Tuesday May 22, 2018
Total Milage Today: 39.39
To our final destination.... Duluth here we come!!
The morning started out fine, Katie rolled her thighs out (good thing Jimmy brought the foam roller) and they felt pretty okay compared to yesterday. It hurt like hell rolling out tight muscles but the end result is worth it. Our knees are starting to hurt... thank goodness for knee braces.
We made it about 3 miles before Katie had a mental breakdown (she actually held out longer than she thought she would). Just cried, not sure really why, her body was aching, mentally Katie was not prepared and all there, she just wanted to stop and quit, and all she could do was cry! Jimmy felt horrible and Katie got him rethinking Alaska (a trip he has always wanted to do). Not what Katie was trying to do BUT she was a mess and couldn't help it.
We rode to the next "big" town, Moose Lake, and stopped to regroup with some fresh coffee and food made from scratch at the Lazy Moose. Good food and service and a time to just collect our lives back together. Katie knew she was going to have breakdowns but didn't think it would be on day 3 on our small trip..... what can you do though! Sitting at Lazy Moose Jimmy got to talk with Jasper (who we are going to stay with in Superior) when we learned that Jimmy lied to Jasper. Jimmy told Jasper that we were going to be up there a day later... so on to plan B. Instead of going to Duluth today, we are going to stay in Jay Cooke State Park, about 20 miles right outside Duluth. Lighter day today it is, which is probably best for Katie to get herself back together.
We stopped to put on sunscreen and Katie took off her silicone ring and set it on her seat. Reminding herself to get it before they started to ride again, she forget. About 4 miles later we stopped to read a sign and Katie noticed her ring was not on her finger anymore.... this is why on trips you don't wear your actual rings! She had a little freak out and then looked down and it was on the ground. She had sat on it and didn't move until they stopped... luck right there. This has happened to Jimmy with his actual wedding ring before at work (this is why we can't have nice things).
We are on a budget (being unemployed can be scary at times) but Jimmy was really on a food kick today! We stopped at a "gas station" and got some cheese curds, a Reese and tea. Thank goodness for the Reese and tea because the cheese curds were absolutely disgusting.
The next big town, Carlton, we stop to eat again.... you really have to plump up for a 4,500 mile bike ride (at least we keep telling ourselves this). This time we had some GOOD cheese curds!!!
3 more miles into Jay Cooke and we are home for the evening! Fun Fact: You have to pay for a pass for the Minnesota State Parks, seems kind of silly to Katie, BUT it is free entry if you ride your bikes in! Have to give a shout out to the nice ranger lady who helped us with our site even though the office was closed. Off to site #82 we go. We set up the tent and get our beds ready for the night, it was super nice to be able to set up camp and walk away. We didn't have to worry about someone messing with our stuff.
We went down to the river to cool off and actually relax. We saw the famous Jay Cooke Swinging Bridge, rebuilt from the 2012 flood. What a gorgeous state park!! It was the perfect zen spot to just be. So relaxing listening to the river flow, watching the birds, starring at the trees.... just great to be in nature! Jimmy took a little swim in the river, it was freezing!!! Katie lightly just washed up, it did feel good to not be sticky anymore from sweat and sun screen. We saw 6 1/2 crawfish (one was on his last hour of life) after Jimmy went for his swim. :)
The morning was rough but it turned out to be a good day. Katie learned today that she does not do well just waking up and riding for 50-70 miles. She needs a moment to awaken and coffee before facing the day. Better now to figure this out instead of in the middle of nowhere Alaska where you are kind of shit out of luck, you just have to keep going straight.
Back to the tent to lay down and read, we both finished our books! Katie - Look Me In The Eye and Jimmy - Thank You For Your Service. Good reads! A little card playing and pondering of life.... "I don't understand nature, why do ticks and mosquitoes exist?" - Katie. We had 6 ticks crawling on our tent and mosquitoes just LOVE Katie. Oh the things we ponder about life! Now just letting the birds sing us to sleep.
Goodnight world ... our final day!
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