MN Mini-Tour: Day 2
Kenyon to Kasson, MN: 27 miles
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016
*Delayed transmission of photos means you get some of yesterday's in today's post.
This has been another perfect length day.
During Kenyon night,
We heard much rain,
Saw bright lightning,
Heard loud thunder.
This morning, rain continued.
As it diminished we dressed in rain gear,
Packed panniers and loaded bikes.
Having our funny hotel window view
Across roof and one big puddle,
Let us gauge if rain was actually less.
By time we left Kenyon hotel at nine-thirty,
No rain.
Heavy grey skies made for dark horizon.
Even with grey,
Plants, stubble, stalks, fields,
Sharply edged by rain bath.
Beautiful.
Rain has been so heavy in area,
Edges of roads swirl with rushing water,
Rivers overflowing banks,
Spreading across town parks.
Each stop we made,
Parting words for us were
"Stay dry."
And we did.
How lucky to have not needed raincoats
All during ride!
Lunch stop in Mantorville, MN,
At Old Schoolhouse Cafe.
How I wish I had remembered to take pictures!
Old maps on walls,
Chalkboard and old books.
Interior was bright with big windows,
Exterior set midst well-tended flower gardens,
Food delicious.
And....they had pie that was very good!
Even though I talk of seeking out pie on all my rides,
I've not had any for a couple of years.
This was perfect "Pie Reentry."
When I asked in Mantorville,
"Where is library?" Was told:
"Not one here—brand new one in Kasson.
Follow the four-mile bike trail to get there."
Wow!
Two outstanding parts of any bike trip,
Off-road bike trails and libraries,
Together in an answer to one question.
Of course,
We hung out in
One-month-old Kasson library.
Great new resource for area.
At three o'clock
Checked into our motel.
I've sent "view from room" picture—
Maybe ten days of motel room views will be interesting.
Very grateful to have traveled some roads with big shoulder,
Some small roads with little traffic,
Bike trail where we rode side by side,
All in safety.
Sending love to each,
Lin
Limerick:
So much rain has brought devastation,
To cropland and to vegetation.
There's no place to go,
Hence the water's wild flow,
Brings worry and much agitation.
Historic Mansion in Kenyon
The new library in Kasson, MN
Inside new library in Kasson, MN
Sign for Kenyon historic mansion
End-of-season cornfields outside of Kenyon.
Zumbro River overflowing its banks
Ditch beside highway turned rushing stream bed.
You can see how the river is raging in Mantorville, where we stopped today for lunch.
Unexpected find: this beautiful bike trail alongside the old highway enroute to Kasson.
View from our hotel room in Kasson, MN
Featured Sculpture at Kasson Public Library
