Thanks for the several comments I've received from those of you who've taken the time to read my occasional posts.

Retirement is going very well at this point. I'm putting myself in some different places to see what I might like to do when I grow up. In order to walk you have to put yourself off balance. In order to grow you have to do the same. It has been interesting walking into a room full of people where I don't know a soul and making contacts. This has really be fun, making new contacts and meeting people I've never had a chance to meet before that share common interests.

I attended the Wisconsin Bicycle Summit last week in Madison. This was the first advocacy meeting of the Bicycle Fed and it was attended by 450 people on 5 weeks notice. The evening was quite inspiring and it seems from the Facebook (yes I'm on Facebook) communications that the group will go places on the advocacy front. Tuesday was spent going to legislative offices.

I've been able to do some rides locally but I won't bore you with the details. I'm preparing for the tri state tour in June. If you're interested you can check it out. www.shuttleguytours.com. I'm also making a concerted effort not to use my car around town unless absolutely necessary. There is no reason I can't walk downtown (15-20 minytes). After all, I'm retired. What do I have to hurry for.

I've also been attending some meetings of the Milwaukee Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Once again I'm trying to see what might percolate up in my life in which I would like to invest my time and energy. There do seem to be many possibilities.

I certainly have not been bored. I feel relaxed and friends say retirement seems to agree with me. It is quite different ordering my day on my own rhythm. I'm not sure I want to give that up yet.

Today was quite a surprise. It was warm and sunny. We did a hike at Table Rock Lake State Park, had lunch in a small town outside Branson, drove through some beautiful hill country (glad I wasn't on a bike) and saw an Imax on Van Gogh and a small walk in a Nature Conservancy overlooking Branson in the evening.

Little Rock to Branson, MO.
Rain again as we left Little Rock at 10a. We stopped to get gas and Subway for lunch about 20 miles away. Then we continued to drive to Tyler Bend Visitors Center in the Buffalo National River Park. The River (150 miles) is excellent for camping, hiking, canoeing and kiaking. We had our lunch in the rain in a picnic shelter near the river.

We continued to drive to Harrison where we took a break in a Super Walmart. Walmart is a hometown favorite in Arkansas. We felt we were in a different world. Everyone looked like they had had a hard life. There were few smiles on the faces of the patrons. It was very crowded so that is what you do on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

On to Branson where Gwen (our GPS voice) guided us to our motel and then to dinner at a Buffet. Although the trip was only about 170 miles it felt as long as yesterday.

Once again at the buffet, we knew were were not in Wisconsin. Of the 10 or so meat items, 8 were fried. A pork tenderloin and baked chicken were the non-fried entrees. Everything seemed to be loaded with calories and fat, including the people. Families of overweight people piled it on at the buffet. Good break pudding for a surprise.

Next we took a brief walk until the sidewalk ended and then we drove to the Branson Landing which is a newer shopping area. This open concept has a nice main street with no cars. There are fountains with dancing waters. The area seemed crowded but with more upscale shoppers. Chain restaurants and shops abound in this area. A nice phone call from Steve recapped the day. As we drove past the theaters we couldn't believe all the people. This area appears recession proof with most parking lots boasting a full compliment of cars. This is the slow season with many shows not beginning until April but there was an abundance of people to fill the seats that were available. I would describe the whole area as the Wisconsin Dels on steroids. Many go kart tracks, water slides and miniature golf courses broke up the array of theaters. This is a family friendly town. Perhaps is it like Las Vegas without the gambling. You have to like country to be here very long.

I look forward a trip to Table Rock Dam tomorrow if the expected rain holds off long enough.

I'm sitting in the Ford dealership in Biloxi, MS waiting for a new alternator to be installed in our car. Of course, the warranty has expired by just a few thousand miles so the $666 will be all ours. The waiting room TV is telling about a barge that ran into the Popps Ferry Bridge. Everyone has there difficulties.

