Sept 20 Day 8

Woke up to a cloudy cold day.  The Super 8 Motel in Little Falls had a pretty poor selection of stuff to eat for breakfast so after I ate one Donut and Dave tried some cereal we agreed to try the supermarket across the street and they had a great sandwich.
When we left Little Falls we stooped at the mansions the lumber barons build in 1890s.  They lived in them until 1989 and then gave them to the city, what was neat was seeing the homes as time capsules of the early 1900-70s as the homes grow and were modified to keep them modern.

We stayed and visited with one of the volunteers of the site and that was interesting as he told us more of the history.  The two homes are on the same site called Linden Hills and over looks the Mississippi.  The white home was build and owned by the financial partner of the lumber side and the green home was owned by the technical owner.  The technical guy spent most of his time in the woods looking for lumber and solving problems, he then gave his home to the partner and moved to his partner and both homes stayed in the family until 1989.  Interesting thing is although these guys had lots of money they tutored students, taught dance and adopted kids from the area.  One of the interesting pictures in the homes was the Dionne quints from Canada. 
Here is the dam that made Little Falls a center in 1900s.  Note even in 1903 they had power in both homes due to this dam.

We finally started riding at 11:30 so we only covered 35 miles due to the head winds and rain we were slow.  David watched the weather yesterday and said it would be 70F today and partly cloudy but it was just wet and cold with no temperature above 50F.  Clearly David needs to be replaced as a weather man for this ride.  There were plenty of other big newer homes on the side of the River during the whole ride.  I just have to wonder how so many people can afford such big homes on the river.  It seems to me the shore of the river and some boundary land should be public as it is national treasure. 
The hotel we choose for the night which is OK for the room and Internet connection but the neighbors are a little shaky.  One of them offered to buy some grass and then offered to sell me some grass.  The problem I have with this is not the use, but the fact somethings I look like a dope head.
Weird stuff on the road
A deer that only ran when the bikes went by after 4 cars we watched go by.
A curtain rod.  (How does someone loose a curtain rod in the country.

Thankful for Today
All day I wimped out and wore my wool hat keeping my ears and head warm.  I was going to name warm hats something to be thankful for.  On the way to dinner (Cod which was great), we saw a bike shop and stopped just see if they were open.  They were open and Rod came out and asked us what we wanted.  I explained the problem I have been having shifting he said he could fix it.  I assumed he would do it tomorrow but he did right then.  During the repair the back rack was broken and again it was replaced right there.  So here is to Rod Bike shop in St. Cloud Minnesota a great guy and excellent mechanic.  My thoughts are with you and your wife.

Allan and David