Day 31 - Wednesday, July 22 - Mankato to Rochester

Departed Mankato for a 100 mile ride to Rochester by attacking a steep hill about a block from the hotel. The flowery picture just before this hill shows a stately steeple with a statue on top.

We rolled over a whole lot of corn and bean fields, with plenty of hog production buildings interspersed, on our way to the first SAG stop; it was at a nice park on one of the lakes so many Minnesota towns are built near.

Our second SAG stop was at the town of West Concord, another clean, tidy, and proud town. It sported a nice shelter and fifties era mural.

The road always hold surprises. This one was closed due to installation of a new culvert. Unlike a car, we merely picked up our bikes and walked around the construction zone.

Arriving in Rochester we followed a goose and goose dropping decorated bike trail. This trail saved us a lot of muscling our way through tough Rochester traffic.

Ken says: Tom has already told you about the 200' high three block long wake up call a block from the hotel. Tough after just having eaten breakfast and with legs still not warmed up. Overall the terrain became more hilly today. 2400' of climbing in today's 100 miles as compared to 1000' of climbing in 102 miles yesterday. The farms look like farms looked at in my childhood, many outbuildings, barns, sheds, etc, all in good repair.

This picture was taken a couple of days ago and we were having trouble uploading photos. I was wondering if this brought back memories to anyone else, check out the name of the theater.

This picture was also taken two days ago and this is typical as we ride into these towns, the grain storage facilities loom over the town.

Finally, two pictures for Joe. Occasionally in the course of a day several cyclists venture into the fields along the roads to check on the progress of the crops. The futures market, you know! I am happy to report that there are two ears per stalk, so that bodes well for the corn crop in Minnesota.