Yesterday was one of the more confusing days. I spent sometime cleaning the tool shed which was interesting considering that I was organizing for someone else. We joined a tour of some of the sites that Back Bay Mission is working with. After lunch we were to assist with unloading some food but when we arrived we found out that they amount was less than expected and the unloading had been completed. After sometime organizing some of the clothing we left for the day. We had dinner with the Rowles at a local restaurant on one one of the back waters in Gulfport. Lots of local color and an alligator in the bay with fish jumping out of the water. A nice way to end the day.

The car should be fixed within an hour from now and then we will be heading to Little Rock. The car is basically packed so all I have to do is pick up Marcia and the Seashore Methodist Assembly. This is an inconvenience in the trip but nothing major except the expense.

It was a very long day's drive to Little Rock. We got started about 10a and got to Little Rock about 7:30p. Arkansas is very flat but the drive north of Biloxi was very beautiful. The day was beautiful with a full sun all day. 360 miles is no further than the drive to Steve & Sarah's house in Minnesota but it just seem longer because we were on some back roads some of the time. A wonderful Italian dinner and a glass of wine helped sooth out the trip.

That's what we were yesterday at Back Bay Mission. Due to an abundance of volunteers at the rehabilitation projects, Marcia and I spend the day doing some projects around the mission itself. There was a small forrest growing out of the gutters and bushes obscured the sign. No longer.

We had a picnic lunch by the water and a nice dinner with Shari Prestemon. We walked through one of the casinos but didn't find anything interesting. The smoke smell is almost overwhelming.

Beautiful weather here in the low 80s. Today much of the same is predicted with a cold front (70s) due tomorrow when we leave.

We're having fun and definitely getting away from the day to day of normal life.

Sun at last. We started today with a walk on the beach. What a wonderful experience to be able to wear shorts and walk on the sand.

Today we worked again in the food pantry and I talked with the project leader for the new day center that is being constructed. It seems that even this new building with all the testing they did on the subsoil is settling. They are doing weekly readings to monitor the situation since they say that 90% of the weight of the building is already in place.

Shari gave a meet and greet that they do every Tuesday afternoon when there are work camps. She outlined the cooperative housing venture that they are just beginning for affordable housing. The need is so great. Some parts of Biloxi will never come back to what they were since the homes were largely rental homes occupied by people who didn't have much to begin with. The houses are not profitable to rebuild as rentals.

I did take the opportunity today to attend Rotary. The meeting was well run and the program was the dean of a leadership initiative at Mississippi State. The University has established three leadership programs and they are seeing a definite improvement in the quality of students. One program is for high school seniors the summer prior to entering college, one is for freshmen who live in the same dorm and have leadership building exercises throughout the year and the third program is for upperclassmen who mentor other students. The leader was really excited about what is being accomplished by taking students, some of whom may be at risk, and encouraging them to make the most of their lives. I sat next to a retired audiologist who came to the area 40 years ago. Also at the table were a couple of real estate agents, a financial planner, retired general from the Air Force who is running for city council and a human resources person. Interesting table discussion about local issues. This was a high powered club.

Marcia went to P.E.O. Tonight with Jennifer Rhodes and I had dinner with her husband Tim. They are volunteering here for 2 months. Jennifer works in the office and Tim does construction organization. He was an industrial arts teacher and retired 3 years ago. They live in Canton, OH. Nice people and I had a different tour of Biloxi from Tim.

We were not disappointed today when it started to rain again. It has let up for now and hopefully will be the last for several days.

Marcia and I volunteered at the Back Bay Mission Food Pantry this afternoon. Due to some illness, they were not quite ready for us this morning. They also have quite a number of other volunteers at a work came and a number of college students from United Way volunteering also. We did work in the food pantry this afternoon making bags of food to be distributed so staff will not have to make up bags each time someone is in need. We organized shelves and moved supplies.

We're not exactly sure what tomorrow will bring but after-all, we have the time and a very loose agenda.

