BroFest 2008

Another BroFest is in the can. Missing Geoff this year. And brother Bink almost committed but also had a better offer. We had an addition from last year’s injured-reserve, my sister Karen. She stepped from her perch in the team car and into the pedals. She represented well.

Also representing well was Al and Joan’s kid Rachel. Off for the summer and looking for adventure, we tried to accommodate. She put in longer days than she ever has. Al did a good job getting her prepared.

So the tally was eight riders, four of which did the maximum mileage of somewhere north of 300 miles. Not a huge number of miles, but respectable. We had to leave time for exploring, eating pasties, cards, swimming, boating and all the stuff you do at “the cabin”.

Head for the Hills

Up for a few hilly miles, so rang up my buddy Bob for his hill route. Just what the doctor ordered. After a few prep miles it was all hills, all the time. A route contrived to take maximum advantage of the Mississippi River valley along all the Saint Pauls - Saint Paul, West Saint Paul, South Saint Paul. "The Mayor" and I worked it, the route did it's job. Being a Minneapolitan and lots in the wilds of South Saint Paul, I did ask the "are we there yet" question once. Mission Accomplished.

Me and the Veep

After a weekend of apartment hunting, was jonesing for a little outside time. Beautiful breezy day and nothin' but sun after a stormy week, headed out on my bicycle first thing.

Coming around Lake Minnetonka, back through Orono, I ran across the mother of all speed traps. Three cop cars in a row, then a fourth unmarked Charger in a driveway. Then one at the next intersection. Man, they must be serious about speeders here. 35 mph zone, I’m doing fine. No worries.

OK, duh. Something is definitely going on. Now there’s a cop at every intersection, every pull off, every parking lot. Orono, Mound, West Hennepin County, Minnetonka: they’re all well represented. Clearly, someone’s visiting. I ask the channel 5 guy setting up. “They won’t tell me.” Yea right. I get a few more of these and “we can’t say”, generally followed by “Keep moving”. Helicopters circle. Finally someone will commit that the Vice President is visiting.

Too bad. I’m already a few miles past his turnoff and I’m sure they wouldn’t let me back through now. I’d love a little one-on-one time with him.