Wisconsin Visitors

Saint Charles Loop: 19.04 miles
TANDEM Pedal Time: 1 hour 45 minutes, average speed 10.8

The sun shine is back! We enjoyed a new Saint Charles Loop with Kathi and John Johnson. The Johnsons detoured to our house prior to setting sail on their Alaskan cruise. We all went to lunch at the Amish Market and then began pedaling an undetermined route to show Kathi and John around the Saint Charles neighborhoods which included a visit to our first home built in Saint Charles. It was amazing to see how the property has matured. We also pedaled up the hill near Interstate I 90 to check out the new business park. It’s currently uninhabited which made it a fun place to bike the newly-paved roads. We then picked up the Saint Charles bike path which lead us to A&W for an ice cream treat before pedaling back to the farm—a very enjoyable route.

Inspired Ride

Boyum Loop: 15.42 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 1 hour 16 minutes, average speed 12.0

We decided to bike on this windy Sunday after a call from our Tandem Club presidents, Joan and John Laabs. They just reached 4000 miles on their new Volae tandem and called to let us know they were still putting on bike miles. We also had John and Kathi Johnson in mind when we decided to hit the road for some neighborhood biking. They have been biking through the Ozarks this week and taking a beating not only from the hills but also from the wind. These couples inspire Dennis and I to get out and bike. The temperature is still great for biking and we hope it continues through October.

2012 COWS Wrangler Ride—Lanesboro, MN

Hosted by Deb & Dennis Veerkamp and Michelle & Alan Andersen

As our rally date neared, COWS members began calling to register. We provided ride information, lodging suggestions and driving directions for those coming from afar. What was originally planned as a single day event became a wonderful 3-day mini vacation down on the farm. We salute each tandem team for making time to party with us along the Root.

Friday, June 22, 2012
Dover + Ma Daley Loop: 28.00 miles
TANDEM: Ride Time was 2 hours 22 minutes, average speed: 12.72

Kathi and John Johnson, our good biking friends from Wisconsin, arrived on Friday, one day prior to the start of the Wrangler ride. We planned ahead for them to join us for some additional riding around our neighborhood and to spend extra time with them before they left for their bike trip down the Mississippi River Trail—International Falls to New Orleans.

We biked to Dover for lunch and then followed Olmsted Co 10 to Ma Daley ridge before turning down Winona Co 35 towards our farm. We so enjoyed our conversations with the Johnsons as we pedaled up and down along today’s scenic ribbon of highway. Because we bike these routes often, we don’t always see the beauty that new eyes focus on when traveling in new locations. The day ended with a few friendly games of buck euchre and hopes for another good weather day for Saturday’s COWS Wrangler Ride.

Saturday, June 23, 2012
RRT Lanesboro to Rushford +: 50.56 miles
TANDEM: Ride Time was 3 hours 41 minutes, average speed: 13.6

On ride day, all eyes were on the weather waiting to see if the 30% rain prediction would cause us to change plans—not this time, we finally pulled off a rain-free event! And not only did the rain stay away but we were able to bike under cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-70s—a biker’s dream.

Eight tandem teams met in Lanesboro at 10:00 a.m. sharp for announcements prior to taking off down the trail towards Rushford. Six teams hailed from Wisconsin and two from Minnesota. The group created quite a spectacle as we rolled down the trail decked out in our flashy club jerseys. Many heads turned as we passed and some even stopped us to ask what our purpose was.

We landed in Rushford around 11:30 a.m. ready for our feeding. The Creamery was called earlier and warned of our group descending upon them today. The staff did a wonderful job feeding our large group. After lunch, some riders decided to bike on towards Huston while others decided to slowly work their way back towards Lanesboro. Dennis and I kept with the Houston group for a few miles and then turned back towards Lanesboro. As we neared Whalan, it was decided that a slice of the “World’s Famous Pie” could not be passed up and what a good decision it was. We made it back to Lanesboro around 3:30 p.m. and packed up to head home to get ready for the Veerkamp Farm Cookout. Back at the Farm, volunteers Paul and Barb were busy preparing food for our group and also served as the welcoming committee for any Wrangler riders arriving before Dennis and I could get back from Lanesboro. All 8 teams eventually found their way to the farm to take part in the final event for today—the farm feast. Many teams brought food to share and Dennis and I provided a variety of brats hot off the grill.

The only thing missing today was the presence of good friends, Michelle and Alan Andersen still recovering from a recent bicycle accident. We hope they get well soon and will be pedaling down the roads with us on our next journey.

Sunday, June 24, 2012
Boyum’s Loop: 15.52 miles
TANDEM: Ride Time was 1 hour 52 minutes, average speed: 13.2

We awoke early to continue our Wrangler weekend with two remaining tandem teams. We decided on a 15-mile route around our neighborhood with Art & Deb and John & Kathi. Both teams commented on the many hills encountered on this loop—a calculated total climb of 733 feet—but all enjoyed the scenic views gained because of each hill and valley. The beauty of the early morning sky was applauded by our group of six as we continued pedaling to our finish back at the farm where we said good-bye to these couples and wished them a safe trip home.

Thanks to all participants of this 2012 Wrangler ride on the Root. Your presence helped make this event the success that it was.

Participating teams:
Deb & Dennis Veerkamp   St. Charles, MN
Kathi & John Johnson      Dorchester, WI
Art & Deb Tillman           Elkhorn, WI
John & Joan Laabs         Waupaca, WI
Marsha & Bill Peters        Lew Lisbon, WI
Don & Nancy Zietlow      Iron River, WI
Harv & Sue Burman        Fond Du Lac, WI
Josh & Claire Burman      Mankato, MN

Event Support:
Alan & Michelle Andersen Spring Valley, MN
Paul & Barb Storsveen Winona, MN

Total Wrangler Weekend Biking Miles:  94.08

Biking the Root with the Johnsons

Root River Trail with Kathi & John: 57.78 miles
Comments: Ride Time was 4 hours 30 minutes, average speed: 12.7

Although our organized rides are done for the season, we still enjoy getting out on the bike with our biking friends from Wisconsin. Kathi and John Johnson came to visit for a few days to ride the Lanesboro trail. The weather held for us to put on almost 60 miles. The trail was still quite busy but we enjoyed most of the ride side-by-side with entertaining conversation.



During our rest in Preston, John took notice of the different placement of our idlers and after closer investigation, Dennis noticed that all four were either cracked or broken right in half—looks like some repairs will be needed when we get home.


A short shopping spree at the Little River General Store in Lanesboro ended with us each purchasing new bike racks and bags for our bikes. Kathi and I enjoyed carrying those racks in our laps back to our vehicles parked in Rushford—a total of 19 miles.

During these last miles, Dennis and I heard a pop under the front seat of the bike so we stopped again to check it out but could not find the source so got back on the bike to finish with Dennis in a forward slopping position. Looks like the tandem will be done for the year while we work on some repairs. We were hoping for more tandem miles but will have to settle for the 1500 and finish the season biking on our singles.

We had a wonderful visit with the Johnson’s and were happy that we could get in one more bike ride with them before they head south for the winter. See ya in March, guys!

Total 2011 tandem miles: 1,509
Rans miles since purchase: 15,853