The first year I did the week-long Ride Across Minnesota was a much-needed respite from an extremely difficult and stressful work situation. Since then, I treat this ride as a way to be free from my daily life, free from the labor of making sentences, liberated into a pure self. I also learn more throughout the week about the struggles of those living with MS and the accomplishments of the MS Society. As a result, it also helps reconnect me with my motivation for doing these fundraising rides.
This year's ride followed a relatively short (260+ miles) and flat route in western Minnesota, with a loop in South Dakota. I rode up and down most hills more than once (~300 miles), pushed myself to ride hard on some of the flats, and dug into the headwinds to help myself prepare for my California BikeMS ride in September. The weather this year was probably the best I've experienced on this ride - we had one overnight thunderstorm, and the days weren't too humid.
I apparently should have done more stretching - although I finished feeling that I had many more miles in this body, everything has been kind of tight and wound up since I got home. In between bouts of stretching, applying assorted balms, and cajoling the massage place to squeeze me in for a short visit, I've pulled together a sampling of photos to describe the events of the past week.
Getting started: Willmar to Montevideo
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| After a very hot and humid week in MSP, Matt and I tried to squeeze in a quick ride before I left for the week-long ride. We got stuck in this storm, but I am glad it hit BEFORE I left town. |
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| Rest stop #4 each day had watermelon. I think that's why my teammate Steve and I were pretty giddy on the first day. We saw a lot of old metal park equipment from our youth throughout rural Minnesota. |
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| We found a great taproom and pizza place in the town of Montevideo (MN, not Uruguay). Here is our team with our nice friends from the team "MS is BS." We normally have over 60 riders from our team do the MS150, but just a handful that do this 5-day ride. |
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| Kim and I at the first day finish line. This was her first time doing 5 straight days of riding. She did great. I've been considering my dentist's suggestion that I get Invisiline (despite having had braces as a teen). That snaggletooth makes a persuasive argument. Or does it give me character? |
Montevideo to Ortonville; South Dakota
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| Steve's photo of Kim and me rolling into Ortonville on Tuesday. I'm pleased with my posture. I've been working on that. |
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| Stacy and Travis flew to Ortonville on Tuesday to have dinner with us at a supper club on the lake, and Stacy took this photo. (Restaurant choices in town on a weeknight are limited.) The guy across from me is Aaron, from Team MS is BS. He is from Colorado, is nice and interesting, and joined us for dinner. I hope he'll ride with us again someday, even if riding in MN likely is kind of flat and boring for a former pro racer. |
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| Stacy's photo of Ortonville |
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| Ortonville has been a host city for this ride 10 times over the past 30 years, and was a host city the very first year. We spent two nights in Ortonville. They went all out for us: bands, a beer vendor on a golf cart, s'mores, fireworks, cornhole tournament, kayaks, pontoon rides... |
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| On Weds, we did a loop in South Dakota. The stretch by the lake was amazing, the long south stretch was one big fat headwind. The last leg back to Minnesota was downhill with a tailwind. I'm not sure I've ever ridden faster. |
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| Percy the skeleton is on the route every year. This year, his "minder" suggested that riders make a $2 donation to the MS Society when taking photos with Percy. He raised over $60 on Wednesday alone. These were the riders from our team this year. Such great people! |
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| After getting back to Ortonville, Steve and I did an extra 14 miles or so, heading over to and through the Big Stone Wilderness Area. This photo doesn't do it justice. It is astoundingly beautiful, with its preserved (non-mined) stone formations and wetlands. It was hot, so I stopped in town on the way back for ice cream with shot of espresso poured on top: I recommend it! |
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| That night, after losing the team jersey contest (we were robbed), a teenager strong-armed me into going on stage and joining in on this drumming thing. I was glad when it was over. :-) We didn't enter Thursday's team song competition, but Team MS is BS did great, winning a trophy! |
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| My tent and my bike in Ortonville, with South Dakota across the lake. |
Benson
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| This was a sign at a rest stop. It makes sense, but I had never thought of this before. Sobering. |
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| Rest stop #3 was at a family farm. |
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| I raised over $3000, so I had to go in. I was going to pull down my shorts for the photo, but realized not everyone would find that quite as funny as I would. |
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| We got to sleep with a bit of a light show. I am lucky that I have a good tent and the rain stopped by the time I had to get up in the morning. |
Back to Willmar and Whatnot
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| I actually have no idea what day this is from. I stole it from Veronika. We saw a lot of corn and soybeans this week. |
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| I believe I stole this photo from Kim; and think it is the final rest stop on the final day. We saw some nice lakes heading back. |
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| Veronika took this photo one of the days. I love the clouds. |
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| Done! Thanks for your support and encouragement! |
I think your slightly imperfect smile is perfect!!!
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