The rain had already started to gently fall as we headed south on University Drive. The weather forecast had given a 60% chance of rain with the high in the 60’s, and wind clocking 15 from the NW. By the time we hit the small town of Downer, we were soaked. We stopped outside a small convenient store to take a break and get out of the rain. I devoured my banana, while Matt ate is nature valley bar. This was the first day that we would be riding the entire day in the rain, but I didn’t care because the wind was still pushing us from behind. As we stood there, my body temperature started to drop and I began to get chilled, and so that was the signal to jump back on the bike to warm up. As we road along lakes and past corn fields, the PUDs actually aided in keeping us warm. My body created heat on the up-hills that lasted until the next climb. I actually looked forward to the hills, knowing the warmth that would surround me. As we started to get closer to the next town of Cormorant, the road started to deteriorate. The shoulder became small, and the gravel turned into sand. The roads themselves were not in great shape. Every few feet, there would be a long crack that my tires would ride over, pressing my seat further into the sores on my bottom. My bike would jolt and bump with each turn of the pedals and the vibration from the uneven cement and cracks would travel through my soaked gloves. This portion was very uncomfortable to say the least. I could only imagine the ice, snow, salt and rain that each year is dumped on these paved roads. A simple price for living in Northern Minnesota. Around noon we made it into Cormorant and got out of the rain at the local hardware/grocery store. We ate trail mix, apples and drank hot coffee. While walking back to the bathroom, I noticed wet footprints being left from my shoes. Over the bathroom sink, I rang out my socks and poured the water from my shoes. Having to put both the socks and the soaked shoes back on was just part of the mileage today. Not all days can be sunny with a strong tailwind. We left the store and finished our day in Pelican rapids. Aunt Mary and Uncle Jim Newton picked us up and loaded our bikes onto a self-made bike rack that they had built on the flatbed they were pulling behind. They took us back to their amazing home in Otter Tail, where we got to dry out our things, warm up and catch up over Mexican burritos and margaritas.
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