Day 29, Wednesday, Sept 20th Enderlin, ND – Otter Tail County, MN 81 miles, Total Miles 1,965 ascent 1,056
I am excited for the day! I will be arriving sometime today back in Minnesota! I love my State and so proud of all it has to offer! The don’t call me Minnesota Mike for nothing!
Another sunny relatively calm day. The wind has shifted coming from the north, should be crosswinds today and that is okay. On roads with no shoulder and busy traffic.
Not using my Adventure Cycling road maps today. Route has me going through Fargo and I do not want to go the 20 miles north, so will stay south and head to Barnesville, MN.
Crossed over to Minnesota around 11am. Making real good time, I am motivated!!
Using Google Cycle Maps and of course it puts me on a gravel road for a couple miles. I arrive in Barnesville and Yes!! They have a Dairy Queen, DQ is headquartered in Minnesota and this is the first one I have come across on my trip. Order my chicken strip basket and a medium butterfinger blizzard.
I hit the road for my afternoon ride, still not sure where I will end up tonight or if I will be camping. a few miles in and I hear a kerplunk! My tent strapped on my back rack comes loose and lands on the shoulder of the road. Luckily. I heard it drop and pulled over and secured it back on my bike rack.
I get back on my bike and notice up ahead on a pull off from the road there is a Mom and her Daughter holding a small sign and jumping up and down doing some kind of Irish Jig! Are they selling lemonade or something? ‘Yes! I will stop and buy some. Chill out!’
As I get closer to my amazement and surprise it is my daughter Megan and my granddaughter, Mikinley!! So surprised! So happy to see them!!we hugged and chatted!
I send them on a mission to find us a place to stay for the night. They found a motel about 15 miles up the road at The Lake Inn at Dunville. A perfect motel with a pool and hot tub! So perfect! Definitely the nicest motel I have stayed in this whole trip! We jumped in the pool when I arrived.
We went to Zorbaz on the lake and had pizza for dinner. Tomorrow night is my last night on the road and we are planning to camp together. Two more days of riding and I should be at my stopping point in Crosslake. I can’t believe my cycling adventure is almost over. Rain is now suppose to hold off till Friday or Saturday.
Day 30, Thursday, Sept. 21st. Miles 63 Total miles 2,028. Ascent 1,575
Had a great night sleep at The Lake Inn at Dunvilla, sharing the room with Megan and Miki. My heart is full! Had a nice breakfast at the motel lobby.
Off this morning to Nimrod, MN. Megan and Miki will meet me for lunch somewhere. Using my Google Cycle Maps again and never fails! Puts me on a 5 mile hilly washboard gravel road to start my ride! Third time this has happened! I swear I am not using the cycle route again!! I am sure I loosened a couple molar fillings on the bumpy gravel road under construction. Sure was pretty though with the leaves changing colors, can’t believe summer is over and fall is here!
The Minnesota wind is going to make me earn my miles today. But, that won’t sour my giddy mood of being close to home and back with my loved ones! I guess MN wind is trying to outdo ND wind, but ND is declared winner by a long shot on wind gusts not on beauty though!
Megan and Miki delivered me a warm burrito as they caught up with me and we pulled over to side of road and had a picnic. I got back on my bike and the girls went to scout out a camping site for the night around Nimrod.
I pulled into Nimrod at dinner time and met Megan and Miki at the playground behind the Nimrod Bar & Grill. We walked across park to the bar and the place is hopping for a town of 69 people! Locals at the bar are so nice and giving Miki dollar bills to play the games. She won a candy bar by pulling a plastic beer bottle out of the crane game.
The girls had set up their larger tent that afternoon and I rode down a gravel road to get to our campsite for the evening. I can get use to this Sherpa service! We had a fire, played cards and drank hot chocolate before heading into tent for my last night on the road. Will be at the cabin and ending point tomorrow.
Day 31, Last Day!! Friday, Sept. 22, Miles 54. Grand Total Miles 2,082
We were the only ones at campsite last night. Had coffee and Miki had hot chocolate. They saw me off as I started my last ride into Crosslake, MN to finish at our cabin.
Appropriately, I had an eastern wind again today. Not going to make it easy on my last day! But, no complaining, I am so happy that my body, mind, and bike held up during this epic trip! I had great weather other than the wind storms and windy hot days. Mostly dry conditions.
I rode 27 miles into Pine River and turned the corner and there was D to welcome me and join me for a late breakfast at the local cafe. She was with me to send me off on the start of my journey in Everett, WA thirty one days ago and was here to greet me at the finish in Crosslake.
After breakfast I jumped on my bike to ride the last 27 miles to the cabin. As I turned onto the cabin road I saw Brody and Miki on their bikes ready to join me and accompany me on the last couple miles. As I rode I noticed small signs on the side of the road. ‘Way to go MN Mike’ ‘Almost done’ ‘Welcome Home’ ‘1 more mile’ etc. What a nice welcome home!
As I turned the final corner for the cabin there were neighbors at the end of their driveway cheering me on. I stopped and chatted for a bit. The final few yards and Megan, D, Miki, Brody, Skyler and Crosby were at the end of our driveway cheering me home!!
I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. The support and love they provide. My life is full again!! Life is good!!
Thanks to all of you for your words of encouragement and donations to Basketsfromjojo.com
Nancy would be so proud! And we are honored to provide 300 care baskets again this year to Cancer Patients at U of MN and Methodist Hospital this fall. God Bless! Minnesota Mike
Minnesota Mike's Ride Across America 
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