We did meet a couple who are doing long term volunteer work at Back Bay. They've been coming down for a couple of months for several years, volunteering as a construction organizer and receptionist.

The work has changed since Katrina at Back Bay. Prior to the hurricane they were usually doing paint up and fix up projects. Now they are doing more actual construction and renovation. There is still a great need with many homeless as well.

OK, I'm tired of rain. It has rained every day since we left St. Louis a week ago. I'm tired of people saying we really needed the rain. I'm tired of taking beautiful pictures of flowers with beautiful rain drops on the petals. Last night was a wonderful dinner with Nanc punctuated with a deluge before, during and after dinner. Surprisingly, we haven't had to drive excessively in the rain but all the showers are beginning to run together.

Wednesday we stopped at Clarksdale and toured the Blues Museum in the rain.

Natchez on Thursday was beautiful in the rain. We had excellent bread pudding at the Magnolia Grill. At “Biscuits and Blues”, for dinner we had another bread pudding. We were able to walk around town with minimal interruption from raindrops. We took in a play “Southern Exposure,” which was a parody on the “pilgrimage” that is conducted twice a year. During the “pilgrimage” the homes are open for people to tour. It is interesting having strangers walk through your house and commenting as well as stealing your belongings.

Friday on the way to Baton Rouge, we stopped at St. Francisville. We ate at the Magnolia Cafe, where I ate on the bike ride two years ago. They also have a delicious bread pudding. (you can probably catch a theme here.) Once again, we dodged the raindrops. The cemetery was beautiful in the rain.

We've not had to curtail much activity during the rains. Saturday, we went to the Louisiana State Museum which is a hidden gem located in downtown Baton Rouge. We came away with a much better appreciation for all the cultural, ethnic, natural and economic diversity of the state. The state capital was also beautiful in the rain and I have the Mississippi River pictures to prove it. We walked through the Blue Bonnet Nature Preserve in the rain. It is spooky walking through the swamp in the rain almost something out of a scary movie. Not a lot of animals about in the rain.

Shortly after we arrived in Biloxi today it began to rain again. At least the temperature is relatively warm so the rain is more tolerable. If we don't float away, we should be finished with the rain tomorrow. Our accommodations are in a motel type unit located right on the gulf in a Methodist Assembly. The Back Bay Mission was full in their volunteer accommodations so we are in the overflow facility nearby operated by the Methodist Church. The Methodist Assembly does have quite a group of volunteer college students here for the week doing volunteer work as an alternative spring break.

Now for 5 days we don't have to unpack and drive anywhere of significant distance. I'm looking forward to being in one place.

Today started at 3:45a when the alarm went off in the hotel. Someone over did it in the fitness center, burning more than calories, so we walked down from the 12th floor. After about 1/2 hr we returned. Fortunately, we could take the elevator back to the room.

We splurged for breakfast and left in the rain. The temperature had been 72 when we went to bed and was 43 when we awoke (the second time).

We traveled a long day to Natchez. First stop was in Clarksdale, MS at the Blues Museum. The displays were quite well done and you get a good view of life in the "Delta" region. This area is not to be confused with the Mississippi River Delta south of New Orleans. The whole area gave birth to this style of music and the heroes of the were characterized. Every year there is a Blues Festival in Clarksdale.

We shared lunch at the Dutch Mill where the highlight was a cherry lime aide.

We traveled through Vicksburg rather quickly since we did want to make it to Natchez and travel along part of the Natchez Trace (Trail). We did stop for a quick bite to eat in a restaurant. The Strawberry Lemonade took over twenty minutes to prepare. (I think they sent out for strawberries from Brazil.) We split another dinner so we left content but not stuffed.

The drive along the Natchez Trace was everything I remembered from two years ago except that it was overcast and slightly raining this trip.

