Sometimes you're lucky enough to have a neighbor who is also a friend. Dave was that kind of guy. We got to know each other from walking to and from the bus every day. When Dave was critically ill in the hospital from a brain tumor, I went to visit and read him the top ten things i had learned from him. Dave didn't make it. But on Friday, September 18, we did a "Dave". Dave taught me that if you live in Minnesota and the weather is going to be exceptional then you forget everything else and go out and enjoy what you love best. For Dave it was golf; for us it is biking.
We made last minute reservations at a B&B in Rushford http://www.meadowsinn.com/ and drove South to bike the Root River Trail. The Rushford area was tragically hit by floods http://rushford.net/ but the town has amazingly come back in a very short time. We biked out of Rushford to just beyond Lanesboro and back. Despite the warm temperatures it sounded like fall. The dry leaves crunched under our ties and the unmistakable fall light lit the trees differently than just a few weeks before. Here and there was a tree turning to bright reds and golds and the sumac along the trail was bright red. Wildflowers are pretty much done except for a few false sunflowers here and there. The fields of soybeans were yellow and the corn was starting to lose its green. 
Our first eagle sighting came from a shadow that flew over our heads. An adult was soaring right over the trail as it looked for fish in the Root. Later we scared an immature eagle that took off right next to us from the side of the trail. That was exciting.
The Root River trail is less busy on the Rushford end and way too busy in Lanesboro. It's one of the reasons we don't do this trail more often. Since it was a Friday, we were better off than usual. There were other tandems going the opposite direction from us - two were recumbents but not Screamers. There are no railroad relics except for depots on this trail but the Rushford has an interesting museum attached. The museum at Lanesboro was also worth the visit. We did this on our second day.
We made the fatal mistake of stopping at Whalen for pie on our way back. Apple pie a la mode was perfect but sat in my stomach all the way to Rushford. I suggest pie to go and eat it at the end of the ride.
The Meadows Inn is just outside of town slightly above the valley. Doug welcomed us and we met Marie later. She had just come back from Ireland. The next morning we sat and chatted on the patio after breakfast about Ireland and the Irish language with her. Vultures soared over head in the summer sun. I realized on this trip that I missed the small town life that I knew as a kid. There are certain qualities of familiarity and friendship that are harder to come by in the city. These bike rides and visits to small towns in Minnesota have been good for the soul.
