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June 10, 1999
Click on thumbnail to
see full photograph
(photo lost in transfer - coming soon) |
I rode in the rain to Bemidji on the morning of June 10 for
breakfast and the mandatory photo of the giant statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe. (Photo 71)
I had breakfast at the Coachman Café - delicious. For all of $5, I got three large
hotcakes, three eggs, three slices of bacon and a large order of hashbrowns - enough to
last until late afternoon. |
That afternoon, I rode to Itasca
Lake State Park. As well as being the headwaters of the Mississippi River, it’s just
a beautiful State Park. Lots to see and do, and very bike friendly – a five-mile long
paved trail, complete with center stripe and "highway" signs. From the journal
(ala Lewis and Clark) of Gary and B.O.B (Big Old Bike): "At nineteen
minutes after three o’clock, I started alone across the mighty Mississippi River.
Shoes and camera safely on-shore, I tested the waters, then moved on. At 25 seconds after
nineteen minutes after three o’clock, I safely reached the other shore, with nothing
worse than wet knees." Alas, B.O.B was not there to witness this event, as he had to
stay in the parking lot. |
Click on thumbnail to see full
photograph
 |
Click on thumbnail to see full
photograph
 |
I got rained on three times this day, the last
of which ended about 6:30 at a Township Park not far from Lake Itasca. I still had 35
miles to go to my objective (Mahnomen) which was the next town that had anyplace to stay.
I thought about staying under the shelter at the Township Park, but the weather looked
better in the west, so I headed out. I arrived to a beautiful sunset about 9:15 and
selected a cheap motel instead of an expensive campground. |
  
  
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(Great
Adventures to Scenic Places)
