PNC2RNC Ride Update [from Winona MN]

8/24 (from Winona, MN)

The Grassroutes Caravan left La Crosse, WI, after a well-attended event at Bluffland Bloom and Brew in La Crosse's historic downtown. Also in La Crosse, riders worked with Habitat for Humanity, at a community garden, and painting a bus headed for the RNC. Saturday, they spent the night at Great River Bluffs State Park en route to the Really Really Free Market in Winona, MN on Sunday, to be followed by a stop in Minnesota City on Monday and an event in Oak Center near Lake City on Wednesday.

Interview with rider Gabi (en español) | Clint | (NEW) Thistle
(interviews conducted by Steve Mikesell for WORT 89.9 FM community radio in Madison WI)

More details at pnc2rnc.org | More photos | Video of performances

So far the ride has covered approximately 185 miles, with no problematic encounters, save one uptight driver who was quickly educated on the Wisconsin state traffic code!

La Crosse, WI

camping at a farm near Lime Ridge, WI

***

8/21 from Elroy, WI: After the People's Networking Convention in Madison August 15-17, the Grassroutes Caravan to the RNC left Monday morning from Troy Gardens, a community gardening space on the NE side of Madison, by 9:30 in a mass of approximately 35-40 riders from all over the country. Riders from as far away as Austin, New York, Chicago, Milwaukee and even Quito, Ecuador are participating, with more joining on the way. The mood was good and the food, provided by the Down Home Hospitality Cafe out of Louisville, Kentucky and their veggie oil powered truck, was delicious. Riders encountering flat tires or dropped chains were quickly surrounded by fellow helpful bicyclists!

The first stayover was in the small town of Mazomanie, Wisconsin, home to a clothing-optional beach, mosquitoes, and the backyard of the Iron Horse Cooperative Gallery, where the caravan stayed for two nights, enjoying each others' company and preparing their perforamance. The second night saw the premiere of a puppet show - a subverted, radicalized version of Peter Pan - and a presentation of the Beehive Collective's poster about Plan Colombia.

On Wednesday the caravan traveled 40 more miles to a family farm in Lime Ridge to set up camp for the night. On Thursday, they began the 45 mile ride to Norwalk, defeating some grueling hills, and reaching a top speed of 44.4 mph on one spectactular stretch!

Friday the ride is scheduled to give a performance in La Crosse, WI. The anticipated arrival in St. Paul is at Indian Mounds Park in the late afternoon/early evening of Saturday, August 30.

More updates, pictures and audio interviews to come!

Leaving from Just Coffee in Madison

the Temporary Independent Media Center in Mazomanie

performance for the community!