Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Day 16: 6/5/19: Rockwell, IA to Wells, MN

First off, I would like to wish my youngest daughter, Alyssa, a very happy birthday.  I hope you and Mom really partied it up today.

The evening sky in Rockwell.


Last night a series of storms rolled through Rockwell at about 10:45 p.m., 12:45 a.m., and 3:15 a.m.  All the storms produced quite a bit of lightening and wind. The first 2 also produced a large amount of rain. I was awakened by each storm and could not go back to sleep until after the storm passed. The storms each lasted about 30-45 minutes. I was not under a shelter, so the tent was subjected to the full brunt of the storms. I must say, the Marmot Marriott has held up well and kept me dry. Below are a couple of photos of the top of my tent taken seconds apart during one of the storms.  The lightening really lit up everything.




My "Wilson" on this trip. ( Reference to the movie "Castaway.") Just call him CB for short.


I took the Trolley Trail from Mason City to Trolley Park near Clear Lake, IA. Below are photos.






Below is a sailboat sundial in Clear Lake along with a photo of a portion of the city's Main Street.




There were several folks out enjoying the lake on this beautiful day.



Photo of outside amphitheatre in Clear Lake and a "spinny thing" that my friend Mark, who is currently doing the Bike Ride Across Georgia, has written about in his blog. I don't think I have ever seen this version of one.



Photo of Cerro Gordo County Freedom Rock in Clear Lake.



I can't help but love a city (Clear Lake) that has a bike sign like this.


Feel the power of the pyramid house in Clear Lake.


Below is the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake and some information about it.  Buddy Holly gave his last performance there.



I made it to Minnesota.


Below is a view of the Minnesota countryside.


I went to the fire department in Wells, MN, in search for a place to pitch my tent tonight. They made a few calls, and I will be camping at a small rest area there tonight.  Pic of campsite below.


Total miles today: 83.4

4 comments:

  1. DI would have been talking to CB ...aka Wilson ...all night during the storms. You stay safe. Speaking of traveling companions ..... it's time Ducky made some cameos.

    Did you consider sleeping in the railroad car in Clear Lake? jk

    And MN!! Well done. Will you be visiting Lake Wobegone, MN? I recommend eating at the Chatterbox Cafe or buying bananas @ Ralph's Pretty Good Grocery. The people in town are nice. I enjoyed meeting them when I was in town.

    ~Ron Boston~

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  2. No Anthony, never seen a merry-go-round like that one!

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  3. I am astounded by all these small towns with big rocks with detailed pictures painted on them. I wonder if they have to repaint them every year or two. And who's idea was it to start painting pictures on boulders like that? Do people do that in places other than the midwest? I've never noticed it anywhere I've been, but I have never spent any time in the midwest.

    Congratulations on getting to MN! I hope you get to sleep in a bed without worrying about a thunderstorm when you get to your family's house.

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  4. We had one of those "spinny" things at our parks when I was growing up. You would hang on for dear life and the last one who could manager to hold on as it was being spun around would be the winner. I can't even imagine trying to do that today.

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