Distance today = 51.31 km; Total distance = 7730.36 km; Location = Park Rapids (10 km west of) – 46 55.210′ N, 95 10.299′ W; Start time = 0834, Finish time = 1648

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188727172

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188729463

It was probably my slowest day yet, for two reasons. I just didn’t have anything in my legs today – that was one reason. The other was because of all the stops I had to make to get small rocks out of my shoes.

At least the tough day was tempered by beautiful scenery. I ran much of the day through forests, dotted with lakes. That made it easier to take. I also saw what I think were two baby beavers by the side of the road. I shooed them back toward the nearby lake so that they weren’t tempted to cross the busy road.

I also ran past a lake which is quite unique. The Indian word for the lake is something like “lake that flows in two directions”. Two creeks emanate from the small lake, one eventually emptying in the Atlantic via the Mississippi, the other into the Arctic Ocean.

For the past week or more I have noticed that almost every church I have passed has been Lutheran. I assume a lot of German immigrants settled this region in the past. There are definitely many names of German origin. One exception today was the Northwoods Cowboy Church – what the……????

I finished my day of running about 10 km outside the town or Park Rapids, where Carmel picked me up. As we were heading to town, a mother duck with about eight ducklings waddled straight out in front of the car. Luckily Carmel was able to brake and avoid them. We would have felt very bad if we’d squashed a whole family of duckies.

A quick update on the Red Wine Value Quotient – I simply have not come close to tasting a red that compares in value to the $1.79 bottle from California back in February. Sorry about that. How strange if the winner ends up coming from the very first few days of the competition.