Jacques Meets Marie in Minnesota

While packing up to leave the small town of Farmwood, Minnesota one early morning last week we were pleased to notice that Jacques, who has been shy about his English until now, was out chirping and chatting with a new friend, 'Marie'. Jacques and Marie have exchanged email addresses and, fortunately, have wings to get around on.

Like Jacques, we have made quite a few new friends on our journey, most recently in the idyllic and friendly village of Cornucopia, Wisconsin on the pristine south shore of Lake Superior. After a terrifying passage through Duluth and a suffocatingly hot ride northwest onto the penninsula, we decided to stop in Cornucopia for lunch and a short swim in the icy lake.  Instead, we wound up camping there for the night at the marina, were treated to a spontaneous music fest (fiddles and banjo), and a Reggae concert at the local Tiki bar -- all part of Cornucopia's 4th of July festivities.  Proof positive that a long haul bicycle trip is not all sweat and callouses.