Bucksnort Dam

Bucksnort Loop: 55.09 miles
TANDEM Pedal Time: 4 hours 30 minutes, average speed 12.2
2940 feet of climb!

Bike riding was the only thing on our “to do” list today. We planned a route from home to Lanesboro to pick up the Root River Trail towards Fountain where we planned on biking the scenic back roads to Chatfield. We were unsure of the quality of Keeper, Kindred and Juniper roads so we stopped at the grocery store in Fountain to ask for advice. The butcher here was very friendly and even though he was busy, he took the time to advise us to stay clear of Hwy 52 and the three unknown roads which were gravel. He suggested we take Fillmore County Roads 8 to 11 for a valley view route to Chatfield. We took the butcher’s advice but instead of heading to Chatfield, we found ourselves in Bucksnort. The only structure left in this town was a dam. We stopped here to rest before tackling the climb necessary to put Bucksnort behind us.

We were now rested and ready to climb. We powered up one hill after another until we came to the quiet village of Pilot Mound. What beautiful surroundings. High on a hill we saw an American flag waving at us and welcoming us to town. This sure would be a nice place for a beverage stop but the only thing left in town was a forgotten rock sculpture that once clearly displayed the name of the village but has now eroded away and only a few letters were legible.

Back in our neighborhood, we began to see familiar sights. The round barn is our sign that this journey would soon be ending. Our exploration today led to a new route for us to enjoy. We did not make it to Chatfield today, but Bucksnort was a worthy substitute.

Triking Along the Root River Trail

Neighborhood Test Ride & RRT to Harmony: 55.10 miles
TRIKE Pedal Time: 5 hours 41 minutes, average speed 9.8

After taking the trike out for a short neighborhood jaunt and making a few minor tweaks, I was ready to introduce it to the Root River Trail with a challenging ride from Lanesboro to Harmony. The first half of this route was very hilly but on the trike I just continued to crank up each hill with no worries of going too slow and tipping over. I reached the top with just enough energy to pedal to the Crunchy Side for a break before enjoying the downhill coast back to Lanesboro. The trike handled better than expected and I counted 7 “WOWs” from bikers passing by. The unusual paint job seems to draw attention.

While breaking in Preston, we began a conversation with an Iowa bike group and realized we had met them before at the 2012 PIGS Rally in Cresco. Keith and Mary Wherry, Cresco bike shop owners, showered Dennis with compliments on the trike design and build. The trike proved to be a worthy addition to my growing bicycle collection.

Total June Miles: 285                  Total 2013 Miles: 742

The rain this season has put us behind for total miles.  Last year at this time we had double the miles, however, the weather had a lot to do with the completion of the trike in just 3 months, much earlier than expected.

COWS Wrangler Ride–Lanesboro, Minnesota

RRT Lanesboro to Harmony: 45.78 miles
TANDEM Pedal Time: 4 hours 1 minute, average speed 11.3

The continued threat of storms caused this Wrangler group to gather at the Veerkamp farm to discuss if biking today would be an option. We missed our planned ride start by one hour which allowed the storms to clear out of the area giving us 4 hours of dry riding.

The trail was showing much damage caused by recent storms that hit southeastern Minnesota. We needed to be especially cautious around the areas covered with mud. Keeping the bike upright through each mudslide was a challenge for each captain.

The temperature was really heating up as we reached the trail signs warning us of the steep hills we needed to climb before reaching our lunch stop. Dennis and I placed ourselves ahead of the group to secure seating for 8 at the Crunchy Side in Harmony and make sure plenty of water would be waiting as each team arrived.

Pedaling back to Lanesboro was effortless. The wind was at our back and the trail rewarded us for our earlier climbing efforts. We all made it back to the start dry, safe and ready to eat again.

Back at the farm, we shared another meal together before saying good-bye to the 2013 Root River Wrangler Riders.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

RRT—Rushford to Lanesboro: 37.11 miles
TANDEM Pedal Time: 2 hours 50 minutes, average speed 13.0

Welcome June! It’s been 12 days since we last had the tandem out for a ride. Chilly, May rain and severe thunderstorms kept us huddled inside. Even today we took a chance with scattered thundershowers predicted throughout the day.

