Lakes to Mountains Tour

Lemonade Day

(That's what you make when life hands you lemons...)
 
Fri May 2: Chatfield to Fairibault: 89 miles; 53 at 4:00, overcast, fog, sprinkles mid-day, downpour late; 8:10-5:20
It's never a good sign when I walk into the school and the secretary asks, "Who are you?"
Chris, the director, came out with the classic deer-in-the-headlights look. "Oh. Was that for today?" We stepped into his office, where he checked his schedule. "Oh, dear. I am really sorry, but we have a fashion show going on today. Would you like to reschedule?"
To be honest, the news didn't surprise me. When I'd scheduled my schools, I'd thought Chris seemed rather blase about it, rather distracted. Rather than fret about it now, I tried to turn it into a positive. Since the forecast had changed, and now said rain wouldn't arrive until late afternoon, I had time to ride the Douglas Trail and head for Fairibault. That would let me ride the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail on Saturday, possibly the most scenic of the trails as it rolled by a string of lakes.
Of course, they got the forecast wrong. Sprinkles began before I could get out of downtown Rochester, continuing until I stopped for lunch. Still, the Douglas Trail, though wet, was a big improvement over fighting traffic (and traffic spray) as it rolled north through a corridor of trees.
In Pine Island, the cafe staff and the patrons jumped to my aid when I asked for directions. Though the road they directed me to didn't end up where they said it would, it still got me to the country roads I needed to get west. As I neared Fairibault, the fog thickened, and mist began wetting my sunglasses.
I stopped at the first C-store in town for directions to a motel, and found the nearest one was still two miles away. When I hopped back on the bike, the rain began in earnest. Ten minutes later, one drenched bicyclist pulled into the Galaxy Inn and got his room.
Now the weatherman is threatening that snow may fall (but not stick) tomorrow morning. I may have a wet, chilly ride on my last trail. However, I did find a family to stay with tomorrow night, so things are looking up...

posted by Glen @ 8:04 PM