Cannon Valley Trail

First, a quick update on my fundraising for the upcoming MS 150 bike ride: with 26 days to go, I've raised nearly $1,300 in support of the National MS Society!  Although donations are down from what was an unbelievable year of fundraising last year, I'm incredibly thankful to all who have donated on my behalf!  I have an amazing group of supporters who, year after year, routinely contribute money towards this very worthy organization.

With that being said, I take their support seriously, and make sure I put the time in on my saddle so I am ready to ride 150 miles over that Saturday and Sunday in June.  So far for 2016 I have trained 388 miles on 12 rides, logging a total of 24 hours now in the saddle.  Last weekend was Mother's Day and we were traveling, so I was getting itchy after 2 weeks to get back on the saddle, and this afternoon I went back down to my favorite stretch of old railroad-turned-bike path, the Cannon Valley Trail, for a 43.5 mile ride.

Looking back over the last 7 years, I have ridden the CVT a total of 24 times!  I love how I can get 40+ miles of unencumbered trail in on the route between Cannon Falls and Red Wing, and I also enjoy going into Red Wing to Caribou to refuel mid-ride.  Below is a pictorial of my ride today.  Until next time, pedal on!!  :)

5 miles in-I absolutely love that farm off to the left!

On the trail with the Cannon River alongside of me.

A common scene with trees overarching from both sides.

Pit stop refueling at Caribou in Red Wing.

One of the many benches with a scenic view of the river.

Mid-point (10 miles) of the trail at Welch Village.

All done with 43.5 miles and ready to head back home!

Final stats for the bike ride on my Garmin 520.