Today was a full day with new experiences and lessons learned.

After breakfast, Tom, Dave, and Scott left for a bike ride.  Dave proposed a 28 mile round trip, which at least Scott thought would never happen – one of the most ambitious rides for our Chinese folding ebikes – two Lectrics, and one VeeGo.

On the way to the trail, we stopped at a golf course that had a train and a plane on display. Somebody pulled some strings to get the parked there.

Dave thought we would ride from the Willard Munger Trailhead 14 miles to Jay Cooke State Park .  Not wanting to seem like a wimp, Scott thought we would go 7-10 miles and turn around.  The bike we lent Dave was a cheap Lectric XP Lite that we bought for Anthony to ride on our last adventure.  Not only did it lack fenders, front fork suspension, multiple gears, and such, but it had a small 8AH battery.  Scott was so confident of a shorter trip that he did not pack snacks or such – plenty of time for lunch when we returned. Tom brought two apples.

The Willard Munger State Trail was really great.  Beautiful scenery and spectacular rock cuts on this former railroad bed.  Very few road crossings, and almost no traffic on the few that we saw.  The direction we were going was somewhat uphill, but on eBikes this is not as noticeable.  Each time we stopped we figured we could go a bit further.  So…

We arrived at Jay Cooke after noon.  The park – with its swinging bridge and spectacular rapids was beautiful.  It was well appointed with gift shop and pavilion.  What it didn’t have was food.

Our bikes showed ½ charge or so – and the ride back was downhill.  What could go wrong?  In addition dark storm clouds were forming, but Dave assured us that the radar image was clear – no concerns about significant rain.

Scott checked to see if we could get grubhub or something to deliver lunch to the park.  Not a great option as the only food was a Subway that was at best 35-45 minutes away. Tom remembered a sign for Buffalo House that was just off the trail.  It seemed to be only 5 miles or so away.  That should work… One of Tom’s apples provided a stopgap until we got there.

We climbed the steep hill from Jay Cooke that had been lots of fun coasting down when we arrived, chewing up more battery.  Along the way up the hill, we found what we all believed to be the largest mushroom in the world. After a quick photo up, we continued on, made it to the Buffalo House and had a delicious meal.  Now just 8 miles or so left to go as long as our batteries held up and the rain held off.

The first drops started hitting us two miles from the trailhead, just as we started the detour that took us over a few heavily traveled roads.  Then…

The rain stopped, and we all made it back in good shape with lots of battery.

On to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in downtown Duluth.  Very cool – lots of railroad equipment – plows and snowblowers and cranes in addition to steam engines, cars, and cabooses.  Scott’s favorite was a self-propelled log loader that could jack itself up so empty log cars could travel under it.  But there were lots of additional very interesting things to see and you could get inside many of the cars and cabs.

When we returned to the Phillip’s house we got the opportunity to have dinner with Dave, Nancy, Krista, Cain, and Spenser at the Cast Iron Bar and Grill, a very prototypical North Country Bar and Grill with a pool table that looks like an inviting place on a cold and dark winter knight.  Was great.

Tomorrow will bring one last adventure in the Duluth area.