The trail is always a great place to ride on days like this. We biked from Rushford to Whalan and since the trail was open beyond Whalan, we continued on to Lanesboro. We encountered many rough spots in the construction area where surfacing needs to be completed. The trail will close again in mid-June to allow for continued construction with a completion date sometime in July.

Riding the Trails

Root River & Harmony-Preston Trails: 60.39 miles
TANDEM Pedal Time: 5 hours 39 minutes, average speed 11.3

 

This late April snow storm surprised us but didn’t last long. We were back on the bike the following week!

The temperature took a huge jump today—into the 70’s—and we seized the opportunity to add more April miles on the tandem.

Because of the strong winds, we drove to Lanesboro to bike the trails. In an effort to prepare for the COWs Spring Rally in Lake Geneva, we coaxed our legs to climb all the hills we could find on these two bike trails.

We stopped in Harmony at the Crunchy Side where Miles welcomed us back with free drinks. The people of Harmony sure seemed to be happy to see us return—many smiles and street conversations with the locals.

 

 

 

 

Trail Miles

RRT—Lanesboro to Preston+: 26.88 miles
TANDEM Pedal Time: 2 hour 18 minutes, average speed 11.6

We packed the tandem in the van and headed to Lanesboro after calling to check on the condition of the Root River Bike Trail. We were told the trail “should be in bike-able condition.” We pedaled just past Preston when we had to turn around because of that wonderful white stuff that just won’t melt away this spring. The trail was full of debris caused by the heavy snows forcing tree branches to snap and fall onto the trail. We had to swerve around many low limbs and downed branches. It looks like we can still expect some winter-type weather to continue through April but we will continue to watch for that small window of opportunity to get back in the saddle.

This was also the last day the full trail will be open before a section from Lanesboro to Whelan closes for repairs. Six bridges will be worked on and pavement will be widened with a planned reopen for the month of July.

All was quiet and peaceful along the trail with only a few walkers and fishermen about—all friendly people just trying to get out and enjoy spring 2013.

Cowboys and Indians

RRT Rushford-Huston-Whalan: 55.38 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 4 hours 29 minutes, average speed 12.3

Because the Root River Trail is still under construction between Whalan and Lanesboro, we drove to Rushford to begin our bike ride. The 25 miles to Houston and back to Rushford were very enjoyable. We stopped at the Houston Nature Center at the Trail’s 42-mile marker, also the end of the Root River Trail. While Dennis was visiting with the naturalist, he was offered a bright orange vest to wear as protection. The center offers these vests at no cost to cyclists during the hunting season. With our bright yellow jackets on, we are visible from quite a distance so we passed on the offer. It is rather haunting to think you are biking through enemy territory during shotgun season but the weather has been so wonderful that we can’t resist taking the chance.

After miles of gunshots and ducking cowboys on the trail, we stopped at Shawnee’s Bar and Grill in Rushford to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere amongst the Indians. The grub was good and the rest was rejuvenating.

A 25-mile ride for today was just not enough so we ventured towards Whalan knowing we could go no further because of the bridge work being done. We squeezed past the sign warning of construction ahead and biked out to inspect one of the new bridges. Very nice—the bridge has been widened and it looks like maybe the trail section will be upgraded soon.  Completion date is set for November 30, 2012 and everything looks to be on target.

We were back at the van by 4:00 p.m. and the sun was already going down over the hills of the Root River Trail—this is truly a beautiful time of year for biking!

Dodging Bullets

RRT Lanesboro-Fountain-Harmony: 58.46 miles Tandem Pedal Time: 4 hours 36 minutes, average speed 12.6

The weatherman was promising an amazingly high temperature on this mid-November day so biking has to be on our list of must do’s. The early morning sky was gray and bleak when we set out on the Root River Trail. The temperature was in the 40’s so we dressed in our late season gear. We climbed up to Fountain first and enjoyed the glide down. As we began to climb up towards lunch in Harmony, we began to shed some of our outer clothing as the temperature was now in the 60’s and would reach 79 by ride’s end. With our bright yellow jackets now packed in our bike packs, we felt a little vulnerable as the hunter's bullets rang out around us. Can bike helmets stop a speeding bullet?

