Taylor’s Falls to Red Wing, MN
A day of climbing up and down bluffs, sometimes long, twisting, steep climbs. Until 2 pm we had strong cross and headwinds; but then we had intermittent tailwinds. Even with the headwinds in the mix, we got in 89 miles, 8 of which were “bonus” miles, earned by speeding right past Hwy 63, our turn to Red Wing. The wind had shifted, so we had to fight our way the four miles back against it.
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| Taylor's falls DQ was the only restaurant open for a quick drink before heading for Red Wing |
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| As we criss-crossed the River, we were alternately in Minnesota and then in Wisconsin; could be confusing |
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| Another Twinkie photo when each of us had to pose with the same roadside kitsch; Bill did a better job with his photo than I did with mine |
On the way out of Stillwater, MN, we met Larry & Paul, two youngish guys who had bicycle toured all around the country and in Europe. They were going to try to make Red Wing. We were going to try for Diamond Bluffs about 14 miles from RW where our AC maps told us there was camping. However, when we got to Diamond Bluffs, we found no showers, so continued on toward RW to see what we could find.
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| Our first glimpse at the Mighty Mississippi |
About 3.5 miles from Red Wing, on the Wisconsin side of the River, we stopped at Mr. Sippi’s RV Park and Bar—an odd combo on a back piece of the river. Mr. River Rat, the white-bearded owner, let us put up our tents on the lawn by a side deck of the bar. Bathrooms and showers were in the back of the bar, but, fortunately, they were accessible by a back entrance so one didn’t need to walk through the bar area.
(It is now 1:55 am and Bill has just closed the bar. I have been privy to all the bar talk and music, though I fell asleep and didn’t wake until 1 am. Thus I am now continuing this post.)
At the bar/campground, Mr. Rat told us of a Jamaican place to eat on the other side of the bridge and about a mile away. After we were showered and cleaned up, we bicycled there. They were holding a reggae festival, but it was so overcast, cold, and threatening rain that everyone was in the restaurant/bar and not out on the river bank. They were broadcasting UB40, however, my favorite reggae group.
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| Bill mounting his new ride; had to abandon it though as his arms were not long enough |
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| Bill admonishing me to keep my fingerprints off his new ride |
Bill and I both had jerked chicken, rice and beans, veggies, and a couple of Red Stripe beers. Such a delicious change of pace. Just as we were finishing, in walked Paul & Larry. We talked to them for a bit before pedaling back to Mr Sippi’s.
Tomorrow more "rolling on the river . . ."