We've had a few good meals and beautiful weather as we toured a number of places in Memphis. We had fun going to the National Ornamental Metal Museum which was quite artistic and had a beautiful view of the Mississippi River. We've seen the National Civil Rights Museum, the Pink Palace (with Imax, the Cotton Museum, a Nature Preserve not to mention the good food on Beale Street. There were many chances to try out the new camera as seen in the pictures included here. Of course, tomorrow it will turn cold and rainy (a more typical Yochum vacation). This morning was spent at the auto dealer's checking out a warning light on the car. They couldn't find anything wrong and we hope they were correct.

The first week of retirement was busy getting ready for family visitors.

The second week was spend caring for my mother who ended up in the ICU of our local hospital.

The third week was spend taking over my mothers affairs and visiting her in the Health and Rehabilitation Center of Fairhaven. I sure am thankful that there are such wonderful caring people who will look after her while we are gone.

The fourth week of retirement was spend assisting our son and daughter-in-law with caring for their 6 month old daughter in Minnesota.

Now we are preparing getting ready to travel to St. Louis for a Council for Health and Human Services Annual Meeting and then three weeks of real retirement travel including one week volunteering at Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS.

If we can stay healthy, this will be our first trip where we don't have everything planned and our time is very flexible. A new experience not to be on a time schedule. Sounds like fun. The hiking boots and poles are packed.

Current Location: Whitewater, WI

Tomorrow is the last day. I'm almost overwhelmed at the tasks and that's just cleaning out the office. I've been slowly moving things out for the last several weeks but that process came to a halt when Paul, the new ED, came last week. Now I have to begin again. It is surprising what I've stuffed in my top center drawer and forgotten that it was there. I've come across stamps, personal notes and an abundance of pens that I didn't know that I had. We all have rooms that we throw things into when company comes. That's what my center drawer is like. Now I have to have it cleaned out so Paul can start throwing things that he will find years from now.

I'd like to think that I was neater than I am but life comes at you fast sometimes and neatness becomes a luxury. There is a lesson on accumulating stuff in this process but I've been very slow to learn it.

That's how long until I am no longer in the office at Fairhaven. I do walk through the facility remembering things that happened in various locations. There have been quite a few memorable events.

I have reviewed some decisions. There were certainly some good ones but there were a few that I wish I had to do over. We really need more do-overs in life so that we can apply what we have learned to those situations in which we learned them. Life would certianly be different if when we knew we had made a wrong decision we could hold up our hand a declare a do-over. Some would have their hands up all the time. Others wouldn't know that there had been a bad decision until many years had passed. (I'm sure in 20 years someone will be asking themselves, "Why did Yochum ever do that?".

Last Sunday at the Annual Memorial Service I talked about the ripple effect that the wake from a motor boat has upon the shore long after the boat has disappeared from view. We never know where or when that ripple will hit the shore or what effect it will have. I guess that is why we must be cognizant that our lives to impact others all the time.

Well, three more days to clean out the desk, take down the pictures and allow the office to be transformed into someone else's home away from home. We are all temporary anyway and any space we have is only for a brief period. We don't own it, we only borrow it for a time.

I am starting to look to things I might not ordinarily do. I plan on attending a music concert by Beatrix Jar, a duo that releases music from electronic devices. Steve, my son, sent me a link by accident and I was intrigued by their music. Its not my genre but I feel the need to step outside my comfortable box and explore something new. After-all, why have the freedom of time in retirement, if I only do the familiar. There is so much of life to explore.

Current Location: Whitewater, WI
Current Mood: anxious

Just a couple of notes about what has been happening in my life.

Tomorrow at Fairhaven we will announce that I will finally have a firm date for my retirement. Paul Keunning from Cedar Grove, IA will begin as Executive Director on January 19, 2009. Paul has an extensive background in not-for-profit retirement communities and we are excited about his coming. I will overlap with him for about 2 weeks and then be available through February but not in the office on a daily basis. My last day should be at the end if February. (of course my Board of Directors must agree to this on Thursday but the Personnel Committee has approved.) Marcia and I do plan on attending the Council for Health and Human Services meeting in St. Louis the first weekend in March and then head south. (We don't know just where yet.) I am on the Board for CHHSM through 2010.

