Sister City — Conversations Across America

I have driven into Winona, Minnesota dozens of times over the last several years and never noticed the sign that declares Winona is a Sister City. But riding in yesterday, with my sister, Ann, who joined me for the last six miles of the ride, I noticed it, proving once again that you see more traveling at the speed of a bicycle.

The reference to Sister City means something different to me than is intended by the sign. Winona is MY sister’s city, and it is wonderful to be welcomed into her home again after over a month on the road. We will be here and in the Twin Cities for the next week, visiting family and friends, and planning out the last several weeks of the trip. We hit the road again next Friday, June 14.

The ride from Owatonna to Winona went through Rochester, Minnesota, with its extensive bicycle paths. I joined the path well north of the city, and except for a few blocks connecting between paths, I was off the roads until I was well south of the city. The paths went through the middle of town and I got to see the heart of the city.

The high point of the ride, though, was a root beer float in Lake Charles, Minnesota. The ride was just hot enough that a cold root beer float about 1:30 hit the spot.

Meanwhile, the farms became more varied as we moved east. By the time we reached Rochester there was a mixture of hog farms, dairy farms, crops and even a few hobby farms.

As we rode into the Mississippi River Valley in Winona, the farms were nestled in among the bluffs.