They're just there to carry light stuff: windbreaker, rainy gear, tights, and the like. I think of this set as front panniers because that's where they go when I have both front and rear sets mounted, so I suppose it's force of habit that caused me to put them there.

If they had more weight in them I'd probably shift them to the rear rack but as it is I think the handlebar bag has more effect on handling than the panniers so what the heck.

You have panniers in the front only. Is that an experiment, or something you typically do? I have no opinion, I’m just asking the question, as the placement isn’t real typical.

Thank you for the photo.

Sorry you hit some rain! Are you referencing the Coen Brothers? They are actually from St. Louis Park, MN just south of Maple Grove. They were in Torah School with Al Franken and Thomas Friedman. Can't you just imagine being the Rabbi with those 4 minds in the same room? I have a friend from their synagogue who used to tell stories about them. Enjoy the Northwoods, that is the pretty part of our state (along with the driftless area down by the Root River trail in SE MN.) Happy trails.

That, I can do.

Clarification - parked is fine - but I (and others?) would like to admire Serendipity's fine style while she is on tour.

Interesting.

Not been a horse race fan, even when I was in KY back when Secretariat won everything, so that's new to me. Learn something every day... if only I could remember it.

I've never liked riding in the rain, or being in it for any reason in fact. I do it only when there's no alternative.

If someone takes a side shot of me riding and shares it, I can grant your wish but otherwise the action shots will be of the others.

That's why I think of The Preakness. It's dubbed "The Run For the Black-Eyed Susans", just as Kenucky's leg of rhe Triple Crown is The Run For the Roses.

Black eyed Susans

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/black-eyed-susan

I told Jacinto I think your photo with Paul Bunyan is better than my photos with the green Sinclair dinosaur, because there's not near as many Paul Bunyuns out there!

We need a nice side shot of Serendipity on the road, please.

I'm not near as good now about bicycling in the rain as I used to be. My bike is so big, it takes forever to wipe it off after. There was a time when I commuted no matter what came from the sky. That was a few years ago.

I hope it's a happy memory for you. I liked his area, from Holdingford to Bowlus.

Ate there on my 2021 Northern Tier ride, and camped in the park across the street. Very accommodating place for cyclists.

Sumac is one of the first plants to show fall colors, and it can really be quite spectacular. And this time of year, you can strip the red berries off, soak them in water, strain out the fragments and sip the wonderfully lemonade flavored drink.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumac

Virginia creeper turns about the same time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenocissus_quinquefolia

Hi Bonny-

Thanks! We went by the BoHo (Art in Motion) today (Sunday the 10th) but alas, rode past without going in. I hate that I sometime miss opporunities becase of lack of knowledge, or because of competing priorities. Today was the latter case: we needed to get to our rest stop, where two of our friends had been waiting patiently for us to arrive, for quite some time.

We are certainly traveling with you vicariously with your remarkable writing and photos! One of our "up north" triking friends wanted to share : " I hope they plan on stopping at Art in Motion in Holdingford, they’ll be going right by on the trail. The cafe and rest of the place will be open starting a 9 AM."