The only thing we have definitely planned is a trip to Colorado in Sept. for Labor Day hiking and general travel.

While I can say that I have been nervous about this move, I am looking forward to it especially as we have had some very nice days in October and November and I wish I had the time to bike during the day.

Rotator Cuff surgery is mostly healed. I would say I have about 98% of my functioning. I only notice a little rise in my shoulder when I do front raises with weights. I have no pain and don't even think about it any more. Its been that way since October. A woman in our church had the surgery about 3 weeks prior to mine and we both had the same Occupational Therapist. We both missed talking with her so we took her out to lunch a couple of weeks ago. We do get attached to the people who come across our lives. (I did call her the Goddess of Pain, however, she was excellent at pushing me gently and making sure that I had the best range of motion that I could obtain. I am very indebted to her skill.)

I went to my 45th high school class reunion on Nov. 1 in Pennsauken, NJ. This was the first reunion that I had attended and I was very glad that I went. It was good to see old friends some of which I hadn't seen since graduation 45 years ago. Mostly, it was good to be seen as an adult and not the awkward kid that I imagined myself to be. Some of my classmates have change considerably but many still have the same warmth that they had back then. Thanks for affirming me during that memorable evening.

Recovery has been slow and steady from the Rotator Cuff surgery. I tell people that every three days I am better than the last three days. I was out of work for 2 weeks and for 3 weeks very dependent on my wonderful wife, Marcia, to take care of me. It is a lesson in grace to not be able to do things for yourself. That's a topic for a sermon sometime.

I won't go into lots of details but I did have two tears instead of one and one was some repair on the bicep. That has made recovery slow since the muscle is shorter than it was before.

I am now still in the active assisted range of motion stage which means no weight training. Hopefully that will end next week just as we leave for Alaska next Thursday.

My OT has been great at encouraging me when I have been impatient with my progress, which has been most days. I've tried not to over extend myself as I don't want to undo the progress I've made. Pain is a warning but also an indication that progress is being made. Progress is often noted in small personal gains when I could put deodorant with my left hand by reaching to my right arm pit. I almost shouted for joy at that small milestone. Yesterday I found that I could put my left arm on the window of my jeep. I'm not ready to go through the drive thru yet but perhaps in another week.

I did have word from biking friends about the ride that I had to give up. It was great at least traveling through NW Wisconsin vicariously. Next year I'll be back. Hopefully, I'll be riding in Sept. (At least that's my goal for now.)

Current Location: Whitewater
Current Mood: optimistic

Last February I fell outside my back door on the ice. I crawled into the house in pain from my left shoulder. After a long rest, a visit to my friendly family physician, more rest, Physical Therapy, more rest and then a visit to the Orthopedist, I will be having surgery on Friday for a torn rotator cuff. At least that is what he expects the MRI that I had today to confirm. The real bummer is that I won't be doing as much biking as I planned and will have to cancel out of the Northwoods trip in July. Having the surgery now also means that there's a very good chance I can hold my first grandchild in September without a sling and will a little strength.

I'll try to write occasionally about the surgery but I won't have my left arm for sometime. I've also been told that I won't be responsible for anything for several days if I keep up the pain medications. My physician told me in the pre-op physical that much depends upon my rehab and if I do what I'm told, not overstressing and not understressing.

Yesterday Marcia and I went for a long walk in the Kettle Moraine. Spring is finally coming to Wisconsin and it was so good to walk in the woods. We won't be doing that for a few weeks I fear. Today I went to the fitness center to do a little cardio and weights that won't hurt the shoulder. I did really get into it.

Last year I had 9 months to prepare for the bike ride that lasted a month. Now I have less than a week for recuperation that will last over twice as long. I guess we all have to be prepared for things to happen at the last moment. These things become "inconvenient" as we say at Fairhaven. Life does go on.

