Day 31: Mankato to Rochester, MN

It's amazing how much corn is grown here. We saw 100 miles of corn today, the second of two consecutive centuries. The farms here are neat and well maintained, typical of the northern European inhabitants. The Great Plains have ended and there are hills in the road again. The roads were very bumpy, with frequent expansion joints, which is uncomfortable for riders. Rochester had a pretty bike path along the river to our hotel. I am tired today, especially in the butt.

Day 30: Worthington to Mankato, MN

The first of two back-to-back centuries, and I rode it in 6 hours...a personal record. Mostly we rode between vast fields of corn and soy beans, and passed giant silos and ethanol plants. In Madelia, we saw the mural depicting the capture of the James Gang!!!

Day 29: Sioux Falls, SD to Worthington, MN

The first steady rain of the tour. We dressed in rain gear and set out past the Sioux Falls (shown). Twenty miles more in the rain and we entered Minnesota. From there the weather improved as we crossed the flat cultivated landscape of MN. We loved the hotel staff because they asked for our soggy bike clothes and put them in the washer and dryer, and served freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with RAP. Everyone is tired of the cafetaria food we eat, but we had a good dinner at the Ground Round.