That makes sense. It's still sad, though. And no amount of internet content can fully make up for very recent, just-a-few-hours-old news about local conditions.

Used to be the need to get information cyclists would stop to talk. But with the internet there's almost too much information and the novelty of meeting other cyclists has worn off I think.
Even in hostels now, people stay in the common room and stare at their devices rather than talk to each other.

I wouldn't have a touring frame built of any other material.

Loads of nice trails to choose from.

Agreed on the not-so-much-stopping thing. Not sure why...

Our bikes are steel framed too, since 1992 Patrick's Vittorio (Dutch) and Rachel Davidson (Seattle)

Hi checking your journal for research of our upcoming month loop in MN trying to connect rails-trails as much as possible.
We have found over the years we've seen a change, less and less cycle touring cyclists stop to talk.
Racpat

Thanks Bill! I figured you'd like a journal that focuses on your home state. :)

Keith, I’m enjoying your writing and pictures and appreciate your attention to landscapes, geology, the natural and built environments, and people!

One random fact about Superior, Wisconsin: Bud Grant was born and raised there. I recommend reading his Wikipedia entry. He is the winningest coach in the history of the Minnesota Vikings and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He is in the NFL and Canadian Football Halls of Fame. He lettered in three sports at the University of Minnesota: football, baseball, and basketball. He played both professional football (for the Philadelphia Eagles) and basketball (for the Minneapolis Lakers, winning an NBA title). He is the fifth-most winningest coach in pro football history and coached the Blue Bombers for 10 years and the Vikings for 18 years.

In the case of the rail trails, it’s mainly heavy snowmobiles, some of which are probably not following trail rules about how to equip their snowmobiles. The rest is the horrible freeze/thaw cycles Minnesota experiences. Our weather is terrible for our roads and trails. It doesn’t help when trail cracks don’t get filled. Then water gets in there, freezes, and leads to even more heaving. It’s a real shame because ewe do have an awful lot of miles of rail trails. Sadly most of those miles are in such poor condition, they are no longer pleasant to ride.

That's an issue on many of the trails we used. I was blaming tree roots growing under and heaving the asphalt.

Joints between segments of a concrete road on Day 2 made for ten or more miles of very unpleasant riding as well.

I rode the Paul Bunyan trail a couple years ago. The cracks are not pleasant. Thank goodness for a helmet or I would have had a concussion riding a recumbent without suspension on that trail. In the winter they allow snowmobiles and I Susie t that’s quite hard on the trail surface. I don’t plan to ride there a second time. The lake wobegon trail is befalling a similar fate except with large tufts of grass in the cracks.

Yes. Despite sleeping well and the two rest days, fatigue builds up when I'm touring.

Boy, you must've been really tired to be in bed and asleep by 7:20!

Certainly the first I've ever seen.