ArriveMn

MnDot is launching a new website this week all over the state. It's called ArriveMn.org. The idea behind it, as I understand it, is to promote alternative modes of transportation. To kick it off they identified people in various Minnesota cities that currently use alternative transportation, contacted them and asked them to wear a green t-shirt during their commutes. Today was the day for the launch in Duluth. I was contacted last week by two different people, a local organizer, and a consultant asking me to participate. I offered to wear the t-shirt, but couldn't take the time off work to stop by their transportation fair being held downtown from 11:00-2:00. I did wear my new t-shirt. Unfortunately I didn't see any other green t-shirts as I made my way about town.
As I have mentioned several times this summer, we are in a severe drought period and have been for more then a year. I ride in the rain. This year has been so dry I can count on one hand how many times I've had to commute during a rainfall this year. Yesterday I got to ride to work in a light rainfall. Of course, my Cross Check is the cleanest it's been all year since I spent the weekend working on it and cleaning it up. That lasted a whole day. The creek you see in the picture has been bone dry since early June. I pass it everyday on my commute to work. Last night we got between 1.5 and 2.0 inches of rain locally. And what you see above is what that creek looked like this morning. Just amazing......and the rain was so badly needed. You can also see we've got a little bit of color already. Although, it's not really color. It's been so dry the leaves are drying up and falling off the trees rather then turning colors. It will be a dull year for fall color with all the trees in stress from lack of water.

In other "Doug" news, my cold is lingering. Nothing new for me. I've always been a slow healer. I'm not alone. Other people at work that have had this cold, and aren't normally slow healers, are having a hard time shaking this one. Despite this I've been back to my daily commute by bicycle. I'm doing the basic commute and a few extra miles. Taking it easy until this virus is gone. Looking forward to getting my health back and putting in a big October on the bike. The time off the bike due to the cold may have been a blessing. After a week off the bike, I've never felt stronger. A little recovery time off the bike does wonders.

I've been loving the new drop bars on the Cross Check. I should have done this months ago. I don't miss the bullhorns at all. The bars are set higher then I've ever had drop bars set up before. I've finally admitted to myself that I'm not 25 anymore and went with a more upright position. Should have done that years ago as well.

Monday: 22 mi
Tuesday: 20 mi
Wednesday: 19 mi
September: 237 mi
2007: 5,386 mi