Moving Meditation

I look forward to the 5-day TRAM each year because it calms my mind. This year was a little more logistically laden, but another great week of riding was tucked in there.

Monday, 7/20: I left late in the afternoon and drove 5 hours to my parents' cabin, which my stepdad was referring to as "Grampa Biscuit's Kennel Service." We ate bean burritos.

From my parents' dock on Deerskin Lake

Tuesday, 7/21: This was a free bonus day, since I headed to the cabin on Monday. Grampa Biscuit very kindly let me off the hook from helping out around the cabin. I rode and stopped at "Fresh Eggs LLC" and learned about their eggs, chickens, turkeys, and other poultry/fowl, and ended up at this spot, where I saw a cute little toad (photos are in my online album).

Along Carpenter Lake Road

Piper and I walked past my most favorite field in the whole world while taking our traditional walk to the wildflower-covered river bank. I then went for a quick swim at the cabin, and spied on bluegills, sunnies, and perch from the dock. I experienced an unusual overwhelmed feeling, based on gratitude for my family, friends, and good life. With the eggs I bought, we made breakfast burritos with beans.

Wednesday, 7/22: I left Piper with Grampa Biscuit, drove 5 hours back home, ran errands, did necessary things around the house.

Thursday, 7/23: Finished packing. Dan and I picked up Steve and drove to Proctor. We set up our tents. I ate a bean burrito (!) and sweet corn as we watched the Chmielewski Funtime Band (super old former state representative on accordian) play some polka hits.

The Chmielewskis have some serious MN accents.

Friday, 7/24: Rode 83 miles to Biwabik. It rained for the first 15 miles, but otherwise, it was pretty easy. Someone from another team complimented me on my calf muscles while riding (thanks, Dad, for the calf genes). We had some good pizza for dinner, and then watched the local musicians in the park. I slept with an icy hot patch on my back.

I made Dan and Steve pose with me by the big ol' Moose

Saturday, 7/25: Rode 42 miles on the gentle but continuous hills of the Mesabi Trail to Hibbing with an icy hot patch on my back. I lingered at the rest stops to stretch and waited for Dan and Steve so that we could ride the final 7 miles together. I was glad to have them with me when I got stung by a bee and as I rode doped up on benadryl, hoping that I wouldn't need to whip out my epi pen. We ate at a weird Grandma's (as in Grandma's of Duluth) restaurant within a hotel with Matt, Ron, and Marina, and then watched the regional musicians and the MS team song competition at the park.

Mine lake near Hibbing

Sunday, 7/26: Rode 85 miles to Spirit Mountain with another icy hot patch on my back. It was quite mystically foggy and visibility was very limited for nearly 20 miles. It is wet, riding through a cloud! I saw tons of funnel-shaped spider webs in the woods along the side of the road. After the fog burned off, I rode on a newly tarred/graveled road and didn't see anyone for many miles. I almost fell off my bike when someone finally came up behind me and said, "on your left." I was in a total trance, with a completely empty brain, looking at horses and hay bales. I think my calm state, and perhaps low blood sugar, is what caused me to be confused and say "on your back" instead of "on your left" when passing a lady. We laughed hard.

As I was pulling into the 5th rest stop at mile 63, I got stung by another bee. I waited for a long time at the rest stop, with ice and benadryl, before wrapping up the ride. The last 22 miles were really tough for me. I was very wiped out, hot, and sleepy when I ended up at Spirit Mountain. We took a shuttle to Canal Park, where I had a good dinner.

I can't complain about my back, bees, heat, or exhaustion. I talked to many riders on Sunday who have MS and are very affected by the heat. Some of the riders with MS have canes strapped on their bikes to help them walk to the food and restrooms once they stop at the rest areas.

View from our tent at Spirit Mountain

Monday, 7/27: Short 38-mile ride into Duluth, through Canal Park, and along Lake Superior to Two Harbors. Beautiful. Hot. And icy hot. We went to museums in an old train depot and lighthouse, toured Castle Danger brewery, and had dinner with Matt, Ron, Marina, and the very nice Two Harbors resident, Clark. We saw a very drunk TRAM rider, which made me cringe. Host cities don't want drunkards visiting.

Monday morning view from our tent at Spirit Mountain. My bike was covered in slugs.

On the breakwater at Two Harbors. Remarkably, it didn't cool off.

Tuesday, 7/28: Another short, but pretty hilly icy hotty ride back to Proctor. We left early in the morning to beat the forecasted thunderstorms (70% chance with 0.35-inches of rain). I got sprinkled on for a while, but that was it. We rode on Skyline Parkway for quite some time, which had great views. Again, I didn't see anyone in front of, or behind me, for many, many miles, which made me question whether I'd gotten lost. Some of the riders with MS were having difficulties with the hills, but were very determined to finish the ride.

Our four Stacy's Cycling Supporters riders at the finish.

Dan, Steve, and I checked into an interesting hotel in Superior, went to Canal Park for scenic beer, and ate dinner at the Thirsty Pagan.

From the little Fitger's outpost in Canal Park.

Wednesday, 7/29: I drove Dan and Steve to Proctor so that they could ride their bikes in the gale force winds to Grand Rapids (90+ miles) for their annual golf weekend. I then drove back through Duluth and Superior to the cabin, where I learned that Grampa Biscuit had started calling Piper "Biscuit," and that she came when ever he called her by that name. 

Thursday, 7/30: I drove back home, did tons of laundry, aired out camping gear, unpacked, downloaded my photos, and tried to get Piper back on schedule (and used to not having treats quite so frequently). I had hoped to get my bike cleaned up (the handlebar tape isn't in the right spot, the chain needs to be cleaned and lubed, etc.), but that hasn't happened yet.

It was a most peaceful journey. This year, I raised over $5,000 between the two rides and my team raised about $38,000. Everyone's generosity is really amazing - - the MS Society raised about $3,564,000 between these two rides combined.