10/7/2011 Wabasha to Hastings 94k, 4.5hrs, total 2138
Up early I felt a tad dodgey, lookin at the tent I had been sleeping ever so slightly with my head down slope.
We had a shelter alongside us, I made a brew and oats, all the while thunder was in the background slowly increasing in volume. I had my gear spread out on the tables.
Then from no where a front turned up with horizontal rain and squally wind. All my gear got misted in the shelter and my tarp nearly took off and the tent was levelled.
It was coming down. Owen was still in the nest, his tent handled it fine. A couple of lessons were learnt here, those being knock my tent pegs home and be weary of thunder. Up until now I have just pushed my pegs in by hand.
I made Owen a brew, he had no cooking gear, his bike also a surly LHT was lightly loaded compared to my rig. Not to mention I now had a wet tarp and tent on board.
We headed to a cafe in town, had a great breakfast and yarn over many coffees, it would have been good to have spent a couple of days on the road together. He was heading south before turning east to avoid Chicago.
We parted company swapping contact info. I headed to the Nat. Eagle Centre for a browse. By now the sun was out and it was sticky. Here was an opportunity to dry the tent and tarp. The steps at the centre would suffice.
I then went to the interactive talk on eagles in an auditorium and fell asleep after 10 minutes. Shit it cost me eight bucks. Oh well.
I got a couple of pics taken with these brilliant inventions of nature. My goal for the day was up river on the MN side to Hastings.
At Lake city I hit a wall and needed food. Those big rides do take their toll when you have to back it up.
The local supermarket had fried chicken and coffee, both were consumed in the seat of a gopher on the premises. A cool guy came up to me and said how you bro? Bloody hungry I replied, Long as you takin’ care of business, he continued. I laughed, he said, good chicken here, laughing, I agreed.
I also purchased bananas, nectarines, oranges and apples.
Highway 61 is one of those roads that exemplifies the US and freedom. This scenic highway links Duluth with the Gulf of Mexico. It comes with great sweeping bends, that dont require speed reduction, gentle long inclines and plenty of room for everyone. No passers by were going ridiculously fast, It was to much of a pleasure for that.
I had no choice so got the full benefit.
Following the passage of no more than 20 cars, a now familiar rumble would incease in volume from behind. Groups of guys with their girls would cruise by on their Harleys, not speeding but just soaking up this wonderful day for all it was worth. Helmets not worn, sunnys on, maybe a cloth bandanna, white tee shirts and hair blowin’ free.
Seeing this often made the hairs on my back stand up. This is a freedom unknown in Australia or New Zealand. This highway and its two points of origin can take one through the US heartland from end to end. These riders knew the feeling, in some respects we shared it. This known, waves were often exchanged.
The phrase “Born to Ride”, often heard in the same sentence as Harley Davidson, made a lot more sense now.
It was hot and steamy, a Mcdonalds at Red Wing provided cool air, wifi and unlimited cold drinks.
Owen was a stats kind of guy, he had read up on research on push bike helmets. His conclusion was, they are great in low impact incidents, drivers avoid riders without a helmet more than those with one and after all they are only polystyrene.
He didn’t have one with him. That’s all the info I needed to not wear mine. It’s great not having it on and not having to muck round with it at stops. Although I will don it within city limits.
I had decided to get a motel at Hastings. I have spent 7 nights or more in the tent. I just felt like it.
I nice guy Dean. Who lived in Hastings. Who was out for a ride, rode with me for the last 7 miles to Hastings. He told me about motels in town and we generally talked about our respective lives. It was another enjoyable end to a day.
At this point I have covered some 2000k and am not out of Minnesota. Shit talk about being side tracked. I now know I need to be in Memphis about the 5 September to meet Leon. Last time I checked it was only 30 miles a day, all good.
Staying in Hastings was comfortable at the Regency Inn, on the south side, $55/night with brekky, good value.
I had a kip soon after unpacking, then stayed up till 3am, just didn’t feel tired.
Tomorrow I had to get back to La Crescent or La crosse to continue down stream. Those little guys with me had no idea they would get to go upstream.