While resting in Harmony at the Crunchy Side, we realized we would reach our 111 goal for November and are now only 235 miles away from a total of 19,000 miles on the Rans. This would require the snow to hold through December but anything’s possible. Let’s go for it!

An Extended Season

Dover Loop: 20.66 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 1 hour 41 minutes, average speed 12.2

It’s a chilly day in the neighborhood. We decided on the Dover Loop again so that we could stop in at the Roadhouse for lunch. We knew we would be facing a cool Southeast wind on our return trip so the promise of a visit in Dover is always a nice treat. We have now set a new goal: to beat our highest November miles of 111 set in 2009. The snow has not fallen here in Minnesota yet so we will continue to enjoy this extended biking season.

A Chilly Pumpkin Ride

RRT – Lanesboro to Harmony: 46.11 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 3 hours 35 minutes, average speed 12.8

The strong winds and cool temperatures put us on the Root River Trail again today. This was also the opening day of the Pumpkin Ride on the Root. We, however, did not see pumpkin riders out on this crisp morning. We pedaled to stay warm stopping only to perform a bit of trail maintenance required due to the strong winds and storms we have been getting.

Once in Harmony, we stopped at the Crunchy Side for another quiet Friday lunch until the seven brothers from Iowa arrived—a loud but very friendly group. They were also cyclists but not on bikes this weekend—“too cold” said one brother.

With the leaves gone from the trees, we were able to see more wildlife than usual on the Trail: Cardinals, blue jays, turkey, “flying” squirrels scampering under our tires and one deer being hauled by hunters in a wheel barrow.

We had to chuckle once we neared the parking lot where our van was waiting—it looked so lonely sitting there all by itself—where is everyone? I guess the 39-degree temperature must have had something to do with it but we sure did enjoy this late October biking day along the Root.

Will we make our 3000 mark for this year? We’re getting close but our season is also nearing its end—the pressure’s on.  Stay tuned to find out.

An Afternoon on the Root River Bike Trail

RRT—Lanesboro to Harmony: 46.33 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 3 hours 42 minutes, average speed 12.4

Because of the wind and cool October temperature, we decided to drive to Lanesboro and enjoy a day biking on the Root River Trail. The trail towards Rushford will be closed until December but the news is good—the trail is being widened which should include some much-needed resurfacing. We took off towards Preston with a lunch stop at the Old Barn and then onto Harmony where we stopped in at the Crunchy Side. We learned here that the Root will be extended soon to continue on to Forestville State Park. All land has been acquired so that the project can finally become a reality.

Seeking Solitude on the Root

RRT–Lanesboro/Fountain/Preston: 37.88 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 2 hours 54 minutes, average speed 13.0

We thought we would get in some quiet biking towards Fountain on the Root River Trail but the families were out in full force all trying to get one more outdoor adventure in before the colder months set in. Normally this family traffic would be on the trail towards Whalan and Rushford but that segment of the trail was under construction this weekend so we had lots of company on our end of the trail.

We hadn’t been up to Fountain in a while so decided on that route today and to add more miles we then looped up to Preston before returning back to Lanesboro. Out of Preston, we decided to see if there was any progress on the trail connection towards Forestville State Park. We noticed a bit of work done but there is still approximately a 7-mile stretch that needs to be completed to allow cyclists access to the State Park via bike trail.

Even crowded with people, the Root is still a bicycle haven and the fall colors add visual enjoyment for us on this last weekend of September.

2012 PIGS Rally – Cresco, Iowa

Thursday, August 9, 2012–Pre Rally Day 0

This rally actually began for us on Thursday evening with a quick trip to the Blue Heron Bike Shop in Onalaska after an evening call from shop owner, Kevin. He did the impossible for us again by completing repairs at record speed—the tandem was ready to roll. This now meant we could fulfill our plan of biking from home to the PIGS Rally in Cresco, Iowa. This day was also our 32^nd wedding anniversary and as a gift, I finally received silver. No, it did not fit around my neck but to all who understand bike parts, it was a very substantial gift: A Phil Wood hub for the tandem’s rear wheel and boy is it sweet! We thanked Kevin and drove home to pack our panniers for our self-supported trip to Iowa.

