Melrose before long. Had a nice man and his wife ride next to me for a while and chat. He did all the talking. I like it when people do that. They were from Indiana. The man was training for the Seattle to Portland race, and when he heard I was from there, started asking me all about it. I told him there'd probably be more hills and he was used to, but it would be a great ride nonetheless.
Melrose was a turkey processing town. It had a funny smell and they were a few feathers strewn on the bike path. I dropped a letter in the mail here.
Then Sauk Center. Slightly bigger, same feel.
I'm gonna have so many pictures of Main Street small town America, I'm never going to be able to know which ones are which... Had a snack at the veteran's memoral (which most of them have).
Next town was Alexandria. It announced itself with pride.
They call him Big Ole. Alexandria is supposedly the birthplace of America because of a large stone they called the Runestone left by what they think was a Viking Expedition (some say a colony) in the area in the 12th century. I was tempted to go to the museum but decided to keep on moving, and Wikipedia it later.
After sun all day, some clouds moved in around 3. Not little cotton balls like there were in Wisconsin and Michigan. These clouds came in like a large flat bank.
They must be coming off the plains. I can feel them getting close. The satellite map of this country shows a slowly fading green to brown just west of where I am now. The anticipation builds....
Decided to call it a day after 71 miles in Ashby.
City Park said no camping and I follow the rules if it says it. So I went to the next green spot on the map. Cemetery. Darn. To the next one and I got lucky. Quiet little park tucked between two marshy little lakes. I was all set to make camp when another gosh darn lawn mower pulled up to mow this already Immaculate lawn. Ugghhgh. I let him do his business and then asked him while he was packing up if anyone would mind if I camped there the night. He said go right ahead. Good thing, I wasn't leaving anyhow. Turned out to be a very pleasant night after he left. Enjoyed the sunset over the marsh in my hammock while eating quinoa and potatoes.
The festivities of already begun. Crackles, bangs, and pops ring out across the lakes. But for me, another peaceful night in camp.
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