A short and easy ride today. The route felt more rural than yesterday with less traffic and around eight miles of gravel roads. My RideWithGPS route had told me 100% paved. I think I am getting to the limit of how much I can rely on it for picking routes. Instead as I get to more rural areas I will pick a mixture of larger roads and maps.

I slept in and had a later start as I knew the distance wasn’t as far today. I headed south, roughly parallel to I-35 on smaller roads. RideWithGPS directed me down a small gravel road right next to a large Swift truck area. Unfortunately the road came to a loop at the end with a tall fence blocking my way. So I back tracked half a mile to find a different road.

Corn to the left, soybeans to the right. A lot more fields and crops today. Otherwise a nice quiet road.

Not sure if they are early in setting up a nativity scene or late taking it down.

As I cycled to Ellendale, someone yelled out “are you bikepacking”? Yes, so I stopped and had a conversation about how to start touring. Not long after that the road changed to gravel for the next six miles. It was nice, though slower riding.

Pond and farm along the way.

This fish was at Clark’s Grove. The road became a bumpy pavement here. I stopped and took a short break first.

Not sure why these folks have the Danish flag or why their neighbors have the German flag. Tour de France?

Despite starting late and riding gravel, I was still early to Albert Lea. So I stopped at a laundry before going to a motel. Overall an easy ride with a lot of corn and soybeans in southern Minnesota.