The Orchard Storm
Thursday was largely uneventful. As bike tours go, that can be just fine. Take a few breaks, eat some snacks, watch the miles roll by and cook dinner at the campground when the riding is done.
Yesterday is where the stories happened.
It was peaceful, cool, and clear when we woke up and began to ready ourselves for the day at the "Kruger Management Unit" campground. (Quite a name huh?) We had veered away from the Mississippi at the end of yesterday's riding and now traveled down quiet country roads with ambling farms on either side. About ten miles in, the sky began to look dark and brooding. Thankfully we were headed away from that direction and comforted ourselves with the idea we might escape.
As we finished riding past fields of corn on top of a ridge we caught an astonishing view of a town called Lake City below us. The hills parted and we looked down on the river and expanses of lush, green trees. We rolled into town and took shelter underneath a picnic shelter at a park next to the river. The sky was still very dark but the rain was spotty so we finished our break and pressed on. We can't just sit around all day right? This is when the rain really began. We started riding faster. More rain. We got to the center of town and made a mad dash for a park with a gazebo, hoisting the lumbering bulks of our bikes underneath cover. Lightning blazed and thunder crashed but we had a lovely time in relative comfort. We made hot chocolates with the stove and listened to the radio. Within an hour or so the thunderstorm had passed and we resumed our journey. I felt we had bested the weather and would be punished for my arrogance.
Within a few miles of riding Rach got a flat on her rear tire. Oh well, these things happen. Then she discovered that the tire had worn very thin in a few spots and needed to be replaced. Oh well, it got her from Vermont to here. And she still had a replacement tire purchased in Muscatine, Iowa. But... the adjustment of her rear hub was loose. We did not have the tools to properly fix it. The next bike shop would be in a day's time. Rach got the bike functional and we set off again, mulling our options. Effective mulling is best done at greasy spoon restaurants so we ate lunch at the "Whistlestop Cafe." The food was good, and extremely affordable. Unfortunately, it seemed there were a few regulars who had gotten a little too familiar with the menu. Just outside the restaurant we discovered that a portion of our bike multi-tool could serve as an improvised cone wrench for Rach's wheel repair. All we'd need now is an adjustable wrench.
Another ten miles down the highway and we arrived in Red Wing, Minnesota. We found a store called Runnings and after a detour at the various tools and implements for dressing and skinning the deer you've just killed, we found the hand tools. We bought the wrench, found a picnic table at the lawn in front of City Hall, and Rach had the hub fixed and nuts locked down within a few minutes. The various challenges of the day had made our initial destination a little too far off now that it was 3 in the afternoon. We settled on a new stopping point: an orchard and nursery that has history of allowing cyclists to camp, and a restaurant on site! By a tad before six we'd found Nesbitt Nursery. Sadly, it was closed for the day so we found a spot for our tent and settled down for the evening.
Just as we were slipping into unconsciousness, a storm began. This was the most intense lightning storm I have ever seen in my entire life. Every three seconds or so there was a pulsing white light that illuminated the entire sky brighter than daylight. FLASH! The light was so bright it was literally blinding us inside the tent. Another. Another. Another. Another. The lightning carried on at this frequency and intensity for at least a half an hour. It was absolutely incredible. Totally astonishing. Thankfully thunder was still distant. Our tent has developed a slow leak around one or more of the seams so a few drops came through when the rain was at its most intense but eventually the deluge and the lightning slackened, then became intermittent, and eventually rolled away. Rach and I held hands during the worst of it. It was scary.
Now we have packed up and are about to depart the nursery. Today's forecast: more thunderstorms.
Yesterday is where the stories happened.
It was peaceful, cool, and clear when we woke up and began to ready ourselves for the day at the "Kruger Management Unit" campground. (Quite a name huh?) We had veered away from the Mississippi at the end of yesterday's riding and now traveled down quiet country roads with ambling farms on either side. About ten miles in, the sky began to look dark and brooding. Thankfully we were headed away from that direction and comforted ourselves with the idea we might escape.
