Kasson to Austin, MN: 37 miles
Friday, September 23, 2016
Trip started with ten miles of
Heavy mist.
Visibility was getting low.
Each of us is easy to see as we ride—
Good lights on back of bikes,
High-viz color raincoats.
Bright front light on my bike,
Blinking red light attached to my helmet.
Still it was a relief
When back on road after snack spot:
Hayfield, MN grocery store,
To find mist dissipated.
Much easier for us to see.
Hayfield grocery store
Provided two bananas,
One V-8, one bottle cold coffee latte.
Clerk in charge let us sit
In vestibule on pile of 50 lb. bags
Water-softening salt.
Dry and protected.
Along small roads,
Low spots,
Evidence of yesterday's rain flood.
We passed through with no problems.
Arrived in Austin, MN about two p.m.
Along with Much Traffic.
Unnerving for last two miles to our motel.
That was unexpected.
Three weeks ago we visited Austin,
Found it quiet, quiet.
Maybe partly depends on which exit of Interstate 90
One is near—this one is busy.
Accquaintances Fred and Carolyn Bogott
Picked us up at motel for small tour.
First stop: amazing bicycle shop,
Almost bicycle museum.
Then to Austin Public Library,
About twenty years old,
With recent additions and improvements.
Many outstanding amenities:
Great children's area right up front,
Bright color, good lighting,
Lots of programs.
Had a very nice feel.
Austin, MN is home of Hormel Corporation,
Whose foundation funds
Civic needs and improvements.
Library showed this financial support.
Lovely visit with Carolyn and Fred.
Tomorrow, Fred will come to motel
With van, with bike rack.
He will ferry us to start of "Shooting Star Bicycle Trail,"
Since some portions of roads leading to trail
Now underwater or washed out.
We rode
Dry,
Safe,
Happy.
Another fine day in this adventure.
Hugs to all,
Lin
Inside Austin, MN public library
Supper time! The joy of eating is multiplied when on a bike road trip.
Biking South on City Rd. 16 into foggy mist
Bob decked out in today's required rain gear
Staying dry in the entryway of Hayfield Grocery Store
Our bikes: neatly bedded down for the night
Colorful Bob in front of today's motel
Lin with oh-so-helpful Fred and Carolyn Bogott
Bob catching up on email on motel computer
View from Motel Room: Day 3
Featured sculpture outside Austin library. Our little girl used to like to read on rocks, too!
Misty Mornings bring bright rain gear,
We want to be sure that our location is clear,
Clear to those who motor on by,
Looking for nothing but clear blue sky!
Enjoy your good food,
whether food for the body
or food for the soul,
Library and restaurants
are the best places to employ!
Thinking of you! Bev
Love your creativity, Bev! 🙂
We love your touring of local libraries as you move along. Whenever we have a chance to stop in at libraries when we travel we always find great people, a diversity of facilities and amenities, and creativity – true community resources.
We just returned from a 4 week trip to Alaska to visit our son and his family. We drove from the UP TO Bellingham, WA, took the Alaskan Marine Highway to Skagway and then drove on through Whitehorse to Anchorage, doing the reverse trip to get home. Lots of beautiful scenery.
Travel well –
John and Judy
How lovely to hear from you! We couldn’t do without all the local libraries: they really are a “friendly face” in any town for us. Your trip sounds marvelous! You no doubt saw some amazing sights. We will travel well and wish you more of the same!