Dakota County Rail Trail - Wayzata to Mayer, MN

I am home in Minnesota for a visit and took the time to ride the new extension of the Dakota Rail Trail.  This bike trail starts in Wayzata, MN and heads out through the farm country west of Minneapolis. I can pick up the trail about 4 miles from my house in Excelsior where the trail crosses the road.  From my house out to Mayer and back is about 40 miles of bicycling nirvana. 

Perfect, uncrowded pavement that winds past farms, lakes and marshes.  The trail follows an old railroad bed that was important in Minnesota's early history.  It carried settlers, equipment and crops out west over the prairie and then on towards California.  We are lucky to still have the rail right-of-way that we can convert to a bike path.  Eventually the trail will go all of the way from Wayzata to Hutchinson for a total of 44 miles one-way!

Gayle Woods Farm is a farm that was given to the park system by the owners in their estate.  It is a working farm which shows visitors how food is produced.  They raise free-range chickens and other livestock as well as crops.  You can buy your eggs, meat, wool, and grains directly from this farm! The trail passes right by the farm and it is a nice place to stop for a break.

 Another great place for a break is this nice Bistro in St. Bonifacius.  They serve mostly local and organic produce and their breakfasts are especially good.

 Upon leaving St. Bonifacius you cross 2 bike bridges that take you over the area's major highways.  What amazing infrastructure!  These bridges keep cyclists safe; especially families with young children.

 The trail then passes by Lake Waconia.  There are some nice views of the lake from the trail as well as some benches to stop for a break.

 Bridges over pretty marshes, farms, woods and fields.  Very peaceful...

Mayer - a rural small town just west of the Twin Cities.  This is the first time that I have been here.

The end of the trail (for now) in Mayer, MN.  Be sure to stop by Ron's Smokehouse for a sandwich.  I had half of a summer sausage and cheese sandwich on sourdough which was PACKED with really yummy sausage for only $3.25.  I shared my lunch with a little kitty who sidled up to me as soon as she saw my sandwich.





My "Gear of the Day" has got to be my waterproof IPhone case that I bought at REI. You just slip your phone inside and you can then put it into your rear jersey pocket without fear of getting wet from sweat.  All of my pictures were taken right THROUGH the case.  I just pulled it from my pocket, operated the camera through the film and clicked away!  This case is especially helpful when you have to do frequent map checking while riding on unfamiliar roads.  I used to use a sandwich "Baggie" for this job but I would have to take my phone out of the bag every time I wanted to check the map or take a picture.  I believe that the case was under $20 but I can't remember the exact price.

 

 

Gear of the Day - Seal Line IPhone Case

Best Tent for Bicycle Touring

My new tent is the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 (Ultra Light 2 person).   It weighs only 3 pounds 13 ounces but will sleep 2 people comfortably.  Each side has a door and a large vestibule for storing gear.  There is plenty of mesh for "breathing" and a couple of well-placed pockets for small gear.  The pole system is ingenious and reminds me of "tinker toys".  I can set it up very quickly and easily.

I could have bought the 1-person tent which was about a pound lighter but this one is more versatile if Rick and I want to tour together. It weighs about 3 pounds less than our old tent and is much smaller in size.

This tent was not cheap!  But just a couple of stays in campgrounds versus hotels and it will pay for itself :-)

http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/CopperSpurUL2

Solo Tour in Vermont

The Green Mountains of Vermont are a WONDERFUL place for a bike tour.  I found a 100 mile loop ride in a book about biking in Northern New England and decided to make a mini-tour out of it.  There were campgrounds about 50 miles apart so I was able to camp both nights.  The ride traveled along valleys so it wasn't particularly hilly - no large mountains to climb. Whew!  I would not have been up for that.

In one of my panniers (bags) I had everything for camping: tent, sleeping pad & bag and pillow. In the other I carried my clothes and my toiletries. I didn't bring any cooking gear this time as there were plenty of places to stop along the way and I was only going for 2 days.  Here is my camping site the first night:

The tent that I used is brand new and this was its maiden voyage.  It is called the "Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 and weighs just 3 lbs 13 oz total. It has room for 2 people and has 2 doors and large vestibules on either side. It sets up very easily in minutes.  It shaved 3 pounds off of our old tent which has now been relegated to "car camping". The Big Agnes isn't cheap but it is the lightest 2 person tent available and is just the right thing for bike touring. Here is a link:  Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2
 
The drive from Boston was nice and took about 4 hours. I camped overnight and then started biking the next day.  My route took me past a pretty covered bridge over the Battenkill river which is known for fly fishing. I dipped into New York State for a while before heading back into Vermont and up to Poultney. The weather was beautiful and the riding was fairly easy especially since I stopped a lot to take pictures and to soak in the sights.

Peanut Butter & Butter Sandwich

The campground for my second night was filled with families soaking up the last month of summer.  Next to me was a family with 4 young boys and they were living it up.  Every possible thing that could be hit upon was hit, including each other.  It made for a very loud afternoon.  After 10:00 they all went to bed and I got some peace and quiet while I read my book on my IPhone and then fell asleep.  At about 2:30 a.m. the smallest boy woke up with nightmares of hearing animals outside.  The parents yelled at him for what seemed like hours. They threatened him with being put outside WITH the animals unless he went back to sleep. I don't think that this tactic helped the scared little guy.  Good thing that I packed my good earplugs which I finally found in my pack.  Nighty night!

The second day of riding was as good as the first. I rolled by the cutest little cafe around mid-morning and stopped in for a bite.  What a treat!  Quiche and coffee - yum!  I didn't get hungry again until I was done for the day.

It was a bit hillier than the first day and there was a bit of a headwind. So, I was happy to pull back in to my van and to take a shower at the campground and head back to Boston.

Anxiety almost kept me from going on this trip.  I wasn't afraid of going alone - just anxious.  What if I had forgotten something important? What if it was too hilly and I couldn't do the mileage? What if I had a mechanical problem that I couldn't fix?  But most of all I was anxious about leaving my husband and my kitties. Since moving to Boston I have spent a lot of time at home and I don't get out very much by myself.  Which was exactly why I needed this trip.  Each of these potential problems I could have handled with a cool head, some cash and the help of some kind Vermonter. I am so glad that I went and have vowed to do it again soon!

Welcome To My Biking Blog

Welcome to my blog. A place to share my thoughts and observations about one of the great joys in my life - bicycling.  Being outside on my bike inspires me.  On just about every ride I experience an "ahhhh" moment when I see something beautiful and an overwhelming sense of peace and awe comes over me. It is like the "runners high" but on a bike.

Usually I ride in the morning; sometimes with my husband Rick and sometimes alone.  We recently moved to Boston, MA from Excelsior, MN (a Minneapolis suburb) and we love to explore our new home via bike.  Each weekend we pick a new area and ride.  Sometimes with a club and sometimes alone.  We also try to do a different week-long tour every summer. So far we have been to Florida, Iowa, and New York. Most states host at least one of these rides and it is a great way to see the country.

I love gears (as in bicycle gears) and I love gear - stuff you use while on a bike or a bike tour.  Just the right piece of equipment can make you comfy while you are exploring. So, I will include posts to talk about my favorite stuff.

Today I am leaving for a solo "mini-tour" to the Green Mountains in Vermont.  I am riding for 2 days and camping overnight.  I am taking my touring bike so that I can haul my own gear.  After dealing with a hamstring injury for the last year I am making up for lost time. Stay tuned!