Road Trip 2019: Day Twelve, CycleLife

miles of mansions,

waterfront owned by city,

planning perfection

cycling throughout

with restaurants in most parks?

happiness, designed

lakes and waterfalls

even a creek for a dip

could you ask for more?

Road Trip 2019: Day Eleven, Mill City

lakes are not enough

to keep this city spinning

(wheat connects us all)

the bread of our lives

lives in these shared memories

that we’ll feast upon

from book shops to dusk

in a city new to us

we’ll catch this twilight

Road Trip 2019: Day Ten, One of Ten Thousand

the oldest arrives

to take over paddling

just one of these lakes

Road Trip 2019: Day Nine, Mosquitos

a state park lunch stop

(sad Superior goodbye)

brings mosquito hell

trips beget errands

in search of camping comfort

in this humid state

Road Trip 2019: Day Eight, Lake Superior

Superior beach:

like the ocean without salt

great for paddling

kite flying kids

will remember these beach days

so different than home

Road Trip 2019: Duluth, Day Seven

cycling is life

as we tour Duluth’s sights

from bridges to ships

Road Trip 2019: Day Six, Gitchi Gami

you haven’t ridden

over the Rockies; not yet.

Superior wins.

with a pup and girls

(unread itinerary)

we biked thirty clicks

Minnesota wins

for elevation record

on these little legs

and to end it all:

waterfall, campfire, cheese.

who would ask for s’more?

Road Trip 2019: Minnesota, Day Five

driving through trees, lakes

we leave Dakota behind

for the greatest lake

Road Trip 2019: North Dakota, Day Four

a frontier village

with world-record bison

thank you, Dakota

a cider dog fest

on a random Fargo night?

(mead is delicious)

the northern midwest

is a reality show

of kindness at play

Road Trip 2019: North Dakota

i never listen

when someone says it’s boring

i always find fun

North Dakota wins

kindness, camping, paddling

and late-night sunsets

Earth lodge history

and indigenous genius

round out this cycle

with Art Deco touch

to capitalize the north

and give us this view

all in a day’s work:

this “boring” state makes dreams bright

campfires and all