02/07/11 Royalton to Sauk Rapids, St Cloud 46km
I arose at first light, checked my surroundings within the tent and emerged to a perfect day, the storm had cleared and cooled the air. The river was doing what it always has, it,s amazing how fast it flows in silence.
Panchetta had been in my bags for 2 days in the heat, it needed to be eaten. So broccili, snow peas, garlic, ginger, a liberal dose of chilli flakes and canned peas with added pasta was sorted in the wok.
Given the cost of the panchetta ($6) and the other ingredients, buying breakfast is cheaper. It’s just a shame it’s not ultra healthy
A filling brekky was just the requirement, Dale was impressed. Soon everyone else arose I had the fire purring while Dale made a coffe. He had some white fuel in bulk so I bought a bit off him as it’s hard to buy in 1 litre containers.
Following a chat around the fire I thought about my next destination and announced my intentions of heading off. An enjoyable evening had been experienced.
Crossing the river, the GRR took me down stream on the west bank. Such good riding in this best of Coffs Harbour days, Minnesota style.
The terrain was flat with corn and potato crop roadside. Irrigators were in most paddocks.
A farmer was inspecting his potato crop, a break was needed so I parked up and crossed the road to say hi. Nice guy, he said they were in for a good crop, given the number of tubers retrieved from the plant he had lifted. He was lucky that storm yesterday had produced 2 inch hail stones nearby.
The soil was a sandy loam, extremely friable with no clay present. The result of the rivers’ ability to move soil at ease over millennia. It needed irrigating he said. The land was worth $5000/acre at best. Not bad value I said. Bearing in mind the establishment costs of one of the irrigators, you wouldn’t want to pay more was his reply. Water by way of a 90’ bore quenches their thirst at no cost other than an annual token fee.
He gave me a few fresh potatoes, we shook hands and continued our respective time fillers.
By now Sauk Rapids and St Cloud were not far off. A good shoulder was utilized with bike signs about. In another world just rolling along, a voice alongside was heard. It belonged to a female cyclist in perfect nick. She was in training for a tri, had done a 100 mile training ride yesterday, a cruise and a yarn suited her. We talked all the way to Sauk Rapids, where she gave me directions to a supermarket cafe that had the best coffee.
Yeah $2 and 5 coffees later in air con I am getting yesterdays entry sorted. Two couples at a table near me said they would watch my computer while I just checked on the bike.
On my return they enquired what I was up to. After an explaination, intros and another cup, Dave asked me if I would like to come and have tea with them and was welcome to pitch my tent in the rear yard in St Cloud. Elaine his wife told me she had hitched through Europe in her younger days and had stayed with any number of people at their homes. So she was obviously comfortable and familiar with this arrangement.
I humbly accepted their offer and motioned I would like to by some ingredients for tea to deaf ears. Anyway I needed to find an internet facility, so said I would see them about 1730hrs. Then went to Howies bar and completed publishing stuff on net in great surroundings, a bottomless 7up for $2 was bought and enjoyed. The bar girl would come by every 20 minutes and top me up. Now thats service, leaving a tip is done so with pleasure.
At Dave and Elaines I pitched the tent , they were getting the barbie sorted.Their daughter and husband joined us for tea with their chidren.
Dave showed me an 1860 Winchester rifle that his great grandfather owned about the time of the civil war. It was a priviledge to hold this iconic piece of history 151 years old. It was still in perfect working order. Brilliant design.
This is the classic wepon that when mass produced determined so many outcomes in the west. It was heavy. So taking out someone while riding a horse must have been one hell of a feat. Dave was saying the army sometimes had a ring half way along the barrel with a string connected to the saddle so they could move the rifle through this arc with some degree of accuracy. Show me how to stay on a horse first.
It was such an idyllic evening,in good company. Their house is located in a leafy suburb so familiar as a backdrop in many movies. In the back yard there are no fences and the neighbour 3 houses down could be observed. So different from paloing fences at home. The deciduous trees here are so lush providing dense shade.
Following tea I showered and Dave said lets go for a drive about the town. St Cloud uni has a name as a party uni, so consequently many kids from the Twin cities come up here for good times lightly spread with some study. The uni is known for producing teaching, engineering and businees grads. 15,000 students. We took in the good side of town, lovely homes with decidous trees everywhere accompanied by conifers. Alot of people here had made big money from granite extraction in the area.
We also drove past the Munsinger gardens, unreal flower garden that a guy planted for his wife to sit and looked at from her upstairs window. The gardens were across the road. His wife had MS and was totally incapcitated. The garden was later bequest to the city for all to enjoy.
