Day 3: Osakis, MN to Fergus Falls, MN

Tuesday, July 4: Osakis, MN to Fergus Falls, MN.

Happy Independence Day!

Though the quiet and dark auditorium of the high school was conducive to good sleep, I didn't sleep well, thanks to numbness in my arms from sleeping on something other than my Purple mattress and to a snorer and another person coming in and out. Part of the group camping experience!  The morning started out overcast, but we knew rain was on the way.  Tim, Jeremy, and I had a hearty breakfast (biscuits and gravy for me!) at the local AJ's Cafe in downtown Osakis.  It was delicious!  However, as soon as we paid, the skies opened up, so we put on our rain gear and headed down the road.  All the locals in the restaurant, who were playing a dice and quarter game called 6-5-4, looked at us with pity as headed out into the rain.  I don't blame them.

We remained on the Lake Wobegon Trail for the entire day and the rain stayed with us the entire day, as well.  My rain jacket decided it was no longer a rain jacket, so I was soaked all day.  I couldn't stay long at the rest stops because I chilled too easily, but Route Leader Emma very kindly had a gas station hot cocoa awaiting me at the second rest stop.  Jeremy rode with me most of the day and we powered through the 58 miles, only stopping for a couple photos of deer, a Purple Heart Chapel, to eat fresh raspberries, and to look at the prairie grasslands.  There were probably 30 chipmunks that ran across the trail today.  I'm guessing they don't see many cyclists every day.  I had a filthy rooster tail of dirt up my back because I don't have fenders on this bike, so I was more than ready for a hot shower upon arrival.

Of course, within minutes of arriving into Fergus Falls (population 14,117 - one of the bigger towns so far for me), the sun came out ablazing.  At least I can dry my gear now!  We are staying at a local church called Zion Lutheran who welcomed us in and it even has a shower!  We were surprised to see a big display of snacks and treats. How generous!!

We got in so early that we had time to be leisurely with showers and finding rooms in the church to sleep in.  We walked around town, discovering the Fergus Falls, which is a dam. We had to walk a few blocks to the grocery store because every restaurant in town was closed for the holiday.  Jeremy and I picked up food to make tacos and stopped into a really fun and cute ice cream shop called Uncle Eddie's on the way back. Ice cream before dinner. Why not?!  The owner was really nice and said she has a friend with MS, so we returned later with some of the Bike the US for MS stickers to give to her friend.  The ice cream tasted even sweeter after making that kind connection.

In the evening, the church hosted a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, which was really more difficult for me to be around than I thought it would be (not that we participated or intermingled).  After the meeting, many from the meeting were gathered out back conversing and smoking cigarettes. It reminded me of visiting my friend that passed (in November 2021) in rehab.  Addiction is so rampant and the drug epidemic in our country is severe.  For many years, addiction seemed like it didn't affect me, but losing my mom to lung cancer because she never quit smoking and losing others to various addictions leaves me feeling so powerless.  I spent a lot of my life trying to help others who have addictions, but it's only been in recent years that I've realized there is really little I can do, other than offer love and support without getting tangled into what the disease does to people. We didn't sit and talk with anyone, but I felt very deeply for these people in their suffering and struggle.

By the time it was finally dark, after 9pm, some of the neighbors set off fireworks, since we didn't make it to see the local display at a race track across town.  Though it's always a little strange when I'm not home for the 4th of July, I'm thankful to have the freedom to be doing this ride, as well as the bodily freedom to be able to physically do this ride.  Whenever I hurt on my bike, I know it could also be far more difficult.

Thank you for following along!

Donations to Bike the US for MS can be made here:

https://ride.biketheusforms.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=1436

Day 2: Royalton, MN to Osakis, MN

Monday, July 3. Royalton, MN to Osakis, MN.

(I had to re-write this, as I lost my draft, so now I'm a day and 58 miles away from those memories already, so my writing is probably less colorful.)

I went to bed at a decent time, but I woke up to a drunken man talking sternly to his dog (I almost intervened), and then later to the sound of heavy rain drops that sounded like a wall of pouring rain as it approached. It only lasted maybe 15 minutes, but my bath towel and bike chamois I had left out to dry were certainly no longer dry!

In the morning, I was packed and ready to leave with most of the group.  Our wonderful camp hosts left us donuts and cinnamon rolls for breakfast, as well as hot coffee!  Hooray!

Leaving camp, we stopped for photos as we crossed the Mississippi River, which wasn't as wide as I expected it to be.  Though, we are fairly close to where it starts, I suppose.

Two miles down the road, we hung a left onto the shaded and cool Soo Trail, which features a few small towns along the way, a fun Boho Art/Coffee house, a random, oversized snowmobile statue made of wood, and a covered bridge.  It led us into the town of Albany where we connected to Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon Trail®️.  It was 26 miles to Rest Stop 1 in Freeport, MN where there were super nice Sinclar gas station hosts that gave us coffee and I bought a double decker Oatmeal Cream Pie!

Carrying onward, it was 16 miles to

Rest Stop 2 in Sauk.  I bought a foam roller for the group (but really for me that I will leave with the group!) in Walmart and a Caribou Coffee iced mocha. Hallelujah for my first Caribou on this trip!!

It was hot in the sun, though windy, and uphill the entire rest of the way to Osakis.  I'm still in a lot pain - seems to be a pinched nerved in my back or neck causing pain in my upper back and shoulders, and numbness down to my fingers.  I spent most of the day stretching while riding. I don't understand how anyone could possibly be comfortable on a bicycle.

Once in Osakis, I was thankful to stay in Osakis High School, which the Principal very kindly opened up for us.  It was great to have a real, nice shower.  Many of us set up our tents to dry out in the sun.  Jeremy and I went to the 24-Hour Laundromat to get a quick load in, then headed for a truly delicious dinner at O-Town Tavern - complete with cheddar cheese curds!  The burgers were also fresh and so good!  We talked with the bartender about the trip and she was pretty amazed at what we are doing, as are most people when they learn about the distances we cover.  While wandering around, we went in to Barnyard Bowling and threw a pretty pitiful game!  It was lots of fun, though.  We were the only ones bowling while the locals ate dinner.  Surely, they're used to people bowling since its adjacent to the restaurant.  Next, we went for dipped twisty cones at the Tip Top Dairy Bar, which opened in 1955.  The sun was very much still up at 9pm, but I headed to bed as soon as possible.  I wanted to try to get caught up on some sleep!

Thank you for following along!

If you feel compelled to donate to Bike The US for MS, here's the link:

https://ride.biketheusforms.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=1436