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This weekend, I chose to drive two hours north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, to visit friends in Duluth. It is the best city in the Midwest. The streets of the city flow down a large hillside to the shore of Lake Superior. There are endless opportunities in the outdoors, from great kayaking and sailing in the lake to solitary running and mountain bike trails further inland. What makes Duluth special is its unpretentious culture. People in Duluth play in the outdoors because it is their passion, not because it seems fashionable.
Three years ago, I was still a senior in high school. I had just returned to the U.S. the previous spring from my year of living and training in Norway. Since I had been away from high school life for what seemed like forever, I decided to finish my final high school requirements at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, rather than physically at my high school. It had a number of advantages, besides the attraction of Duluth: the courses earned me both high school and college credit, my classes and books were paid for by the State of Minnesota, and I had ample time to train.
Today, I rollerskied on the North Shore Scenic Highway, which, true to its name, hugs the coast of Lake Superior. It had good pavement, but more importantly, it was flat with only a few hills. This topography allowed me to comfortably double pole for three hours. The views were grand. Over the water, puffy white clouds hung suspended in the sky. A light breeze blew across the road from off the water. Combined with plenty of sunshine, the wind made the weather perfect.
Peace,
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