Up at 5 AM for a quick shower and the 2-hour process of totally repacking the motorcycle. Judy and Chuck Lerner also got up to say goodbye and to make sure that I was well fed with a scrambled egg and fruit breakfast. My stay with them and traveling around Milwaukee together could not have been more pleasant, loving, and congenial. They shared many wonderful stories of their family history with heirlooms, photos and love in abundance in their warm and happy home during my stay with them. I made certain to take several photos of their home and grounds before leaving at 8 AM for the 340-mile ride to Minneapolis. Chuck and Judy will be coming east in August and I hope to visit again with them and broaden and deepen our relationship. Thanks guys! As I rode North West from Milwaukee to Wisconsin I came across an area of Wisconsin tourism that I had heard about- the Dells. I saw a sign for a casino ahead and needing to answer the call of nature, I thought why not class it up and pee with some lucky people. I confidently found my way to the roulette wheel placed two 5-dollar chips that I purchased on red, and won $10! I pulled my 4 chips, cashed them in, and walked out immediately, a super-big winner! I arrived in Minneapolis just before 4 PM and immediately got off at the wrong exit and ended up in a heavily Muslim area which seem to be populated by the Somalis that I had heard about, who have formed a large community in the Minneapolis region. I cannot recall ever being in an area with such a high density of Muslim individuals. I was able to reconnect with Interstate 94, and get to the correct address- a very swanky Hyatt Regency hotel on a beautiful boulevard called Nicolette Mall for only $79 per night. After a short rest I decided to get out and see the town. Armed with a map of downtown Minneapolis and my advanced research on the city's "Nice Ride" the super easy bike share program, I swiped my credit card at a nearby Nice Ride station and bicycled south on Nicolette Avenue, nicknamed "Eat Street" because of its proliferation of many and wonderful ethnic restaurants about a mile south of my hotel. I selected a Thai restaurant and enjoyed a meal of pad thai. After dinner, I rode east on the Midtown Greenway which took me to the Mississippi River. I continued along the Mississippi River northeast towards my goal – Hennepin Park for the July 4th fireworks display. I arrived about a half hour before dark amid thousands and thousands of people streaming into the fashionable area on either side of the river to also enjoy the fireworks. There were so many happy and expectant people on the Stone Arch Bridge that I needed to walk the bicycle across the bridge over the Mississippi River to Father Hennepin Bluffs Park. I left the bike at another Nice Ride station and walked one block to the bandstand in the park to enjoy a pre-fireworks concert of excellent rock 'n roll with hundreds of other patriotic folks. I set up my folding chair and rocked with the others. After the fireworks the traffic and congestion were monumental, but I had the right tool for the job. My newly acquired Nice Ride bicycle was just the ticket to weave through the pedestrians and jammed cars and I was able to negotiate my way back to the Hyatt Regency without much trouble. A truly great night and I was very happening and impressive city.
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