Day 32 - Hutchenson to Minneapolis and our first sighting of the Mississippi River

The day began on the scenic Luce Line rail trail, a tree-lined and paved bike path, offering a refreshing change from our usual rides along highway shoulders. However, within about 10 miles, we encountered a "trail closed" sign. Little did we know, this would happen to us three or four more times during our 80-mile, relatively flat journey into the Twin Cities. Navigating around closures and dealing with rough pavement caused by roots lifting the trails were the main challenges of an otherwise enjoyable ride into an urban area - not many urban areas on our route across America!

About 80 to 90 percent of our ride was on trails. After the Luce Line we spent a big part of our day on the Dakota Rail trail. Heading back East means more cycling infrastructure and more trees, providing glorious shade! Today we got a taste of it. Being on trails allows us to see more people and fellow cyclists, leading to great conversations and people-watching. some days on the open road in the past few weeks we'd be lucky to see one or two other cyclists.

From Hutchenson, we rode East most the day to the waterfront in Minneapolis and then headed in a southerly direction toward the Minneapolis / St. Paul Airport. We concluded our day near the river by the airport. The team was exceptionally tired at the finish, likely because we were aware that our next day was our second rest day of the trip and we had been pushing through the week in anticipation of getting the day off. Personally, I was really looking forward to a full day away from my bike! I know I was not alone!

Tonight we have a celebration in Minneapolis with The Seeing Eye - a kind of "we're halfway there" event with some graduates that live in the area. On Saturday, we will get on our bikes and head down the mighty Mississippi to the Lacross, Wisconsin area. This will take two days. From there we head east to Milwaukee via Madison, Wisconsin. This will take another three days we hope to complete. Then on to Michigan! In Madison, where my sisters live, we will have a gathering - fund raiser as well. Onward and eastward, we go!