Rollin’ on the River

 I got the new bike I was dreaming about that I shared with you in my post:  Let it Ride, and it’s like peddling on a cloud!  I can’t even tell you what a difference it makes on my knees, and it’s so unbelievably comfortable, I feel I could ride it across the entire country!  Well… as long as I didn’t have to go up any hills.  😉

I thought I loved riding a bicycle before, but this new bike has multiplied that love by ten thousand!  I’m so very thankful to my family for pulling the funds together as an early birthday gift and helping me get it!  ❤

I went online and printed up a few biking trail maps, in addition to reading tons of information on bicycling in Minneapolis.  Apparently, Minneapolis was ranked #2 as one of the best biking cities by Bicycling Magazine, and is 4th in the nation.  I’d say my odds are great for being able to get around in the city on my bicycle, and I’ve already been out exploring and having wonderful time!

I’m especially excited about finding a few paths along the Mississippi River where I don’t have to endure any significant hills or steep overpasses to go up to get to.  I mentioned before that I only live like 4 blocks from the  river, but that it’s a busy street that runs along on my side of it, well I found that with only spending just a short time riding on that busy street, I can get to some lovely trails along the river.

 

One area that is easy to get to is Boom Island Park, and on my very first day with my new bike I took a ride there with my daughter.  It was evening actually, when I snapped this photo of her with my cell phone as she was looking out at the river.  She loves the water as much as I do, and we have went to this same spot a number of times since that first day…

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I also found another bike path along the river that’s a bit further away, which is nice when we want a longer ride.  I thought this train bridge was kinda cool looking, so I stopped one day while we were riding past and snapped a photo of it…

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Much of the time it’s evening when we go out bike riding, it’s nice then because there’s less traffic and cooler temps.  Although this sunset isn’t anything extraordinary, it was a lovely ending to our ride before we headed home…

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Home…  a view across the river of downtown Minneapolis.  Not the best view of our city’s skyline, but it was fun to happen upon this little opening between the trees to sneak peek at the city, and I love the way the buildings reflect on the water…

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I also love the beauty of nature that is all around the city, especially along the river.  On the path that runs along that train bridge, I came across a little cluster of milkweed growing, it smelled amazing on the breeze as I rode by, and when I saw the monarchs fluttering around amidst it, I stopped and tried to take a photo, but it was too far away to get a decent shot.  Still pretty though.  🙂

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I’m so enjoying these bike rides rollin’ on the river, but I’ve also been rollin’ other places on my bike too.  Like running short errands to the Post Office and to the Co-op.   On Sunday when my sister was here, we all rode our bikes to the Open Streets event in the neighborhood, and that was a fun experience.  I think I’ll make the next errand on my bike to the library.  On our rides back and forth to Boom Island, I noticed there is a library located in the old Grain Belt Brewery building, it looks pretty cool and I’m excited to check it out!  😀

 

I hope there are exciting things in store for you too!  Happy Monday and may this week be a wonderful one!

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