As we finished riding past fields of corn on top of a ridge we caught an astonishing view of a town called Lake City below us. The hills parted and we looked down on the river and expanses of lush, green trees. We rolled into town and took shelter underneath a picnic shelter at a park next to the river. The sky was still very dark but the rain was spotty so we finished our break and pressed on. We can't just sit around all day right? This is when the rain really began. We started riding faster. More rain. We got to the center of town and made a mad dash for a park with a gazebo, hoisting the lumbering bulks of our bikes underneath cover. Lightning blazed and thunder crashed but we had a lovely time in relative comfort. We made hot chocolates with the stove and listened to the radio. Within an hour or so the thunderstorm had passed and we resumed our journey. I felt we had bested the weather and would be punished for my arrogance.
Within a few miles of riding Rach got a flat on her rear tire. Oh well, these things happen. Then she discovered that the tire had worn very thin in a few spots and needed to be replaced. Oh well, it got her from Vermont to here. And she still had a replacement tire purchased in Muscatine, Iowa. But... the adjustment of her rear hub was loose. We did not have the tools to properly fix it. The next bike shop would be in a day's time. Rach got the bike functional and we set off again, mulling our options. Effective mulling is best done at greasy spoon restaurants so we ate lunch at the "Whistlestop Cafe." The food was good, and extremely affordable. Unfortunately, it seemed there were a few regulars who had gotten a little too familiar with the menu. Just outside the restaurant we discovered that a portion of our bike multi-tool could serve as an improvised cone wrench for Rach's wheel repair. All we'd need now is an adjustable wrench.
Another ten miles down the highway and we arrived in Red Wing, Minnesota. We found a store called Runnings and after a detour at the various tools and implements for dressing and skinning the deer you've just killed, we found the hand tools. We bought the wrench, found a picnic table at the lawn in front of City Hall, and Rach had the hub fixed and nuts locked down within a few minutes. The various challenges of the day had made our initial destination a little too far off now that it was 3 in the afternoon. We settled on a new stopping point: an orchard and nursery that has history of allowing cyclists to camp, and a restaurant on site! By a tad before six we'd found Nesbitt Nursery. Sadly, it was closed for the day so we found a spot for our tent and settled down for the evening.
Just as we were slipping into unconsciousness, a storm began. This was the most intense lightning storm I have ever seen in my entire life. Every three seconds or so there was a pulsing white light that illuminated the entire sky brighter than daylight. FLASH! The light was so bright it was literally blinding us inside the tent. Another. Another. Another. Another. The lightning carried on at this frequency and intensity for at least a half an hour. It was absolutely incredible. Totally astonishing. Thankfully thunder was still distant. Our tent has developed a slow leak around one or more of the seams so a few drops came through when the rain was at its most intense but eventually the deluge and the lightning slackened, then became intermittent, and eventually rolled away. Rach and I held hands during the worst of it. It was scary.
Now we have packed up and are about to depart the nursery. Today's forecast: more thunderstorms.
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| Art gallery in Weaver, MN |
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| The view down to Lake City |
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| Sheltering under the band stand. Rach is cozy. |
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| Sailing on the Mississippi? |
Wish I was there. Nothing like a little lightening to get the heart pounding. Can the leak be fixed? Can we do anything to help?
ReplyDeleteWe just stopped off at an outdoors shop and bought sealant for repairing the tent. We're hoping to repair it on our next rest day.
DeleteI only enjoy lightening when I am sitting in a protected area (remember sitting inside the garage and watching the storm to the north?) and the lightening is far away. Your story sounds scary.
ReplyDeleteWe had party number 2 for Grandpa's birthday today. Katie led the way with party 1 last weekend. The Kendalls came down for party 2 today. We will celebrate on Dad's birthday with him for party 3 and then the Petersons are coming down next weekend for party 4.
Ride safely.
Cheri