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Portland to Portland

May - August 2023
I’m gonna try riding from The seashore in Oregon near Portland to the east coast in Maine, possibly Portland, possibly Bar Harbor. I’ll be glad to get over the Rockies. Read more
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  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    13
    Day 80

    Ending in Escanaba

    July 26, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    The time has come for my ride to end.

    I made it with Richard to Escanaba, Michigan on the west shore Little Bay de Noc, a bay on the west side of Lake Michigan.

    It’s been an awesome experience, challenging and beautiful over about 2,500 miles. Richard has been a great traveling companion, with a sharp wit and a generous sprit. Bonnie supported making this trip a reality, and a whole batch of family and friends have been so encouraging. Matt Muniz provided lots of technical support, tapping into his own riding experience.

    I stopped riding because I wasn’t getting enough food calories to match the daily demands of riding, creating too much weight loss to the point of being a health risk. So, it’s time to stop.

    I’ll miss Richard’s company. We saw so much from the road, pedaling along at about 8 to 15 miles an hour and meeting people along the way:
    - Plants passing by slowly while I gaze from different angles.
    - Bird song and plumage
    - A motel owner who re-welded rack supports back onto Richard’s frame after they sheared off. Cuz doesn’t everyone keep a wire feed welder handy just in case?
    - So many different people who were friendly.
    - Sitting beside rivers, peacefully enjoying their beauty. Camping frequently placed us beside some beautiful streams, rivers and lakes.
    - The humble beginnngs of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, and crossing it over and over as it winds eastward.
    - Deer leaping alongside the road and bounding along as they try to get away from us on our bikes nearby.
    - A marvelous variety of butterflies in each of the 8 states we visited.
    - The sound of my tires whirring along on good pavement with a tailwind.

    Thank you for following this journey. It’s been awesome!    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    3
    111
    Day 74

    Mercer to Star Lake

    July 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    At Mercer, the Loon Lagoon RV park let us dry out our gear from a very wet night of camping the day before. I’d visited this Loon statue and the same RV park 15 years earlier and it was fun to return.
    Next, we rode on a beautiful park-like bike trail for most of the way from Mercer to Star Lake , Wisconsin. The bike trail was like a park for MILES. We saw lots of sculpture along the way as well. Camping at Star Lake was ‘rustic’ and beautiful.    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    1
    1
    Day 71

    Headwinds to Hayward

    July 17, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    We made slow progress today, climbing rolling hills up and down up and down along beautiful lakes and marshes. Most of the days winds were headwinds of some sort.
    Curious sights included a minion mailbox, a sign for 1/4 Street, and possibly the world’s largest bluegill and a loon swimming in a pond.
    We were a few miles from a campsite when rain began. We called the nearest motel, got a room and napped!
    Tomorrow we head eastward toward Glidden.    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    2
    1121
    Day 70

    Welcome to Wisconsin!

    July 16, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Another state crossed! We crossed the St. Croix River from Minnesota to Wisconsin yesterday, staying at a State park in the border. That evening, we visited the river and watched a heron land and fly from a rock nearby. Soooo graceful! The bird takes off about halfway through the attached video.
    Next, we were welcomed by a festival and a rock band that played loudly nearby until 12:10 am!
    Accordingly, we got a late start this morning,. But because we are tourists not purists, we visited the marvelous geological formations of Taylor Falls. I hope the attached pictures do Justice to the unusual potholes that water eddie’s and sand created in the basalt.
    Fortunately, we are traveling with the prevailing wind at our back, so we made good time riding from Taylor Falls to Cumberland. We saw lots of interesting tunings along the way:
    The worlds narrowest bikelane, the worlds largest Adirondack chair, the worlds largest planter, the worlds largest mosquito and the worlds most interesting use for an old truck. Plus gorgeous skies and wildlife and ponds and a beautiful riding trail of crushed limestone under a green canopy of trees.
    At Cumberland, we are camping in a city park that’s right on the local lake. It’s peaceful and beautiful.    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    1
    2
    Day 66

    Bunkhouse Haven for Cyclists

    July 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We are resting at Donn Olson’s amazing bunkhouse in Dalbo, Minnesota. It’s a weary cyclist’s dream come true complete with shower, a stocked kitchen and rooms with cots. He even provides towels and pillows. We are taking two rest days in a row here to help me get some strength back.
    Along the way we saw 4 cranes in the grass, two adults and two smaller ones. We paused and watched them for a bit.
    We also crossed the Mississippi a few times, which always makes me smile. It a bit less humble here than in Lake Itasca.    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    Day 65

    Why I Do It

    July 11, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Sitting on a bench 25 feet from the Mississippi River watching the ripples of raindrops float downstream and the occasional fish catching a fly.

    Lunch in a restaurant in a Little Falls enjoying another community.

    Riding along the river.

