When I woke up at 5:30 a.m., it was pouring rain! I was really hoping we wouldn’t get caught in it, and we agreed last night that it was a possibility. So, I let Jordan sleep in until 7:00 a.m. After breakfast, we packed up and headed out. Packing was a breeze once Shelley took the trailer and all the gear. It gave us a little confidence that we might get close to home today.
We left at 7:45 AM and rode hard because Highway 15 was super busy and scary. People were being rude, so I was being extra careful. We could only handle about 4 miles (we should have been able to go less, but there wasn’t much else to do) before we spotted 170th Street and turned right. Here we go again, trying to be safe and make the best of it. We decided to take Highway 169, which we thought would be a better option.
Highway 169 was okay for about 3 miles. Then, it got rough, and riding on the shoulder was a real challenge. There wasn’t much else to do for 10 miles on Highway 30. We had already ridden 14 miles of pure danger in the first 27 miles! Jordan wasn’t too happy with me, and I tried to explain that I had done my best. At this point, we were just really eager to get home and finish the trip!
We were really hoping that Highway 22 would be a significant improvement in Mankato, but it wasn’t. The road was near the worst we’d ever seen, and Jordan kept yelling at me for taking such a wrong route. I had two flat tires! We also experienced heavy rain, road construction, and drivers who were like Mad Max (for those of you who get the reference). Neither of us had a good time, and we stopped several times to regain our composure. We finally arrived in Mankato at 12:45 PM, which was nice, even though we were soaked from the heavy rain. I was worried that the cars wouldn't be able to see us when it was raining.
Even though we averaged over 16 mph, we had well over 2 hours of stopping, mainly to calm our nerves because it was SO BAD!!!!
Upon discovering a Subway restaurant, we engaged in a discussion about the remaining 74 miles to our destination. We recognized the possibility of returning home today if we curtailed our break. This would result in a day exceeding 130 miles. We estimated that it was feasible to complete the journey by 9:00 PM, provided that we remained issue-free. By 1:30 PM, we had commenced our ride. We are both eager to reach our destination.
Initially, we anticipated riding the subsequent 35 miles on a well-maintained bike trail. However, upon reaching the trail, we encountered an old and uneven surface. Jordan once again expressed his criticism of my planning. Fortunately, heavy rainfall had prevented us from being on the road. The rain was so intense that we sought shelter at one point.
After 18 miles on the newly constructed trail, we experienced a significant improvement. The trail was smooth and at least 12 feet wide, providing a welcome respite after the previous 18 miles of rough and old terrain. We averaged approximately 11 miles per hour on the bumpy trail.
Upon our arrival in Faribault, Minnesota, at 4:39 PM, we had completed a day’s journey of 95.58 miles, commencing at 6:31:17 AM. This distance excludes the time spent dining and repairing flat tires. Our total travel time since departing from the hotel had reached 8 hours and 25 minutes. Approximately 36 miles remained to be covered. Despite our exhaustion, we experienced a slight surge of excitement. This positive sentiment was further bolstered when I was informed that the road conditions were favorable, with a well-maintained shoulder for the majority of the remaining journey. Although the rain had subsided, we were aware of the potential for another wave of precipitation.
The remaining distance to Northfield, Minnesota, was a mere 12 miles. Initially, the wind and rain held off for the first 10 miles, but an intense wave of wind and rain subsequently emerged. Exhausted and contemplating calling for assistance for the final 25 miles, Jordan offered me a ride. He mounted a toy bike and exclaimed, “Let’s go!” This unexpected turn of events lifted my spirits, and we embarked on a 25-mile journey. Jordan remarked, “It is less than a marathon, and we have bikes!”
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We returned home at 8:30 PM, and we were thoroughly exhausted. We had ridden 130.3 miles in 9 hours and 11 minutes and spent 12 hours and 9 minutes today (including tire repairs, dealing with significant rain delays, and meals).
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Summary of Day 11:
The total distance covered on the bike was 130.3 miles, with an average speed of 14.2 miles per hour (excluding breaks). The total riding time was 9 hours and 11 minutes. The day’s total riding time exceeded 12 hours, with a temperature range of 59°F at the beginning to nearly 75°F at the peak.
According to Garmin Connect, the total ascent was 2,188 feet, while the descent was 2,370 feet. This indicates that significant elevation changes characterized the ride.
The day’s elevation change was a 504-foot decrease, with the overall elevation decreasing from 1,460 feet to 956 feet.
Our 10-mile splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is based only on riding time) were:
0-10 in 0:37:57 - 17.2 mph
10-20 in 0:36:22 - 16.5 mph
20-30 in 0:45:55 - 15.4 mph
30-40 in 1:05:29 - 15.4 mph
40-50 in 0:56:25 - 13.7 mph
50-60 in 1:44:15 - 11.9 mph
60-70 in 0:48:07 - 14.3 mph
70-80 in 1:05:28 - 13.6 mph
80-90 in 0:38:13 - 16.5 mph
90-100 in 1:06:01 - 13.8 mph
100-110 in 1:02:20 - 11.8 mph
110-120 in 0:48:36 - 13.7 mph
120-130 in 0:51:49 - 13 mph
The trip totaled 908.9 riding miles in 71 hours, 12 minutes, and 46 seconds. The average pace was 12.76 mph!
A video Shelley took of us arriving. It was a day to remember!
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