uphill...next 1,500 miles

After a very difficult day passing the 2,000 mile (halfway!) threshold, we've arrived in the birthplace of Judy Garland, Grand Rapids, Minnesota. And it's quite magical, I must say. The ride was a steep uphill out of Duluth for the first two or three miles...a nice warm up...then a rolling uphill for the next 40 (by rolling, I mean some steep, some shallow, almost no downhill). In fact, this is probably the only day we've had without a significant downhill after any steep climb. And then there was the wind...it was an exceptionally windy day, out of the west at probably 15-20 mph with gusts upwards of 30 or 35. Definitely the worst headwinds we've experienced all trip...there were times where I was pedaling as hard as possible, but going only 8 or 9 mph. Lets just say it sucked...there were several points where I was ready to take my bike and throw it off a cliff. Unfortunately, there are no cliffs to be had around these parts. And we spent 73 of our 85 miles on the same road...US 2...which we'll be on probably for the next 1,500 miles to Glacier NP. No joke. But we had a wonderful and worthwhile welcome at the church, where there fruit smoothies, crackers, cheese, hummus, and cookies. I really want another smoothie, now.

Not much to talk about. I ranted for a little bit yesterday, which was just posted below and is probably a more interesting read. Here in Grand Rapids, we will cross the Mississippi for the final time (it is really really small here, the source only about an hour away at Lake Itasca) and head to Bemidji, the heart of American curling.

FUN FACT: The Bemidji men's and women's curling teams have represented the US in the 2005 World Curling Championships and the 2006 Olympic Games, where the men's team won the bronze medal.

ANOTHER FUN FACT: Bike & Build's 2008 Northern United States tour is the first tour in the history of Bike & Build to make it 2,000 miles with EVERY rider (except trip leaders, who have to drive the van) biking EVERY SINGLE MILE of the trip (i.e. no van rides). That means NO serious illness, NO serious injuries, NO serious slacking, and PLENTY of motivation. I'm really impressed with everyone! Of course our goal is to make it the whole way...

Finally, RIP Randy Pausch. You are an inspiration.