Bena, to Grand Rapids, MN

Friday, September 5, 2003
Distance Cycled: 46 miles
Total elevation gain: 160 feet

We left Judd's Resort around 8:15AM and headed back down the road toward the Big Fish restaurant. Gary took some pictures of the big fish and we then turned left onto Hwy US 2. We finally reached the town of Bena, where we almost missed the restaurant for breakfast because it was on a side street to US 2. We realized that we had missed the restaurant when we reached Denny's resort because the restaurant was supposed to be across the road from this resort. We turned around and went back a 100 yards to the side street and found the restaurant where we had a very good breakfast.

During breakfast, Becky and Gary began discussing the route that we were going to be riding for the rest of the day. Ann asked the waitress if there were any towns between Bena and Grand Rapids. During the answer, the waitress stated that a group of 200 bicycle riders had stopped at their restaurant that summer and they had ridden north instead of south like the Adventure Cycling Association maps indicated. The waitress also said how great the scenery was and Ann jumped at the thought of riding a route that was not just trees to see. To make a long story short, we went north and crossed the Mississippi River at the exit of Lake Winnibigoshish.

As a result, we had the wind at our backs at the start of the day and the wind partially against us for the rest of the day. We also ended the day riding the shoulder of Hwy 2, a four-lane highway the last 15 miles.

When we got into Grand Rapids we stopped at an information booth where a friendly lady told us where all the motels were located. Gary used a phone at the information booth and began calling the motels. Several of the motels either did not have any non smoking rooms left or did not have three rooms left. Many of the motels had a rate of $77.00 per night less a 10% discount. Finally, he found enough rooms at a Super 8 motel where the rate was less than $50.00. I made sure that Mary Kay and I would have a room on the ground floor because it is almost impossible to take the tandem recumbent up stairs. I have done it but it is really difficult.

We left the information booth and headed south to the motel. We crossed the Mississippi River and had to slow down for a traffic light behind which was the biggest hill we had all day. We climbed 70 feet of our total climbed for the day on that one hill. Three traffic lights later and all downhill we reached the motel where we registered, and took a good shower. The group decided to go to Applebee's for supper. We thought it was just 3 blocks from the motel when it was really about 8 blocks to Applebee's. After 3 blocks we decided that Quizno's Subs would be a great substitute. After supper we went to the movies and saw "Seabiscuit". Which was a very good movie.