July 16th: Long Prairie to Milaca, MN
Mile 32: The major change in scenery was larger farms, poultry farms (chicken and turkey), and more trees along the road.
July 16th Statistics – Long Prairie to Milaca, MN:
- Today’s Biking Distance – 78.4 miles
- Today’s Average Speed – 15.2 mph
- Today’s Time In Saddle – 5.2 hours
- Today Ascent – 1,201 feet
- Total Trip Biking Days – 25
- Total Trip Biking Distance – 1,981.4 miles
- Total Trip Average Biking Distance/Day – 79.3 miles
- Total Trip Ascent – 57,038 feet
Almost a repeat of yesterday – I began biking about 6:30 am (while everyone else went to breakfast) as the forecast was for high(er) temperatures and humidity and we had a long ride (almost 80 miles). It was again a wonderful time to be on the road. The roads in general were very smooth – beautiful, if repetitive, scenery, and a gentle breeze. I had a few moments of shade while biking today which is a first since Western Montana and the Rocky Mountains.
I was sweating buckets starting almost immediately in the morning. For reference, I drank more than 150 oz of fluids on the ride today. I was so far ahead of the group today that I never saw the SAG wagon and arrived at the hotel in Milaca at 1:30 pm (before everyone else including the SAG wagon). I only took two short breaks at convenience stores to fill up on fluids and an energy bar. Doug was the second to arrive in Milaca about 15 minutes after I did. By late this afternoon it was 94 degrees according to the local bank sign.
Sound familiar (see yesterday’s post, including photos)?
I have come to the conclusion that the most important factor that impacts the enjoyment of each day’s ride is the road surface condition, not the distance, scenery, wind, temperature, humidity, traffic, weather, nor climb. While Minnesota clearly has the best roads so far, I still regularly bike roads for many miles with cracks every 5 to 20 feet (creating a very jarring thump/thump that gets very tiresome and increasingly hurts over time), loose gravel and debris I must concentrate on avoiding, rough surfaces that slow me down and vibrate the bike, and pot holes. I hope it gets better as I go east.
July 15th: Battle Lake to Long Prairie, MN
Mile 25: Notable trip milestone.
July 15th Statistics – Battle Lake to Long Prairie, MN:
- Today’s Biking Distance – 66.4 miles
- Today’s Average Speed – 15.2 mph
- Today’s Time In Saddle – 4.4 hours
- Today Ascent – 1,037 feet
- Total Trip Biking Days – 24
- Total Trip Biking Distance – 1,903.0 miles
- Total Trip Average Biking Distance/Day – 79.3 miles
- Total Trip Ascent – 55,837 feet
This morning I left at 6:45 am (an hour earlier than everyone else by skipping breakfast) as the forecast was for high temperatures and humidity even if a relatively short ride (65 miles). It was again a wonderful time to be on the road. The roads in general were very smooth – beautiful, if repetitive, scenery, and a gentle breeze. The sun was hidden behind clouds most of the day which kept the temperatures down to the mid 80s, but I was still sweating buckets starting almost immediately in the morning. For reference, I drank more than 120 oz of fluids on the ride today. I was so far ahead of the group today (never saw the SAG wagon until it passed me 7 miles from the motel in Long Prairie) and only took one break (at a convenience store to fill up on fluids) that I arrived at 11:30 am at the motel (66 miles) – before everyone else (this was a first). I should say before Doug as he is always the first to arrive (he arrived 10 minutes after I did). The clouds dissipate after I arrived and it became very uncomfortably hot by mid afternoon.
Mile 16: Typical view for today in Minnesota – overcast (thankfully).
Mile 53: I don’t take very many pictures now due to the repetitive scenery – here is an example from mile 53 today.
Mile 57: Many individuals have multiple professions and businesses to sustain themselves in the states I have visited. Here is one of the more interesting and diverse examples I noted miles from any other business.
Long Prairie War Memorial to WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Wars. Throughout the city there were signs celebrating and thanking the military – relatively more than I have seen in any city.
Steve Prichard's 2012 Cross Country Bike Tour 