HairyWide Cyclist

05/08/2020

This is one of my favorite training rides. I follow the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) from Minneapolis to Elk River on the east side of the river and back down along the MRT on the west side of the river.

08/11/2019

Day 5 from Tupelo to Farmhouse Sanctuary near Florence, MS was a tough day on my legs after the long ride into Tupelo the day before. However, it was a good day. I met a couple from Brainerd, MN who were riding recumbent bikes the length of the Natchez-Trace Parkway. Andy and Sue started 4 days before I did and were taking their time and enjoying it. The end of the day was topped off by a greeting from 3 friendly dogs and a bunch of goats at Conrad and Ute's Farmhouse Sanctuary B&B.

06/11/2019

This is my 3rd day on the Nachez-Trace. The Cypress Swamp was the highlight. Jackson to Kosciusko, MS.

03/11/2019

The highlight of today's ride was this Cypress swamp at about mile 22. I met a couple of women (Elizabeth and Mary) hiking out as I walked down to the boardwalk. Elizabeth was wearing an Itasca State Park sweatshirt. Neither of them were from Minnesota but Elizabeth has friends from Minnesota and she stayed with them at Itasca this past summer and loved it. She also experienced the great Minnesota get together at the State Fair. It is always good to talk with others along my ride. Later I talked with a few other cyclists riding south. They were a group of 12 that had someone hauling all their gear for them. That sounds like a good way to ride.

02/11/2019

A few more photos from yesterday and the B&B (Isabella B&B) that I stayed at last night.

02/11/2019

It has begun. Today the first 41 miles of the Natchez-Trace Parkway plus 2 miles from the Mississippi River is behind me. Only 400+ more miles to go. The Old Nachez-Trace was used by many to get back home after floating goods down stream to market.

Update:
I stayed the night at Isabella B&B in Port Gibson, MS. Bobbye, the owner, was a fantastic host!

21/10/2019

I love this time of the year. Anoka to the Stone Arch bridge on one side of the river and back on the other.

17/10/2019

I'm getting pretty excited! Going soon! Natchez to Nashville.

01/10/2019

I've begun to ride with my bike loaded, getting ready on my next adventure. In a few weeks I'll take a 442 mile Autumn ride.

07/09/2019

I really like the rural rolling pastoral hills in Wisconsin.

07/09/2019

Paul's Bacon Ride on the Paul Bunyan Trail a couple of weeks ago. 45 from Brainerd to Pequot Lakes and back. It was a very fun social ride.

25/05/2019

This morning I took a short ride through the hardwoods, cedar and red spruce. Everything is finally in bloom.

15/05/2019

Has anyone seen Harry? The last time I saw him was at a gas station near Monticello, MN this morning.

11/05/2019

Harry and I have been very busy lately, working some long hours. We are working on covering a fleet of approximately 70 ambulances in reflective vinyl all around. However, we were able to get out and ride a little near the Buffalo River in Wisconsin.

24/03/2019

Meet Harry. He'll be riding with me this year.

07/09/2018

I had planned on riding from Glacier National Park to Sandpoint, ID this year from Labor Day to the end of this week. Once again fires in the area derailed my plans as they did last year. So at the last minute plans were changed and My wife and I went to Colorado instead. Here is a video of my Labor Day ride in Longmont and Niwot, CO.

05/08/2018

https://www.1843magazine.com/features/the-long-and-winding-road

I can definitely relate to this story.

Mid-life crises don’t always arrive in the shape of a sports car. Tom Vanderbilt’s involved untold hours in the saddle and some very expensive cycling jerseys

09/05/2018

I built another recumbent trike for a friend. I will be delivering it this weekend in Kalispell, MT.

27/04/2018

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you have to keep moving.

06/04/2018

28/11/2017

Here is an overview of my ride in Montana this past September. This includes some of the activities off the bike.

21/11/2017

Follow along as Keenan DesPlanques and friends, young adventurers new to bike travel, ride from Bergen, Norway to Barcelona, Spain.