Last week a former employee was driving home from work and a drunk driver hit her. She is now in a coma. Life changes for all of us very quickly. We just have to live with that in the back of our being and live before each other and God so that we can deal with the changes life brings. That's were our faith meets life.

I've been using a light meditation that I used to do with pre-surgery members of my congregations. Picturing light bathing the surgical area got me through the MRI today. I never opened my eyes and the time passed quickly.

Current Location: Whitewater
Current Mood: anxious

OK it's only December 9th and already I'm thinking of the biking season next summer. The 4 degree temp this week may have something to do with that. Last night I signed up for the Northwoods Tour in Wisconsin from July 5-12.

Recumbent Bob says he will be coming from Florida. The other usual suspects from Wisconsin, Jo, Judy, Tom & Dorothy and Nanc from Louisiana will also be there. It will seem like old times. Hopefully we can be joined by some other members of the family for all or part of the ride.

I mapped out the ride from Ashland, WI to near Trempealeau, WI. It covers an area that I really haven't ridden except for the last day or so along the Mississippi River. I just can't get away from the river.

The weather has turned cold early this year and so the bike riding has been curtailed. I spend the time at the fitness center working on strength training and aerobic training. Trying to keep up the same type of training I did last year at this time seems like a good idea. I am stronger and find that I am using a little more weight on some of the exercises. Pretty good for 62.

I still find that many people think what I did last year was extraordinary. This always seems rather odd to me since I never have thought of myself as doing anything extraordinary in my entire life.

Current Location: Whitewater, WI

Just the other day I reflected to Marcia, "How did I do that ride?" It seems so far away and the training was so specific. Now I seem to be slowly gaining weight and certainly cannot keep up the intensity of training and conditioning. I miss that very much. Sometimes I feel I could get on the bike and ride into the sunset. The riding certainly has become an escape and coping mechanism for me.

June 8, 2007 Red Wing, MN to Minneapolis, MN  (Actually Eagan, MN)
61.6 miles - 5:56 hrs. riding time - 1,830 miles total trip 
10.3 mph Avg. speed 31.3 mph Maximum speed. 

Once again we began about 7:10 after a Senior breakfast at Perkins. Back across the same bridge I walked yesterday only this time I rode it since the wind was a little more predictable. We had a fairly steady 20 mph head wind through out the day. The hills were long and steep just like at the conclusion of yesterday. With the wind, it became more tedious to climb but I kept putting one food over the other and soon I was at the top. Descents were also a little tricky, just like yesterday because the wind would shift as the road turned.

 

The only major town along the road to to Minneapolis was Prescott, WI. After a long descent, we crossed the St. Croix River into Minnesota. There was a very nice park for our only SAG stop of the day. A banana and peanut butter really tasted good. The water of the St. Croix looked so clear and inviting although the wind and the mid 60's temperature kept us from taking a dip.

 On up some more hills along a ridge line and then a turn west into the metro area. After crossing I 494 after Woodbury, our route was basically on the bicycle path through St. Paul and then south to Eagan, our final destination. As we rode along the path the wind became less of a hindrance, particularly as we turned south. The bike path was fairly easy to follow and I only missed one turn. Fortunately, others who were ahead of me also missed the turn and were retracing their route so I didn't have to follow their mistake.

We crossed over the Mississippi in St. Paul and on through the parks and wooded area that lines the bike path. After some interesting maneuvers we found ourselves along the Minnesota River and then up a ramp and next to I35E. (Yes, Minneapolis has an I 35E and and I 35W both going North and South. It is confusing.)

 Eagan has a wonderful bike path along the highways so we were able to ride that safe route into the motel. This was much better than in St. Louis where we came through the city to the downtown area. Fortunately, that trek was on a Sunday afternoon.