Friday, August 10, 2012–Day 1
Home to Cresco, Iowa: 58.53 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 4 hours 41 minutes, average speed 12.4

We left home this Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. surrounded by birds singing and puffy white clouds dancing across the blue sky. We were bound for Cresco, Iowa to attend our 5^th PIGS (Paired Iowans Going Somewhere) Tandem Rally. The van would be staying home using only pedal-power to make this trip.

We biked on country roads to Lanesboro, MN where we picked up the Root River bike trail followed by the Harmony-Preston trail that took us south into Harmony for a quick lunch stop at “The Crunchie Side”. The food here was great and the staff made us feel like old friends. After licking our plates clean, we were sent on our way with wishes for a safe journey.

The next cue on our route sheet instructed us to find Hwy 139 to continue south towards Iowa. This roadway was unfamiliar territory but we found it to be lightly travelled with rolling hills and paved shoulders once we left Minnesota. Just over the border we began to see signs for Cresco and watched for the Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail that would lead us directly into Cresco and to the Super 8 motel—host accommodations for this rally.

Liz was at the desk of the Motel when we arrived early for check in. She had our room ready on the ground floor to allow our bike to join us in our room. We removed our 50-pound luggage from the bike and returned to the lobby to await the arrival of Dwight and Pat Beavers, the PIGS 2012 Rally organizers. As registration commenced, it was evident that this was going to be another charged PIGS Rally—what a lively group! Robert and Faith Ericsson were in the crowd as were Quinten and Glorie Ann Robley whom we haven’t seen for a few years.

Friday, August 10, 2012–Day 1

Ice Cream Ride: 10.07 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 1 hour 8 minutes, average speed 8.8

The Ice Cream ride was scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and all 23 teams were ready to ride through the town of Cresco in search of our ice cream treat. While enjoying our treat, Dwight entertained us with his famed banana song. A small group of riders then gathered at the Teluwut Grill House & Pub to visit and have a drink. Keith Wherry, volunteer and Cresco bike shop owner, escorted us through town towing his hand-made trailer behind his bike. When it came time to head back to the Motel, I was invited for a spin in his chariot. Faith was charged with taking photos but she just wasn’t quick enough for the fast legs of Keith Wherry. We all followed Keith back to our Motel, huddled close in the dark of the night.

Saturday, August 11, 2012–Day 2

Long Route to Decorah: 59.77 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 4 hours 48 minutes, average speed 12.4

After breakfast in the Motel lobby, the teams met to ride. We headed south of town at 8:30 a.m. 50% of today’s riding was on trails and 50% was on the hilly roads of Iowa. We travelled as far southeast as Decorah where lunch was served at the Elks Lodge—the sandwiches were very good.

Our trip to Decorah included an unplanned surprise: Ward Bugweg agreed to take us on a private bicycle tour of his town. Ward and his wife, Jackie, were scheduled as guest speakers at our evening banquet. We learned that they just got back from bicycling around the world—a trip that took them 3 years. We felt honored to have Ward as our guide. He took us to some of the geological sights found in Decorah and we even had the chance to go caving.

Ward and Jackie parted from us at the town of Calmar and we continued our journey back to Cresco on the Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail, making it back to the Motel just in time to ready ourselves for the 5:30 p.m. social—a mile walk for us.

The Prairie Farmer Rec. Trail was named for a radio show once broadcast throughout the Midwest. The trail occupies the right-of-way of the former Milwaukee Railroad, which ran between Calmar to Cresco through these parts.

The banquet was fun and Ward and Jackie’s talk was very interesting. However, Dennis and I decided we would not be seeking to follow in their footsteps. Our adventures will remain on the calmer side compared to the challenges faced by this young couple. Their adventures are posted at:

http://fromthebenchesoftheworld.blogspot.com.

