Cascade River State Park 42 miles.

Because I enjoy stopping and taking in the scenery often get to the campground a little late so would set up camp and not do much after I arrive. So in the morning would hike a lot of the trails. This seemed to help stretch my legs and help my biking for later in the day and another reason would get my destination later than usual. Hiked around Tettegouche with someone who had recently retired from Colorado. It made my walk a little longer than usual but enjoyed the conversation with him. Stopped at Sugarloaf Cove a little south of Schroeder another beach that is growing in popularity and it is well worth stopping at.

This turned out to be an interesting day. Everything was going well until I stopped at a store to get something to drink and I couldn’t find my wallet again. Thinking that I left it at Tettegouche was going to call them but did not have internet service so continued on my way until I could make a call. At one point while on the bike path was able to check my e-mail. Received an e-mail telling me someone had turned my wallet to them and told me I could pick it up at any time. Backtracking about 6 miles to pick it up was not something I looked forward doing. Someone was walking along the path and wondering how I was doing so started to whine about how I was going to get the wallet back. She could not take my whining anymore so she said she would drive down there to pick it up for me. Ever grateful she was willing to get it for me readily agreed. About half hour later she drove by and dropped my wallet off to me. Then put my wallet on a lanyard hung it over my neck for the rest of the trip. The bulge at the tummy where the wallet hung probably looked weird but at least I knew where it was. When one is totally absent minded you are dependent on the kindness of strangers.

By biking straight to the park I could get there before dark. However while eating and drinking outside of a store a person came up to me and we started talking and talked way too long so I would not get there until dark While biking to Cascade River noticed that it was more of a struggle biking then it should be. Struggled to get into the park and by the time I got there the park was just closing. Found a deserted area and just laid down for the night without bothering setting up a tent. Woke up in the middle of the night and looked up in the sky and it was completely clear and the stars were so bright it was an amazing scene. Wheeled my bike out of the park as early as I could so I would not be noticed.At times my rear wheel would not move and have to lift up the rack for temporary relief.

Tettegouche State Park 40 miles.

Left Two Harbors and continued my way to Tettegouche. It was another nice ride where, as I did for the next 5 days, stopped at every spot I could to view the lake, take pictures and hike at any sign of a possible waterfall. Places I knew I wanted to go to was Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse. I was pleasantly surprised when I went to Iona Beach – what beautiful nature area that is. Was able to get to the park and get a site in the overflow camping site.

Silver Creek

Two Harbors 57 miles.

It was a good ride to Two Harbors outside of road construction in Duluth which made me nearly go around in a circle before was able to find the road I wanted to go on. I stopped at a store in Two Harbors to get something to eat. Shortly after leaving the store and heading to the harbor I briefly lost control of the bike. I was able to stay upright but my phone fell out of it the holder and the screen broke. After going to the harbor and looking around I headed for the campground.

It was when I was ready to go in to pay for a site that I realized that left my wallet and lock by the store. After retracing my steps and not finding it went back to the harbor to make frantic phone calls to get emergency cash and new card from Visa. After getting things straightened out with them found an out of the way place to set up my tent for the night since I had no money. That night while checking my e-mail found out that I had received an e-mail from the police department saying that someone had turned in my wallet and lock to them. I received the e-mail about an hour before I started making the frantic calls to Visa. Called them back saying everything was good and wanted to cancel the requests I had made earlier. Next morning went to the police department to pick up my wallet and continue on my way.

Jay Cook State Park 0 miles.

Did a little hike in the morning of day 5. On the bridge were spiderwebs with dew on the web. Enjoyed looking at the spiderwebs with each one having an unique shape and with the dew they really stood out. The St Louis River which winds through the park is so beautiful with all of the rock formations in and along the river. Each section is basically the same but different. Got entranced looking at the river while walking along it.

Jay Cook State Park 30 miles.

One advantage of Willow River campground being closed was that I was now 10 miles closer to Jay Cook State Park which is where I wanted to be on the fourth night. Was planning to be there one night but so much to see decided to stay a second night, which worked out to my advantage a couple of times later in the trip. The hiking trails were challenging on the trip – had to be careful with uneven trails and obstacles in the way. Felt fortunate that recovered from a slightly sprained ankle which I got over in a couple of days.

Moose Lake 62 miles.

My goal for the night was a campground at Willow River. Unfortunately they had closed the campground because of flooding. So had to dash off to Moose Lake 10 miles away for the next campground. It got dark and was out of internet range so even though I knew the campground was close had no clue where it was so found a spot off the bike path and stayed there for the night. To get in the tent quickly went in head first. Realized this was a bad decision when in the morning I quickly raised my head and broke one of the frame poles so had to use the tape to connect the two ends together.

Governor Knowles State Park in Wisconsin 55 miles.

With road construction in Taylor Falls tried a find a way to get to the Willard Munger trail without going too far out of the way. While the park was great to stay in the roads Google chose were largely gravel and parts softly packed going into the park and when leaving. Biking up a hill on a gravel road where you are slightly sinking in is a challenge. I noticed for the first time that one of the screws had fallen out of the bike rack. Picked up some strong tape so could create a sling to position the bike rack to where it would have been with the screw attaching the rack to the bike.

William O’Brien State Park 47 miles

My journey started on Wednesday afternoon later than originally planned. On Monday was going to take the bus to the Sierra Club to make phone calls. At the last minute there was another event wanted to go. To do both had to take my bike for the final ride before I left. When I was about five miles from home the crankshaft arm fell off my bike had to take the bus home, It is hard to pedal with only one pedal. Since it was a new bike the bike shop fixed it quickly on Wednesday so had time to leave for William O’Brien State Park for the first day of the journey. Once it was fixed able to hit the road and nothing unusual happened.

On average it rains 50% of the days on my bike tours but this time only had one day of biking in the rain. It did rain at night about three nights. The wind shifted several times and the times I really needed a tailwind to get to my destination I got one. Some days were in shorts and had to drink lots of liquids and have ice cream. Other days it was cool and at night or in the morning part of the ride had to put on a sweatshirt. To be on the road for 17 days and have cooperative weather made the trip much more enjoyable.