I arose at first light, checked my surroundings within the tent and emerged to a perfect day, the storm had cleared and cooled the air. The river was doing what it always has, it,s amazing how fast it flows in silence.
Panchetta had been in my bags for 2 days in the heat, it needed to be eaten. So broccili, snow peas, garlic, ginger, a liberal dose of chilli flakes and canned peas with added pasta was sorted in the wok.
Given the cost of the panchetta ($6) and the other ingredients, buying breakfast is cheaper. It’s just a shame it’s not ultra healthy
A filling brekky was just the requirement, Dale was impressed. Soon everyone else arose I had the fire purring while Dale made a coffe. He had some white fuel in bulk so I bought a bit off him as it’s hard to buy in 1 litre containers.
Following a chat around the fire I thought about my next destination and announced my intentions of heading off. An enjoyable evening had been experienced.
Crossing the river, the GRR took me down stream on the west bank. Such good riding in this best of Coffs Harbour days, Minnesota style.
The terrain was flat with corn and potato crop roadside. Irrigators were in most paddocks.
A farmer was inspecting his potato crop, a break was needed so I parked up and crossed the road to say hi. Nice guy, he said they were in for a good crop, given the number of tubers retrieved from the plant he had lifted. He was lucky that storm yesterday had produced 2 inch hail stones nearby.
The soil was a sandy loam, extremely friable with no clay present. The result of the rivers’ ability to move soil at ease over millennia. It needed irrigating he said. The land was worth $5000/acre at best. Not bad value I said. Bearing in mind the establishment costs of one of the irrigators, you wouldn’t want to pay more was his reply. Water by way of a 90’ bore quenches their thirst at no cost other than an annual token fee.
He gave me a few fresh potatoes, we shook hands and continued our respective time fillers.
By now Sauk Rapids and St Cloud were not far off. A good shoulder was utilized with bike signs about. In another world just rolling along, a voice alongside was heard. It belonged to a female cyclist in perfect nick. She was in training for a tri, had done a 100 mile training ride yesterday, a cruise and a yarn suited her. We talked all the way to Sauk Rapids, where she gave me directions to a supermarket cafe that had the best coffee.
Yeah $2 and 5 coffees later in air con I am getting yesterdays entry sorted. Two couples at a table near me said they would watch my computer while I just checked on the bike.
On my return they enquired what I was up to. After an explaination, intros and another cup, Dave asked me if I would like to come and have tea with them and was welcome to pitch my tent in the rear yard in St Cloud. Elaine his wife told me she had hitched through Europe in her younger days and had stayed with any number of people at their homes. So she was obviously comfortable and familiar with this arrangement.
I humbly accepted their offer and motioned I would like to by some ingredients for tea to deaf ears. Anyway I needed to find an internet facility, so said I would see them about 1730hrs. Then went to Howies bar and completed publishing stuff on net in great surroundings, a bottomless 7up for $2 was bought and enjoyed. The bar girl would come by every 20 minutes and top me up. Now thats service, leaving a tip is done so with pleasure.
At Dave and Elaines I pitched the tent , they were getting the barbie sorted.Their daughter and husband joined us for tea with their chidren.
Dave showed me an 1860 Winchester rifle that his great grandfather owned about the time of the civil war. It was a priviledge to hold this iconic piece of history 151 years old. It was still in perfect working order. Brilliant design.
This is the classic wepon that when mass produced determined so many outcomes in the west. It was heavy. So taking out someone while riding a horse must have been one hell of a feat. Dave was saying the army sometimes had a ring half way along the barrel with a string connected to the saddle so they could move the rifle through this arc with some degree of accuracy. Show me how to stay on a horse first.
It was such an idyllic evening,in good company. Their house is located in a leafy suburb so familiar as a backdrop in many movies. In the back yard there are no fences and the neighbour 3 houses down could be observed. So different from paloing fences at home. The deciduous trees here are so lush providing dense shade.
Following tea I showered and Dave said lets go for a drive about the town. St Cloud uni has a name as a party uni, so consequently many kids from the Twin cities come up here for good times lightly spread with some study. The uni is known for producing teaching, engineering and businees grads. 15,000 students. We took in the good side of town, lovely homes with decidous trees everywhere accompanied by conifers. Alot of people here had made big money from granite extraction in the area.
We also drove past the Munsinger gardens, unreal flower garden that a guy planted for his wife to sit and looked at from her upstairs window. The gardens were across the road. His wife had MS and was totally incapcitated. The garden was later bequest to the city for all to enjoy.