Up early I felt a tad dodgey, lookin at the tent I had been sleeping ever so slightly with my head down slope.
We had a shelter alongside us, I made a brew and oats, all the while thunder was in the background slowly increasing in volume. I had my gear spread out on the tables.
Then from no where a front turned up with horizontal rain and squally wind. All my gear got misted in the shelter and my tarp nearly took off and the tent was levelled.
It was coming down. Owen was still in the nest, his tent handled it fine. A couple of lessons were learnt here, those being knock my tent pegs home and be weary of thunder. Up until now I have just pushed my pegs in by hand.
I made Owen a brew, he had no cooking gear, his bike also a surly LHT was lightly loaded compared to my rig. Not to mention I now had a wet tarp and tent on board.
We headed to a cafe in town, had a great breakfast and yarn over many coffees, it would have been good to have spent a couple of days on the road together. He was heading south before turning east to avoid Chicago.
We parted company swapping contact info. I headed to the Nat. Eagle Centre for a browse. By now the sun was out and it was sticky. Here was an opportunity to dry the tent and tarp. The steps at the centre would suffice.
I then went to the interactive talk on eagles in an auditorium and fell asleep after 10 minutes. Shit it cost me eight bucks. Oh well.
I got a couple of pics taken with these brilliant inventions of nature. My goal for the day was up river on the MN side to Hastings.
At Lake city I hit a wall and needed food. Those big rides do take their toll when you have to back it up.
The local supermarket had fried chicken and coffee, both were consumed in the seat of a gopher on the premises. A cool guy came up to me and said how you bro? Bloody hungry I replied, Long as you takin’ care of business, he continued. I laughed, he said, good chicken here, laughing, I agreed.
I also purchased bananas, nectarines, oranges and apples.
Highway 61 is one of those roads that exemplifies the US and freedom. This scenic highway links Duluth with the Gulf of Mexico. It comes with great sweeping bends, that dont require speed reduction, gentle long inclines and plenty of room for everyone. No passers by were going ridiculously fast, It was to much of a pleasure for that.
I had no choice so got the full benefit.
Following the passage of no more than 20 cars, a now familiar rumble would incease in volume from behind. Groups of guys with their girls would cruise by on their Harleys, not speeding but just soaking up this wonderful day for all it was worth. Helmets not worn, sunnys on, maybe a cloth bandanna, white tee shirts and hair blowin’ free.
Seeing this often made the hairs on my back stand up. This is a freedom unknown in Australia or New Zealand. This highway and its two points of origin can take one through the US heartland from end to end. These riders knew the feeling, in some respects we shared it. This known, waves were often exchanged.
The phrase “Born to Ride”, often heard in the same sentence as Harley Davidson, made a lot more sense now.
It was hot and steamy, a Mcdonalds at Red Wing provided cool air, wifi and unlimited cold drinks.
Owen was a stats kind of guy, he had read up on research on push bike helmets. His conclusion was, they are great in low impact incidents, drivers avoid riders without a helmet more than those with one and after all they are only polystyrene.
He didn’t have one with him. That’s all the info I needed to not wear mine. It’s great not having it on and not having to muck round with it at stops. Although I will don it within city limits.
I had decided to get a motel at Hastings. I have spent 7 nights or more in the tent. I just felt like it.
I nice guy Dean. Who lived in Hastings. Who was out for a ride, rode with me for the last 7 miles to Hastings. He told me about motels in town and we generally talked about our respective lives. It was another enjoyable end to a day.
At this point I have covered some 2000k and am not out of Minnesota. Shit talk about being side tracked. I now know I need to be in Memphis about the 5 September to meet Leon. Last time I checked it was only 30 miles a day, all good.
Staying in Hastings was comfortable at the Regency Inn, on the south side, $55/night with brekky, good value.
I had a kip soon after unpacking, then stayed up till 3am, just didn’t feel tired.
Tomorrow I had to get back to La Crescent or La crosse to continue down stream. Those little guys with me had no idea they would get to go upstream.