Alfalfadale Farm, Medina, MN, home of the whopper (punkin', that is)

The farm's been in business since 1880, but the GMC slat-side is vintage 1960's. Just look at the cool logo: hand lettering, iconic windmill harking back to late nineteenth century, all set off against richly fading deep green.  This classic is the real deal.

The honor system is in effect at Alfalfadale: pick out your own pumpkin, deposit a 5-dollar bill in the cash box, read the helpful instructions for carving your purchase, and have a happy, scary Halloween!

How so many different varieties of fall-season gourd-kins can grow at any one farm, is beyond us.  When Nancy and I dropped by yesterday to check out the display there seemed to more "product" than we could remember seeing in Falls past.  We bought a pumpkin, of course, and dutifully dropped our five-spot in the bright orange cash box provided for that purpose.

Just had to show another shot of the truck door.  Not exactly the dark green of the foto, but the type is the only green in my palette.

Now you can see the cash box. Very cool and contemporary looking, though the vintage must be ca. 1970. 

You're going to stop for sure when you see these three scarecrows! Alfalfadale crushes it: their "marketing department" gets everything right.

Tonka Cycle and Ski in Hopkins is moving lots of Giant 2018 velos. I'm sure the price is right.

Tonka Cycle and Ski in Hopkins is moving lots of Great 2018 velos.  Here's a b&w of a few hybrids. I'm sure the price is right.

 Here's another view of the Giant inventory, as of this afternoon.  Down the line and to the left of blue machines  are the 'niners and fat bikes.

And here in the Tonka parking lot is the scooter that must have flown down the Blue Ridge Parkway, made short work of Tennessee, and provided the owner a trip he'll never forget.  

Public Art Project alongside former Lake Calhoun in Mpls, honors presence of Dakota Peoples many moon ago.

Donkey Republic

Donkey Republic!

The image of the donkey I saw on many bikes!  

A bike rental service...

What is Donkey Republic all about?

Hi there! We’re a Copenhagen-based company that’s building a global bike share platform – one app to access a bike in many locations in many cities around the world.

The Donkey Republic app allows you to find and unlock a bike with your phone in many cities around the world. That means that it’s now easier than ever to rent a bike wherever, whenever and saddle up in just a few clicks. No docking stations, no cash, no ID cards or deposits, no rental shop staff or opening hours. Just absolute freedom to explore the world on two wheels!

So far we’ve helped over 100,000 riders to take the world on two wheels.

https://www.donkey.bike/

Espresso drinks, Double dip cones, and New York Times best-sellers: You'll discover it all in Excelsior.

As you get closer to Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior, there's ice cream and great java (Dunn Bros.) on this side of the street, and the book store opposite.  Pina turned down the java offer, but I went for my usual iced skim latte. At Excelsior Bay Books I bought the new Barbara Erenreich; Nancy was searching for a couple of children's titles for the grands, but the store was out of stock.  We will definitely go back.

26th Street & Lyndale, next to Common Roots Cafe.

Common Roots was one of the first coffee shops/restaurants in the Twin Cities to do away with the "tip jar." Menu prices did go up, but no spare change needed to be left behind when time came to pay the tab. Net, net:  cost to the customer was the same.  Stress was eliminated. And staff received raises as well.

I asked the owner once how things were going. He said " ..well, very well." I stopped by CR last week for a coffee and a couple of cookies and asked the counter man what he thought. Business was reported to be strong. Customers and staff preferred the new way of doing business.

Back to those cookies I mentioned: chocolate chip with sea salt. OMG. To die. And a softy-ginger cookie? You'll have to taste it to believe its goodness.  No tipping permitted.

Cukes so Ginormous you can't Believe they're Free!

Driving south on Homestead Trail on my way back from Baker, my car seemed to stop on its own accord when it spied the word "Free." And when I stepped out to check these epic cukes, well, of course I helped myself.  I also wrote a note of thanks and tucked it between the table top and one of the cucumbers. Why other cars you see in the foto here didn't stop to load up on the freebies ..... well, that's their loss.   Table was empty last night, but/and I'm hoping Farmer Brown (isn't there always supposed to be a Farmer Brown?) has picked a second growth from his garden, and re-stacked the table in front of his spread.

