Most of the escorts will be heading up to Duluth on Friday, June 11. For those who want to get an early start and who have the time, we plan to meet at the BP gas station in Forest Lake. It's located just east of the Broadway exit off Interstate 35, and this map should help you find your way there. We'll leave the gas station at 10:30 am and head north, stopping for lunch at Tobies in Hinkley. Then we'll continue north and catch up to the escorts going directly to the hotel later in the day.
We've been asked to start patrolling the bike route from the Proctor vicinity at 6:00 am. Those who want breakfast first will meet at the Country Kitchen Restaurant at 5:00 am. As the map below shows, its easy to find from Interstate 35 at the Spirit Mountain exit (#249). Whether you have breakfast or not, plan on meeting in the restaurant parking lot a few minutes before 6:00 am. We'll ride to Saturday's starting point together which will give everyone, especially the rookies, a quick tour of the Proctor area and we'll show you where to gas up at the official refueling location.
This is a rain-or-shine event for the bicyclers, so wear and bring riding gear that's appropriate for the weekend's weather. Our days will start early, and even though it's warm in the Twin Cities it's often cold and foggy near Duluth. It will warm up as we travel south, so some clothing layers that you can add or shed will be helpful. Bring your rain gear!