Most cyclists smile at us as we pass on the bike trail. It’s not clear if it’s the bike they’re smiling at or the sight of Will and me pedaling down the trail. It certainly isn’t our good looks although we always wear matching bike shirts. And on that topic we have yet to find a sensational recumbent jersey. I’m still relegated to putting essentials into back pockets when I really need front pockets. There’s a market out here if only someone will rise to the creative occasion.
It’s hard to confess that mid-way through the summer was our first ride. Blame it on vacations, people visiting us, weather, heavy gardening, too much work, etc., etc. Whatever the obstacles we finally burst out the other end and headed to our traditional first ride: The Cannon Valley Trail http://www.cannonvalleytrail.com/ . We actually left the house by 8:30 a.m., then an hour and hot chocolate and soy vanilla latte later we arrived at the Cannon Falls trailhead. Actually my map reading skills were defective so we drove around Cannon Falls for a while before w
e found the trailhead. Typically we start at Welch and never go all the way into the town of Cannon Falls. Two issues with starting from town: a U-turn onto the bike trail from the parking lot which is impossible for us to complete and a hill coming back into town. Remember: hills are not our friends.
Clogging up the bike trail was an inordinate number of people on roller skies (or whatever you call them). These are insidious athletes who poke their ski poles into your bike lane. The response is to move your bike as close to center as possible and play chicken with them. Big bike vs. young girl in teeny shorts and sports bra; result – ugly. Our early start tactic to ward off the high dew point was shared by too many people
The Cannon Valley Trail moves from woods to prairie to bog so the quantity and type of wildflowers are amazing. Just a few we saw (not everything) were harebells, purple prairie clover, cow parsnip, Goat’s Beard, Gray headed coneflowers, and wild bergamot. Despite the high traffic we had a pudgy raccoon cross our path headed for the river and off on one side trail saw a mother turkey herding her five poults (young). Several hawks circled over head but not close enough to identify.
At the Welch rest area we were treated to polka music from Ray Sands of the Polka Dots http://raysandsandthepolkadots.com/about_the_band.html . He’s been in the business over 60 years! Grandpa’s Garage in Cannon Falls donated free sugar cookies topped with pecans. We met a couple riding Ran single recumbents and had a chat about the advantages of recumbent bikes and why we like a tandem and they didn’t. They were about our age so it was in
teresting to get their perspective which really centered on our comfy seats.
It’s hard to confess that mid-way through the summer was our first ride. Blame it on vacations, people visiting us, weather, heavy gardening, too much work, etc., etc. Whatever the obstacles we finally burst out the other end and headed to our traditional first ride: The Cannon Valley Trail http://www.cannonvalleytrail.com/ . We actually left the house by 8:30 a.m., then an hour and hot chocolate and soy vanilla latte later we arrived at the Cannon Falls trailhead. Actually my map reading skills were defective so we drove around Cannon Falls for a while before w
e found the trailhead. Typically we start at Welch and never go all the way into the town of Cannon Falls. Two issues with starting from town: a U-turn onto the bike trail from the parking lot which is impossible for us to complete and a hill coming back into town. Remember: hills are not our friends.Clogging up the bike trail was an inordinate number of people on roller skies (or whatever you call them). These are insidious athletes who poke their ski poles into your bike lane. The response is to move your bike as close to center as possible and play chicken with them. Big bike vs. young girl in teeny shorts and sports bra; result – ugly. Our early start tactic to ward off the high dew point was shared by too many people
The Cannon Valley Trail moves from woods to prairie to bog so the quantity and type of wildflowers are amazing. Just a few we saw (not everything) were harebells, purple prairie clover, cow parsnip, Goat’s Beard, Gray headed coneflowers, and wild bergamot. Despite the high traffic we had a pudgy raccoon cross our path headed for the river and off on one side trail saw a mother turkey herding her five poults (young). Several hawks circled over head but not close enough to identify.
At the Welch rest area we were treated to polka music from Ray Sands of the Polka Dots http://raysandsandthepolkadots.com/about_the_band.html . He’s been in the business over 60 years! Grandpa’s Garage in Cannon Falls donated free sugar cookies topped with pecans. We met a couple riding Ran single recumbents and had a chat about the advantages of recumbent bikes and why we like a tandem and they didn’t. They were about our age so it was in
teresting to get their perspective which really centered on our comfy seats.Leaving Welch to return to Cannon Falls I was leafing through the wild flower book when our new friends passed us. The Mrs. single recumbent pulled alongside of me to comment on how I was “reading” when she drove a young kid off the trail. When her husband came up alongside of us he commented that he’d try not to replicate her effort.
It was very satisfying to get to pass them eventually since we pedal, never coast, and actually were keeping an even pace. I didn’t thrust my arms up in celebration.
We stopped outside of Cannon Falls to take a photo of the falls and a swan plus cygnets alongs
ide the trail. The single recumbents rode past but Mrs. couldn’t keep momentum going up the hill and fell over. Will looked at me and asked if we should walk it and I said “never”. Off we went creaking up the hill at about two MPH. Success!! We got the pass our new friends again while they patched up the Mrs. Our second attempt to make the U-turn into the parking lot missed again however.
After the ride we strolled through Cannon Falls. The hardware store was closed for Megan’s wedding: congrats to Megan. The Cannon River Winery http://www.cannonriverwinery.com/ was humming. You could get a massage or tan on the main street. We ate at the Old Market Deli http://www.theoldmarketdeli.com/ – food was great but the service was slow and odd. We helped an older couple clear the table and another couple found them silverware. Neighbors helping neighbors.
Hopefully we’ll be out again on my furlough day this week. Keep on biking!
It was very satisfying to get to pass them eventually since we pedal, never coast, and actually were keeping an even pace. I didn’t thrust my arms up in celebration.
We stopped outside of Cannon Falls to take a photo of the falls and a swan plus cygnets alongs
ide the trail. The single recumbents rode past but Mrs. couldn’t keep momentum going up the hill and fell over. Will looked at me and asked if we should walk it and I said “never”. Off we went creaking up the hill at about two MPH. Success!! We got the pass our new friends again while they patched up the Mrs. Our second attempt to make the U-turn into the parking lot missed again however.After the ride we strolled through Cannon Falls. The hardware store was closed for Megan’s wedding: congrats to Megan. The Cannon River Winery http://www.cannonriverwinery.com/ was humming. You could get a massage or tan on the main street. We ate at the Old Market Deli http://www.theoldmarketdeli.com/ – food was great but the service was slow and odd. We helped an older couple clear the table and another couple found them silverware. Neighbors helping neighbors.
Hopefully we’ll be out again on my furlough day this week. Keep on biking!
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