 Most of our good-byes were said the night before since once at the motel all energy is set in packing up bikes and making transportation arrangements. Marcia was at the motel to greet me with a noise maker and a balloon which got away from her before I came. The bike rack was easy to put together (we didn't have any parts left over) and after some further good-byes and a check of the parking area for anything left behind, Marcia and I were off to Steven and Sarah's in Minnetonka.

 

I guess I am rather tired since I went to the hot tub at the motel and laid down in a lounge chair only to find myself awakened by my snoring. At least I wasn't in the hot tub when I fell asleep.

We have a family celebration planned for tomorrow night.  More on the festivities.  Now for some real rest when I don't have to get up at 5:30 a.m and get packed for another day of riding.

June 7, 2007 - La Crosse, WI to Redwing, MN 
100 miles (98.7 taking the bike path from La Crosse)  7:39 riding time. 
Avg. speed 12.8  Max. Speed 32.5 
Total Mileage on the trip 1768.6

 This was a very long day with tail wind to start and a cross wind to finish.  We've just had our farewell dinner and I am tired and going to bed shortly.  I'll post details of today's ride when I get a chance tomorrow or Saturday when I get a chance.

 Posted June 8, 2007

Our day started on a sad note that Bob, my fellow recumbent rider, would not be able to finish the ride.  He slid on some gravel coming into a SAG stop yesterday and sustained some serious injuries.  I deeply missed him these last two days as we often rode close together much of the time with him out in front.  It is always comforting to know that someone else is coming to those turns first.

The day started calm enough over the bike path through Trempealeau on to Marshland. This was a wonderful excursion through the marsh areas and the tree lined path. We were then routed on to Hwy 35 up the Wisconsin side of the river. We had a SAG stop just after Marshland.

The route passed many small towns including Fountain City, Cochrane, Alma and Nelson where we had our second SAG stop for the day. We had been riding in overcast skies up until Nelson and I took off my long sleeved shirt thinking that we would have clouds for the rest of the day. Just after leaving Nelson, the clouds broke and the sun was shining for the rest of the day although there was threatening weather about. Next we rode along Lake Pepin including a quick stop in the town of Pepin to visit the Laura Ingles Wilder museum and gift shop. I could have stopped for lunch there but decided to put some more miles on the route before stopping. There were threatening clouds up ahead and I wanted to be as far north as possible prior to any rain. Besides, a café in Stockholm has come highly recommended.

 

Wonderful lunch in Stockholm, WI.  I do recommend the Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich. The Bogus Creek Cafe makes their bread daily and with a root beer on a hot day, I thought I was in heaven. Because of threatening weather, I continued on but as I rode the threatening clouds behind seemed to head off in an easterly direction and the storm ahead had also moved on. We learned that night that there had been serious weather around us but the little group I was with managed to dodge the storms.

 

Now was the long climb of the day from the town of Maiden Rock and then a descent into Bay City. Both were challenging because of the significant cross winds. While ascending the wind seemed to disappear because of the shelter of the trees. On the descent the wind came up the side of the hill and kept changing direction causing the bike to behave rather erratically. After Bay City there was a long flat stretch past the Red Wing Airport. This proved equally challenging almost blowing me off the road at one point.

 I walked across the bridge into Redwing because of high winds.  The fairing on my bike catches cross winds.  While it is wonderful in a head wind or a tail wind it is rather tricky in a strong (35 mph) cross wind. We were routed through the down town and then to the river where grain barges were being loaded. This was interesting to see but the road was very rough and busy and not at all ideal for bikes. The motel was exceedingly difficult to find since the cue sheet said to turn right and the motel was down the hill on the left.

 

A quick shower and then a walk across the street to one of the local bars was in order after the difficulties of the day. Marcia joined the group also after a frustrating time asking directions from 4 people to find the motel. Did I say it was difficult to find? We have learned never to ask local people for directions unless confirmed by at least three corroborating stories.

 At night we had a wonderful dinner and our farewell testimonials and certificates. We all got a pair of American By Bicycle socks. Quite snazzy for our next ride.

Current Location: Redwing, MN