 Wabasha suburbia, love the no fences bit  The view to a slough from levee.  Winona backwaters.  I will always have fond memories of Minnesota  main sreet Lansing, MR at end of street  on the wall at Red Barn Resort where I am camped. |
 levee riding north of Winona, MR on left  Just a showin' off  Not far from Iowa state line  Tent pitched under shelter Red Barn Camp area, Lansing |
12/07/2011, Wabasha to Lansing IA, 169km, 8hrs, Av.21.08km/hr, Total 2390
Sure enough morning rain greeted me at camp. Arising early I packed things beneath the shelter, at least no thunder was associated with this annoying little sprinkling.
I packed the tent beneath the tarp, a great idea as it remains dry. The tarp was then hung between two uprights in the shelter. The rain proved to be another tooth in the learning curve cog.
At about 0615hrs that same sound heard on the river the other evening here drifted though the air and to my pleasure here was in perfect light, a tug with a few barges doing an upstream push.
It was ironical that this sight should be presented at this time of day. It was as if the river wanted me to see this part of her at this point again. I stood riverside and felt the Mississippi aura envelop me.
Breakfast was broccoli, canned salmon, pasta, garlic, ginger and chilli for brekky and moved onto the supermarket and stocked up on the three fruits.
Riding to north of Winona on US 61, I then followed the guide book which got me off this highway, it was great to be following the book again as it took me through areas that typify life here for example family homes and grain loading facilities.
I stopped at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (stop here it’s well worth it) on the outskirts of Winona, riverside. They had works by Monet, Picasso among others.
I didn’t know Picasso was a maritime artist, however the one piece they had included a view of the Med out a window, nice con if they got government money to pay for this. Well done I thought. This was one of the paintings that I most appreciated along with some brilliant works by Tim Thompson potraying early Americas Cup races in the classic J Class boats, his use of light on water and cloth was captivating.
I had a good tail wind and it had been drizzling all morning but more importantly was a relief from the high temperatures, it was a lovely 23 degrees, who cared about the rain, moisture was a fact of life with this transport mode, whether it be rain or perspiration.
Finally I was on course to depart Minnesota, a state with memories that will always remind me of the generosity and goodwill of its people and its time of lushness, that is summer.
Bloody hell, over two thousand k’s, more than twice what the river cover on her way across it. Not regretting one metre of the travels, it was nice to cross the Iowa state line on highway 26. On the M side there was no shoulder. Racoons littered the road everytime thick woods were passed, once on the black top they were destined to be road kill if a vehicle was in their vicinity.
Crossing into IA, the highway had the most brilliant surface, no ice cracks and a shoulder that was wide and so smooth. These works had only recently been carried out as an improvement to The MRT.
Aririving at Lansing, IA, I had a look around at the late 1800’s architecture and decided this place had a nice feel about it. I asked a few locals where was the best place to dine and inevitably got into convos with them. I ended up at a great place with views down the main street to the M, Miltys is the name.
Two huge pork chops and buffet salad were ordered over a couple of beers and a yarn with mates at home via skype. The bar girl there Dana was really helpful telling me to camp at the Red Barn Resort and campground, arriving there the bar was entered and another beer consumed with much yarning and a booking secured.
This park was immaculate, a whole new shelter was avaliable to me so I set up camp beneath it,no morning dew, how good is that. Two nights here was on the cards.
Trashed after over 100 miles I hit the nest knowing rain was not going to bother me. Plans to visit an Amish community tomorrow were bounced around in my head, they soon lost momentum as did I.
Sure enough morning rain greeted me at camp. Arising early I packed things beneath the shelter, at least no thunder was associated with this annoying little sprinkling.
I packed the tent beneath the tarp, a great idea as it remains dry. The tarp was then hung between two uprights in the shelter. The rain proved to be another tooth in the learning curve cog.
At about 0615hrs that same sound heard on the river the other evening here drifted though the air and to my pleasure here was in perfect light, a tug with a few barges doing an upstream push.
It was ironical that this sight should be presented at this time of day. It was as if the river wanted me to see this part of her at this point again. I stood riverside and felt the Mississippi aura envelop me.
Breakfast was broccoli, canned salmon, pasta, garlic, ginger and chilli for brekky and moved onto the supermarket and stocked up on the three fruits.
Riding to north of Winona on US 61, I then followed the guide book which got me off this highway, it was great to be following the book again as it took me through areas that typify life here for example family homes and grain loading facilities.
I stopped at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (stop here it’s well worth it) on the outskirts of Winona, riverside. They had works by Monet, Picasso among others.
I didn’t know Picasso was a maritime artist, however the one piece they had included a view of the Med out a window, nice con if they got government money to pay for this. Well done I thought. This was one of the paintings that I most appreciated along with some brilliant works by Tim Thompson potraying early Americas Cup races in the classic J Class boats, his use of light on water and cloth was captivating.
I had a good tail wind and it had been drizzling all morning but more importantly was a relief from the high temperatures, it was a lovely 23 degrees, who cared about the rain, moisture was a fact of life with this transport mode, whether it be rain or perspiration.
Finally I was on course to depart Minnesota, a state with memories that will always remind me of the generosity and goodwill of its people and its time of lushness, that is summer.
Bloody hell, over two thousand k’s, more than twice what the river cover on her way across it. Not regretting one metre of the travels, it was nice to cross the Iowa state line on highway 26. On the M side there was no shoulder. Racoons littered the road everytime thick woods were passed, once on the black top they were destined to be road kill if a vehicle was in their vicinity.
Crossing into IA, the highway had the most brilliant surface, no ice cracks and a shoulder that was wide and so smooth. These works had only recently been carried out as an improvement to The MRT.
Aririving at Lansing, IA, I had a look around at the late 1800’s architecture and decided this place had a nice feel about it. I asked a few locals where was the best place to dine and inevitably got into convos with them. I ended up at a great place with views down the main street to the M, Miltys is the name.
Two huge pork chops and buffet salad were ordered over a couple of beers and a yarn with mates at home via skype. The bar girl there Dana was really helpful telling me to camp at the Red Barn Resort and campground, arriving there the bar was entered and another beer consumed with much yarning and a booking secured.
This park was immaculate, a whole new shelter was avaliable to me so I set up camp beneath it,no morning dew, how good is that. Two nights here was on the cards.
Trashed after over 100 miles I hit the nest knowing rain was not going to bother me. Plans to visit an Amish community tomorrow were bounced around in my head, they soon lost momentum as did I.