About to take Three Rivers Parks Survey, Kevin from Medina will reveal Trail Use stats to Baker Park's summer intern, Lindsey.

Lindsey from Three Rivers Parks System engages Kevin from Medina with urgent Trail Use Survey.  Kevin and his stunning TREK electric were in Baker to conquest the challenging 6.2 mile loop I  had just completed on my GIANT foldy. Lindsey could see that I was dripping wet, thirsty and dry, and gifted me a Gatorade from her blue and white cooler.  Not sure how many surveys were collected, but it's comforting to know Park officials listen to the velosters, walkers, bladers, birders, runners and others who use Baker Park.  

Poppy flips a few burgs, hungry fam members could be seen drooling in anticipation.

90-10 top sirloin to fat, 400-degrees on the barbie, a little Worcestershire drizzle, maybe 4-5 minutes per side, and we had ourselves some might yummy burgers for dinner this week. What looks like a tent at the front of the grill is a corn tortilla pretending to be a standard Pepperidge Farm hamburger bun.  One of the guests was observing a wheat-free crusade, and the tortilla did the trick. 

A young fisherman's gentle hands, a young fish rests safely in them.

One of the fisherboys working the Wayzata docks the other day  pulled in this little pesce.  My guess is that the fish was returned to the teeming waters of Lake Minnetonka from which it was lured by a yummy night crawler on a hook.

Long Lake paddle board regatta with the help of two young friends.

Under direction and guidance of  accomplished young sailors, Poppy the neophyte learned to kneel on the board, gained courage to stand, wobbled for too long, then hit his stride.  Only fell off the board one time! 

TREK Twins? Czech Twins? Which shall it be?

Super good friends and colleagues from the publishing industry here in Minneapolis.  Cathy (l) and Margaret (r) are avid pedalers, have done some touring, plus occasional long rides to benefit non-profit causes important to each of these ladies. The TREK is brand new, was ridden from Uptown to a watering hole in Edina, where we all (plus Tom) had lunch together recently.

Bare-ass Bicycling: all the rage along Florida beaches.

My bro Joe was walking along the Atlantic at New Smyrna Beach, FL, when he spotted this Very Naked Veloster.  There's a story here, no doubt, but we never learned the cyclist's name. The bike he's riding has some uber-fat tires, of course.  Wouldn't want to get bogged down in the sand with no means of cover-up for most private parts. 

Mid-century classic velo dreamboat was "ultimate kids gift."

The Huffy Radio Bike wasn’t manufactured for long which is strange considering these were the ultimate gifts for any kid. Between 1955 and '57 only around 8,500 bicycles were produced. Available in three color schemes: Flamboyant Red, white & black trim; Flamboyant Blue, white & black trim;  and Flamboyant Green with white & black trim. The 1955 model had a headlamp mounted on the front fender while the 1956 version was equipped with a front carrier. 

Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling: Bringing Hope to Riders with Disabilities.

Volunteer Mary sports unique safety helmet: rear view mirror, communications gear, camera. At home base along the Greenway Mary is in constant touch with knowledgeable staff and velo clients. I watched as an elegant tandem recumbent -- one one of the 25 adaptive cycles available to individuals with disabilities -- pulled in to HQ. Passenger was an enthusiastic young woman who, though blind, rides at least once weekly, more if she has time.

Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling co-founder Caito, a South Minneapolis native, got her "adaptive" training in Berkeley, CA.  2018 is first full year of operations here in the Cities, and the boss reports growing interest in, and demand for, services of TCAC. The organization is a 501(c)(3), 

Secure equipment storage is available inside a former railroad boxcar, converted to meet needs of TCAC. The velo fleet comprises 25+ adaptive cycles, including hand cycles, recumbent foot trikes, tandems and therapeutic cycles. 

Beautiful custom made recumbent had just been donated to the non-profit, and I believe I witnessed its maiden voyage. Tandem "captain" Dale, who you can see on right side of the foto,  is long-time volunteer.