New map - some rain

Re-Routing... updated map.  I needed to cut this trip short by about 5 days, so... I've re-routed my trip by hopping on Amtrak from St. Paul, MN to Columbus (Madison) WI.

Click Here for New Map

 Thu. 6/24 - To Montevideo MN

A fitting farewell to South Dakota 

72 miles with some headwinds.  It turns out to be good for SD's wind turbines... SD is the country's 3rd windiest state behind Iowa and Wyoming.

Montevideo itself is a split-level town.  The downtown is near the train tracks and river (Chippewa).  My hotel, the Walmart etc. are up a big hill on a plateau about 2 miles from downtown, so dinner was at the Subway adjacent to my hotel.   Too lazy / tired to climb back up the hill a second time after dinner.

Fri. 6/25 - Willmar

Originally my plan was to ride 70 miles to Hutchinson, but... headwinds and the fact my train doesn't leave 'til Sunday means I could add another day and break the ride up into 2 rides: 
40 mile (Montevideo to Willmar) and 50 mile (Willmar to Hutchinson).  

Amtrak cut back their long haul train service from 7 to 3 days/week during the  pandemic, but plans to restore 7 day service as of July 1.  

The ride to Willmar goes through the little town of Clara, which has a good old-time bakery.

Breakfast at the R&R bakery in Clara, MN

Sat. 6/26 - Hutchinson :  Minnesota Nice!

Willmar to Hutchinson is a 50 mile ride with light headwinds.  I made it to within 10 miles of Hutchinson before the rain started... so I found shelter in a gazebo in someone's front yard and called the only taxi company in Hutchinson.   The owner said it would cost between $15 and $20.  He was there within 20 minutes.   When he dropped me off at my hotel, he refused to take any money for the ride.  My hotel is on the east side of town.  Not much in the way of restaurants on this side of town, and the rain continued.  I called the taxi to take me across town to dinner, and this time he took the money.

Tomorrow, the game plan is to ride to Minnetonka, on the east side of Minneapolis, and hop on public transit to get to St. Paul, where my train departs on Monday morning.  The weather forecast is a little iffy... so I may be riding with Hutchinson's taxi van again tomorrow.