After our six days of riding, and the 325 miles we covered, we took time to rest, relax, and enjoy time with family and friends in the Twin Cities. (And to nurse sore knees and achy but strong quads!)

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner al fresco with MJ’s BFF Lynn, and her friend Tony, in St. Paul. It was Lynn’s birthday too so the party continued.

Then on our last night, Rick and his family celebrated MJ’s birthday with a backyard picnic! Four little people under the age of four entertained us with their antics.

We had yummy appetizers, a great dinner, thoughtful gifts, and lots of family fun.

They know me well — I received an oak leaf tray!

MJ felt well-loved.

And even had a cake decorated with a bicycle!!

And then, for the final icing on the cake, Rick and MJ had breakfast with Becky and Rob in Stillwater –in a bike-themed coffee shop to boot — before crossing the Cheddar Curtain back into Wisconsin. MJ and Rob have worked together for 20+ years and it was great to see him and Becky in their home territory.

Reflections by MJ:

50 miles a day is my sweet spot for ride length.

We heard more dickcissels in Wisconsin and Minnesota than I expected.

The ride’s ubiquitous bird was the indigo bunting.

Through-riding is a lovely way to contemplate life.  Sights, scents, and sounds triggered memories of specific people and experiences that have touched me. I thought back to college-era time spent in Costa Rica; of conservation leaders in Wisconsin who have been part of my life; of my parents and grandparents.

I am fortunate and blessed to have a wonderful husband….who was delighted that I never complained! He was a thoughtful and fun riding partner.

You have to eat a lot if you ride 69 miles in a day. Holy cow we ate a lot of food!

Here’s to my mother and father, who 60 years ago were surprised to learn that their newborn was a girl, after having three little boys (who are my wonderful big brothers!).

May the ride continue!

Reflections by RW:

When we do end up on the same bike trip, I usually do the photo part and emJay handles the text or story line. That’s the way we did it on this trip and it worked great!!!

I didn’t take this photo . . .

. . . but I did ‘tweak’ it a bit!!!

I have been on a LOT of bikes trips through the years but this was the best of them all!!!

Not because of the scenery, not because of an exotic locale, not because of ‘interesting’ foreign food, not because of exquisite lodging and not because of exciting cycling  . . .

. . . but because of the six days my Smoochie  and I spent together, just the two of us, cycling through time, and our own little world, as we passed through Wisconsin and Minnesota, but it could have been anywhere in the world!  I can’t remember the last time we took a vacation together. . . just the two of us!!! It was fantastic to spend this quality time with the most important person in my life.

There will come a time when she retires and we can do this sort of thing for as long as we want and where ever we want . . . just the two of us.

I’m counting the days until then . . .