Day 31 Mankato MN to Rochester MN

Day 31
Mankato MN to Rochester MN
Miles Ridden  99.7
Climbing 2409 Ft.
Total Miles 2286.4
Miles To Go 1366.6


Another 100 miles today. We are chewing up  big chunks of the Minnesota map very quickly.
A number of the riders felt sluggish at the start after yesterday's long ride. The scenery wasn't special but the bike riding was very enjoyable. The roads were generally good and often deserted. We did have a brief run-in with a crazy old woman driver who pulled up close to Evin and I and stood on her horn on a very quiet country road.

A yardfull of rusty old farm equipment

The owner said 1880's and the dance hall manager lived there

After literally hundreds of miles of corn and soybean fields, I finally got to see a farmer out in his fields. It has amazed me that all these crops seemingly require no attention and that no people are ever visible.  The area's Scandinavian settlers built numerous Lutheran churches. Most of them are still in use although the population has to be much reduced.

First evidence that farmers exist

Salem Lutheran Church 

After lots of rolling hills, we got to the outskirts of Rochester. This is another of the prospering cities along the route as the new construction indicated. About 150,000 people live in the area and the Mayo Clinic employs 34,000. As much a company town as you will find. We took a meandering route through the city and ended up downtown where thirty story Mayo Clinic buildings create a big city feel for at least a few blocks. We also had to deal with an unusual  number of hostile drivers. At our hotel, the only other guests were Mayo Clinic patients or family. There were eight wheelchairs in the front lobby.

One of the many Mayo Clinic buildings

We ate at a Mongolian Barbeque which was good for hungry people but I probably overdid it on the spices.

The big discussion item was the weather forecast for tomorrow. Thunderstorms and up to two inches of rain. We don't ride if there is lightning but we are on our own if it is just rain.