Day 38. Red Wing
47 miles 2,592 feet
I miscalculated distance and instead of planning a 70 mile day I made a reservation in a town 47 miles from Stillwater, with the next day's stay 66 miles further. Undoing this would mean changing 2 reservations, so I decided to take a shorter day. As it turns out, this is the sort of serendipity that makes for a great trip.
I left the Water Street Inn just before 6 am and had a latte and breakfast sandwich at the early-opening coffee shop. I spoke with a man who used to be a trapper in the area and told him that I'd seen a badger and red foxes. The latter are common but badgers are rare, so I was lucky. I started early even though temperatures were predicted to drop some with humidity remaining high. The ACA route out of Stillwater climbed quickly and steeply but led to a quieter road for the trip south. I reached Prescott by 9:15 and had the earliest lunch I can remember, but I was hungry and the coffee shop had great sandwiches. As the heat rose and the road climbed, I felt better about the error leading to a shorter day but still wondered how I would pass the time if I arrived in Red Wing at 2 pm. Even stopping for lemonade I reached Red Wing across the Mississippi early. I soon discovered what a jewel it is. So in summary, if someone wonders why one takes bike trips, today was a great example: It is very unlikely I would have visited Red Wing, Minnesota, on any other type of trip.
The little town of 16,000 people is loaded with beautiful old buildings, including headquarters for Red Wing Shoes. You may remember them as a brand for heavy duty use such as construction workers, but they also make Vasque hiking boots (advisors: Jim Whittaker and Yvon Chouinard) and leather footwear of many kinds. There are historic hotels, a great bike shop, shops and many churches. Flowers are everywhere. They have summer concerts in the city park, plays, hikes, Mississippi trips, and an Amtrak station that connects with Seattle. In short, this was not just any small town. I had a wonderful afternoon exploring and shopping ending with dinner at the historic hotel overlooking the Mississippi.
I'm staying in the Pratt Taber Inn Victorian B&B with wonderful hosts Deb and Ron (they did my laundry and are getting up early to make me breakfast) and the place is on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a very far cry from my typical lodging and no more expensive.
Tomorrow after the full breakfast I'll bike a longer distance (I rechecked my math) to Winona, which is about 1/3 the way from Stillwater to Muscatine Iowa, where I turn east again. This is beautiful country.
I miscalculated distance and instead of planning a 70 mile day I made a reservation in a town 47 miles from Stillwater, with the next day's stay 66 miles further. Undoing this would mean changing 2 reservations, so I decided to take a shorter day. As it turns out, this is the sort of serendipity that makes for a great trip.
I left the Water Street Inn just before 6 am and had a latte and breakfast sandwich at the early-opening coffee shop. I spoke with a man who used to be a trapper in the area and told him that I'd seen a badger and red foxes. The latter are common but badgers are rare, so I was lucky. I started early even though temperatures were predicted to drop some with humidity remaining high. The ACA route out of Stillwater climbed quickly and steeply but led to a quieter road for the trip south. I reached Prescott by 9:15 and had the earliest lunch I can remember, but I was hungry and the coffee shop had great sandwiches. As the heat rose and the road climbed, I felt better about the error leading to a shorter day but still wondered how I would pass the time if I arrived in Red Wing at 2 pm. Even stopping for lemonade I reached Red Wing across the Mississippi early. I soon discovered what a jewel it is. So in summary, if someone wonders why one takes bike trips, today was a great example: It is very unlikely I would have visited Red Wing, Minnesota, on any other type of trip.
The little town of 16,000 people is loaded with beautiful old buildings, including headquarters for Red Wing Shoes. You may remember them as a brand for heavy duty use such as construction workers, but they also make Vasque hiking boots (advisors: Jim Whittaker and Yvon Chouinard) and leather footwear of many kinds. There are historic hotels, a great bike shop, shops and many churches. Flowers are everywhere. They have summer concerts in the city park, plays, hikes, Mississippi trips, and an Amtrak station that connects with Seattle. In short, this was not just any small town. I had a wonderful afternoon exploring and shopping ending with dinner at the historic hotel overlooking the Mississippi.
I'm staying in the Pratt Taber Inn Victorian B&B with wonderful hosts Deb and Ron (they did my laundry and are getting up early to make me breakfast) and the place is on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a very far cry from my typical lodging and no more expensive.
Tomorrow after the full breakfast I'll bike a longer distance (I rechecked my math) to Winona, which is about 1/3 the way from Stillwater to Muscatine Iowa, where I turn east again. This is beautiful country.
Pre-dawn on the St. Croix in Stillwater.
The brown colored water is from the Mississippi. The clear water is from the St. Croix. This picture is at their confluence.
Lemonade break on the Mississippi, at Mr. Sippi.
My B&B: Pratt Taber Inn
Red Wing, Minnesota street
