Alexandria – Valerie's Voice

One of the attractions for our bike get away this year, was to attend an outdoor concert at Lake Brophy County Park – along the Central Lakes State Trail near Alexandria, MN. The bike trail runs right through the middle of the park.

A lot of people came out on this hot and humid evening to listen to Rumours and Dreams.

Summer Sounds is what they call their summer outdoor concert series (free), sponsored by the Rotary Club, and it’s a big deal. Thousands show up at this park with a large hill going down to Lake Brotphy where the bandstand is set up near the water, creating an amphitheater. People sit on the hill to watch and listen. There was a jumbotron so all could see.

The stage set up on the shores of Lake Brophy.

We went to hear the tribute band for Fleetwood Mac, called Rumours and Dreams. Apparently, this tribute band is part of the Summer Sounds concert series every year. I can understand why people keep coming back to hear them. They are very good. Three lead vocalists and other instrument players sounded like the original band. The 70’s and 80’s were Fleetwood Mac’s most active years.

Lots of people seated everywhere, overlooking Lake Brophy.

We rode our bikes to this event (from a parking lot one mile away). If you ride to the concert, you can park your bike in the bike corral (safe and secure) and in exchange you get a camp chair to sit on to listen to the concert. A creative idea!

Part of the time I used an umbrella to be shaded from the sun.

There were food trucks and a playground for the kiddos, lots of trash bins brought in as well as Porta-potties. The concerts attract thousands of attendees.

The sun started to set as the concert came to an end. This photo was taken on top of the hill where additional people were seated to hear the concert.

At the end of the concert, about 9 o’clock, there was a beautiful glow as the sun began to set. We hopped on our bikes and rode one mile back to our car. It was so easy and quick, and we avoided all traffic jams and others leaving the area.

Outdoor concerts are a quintessential part of summer. I’m grateful for the many opportunities all over Minnesota.

…while riding my bicycle!

I didn’t see him, and apparently, he didn’t see me.

He was crossing the bike trail, starting from under a bush right next to the trail, and I was riding along on that same side near the edge, since we were riding two by two. He darted out and I rode over him. The others I was with said it was a raccoon. He scurried off to the other side of the trail, into the field so I assume he survived. They said he was a big one!

I stopped my bike and took a deep breath. I knew I ran over something, but I didn’t know what. None of us could believe I did not lose my balance and fall over on my bike. I thanked God all was well, and we biked on.

We were on the Central Lakes State Bike Trail, near Alexandria, Minnesota. We planned this bike trip long before we knew how hot and humid it was going to be. But once on the bikes, it wasn’t too bad.

I stopped to take a picture of this “bevy” of swans. It was unusual for me to see more than one or two swans together.

The morning I ran over the raccoon, we started our ride early, leaving our cars at a parking lot along the trail that had an interesting, old threshing machine. The trail was an old railway bed…straight and wide and paved and flat. We passed lakes with beautiful white swans and egrets, saw a few bunnies on the trail, ran over a raccoon, and on the way back stopped at Evansville shelter for a break.

Two beautiful swans side by side on another lake.

On a side note; the small town of Evansville (pop.603), began about 1858 and was named after Evan Evanson (for real!). He was the first mail carrier to carry mail through this area and he built a shanty there to rest, and it became a stop on a stagecoach line. It’s amazing what you can learn in the most unlikely places.

Anyway, in Evansville, there is a nice shelter alongside the bike trail where we stopped to rest. And right there was a beautiful old bike with a sign saying “Free”. No gears, back-pedal brakes, fenders and all, in very good condition. We all wanted to take it home, but of course couldn’t. Hopefully someone claimed it for their own.

On this early morning ride, the straight and narrow bike trail offered us many diversions.

Tag: Alexandria

Rumours and Dreams

I ran over a raccoon…