    That’s why. Enjoying peaceful moments in nature and conversations with strangers.    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    Day 64

    Lots of Miles

    July 10, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We moteled in Walker last night because there were no tent camping sites available and it was a good thing too, because there was a hail storm.
    Today we picked up supplies in Walker and got off to a start at 10:30. With a slight tailwind we were able to travel about 70 miles from Walker to the Crow Wing state park at 6 pm.
    I’ve enjoyed using my bike and gear, having found a way to keep stuff organized and tidy in their matching saddle bags.
    We saw beautiful scenery today, marshes, Lilly pads floating in ponds with blossoms on top, colorful roadside wildflowers. We watched a Doe and her fawn running into the bushes. The fawn had striking spots and lines.
    I get a warm feeling riding along lakes and streams. We got a lot of that today. We also spent some time in a green tunnel on a state bike path, riding under a canopy of branches and leaves.
    I forgot to mention that we saw some large birds yesterday walking in a field. I think they were cranes. It was nice to spot them and then be able to watch for a while.    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    5
    1111
    Day 62

    Generosity Central

    July 8, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I’m doing footprints for several days in Minnesota at Big Sugar Bush Lake, Lake Itasca, Bemidji and Walker.
    After our warm and restorative days with Jill and Dave’s generous hospitality, we set out eastward from Hawley. A moment after I thought I was doing a good job of navigating, I got off course. As we looked at maps to confirm that a mile and a half of backtracking was necessary, Bob and Linda drove up, saying they noticed us looking at maps as though lost and immediately invited us to their home on Big Sugar Bush Lake just a short way off our route. We said ‘YES’. Bob and Linda treated us to snacks and a pontoon boat tour of the whole lake, describing the history and hydrology and botany and wildlife. We saw a loon family complete with a chick and two fledging eagles in a huge nest on a dying tree. Back at the garden we watched the progress of a monarch butterfly making it’s chrysalis followed by dinner and more conversation. In the morning, we were treated to breakfast as we packed up our tents and hit the road again.
    Next stop was Lake Itasca where we got POUNDED by rain for a few miles. We got the last campsite in the park, ate dinner and went to bed. Next morning on beautiful weather, we visited the humble beginnings of the mighty Mississippi at its headwaters, walked across a few times and headed for lunch where we enjoyed the company of a dad and his two daughters who were all delightful. Meeting people, even briefly, has been a magical highlight of this trip for me.
    From Lake Itasca, we traveled to Bemidji where we saw Paul Bunyan and Babe, then on to Walker. Our trip to Walker was entirely made on a dedicated bike path through the woods. DELIGHTFUL! I’m not sure if the pelican in the attached photo is the worlds largest, but ‘the worlds largest’ is a thing here so who knows?
    Once in Walker, I got some major caloric intake including a DQ Blizzard that they hold upside down to show that it’s cold. Hilarious!
    Today, we continue on the bike path to Brainerd. Because I get to eat as many calories as I like, todays breakfast included Fruit Loops. Yay!    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    2
    13
    Day 61

    4th of July Hawley-Days

    July 7, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    From the 4th through the morning of the 6th, my friends Jill, Dave and their dog Spike hosted us at their home in Hawley, it was SOOOO much fun to ride to a friends’ house halfway across the country. Jill and Dave were gracious hosts. Their friends Jeff and Melissa came over for the 4th and Richard and I talked and listened about biking, life and farming. I got to learn about what the equipment we’ve been seeing from the road actually does! It was fascinating. Great visiting.
    We rested on the 6th (including sharing footprints). I slept til 11 and ate everything in sight afterward. Jill and Dave made us delicious meals and snacks almost continuously! Thank you both so much! What a treat.
    We learned about Dave’s influential work with 7th through 12th graders as Hawley’s Agriculture teacher, including seeing his classroom and shop spaces. His curriculum and FFA activities are clearly a gift to young people.
    Throughout our visit, Jill and I got to reminisce and trade stories which was heartwarming the whole time.
    Their Chihuahua Spike is Mr. Mellow. If I didn’t have to bring his food along, I would have stolen him. He’s a little slice of calm.
    We left Hawley on Thursday and continued eastward after a delightful visit.    Read more

  • TravelerPortland to Portland
    1
    14
    Day 57

    Hello Fargo!

    July 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    After a couple of days of mild headwinds, we arrived in Fargo at the east side of North Dakota. I loved the endless green horizons under the dome of blue skies. We traveled about 62 miles from a Valley City motel to the Lindenwood City Park Campground in Fargo.
    Lindenwood sits on the Red River which borders Minnesota, so we popped over the border for a minute. We’ve traveled through 5 states now. We will visit with my friends the Swansons in Hawley, MN tomorrow and Wednesday and then keep heading east for the south side of Lake Superior.
    Beautiful scenery again today with the delightful addition of a chickens. This bird became. Curious about us while we were making lodging plans and came toward us several times. Go figure!    Read more

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