Day 32: Mid-ride stop in Nisswa, MN!

After a hearty breakfast I hit the road around 09:30. The morning was warm, sunny and absolutely windless. I was riding hwy 10 east, which is moderately hilly (but the hills aren’t very big) and had my first morning snack in Motley- 25 miles from Wadena- after only 1 hour and 20 minutes! I don’t know what my average riding speed will be in relatively flat terrain with no wind simce I haven’t see much of either at this point… The terrain is different now- more meadows and grasslands with mixed conifer & decidious woods and low swampy areas with lots of cattail marshes. Very pretty through which to ride. I finally picked up the Paul Bunyan bike trail near Baxter and rode that about 12 miles north.  Then a couple of miles later arrived at our friends Mike & Mia’s house on beautiful Garden Lake, near Nisswa. Janet flies in tomorrow and we will spend 4 or 5 rest days here!!! Daily mileage: 60, trip miles: 1,915. 

The Crow Wing River just outside of Motley, MN. Most of the rivers are very dark and tannic looking:

Typical landscapes between Motley and Baxter, MN:

Hwy 210 was moderately busy but not straight and has a nice shoulder:

The Paul Bunyan bike trail was great!

An interesting day lilly along the bike trail:

Gull lake- most of the lakes have lots of white and yellow water lillies and are not developed right down to the water:

My reward at the end of the ride- a lovely cold Two Hearted Ale made in Comstock, MI: