• Public Gallery  • Help  
• Join Now!  • Log In  • Feature Tour
 Jon Sharratt | Home > 
2005 Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour:
Climate Control Malfunction

By Jon Sharratt, Shirt-Tail Organizer

The 2005 Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour was, shall we say, character building. The planned invasion of pastry encampments was delayed by true English weather; we managed to arrive at the first rest stop dry but as we remounted, rain began and continued for an hour or so. Spirits were undampened, however, as we took the Bay City Hill. The descent was a refreshing relief except for the stinging 40mph raindrops in the forehead. We pressed on to the first of the aforementioned pastry encampments; the Smiling Pelican Bakery. The surprise waiting for us was a crushing defeat: a tour bus. We tried our best to repel the marauding hoard of retirees but it was futile; they simply had the upper hand and forced us to wait in line. The humility.

Our determination paid off and soon the rain stopped as we enjoyed our rations. Capes were stowed as we were beginning to dry. We pressed on to other downstream rest stops and overlooks but not without a visit from another nemesis; the headwind. We battled our way up hills and down with 30mph gusts taking their toll. There were no complaints to be heard as we soldiered past Maiden Rock and on to Stockholm and lunch. Hearty fare was found at Gelly’s; a new restaurant with a new outdoor dining area. The menu was a bit of an enigma with both “grilled ham and cheese” along with “grilled cheese with ham” listed. Undaunted by the attempt at confusion; we hungry tourists broke the code and manage to plough our way through it all.

Pressing into the wind we managed to gain a foothold on the Pepin Railroad Museum for reconnaissance and a short break. Soon we were off to Nelson with the promise of ice cream. 3-Speed Tourists are a remarkably diverse lot when it comes to ice cream preference; no two alike. Some even mixed flavors with 2 scoops. Brilliant maneuver!

Wabasha was a welcome furlough to a fine day; compliments were heard about the fine English weather and the Newcastle Brown Ale was welcome refreshment for the entire Battalion.

Sunday morning required something never needed on any previous 3-Speed Tour: sunscreen. For the first time in 3 years we enjoyed a bright blue sky.

The Eagles Nest Coffee shop served an amazing breakfast including English toast (the precursor to French toast). Eggbake, fruit, bagels and jam served with buckets of hot tea warmed the spirits and prepared the troops for another confrontation with our arch nemesis. Yes, even though we reversed our direction for the return to Red Wing, the unbroken headwind returned for the second day.

Marching on through Reads Landing and other scenic overlooks we made our way to Lake City. Several Tourists enjoyed tea and scones at the Chickadee Cottage Tea Room and the locals marveled at the rusty iron littering the gardens. Alas, the Red-Hat ladies were AWOL this year.

A welcome break from the wind found us gliding through the forest into Old Frontenac, a village founded in 1839. We found the familiar stone fence on the corner of Manypenny Ave and Faribault St and staged a fabulous photo with all the 3-speeds lined up against the ramparts. We then visited the old Lakeside Hotel; a historic steamboat era resort that is in danger of being lost from neglect.

The final press into Red Wing was difficult but manageable. The wind was still very strong and now it had clouded over.

The old 3-speeds proved their worth by handling the difficult conditions with ease; rain or wind made no matter. We were all transported reliably and in relative comfort. We were able to climb the biggest of hills in the worst of conditions and carry all our gear with no complaints from our favorite trooper: the Trusty Steed.

We shall return!
-------------------------------------------------------
Photos by Brady Robinson, Larry Bontreger, Jon Sharratt, Rob Riggins, Ken Keberle.
Web page: www.3speedtour.com
Contact: jon.sharratt@mts.com
Date(s): May 21,22, 2005. Album by Jon Sharratt. 1 - 171 of 171 Total. 23853 Visits.
 Email a Comment
 Your Comment is
 immediately emailed
 to the album owner
Name:   Enter your comment
  
Email: 
Subject: 
Start SlideshowTo order prints and photo-products: 1. Select photos. 2. Click Order. 3. Select products.Select images and click to download to your computer 
Enlarge photo 1
1
Noel and his Phillips
"Noel - Cecelia and I just love your ..."
"I couldn't sleep this morning and ju..."
View Comments...

Enlarge photo 2
2
Group Photo 1

Enlarge photo 3
3
Group Photo 2

Enlarge photo 4
4
Group Photo 3

Enlarge photo 5
5
Group Photo 4

Enlarge photo 6
6
Assembling Tourbooks

Enlarge photo 7
7
Bag Tags

Enlarge photo 8
8
Larry and Andre

Enlarge photo 9
9
Jon Cameron

Enlarge photo 10
10
Carrie and Scot

Enlarge photo 11
11
Sign-In Table

Enlarge photo 12
12
Mark Stonich's 3-speed recumbent

Enlarge photo 13
13
Stuart Frescas and Ken Keberle

Enlarge photo 14
14
Lugged Cantilever Frame

Enlarge photo 15
15
Kevin's Merlin

Enlarge photo 16
16
Bob Allen

Enlarge photo 17
17
Rob Riggins, Andre and Larry Bontreger

Enlarge photo 18
18
Terry Osell and his 3-speed recumbent

Enlarge photo 19
19
Dave Brierley
with his coaster-brake Raleigh 3-speed Sports

Enlarge photo 20
20
Becky Street Wins the Print!

Enlarge photo 21
21
Finally leaving Red Wing!

Enlarge photo 22
22
Over the Shoulder Shot
That's Linda MacAfee then Noel.

Enlarge photo 23
23
Erroll & Scot McCollum, Carrie

Enlarge photo 24
24
Open Road

Enlarge photo 25
25
Historic Marker

Enlarge photo 26
26
Jon's Moulton Deluxe  with full chrome

Enlarge photo 27
27
Bob Allen

Enlarge photo 28
28
Andre

Enlarge photo 29
29
Bow and Arrow Marker

Enlarge photo 30
30
650B tyre, Phillips light, Carradice cape

Enlarge photo 31
31
Barn and Gardens

Enlarge photo 32
32
Brady Fixes a Flat

Enlarge photo 33
33
At the Top of the Bay City Hill

Enlarge photo 34
34
Jon's Raleigh

Enlarge photo 35
35
At the Top of the Bay City Hill
Stuart Frescas, Doug Heinzen, Steve Maier, Le Anne Eickhoff, Becky Street, Melanie Steinborn.

Enlarge photo 36
36
Jon's Raleigh

Enlarge photo 37
37
Lake Pepin Overlook

Enlarge photo 38
38
Inclinometer!

Enlarge photo 39
39
1930 Raleigh Model 9 Light Roadster

Enlarge photo 40
40
Raleigh 2

Enlarge photo 41
41
Raleigh 3

Enlarge photo 42
42
Raleigh 4

Enlarge photo 43
43
Stuart and Bob in the Rain

Enlarge photo 44
44
Bluffs in the Rain

Enlarge photo 45
45
Noel, Ron and Brady

Enlarge photo 46
46
Smiling Pelican

Enlarge photo 47
47
Andre and his Soaked London Fog

Enlarge photo 48
48
Triple Berry Pie
Mmmm...

Enlarge photo 49
49
Ken Keberle from Arizona

Enlarge photo 50
50
Dave Brierley

Enlarge photo 51
51
Ron Grogg and his Moulton 4 speed

Enlarge photo 52
52
On the Wheel

Enlarge photo 53
53
Nearing the Sign

Enlarge photo 54
54
How many Tourists Does it Take to Change a Tube?

Enlarge photo 55
55
Dave Rolling By

Enlarge photo 56
56
Beautiful Roads and Bluffs

Enlarge photo 57
57
Noel Fights the Wind

Enlarge photo 58
58
The Wrecking Crew
Jon Sharratt, Jim Robinson, Steve Kramer

Enlarge photo 59
59
Raleigh

Enlarge photo 60
60
Jon's Raleigh by the Wall
Note the reverse-angled top tube.

Enlarge photo 61
61
Brooks

Enlarge photo 62
62
Raleigh by the Wall 2

Enlarge photo 63
63
Dave's Raleigh

Enlarge photo 64
64
Dave Ambles by Maiden Rock

Enlarge photo 65
65
Look Close
Jon seems to have picked up a new shoelace.

Enlarge photo 66
66
Great Views!

Enlarge photo 67
67
Raleigh at the Rock

Enlarge photo 68
68
Brady Rides the Wall

Enlarge photo 69
69
01110002

Enlarge photo 70
70
Larry Bontreger and his Warwick

Enlarge photo 71
71
At Gelly's

Enlarge photo 72
72
01120038
"Stewart, I hardly knew ye!"
View Comments...

Enlarge photo 73
73
01110001

Enlarge photo 74
74
Pepin Depot Museum

Enlarge photo 75
75
Approaching Nelson WI

Enlarge photo 76
76
01110019
"The hotel was full and there was onl..."
View Comments...

Enlarge photo 77
77
Newcastle Ale at Riverboat Lanes

Enlarge photo 78
78
01110016

Enlarge photo 79
79
3-Speed Camp 1

Enlarge photo 80
80
3-Speed Camp 2

Enlarge photo 81
81
3-Speed Camp 3

Enlarge photo 82
82
The Robinsons
Noel, Brady and Jim

Enlarge photo 83
83
Noel at the Eagle's Nest

Enlarge photo 84
84
Eagle's Nest

Enlarge photo 85
85
1937 Raleigh Tourist Model 21X

Enlarge photo 86
86
Stuart Is Ready To Go
The Owners of the Eagle's Nest hate to see us leave. Sonny is on the right.

Enlarge photo 87
87
Grumpy Old Tourists

Enlarge photo 88
88
At the Eagle's Nest

Enlarge photo 89
89
At the Eagle's Nest 2

Enlarge photo 90
90
Larry Gains the Hill
"From what I'm seeing, there are a wh..."
View Comments...

Enlarge photo 91
91
Ambling By

Enlarge photo 92
92
Doug and LeAnne

Enlarge photo 93
93
Bob Allen and Jon Cameron

Enlarge photo 94
94
Dave Siskind at the River of Rafts Marker

Enlarge photo 95
95
Lake Views

Enlarge photo 96
96
Romantic Lake Pepin

Enlarge photo 97
97
At the Marker

Enlarge photo 98
98
The Group
Dan Lyon in the Center

Enlarge photo 99
99
01110028

Enlarge photo 100
100
Lake View

Enlarge photo 101
101
Andre

Enlarge photo 102
102
Lake View again

Enlarge photo 103
103
Lots of Trains Both Days

Enlarge photo 104
104
Gregg Contemplates the Headwind as Steve Loses His Hat

Enlarge photo 105
105
Gregg Richmann

Enlarge photo 106
106
01100003

Enlarge photo 107
107
Melanie and Jon at Lake City

Enlarge photo 108
108
Melanie and Jon

Enlarge photo 109
109
Brady with Father Jim and Uncle Noel

Enlarge photo 110
110
Lake City Marina

Enlarge photo 111
111
"Three" Speed Tour
Jim, Steve and Jon

Enlarge photo 112
112
Some Tired Tourists
Melanie, Noel, Linda.

Enlarge photo 113
113
Trading Posts Historic Marker

Enlarge photo 114
114
Close to Old Frontenac

Enlarge photo 115
115
Old Frontenac Retreat Center

Enlarge photo 116
116
1850s Mansion at Old Frontenac

Enlarge photo 117
117
Raleigh at the Wall
with authentic Raleigh Industries saddlebag, Baycliff cape bag, spats bag and rolled-up jumper.

Enlarge photo 118
118
Geeze, Another Raleigh Shot

Enlarge photo 119
119
"Contemplating the Incalculable"
Noel thought of it.

Enlarge photo 120
120
The Stone Wall

Enlarge photo 121
121
The Stone Wall 2

Enlarge photo 122
122
1937 Raleigh Tourist Model 21X
With rod-actuated drum brakes.

Enlarge photo 123
123
The Trusty Warwick

Enlarge photo 124
124
At the Wall

Enlarge photo 125
125
At Manypenny Ave and Faribault St.

Enlarge photo 126
126
01100004
"Okay, he's good. He just came across..."
View Comments...

Enlarge photo 127
127
Tricycle Art

Enlarge photo 128
128
Lakeside Hotel

Enlarge photo 129
129
Lakeside Hotel

Enlarge photo 130
130
01100006

Enlarge photo 131
131
01100008

Enlarge photo 132
132
01100005

Enlarge photo 133
133
01100010

Enlarge photo 134
134
01100012

Enlarge photo 135
135
Jon Brings up the Rear
near Frontenac State Park

Enlarge photo 136
136
Shirt-Tail Organizer Wanders By

Enlarge photo 137
137
Almost to Red Wing

Enlarge photo 138
138
The End of a Beautiful Day.

Enlarge photo 139
139
01110004
"Boy, do I ever want to take this rid..."
View Comments...

Enlarge photo 140
140
01110006

Enlarge photo 141
141
01110012

Enlarge photo 142
142
01110020

Enlarge photo 143
143
01110022

Enlarge photo 144
144
01110025

Enlarge photo 145
145
01110031

Enlarge photo 146
146
01110032

Enlarge photo 147
147
01110034

Enlarge photo 148
148
01120005

Enlarge photo 149
149
01120008

Enlarge photo 150
150
01120010

Enlarge photo 151
151
01120011

Enlarge photo 152
152
01120012

Enlarge photo 153
153
01120013

Enlarge photo 154
154
01120014
That's Joe Richards from Ohio on the right.

Enlarge photo 155
155
01120015

Enlarge photo 156
156
01120017

Enlarge photo 157
157
01120018

Enlarge photo 158
158
01120019

Enlarge photo 159
159
01120020

Enlarge photo 160
160
01120021

Enlarge photo 161
161
01120022

Enlarge photo 162
162
01120023

Enlarge photo 163
163
01120024

Enlarge photo 164
164
01120025

Enlarge photo 165
165
01120027

Enlarge photo 166
166
01120032

Enlarge photo 167
167
01120033

Enlarge photo 168
168
01120034

Enlarge photo 169
169
01120035

Enlarge photo 170
170
01120036

Enlarge AVI 171
Download AVI
AVI171
3 Speeds On The Wall
20 minutes to load if you have dialup.

 Select All.  
 
Album Properties. Email Album. Send Invitation. Add to Website. Share URL