The namesake for our newest brevet is "Weird" Al Jankovic' song "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" - In case you haven't heard neither the song nor about the Biggest Ball of Twine in Darwin, MN - here are two links for your mental preparation: (The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota (youtube.com), World's Largest Ball Of Twine Still Reels 'Em In (youtube.com)). I am sure Weird Al's song will play in your mind as you pedal the first 85 miles to see the "Biggest Ball of Twin in Minnesota".
But first you will stop in Hutchinson where you can see Chief Little Crow's statue at Eheim Park. Chief Little Crow was the leader of the Sioux Indian Outbreak in 1862 and he was shot and killed a little north of Hutchinson. At mile 73, there is a little plaque bolted to a rock next to the road than runs closest to Little Crow's death spot. It will be on your left. To learn more on the darker side of Minnesota history, you can visit this website by the Minnesota Historical Society about the US-Dakota War of 1862.
The route goes through Waconia, Hutchinson, Darwin, Kimball, Monticello, Buffalo, Hanover, Rockford back to Golden Valley. There will be plenty of riding on regional bike paths (Luce Line Regional Trail, Dakota Rail Regional Trail) and a lot of bucolic streets through rural Minnesota. You'll pass lakes (e.g, Lake Waconia, Silver Lake, Manuella Lake, Clearwater Lake, Buffalo Lake, and others), and you'll have a pleasant stetch riding along the Crow River from Hanover to Rockford.
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Norman Ehrentreich | |
| Michael Mullery | |
| Timothy Donahoe | |
| Craig Plesco | |
| Keith Larson | |
| John Murphy | |
| Dylan Belverud |