2008

Bicycle Tour of Colorado

Julie and David joined 2,000 cyclists for the 2008 BTC; a fully supported 7-day loop through the San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado. Then, after getting in shape and acclimatized, we loaded panniers on our bikes in Durango for a two-week self-supported tour back to Denver. We camped every night but one; cycling through Leadville, Rocky Mountain National Park and the Peak-to-Peak Byway.

Madison to Chicago

David's first tour on his new recumbent. It was a might bewildering learning to ride it on this October tour with Julie to Madison then Eagle, WI in Kettle Moraine; and Zion, IL on Lake Michigan. By the third day I felt comfortable on it in heavy Chicago traffic. We took the train back to Columbus, WI where we'd left our car.

2007

Seattle to San Francisco

Watch slideshow of trip (at photoworks.com)

This is a popular bike route featuring great scenery, a mild climate, plenty of hiker/biker campsites and strong, consistent tailwinds. With most of the USA suffering a heat wave, our mornings were misty and 50 (10ºC), afternoons sunny and 60 (15ºC), with NW winds of 10-25 (15-40 kph).  On the train ride back home, we got off in East Glacier Park for a 3-day ride up to Logan Pass on Going-To-The-Sun road.

STONM

Solo Tour Of Northern Minnesota

On the Fall Equinox, David set a personal best, cycling 304 km from St. Paul to Grand Rapids, MN.  After a day's rest he continued on to Ely, Two Harbors, Siren, and home carrying one pannier; staying in motels and eating out.

2005

BRANHOLM

Bike Ride Around Northern Half Of Lake Michigan

We cycled further around half the lake than some cyclists do when circling the whole lake. Starting in Manitowoc, WI, we hugged the shoreline around the Door peninsula, then along the western shore of Green Bay and through Michigan's UP to Mackinac Island. After crossing to Michigan's lower peninsula we rounded bays, peninsulas, and Beaver Island to Ludington, MI and boarded the S.S. Badger car ferry to Manitowoc.

2004

Bali Bulan Madu

Bali Honeymoon

Each night we toasted "satu lagi hari di sorga" another day in paradise. Bali is a Hindu island in the world's most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia. Tourist development has run amok here since my 1977 visit; though tourism has dropped since the 2002 night club bombing. It is still one of my favorite places.

2002

Bon Ton Roulet

Julie joined 400 cyclists (not including David) on this fully supported ride through the hilly Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.

2001

BRATWHOLS

Bike Ride Around The Western Half Of Lake Superior

Julie re-introduced me to the joys of bike touring on my first pannier bike tour since 22/Dec/1977. We cycled along Minnesota's North Shore; crossed the middle of Lake Superior via two Isle Royale ferries to Michigan's Keweenaw peninsula; then cycled through the Porkies to Wisconsin's Apostle Islands and the South Shore of Lake Superior.

1999

BiQue Ride

Julie biked from Toronto to Montreal in Canada (before knowing David) on this fully supported ride following the St Lawrence seaway.

1998

MOOSA

Julie joined 200 cyclists on this fully supported tour of Western Maine and Quebec.

1995

GRABAAWR

Great Annual Bike Adventure Across the Wisconsin River

Julie biked this fully supported ride with some fellow Rovers and 1200 other cyclists.

1994

Oregon Coast

Julie joined her Aunt Louise on this self-supported pannier trip from Portland to Astoria and down the Oregon coast to Brookings.

1993

TRAM

The Ride Across Minnesota

Julie biked this fully supported ride to raise money for MS with 1200 other cyclists.

1992

TRAM

The Ride Across Minnesota

Julie biked this fully supported ride to raise money for MS with 1200 other cyclists.

1978

Minneapolis to St. Thomas

Julie cycled home from the U; about 100 km

1970

St. Thomas to Le Sueur

Julie biked into town; about 15 km.

1979-2009

Cycling to Work

I chose to live within cycling distance of work. That varied from 2 km to 9 km each way and averaged 5 km for the six addresses I've lived at. After my Schwinn Paramount deteriorated from salt used to clear streets in winter, I rode a succession of used bikes. I bought these "winterbikes" from Goodwill, garage sales, and a co-worker for under $50. The salt slush could destroy them in two years.

1975-1977

Cycling the World

Six weeks after finishing high school I pedalled down our driveway and around the world.  I cycled to New Delhi at age 18, cycled on to Manila in my 19th year and made it back home at age 20 1/2.  I headed east to take advantage of prevailing westerlies; but my first strong tailwind did not occur until Syria.  I left Fairbanks, Alaska on 9/Oct/1977 and cycled through snow from the Yukon to Amery.  I would not quit that close to home.

1975

Shakedown Trip

I cycled from Bowman, North Dakota to Amery, Wisconsin starting 29/Jun/1975 to 04/Jul/1975. The last day may have been the only century ride when I biked 150 miles. How would my Cycling the World stats change if I added these stats to it?

1974

STANWUPMI

Solo Tour Across Northern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula MIchigan

Six century rides and five 90+ mile days with no days-of-rest on my new Schwinn Sports Tourer with Frostline panniers.

1973

Amery to Sparta-Elroy trail

My first pannier bike trip. Steve Kappler and I biked from Amery to the Sparta-Elroy trail in Wisconsin; the nation's first rail-to-trail converted in 1965. We met two guys at Merrick State Park who were biking coast-to-coast. They were going from east to west and encountering mostly headwinds.

1972

Amery to The Cities

My First Century Ride I biked to EMS Lob Pine in Roseville, MN (near Har-Mar Mall) to buy a Gerry duck down sleeping bag on sale. I woke at dawn to drizzle; and waited until 8 am to leave. I got lost & hungry on gravel roads between Stillwater & St Paul; saved by a vending machine at a tack & pet store on Hwy 36. I continued on DeMontreville Rd through construction under I-694, past horse ranches on Co Rd B & ate at Burger King. Going back it started getting dark at Stillwater; so I called home and Jon picked me up in Somerset.

1970 & 1971

Cycling Merit Badge

Curt Isakson & I explored the great paved back roads around Amery on our Coast King 5-speeds to earn Cycling merit badge for Scouts. The Isaksons owned the Coast-to-Coast Hardware store. ("The store where your dollar will do the most'). The requirements for Cycling merit badge were: six 25 mile trips and one 50 mile. We completed it in Jun/71 and earned Eagle Scout in Feb/72. We exceeded the requirements. I recall an 84-mile loop through St Croix Falls and Milltown. We biked to Eau Claire and back to see Jim Austin, who had moved there; 75 miles each way.

Around 1970

No model plane fuel in Amery; so I biked 20 miles to New Richmond to buy some.

Around 1969

Bike camping

Paul Gilbertson and I biked 7 miles wearing backpacks to camp at the Polk County park on the Apple River north of town. A sore back convinced me of the need for panniers; to get the load off my back.