As we walked back to the Motel, we decided we would join the group once more for a Sunday breakfast being served at Keith and Mary Wheery’s and then we would depart for our 60-mile trip back home. So far the weather has cooperated. We needed just one more day.

Sunday, August 12, 2012–Day 3

Cresco to Home: 58.28 miles
Tandem Pedal Time: 4 hours 49 minutes, average speed 12.0

It was agreed the night before to begin this final rally day by biking to the Wheery’s home in Cresco for breakfast. All teams were to meet at the Super 8 Motel at 7:00 a.m. and ride out together. We were in agreement until we checked the forecast for the day. We said our goodbyes in the lobby of the Motel explaining that we wanted to get as far towards home as we could before the predicted rain caught up to us. As we pulled away, it was apparent that most riders chose to leave their bikes in their vehicles and drive to the breakfast gathering then head for home.

On this closing day of the 2012 Summer Olympics, we were faced with an Olympic challenge of our own—climbing the many hills of this un-glaciated region of SE Minnesota. Home was 58 miles away and we anticipated rain during the journey. We reached Harmony, MN by 8:30 a.m. and stopped at the Village Square for breakfast. We are never alone on these journeys. We always have great friends calling to check on us. After ordering our food, Michelle and Alan called. They had planned to bike out to meet us on the Harmony-Preston Trail but the possibility of rain changed those plans. Dennis and I suggested they stay home and dry. We then continued biking down the Root River Trail with a planned stop in Lanesboro to check the weather radar. We had a small window of clear skies so made the decision to climb out of town on Hwy 250. We had to encourage each other to keep the momentum going. With 40 miles on the bike, we were thankful the traffic we encountered respected our right to be on the road. It’s funny that we would meet one driver coming out of Lanesboro—the bicycle center of MN—that did not appreciate seeing us on the road. He chose to harass us with his continued use of his horn. We can only hope that our friendly smiles as he passed made his day a bit brighter.

We managed to crawl to the top of this category #5 hill powering our 50+-year-old bodies on with the determination of a true Olympic team. We were awarded the gold that awaits every cyclist at the top of any challenging climb. We now knew we could make it the rest of the way home without needing to call for back up. We still had more hills to climb but the miles remaining were decreasing quickly. The rain did hold off until we reached home which reminds us that the best biking conditions can be found on cloudy days even when rain is in the forecast.

The PIGS rally is always an enjoyable event. The 23 teams attending were well-fed and entertained throughout the weekend making this gathering another tandem rally success thanks to the organization of Dwight and Pat Beavers and their team of volunteers.

Happy to be HOME!

Total 2012 PIGS Rally biking miles: 186

Paddle and Pedal

RRT Paddle & Pedal: 14 miles Paddle/30 miles Pedal
TANDEM Pedal Time: 2 hours 19 minutes, average speed 12.9

The van was ready to go with the kayak on top and the tandem tucked inside. We were joining the River Rambler Kayak Club for an organized trip on the North Branch of the Root River.

We met up with 11 other boaters at the Eagle Cliff Campground near Whalan at 10:00 and all boats were in the water by 11:00. Joe Reischel was responsible for bringing this group together for this event.

The north branch of the Root was surrounded by towering rock formations which is a side of the Root we rarely get a chance to see. Other than the water level being low and the boat scraping on many rocks, the trip went well. It wasn’t until the last two miles when we met up with many tubers that caution and concentration was a must. One of our boaters capsized while trying to maneuver around a group of tubers, canoes and rocks—she escaped without a scratch and had quite a story to tell at day’s end.

We all made it back to the campground by 3:30 p.m. which allowed Dennis and I to unload the tandem and get some pedal time in. Our first mission was to pedal to the Barn Resort for food. We were quite hungry after paddling for 4 hours.

We then biked on to Preston and beyond. Our plan was to get 30 miles on this last day of June to boost our total monthly miles above 300. We reached and exceeded our goal and sailed back into Lanesboro before the sun set. We packed the bike and discussed how wonderful a clean shower will feel after this day of labor on the Root.

June 2012 — Total Biking Miles 315.71
Accumulative Miles 1354.28

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