WE Fest

Day 126, August 7, 2011, WE Fest

Route from Bemidji to The Williamson’s, Detroit Lakes, MN

112.5 miles, averaging 13.9 mph

Worst Moment – Highway 200 headed west had absolutely no shoulder and it was a fairly busy 55 mph speed limit road. 

Best Moment – We had an absolutely wonderful afternoon, dinner, (with the most delicious homemade apple pie) and evening with Kathy and Lyle Williamson at their beautiful lakefront home on Pelican Lake in Detroit Lakes.

When we tried to make reservations near Callaway, MN for tonight, everything in the area was booked.  It seems that there is a huge Country Western Music Festival, or WE Fest taking place in Detroit Lakes, MN this weekend.  This is huge - all of the big name entertainers like Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, Darius Rucker, and Rascal Flats (to name a few) entertain during the weekend.  People come here to camp, party and catch the entertainment.  (In case you’re interested in 2012, Alabama will headline the line-up.)

In any case, we had made reservations to camp near Erskine, which is further north and out of the way of WE Fest.  That is until Neita got a call from Kathy who invited us to come stay with them in Detroit Lakes.  What a deal!  Of course we accepted and looked forward to spending time with the Williamsons. 

When I originally looked at the route, it looked like it would be about 88 miles, and it would be on the Paul Bunyan bicycle trail – a paved bike trail going between Bemidji and Brainerd, MN.  Seems that there is another Pelican Lake close to Brainerd and that isn’t the one Lyle and Kathy live on.  Oh well, what are a few more miles? 

Most of the route was very agricultural with lots of lakes.  A very scenic and other than the 20 mile or so stretch of Hwy 200, the roads were great.  

As I got close to Detroit Lakes and the Festival site, I could really understand why there was not a camping place to be found.  There were hillsides covered with RV’s and campers.  There was also the wonderful smell of cooking from all of the vendors selling hamburgers, barbecue and whatever else can be cooked in grease. 

I got to the Williamson’s about 3:30 and very much enjoyed the conversation, relaxing and spending time with them.  We took a boat ride around Pelican Lake to see some of the amazing and some of the more modest homes on the lake.  Young Life has an incredible youth camp called Castaways on the lake.  From our kid’s experience with Y/L camps this looked like it would provide the same kind of incredible, and fun experience for youth finding Christ.  

Neita and I really enjoyed our time with Kathy and Lyle.  They are wonderful hosts!  And we got to sleep in a real room that had nightstands with lamps on them instead of the bedside lamp being in the ceiling or mounted on the wall. 

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.