Today was a tough day. You may recall Minnesota State Highway 60, which was a two-lane road we followed heading into Faribault. Well, now it’s a four-lane divided highway, and we walked its shoulder for most of the day. We leaned in against a strong headwind — which, combined with the gusts that slapped at us every time a big truck sailed by, knocked us backwards from time to time.
But I didn’t mind so much. If anything, I’m grateful we found that rail trail from Faribault to Mankato. Busy roads have been the exception this journey, and I’m happy to credit two changes from the last time I walked across the continent: the Rails to Trails movement, and Google maps.
I did note one thing which might come in handy later: the MN Highway Department installs posts every 1/10th of a mile with a small, diamond-shaped reflectional thingy screwed onto it. When you count ten of those, you can start looking for the mile marker.
If nothing else, it helped to pass the time.
Oh — and the one time we got away from the highway, we found a very pretty waterfall just by the side of a county road. So good all around.
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