Dalbo, Minnesota - July 16, 2023

Bunkhouse - Larry, Donn, and Donald

Today was set aside to address some urgent matters. As I mentioned previously, Donald was grappling with two bicycle issues - one quite serious. His front hydraulic brake was the only functioning one, so the plan was to scout for solutions. The less urgent, albeit annoying, issue was his bottom bracket, which clicked with each pedal stroke.

Bunkhouse Loft

My Bike + Bedroom Peek (Right)

Bunkhouse Library + Larry’s Stead

Donald must have recently accumulated a vast amount of good karma because Donn offered him his Cadillac SUV in the morning to transport the broken bike to a shop for repair. Recognizing that this was undeniably the safest course of action, and also that we could use a respite, I decided to bring along all our dirty laundry - Larry's included - anticipating we'd locate a laundromat en route.

Window Swans

Given it was a Sunday, Jerry's Bikes and Repairs, located just outside Anoka, was one of the few shops open. We arrived early, grabbed a coffee downtown, and waited for the shop to open at noon.

Upon inquiry, we learned there was a two-week waiting period for bike repairs. Furthermore, his Shimano hydraulic brakes were on recall due to their propensity for failure. A new bearing cartridge for the bottom bracket needed to be special-ordered. Donald began perusing the shop's collection of new bikes, which featured numerous high-quality options. Among them was a Marin Four Corners gravel bicycle in his size. We decided to grab some food downtown to mull it over and also check out local availability on Craigslist.

At Casa Rio Tex Mex Restaurant in downtown Anoka, we turned up nothing attractive on Craigslist. However, after receiving a text from Jerry’s Bikes offering a $100 discount on the Marin, Donald opted to purchase the new bike. Moreover, Jerry's committed to assisting him with transferring gear from his broken Specialized bike to the new Marin, and even offered to box the Specialized and hold it for mail pickup.

Laundry Scene

On the return journey to the bike shop, Donald dropped me off at the laundromat. I washed and dried our clothes while he collaborated with the shop's employees to transition to the new bike.

Once we finished, Donald picked me up, and we headed back to Donn’s Bunkhouse, snagging a sweatshirt for Larry, which he asked for, along the way.

The Tour

Upon our return, Donn gave us a tour of his property, showing us his garage, workshop, and the field behind his house.

Dinner was at the Dusty Eagle.

Taking a break from cycling today was a welcome respite. We’ll return to the road reenergized tomorrow.