Unsuspecting Cyclist Camps With Gang Of Outlaws

August 28, 2023

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

If not for a dental hygiene appointment this morning, I would have started this trip yesterday. I'm okay with waiting an extra day though. I think it'll be nice to start a bike tour with a fresh mouth, and I told the hygienist so.

"I can't think of anything better," she agreed with a bit of a laugh.

"Not in THIS world," I added, with a bigger laugh.

Here's a picture of my hygienist's handywork. Don't worry, you'll never have look into my mouth again--at least not in this journal.

When I got home from the dental office, I hastily smashed everything into my panniers, dry bag, and handlebar bag, strapped on the tent, and pedaled those glorious first turns of the crank down my driveway.

I live near the very edge of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, so I was in the rural countryside within ten minutes. And the countryside was my companion all day.

The End.

************

Some folks might wish that was the end, but I do have more to report.

Within a few miles, I came upon a road closure. I seem to be finding those things a lot in my last few tours. I've almost gotten to the point where I ignore those signs completely, and this road blockage turned out to be one of the most ignorable.

G-2 and I rode right through the dirt and sand and ditches. Out of respect, I hopped off the saddle when we came up on some workers. The workers didn't even acknowledge me in any way.

We moved on. The riding was excellent--except for the constant headwind all day, the 84-degree temperature, the sudden appearance of hills toward the end of the day, and the painful leg cramps while grinding up one of those hills. Not drinking enough water was a rookie mistake. But I'm not going to dwell on the negative. I know heat, hills, headwinds and pain are all a natural part of this cycling business.

I pulled over at a shady spot, chugged a bunch of water, walked off the cramps, and took it very slowly for the last three miles to Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.

Here are some more pictures from my day.

Home stadium of the Hampton Cardinals amateur baseball team.

You should know how fascinated I am by cows. I've got three pictures of them for you. #1

With a huff and a puff, I'm sure I could blow this house down.

Not a single denizen of Dennison is visible in this picture. A little further ahead, I did see some semblance of a town though.

I was glad to make it to the state park before the cramps in my thigh started up again. I drank more water, set up my tent and relaxed. The gnats, bees and a few mosquitoes hardly detracted from the relaxation at all.

Legend has it that the Jesse James gang hid out in his area after they robbed the First National Bank in Northfield, MN. Fantasy has it that those outlaws still roam the campground a century and a half later.

I didn't see Jesse James or Cole Younger or any of the other murderous thieves (thank goodness), but I think I saw a different celebrity at a nearby campsite. With his signature hairstyle--long hair in back, bald on top--and weird braided chin beard, I could have sworn I saw Jesse "The Body" Ventura. (No relation to Jesse James.) Either that, or it was his chubbier doppelganger.

The idea of him being at a Minnesota state park isn't that far-fetched. After all, he was the governor of our fine state for four years.

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Today's ride: 41 miles (66 km)
Total: 41 miles (66 km)

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