Day 3: Rochester to Northfield

After a breakfast of scrambled eggs, French toast, potatoes O’Brien, bacon or sausage, water, coffee, and tomato juice [it’s red], I took off at 6:45 am to sunny skies and a nice 68°.

Chipotle Stop:3780 Marketplace Drive NW in Rochester, MN (8 miles from camp)

After riding eight miles out, we were treated to the terrific Chipotle Crew, who donated fabulous fresh fruit, coffee, scones, muffins and big hugs. Latin dance music blared loudly like in a night club as riders danced, mingled and took pictures in celebratory spirit. During the ride Chipotle continued to be such a festive, lively and supportive bunch, always willing to lend a hand, offer plenty of water and loud, loving cheer.

Pit Stop 1: Douglas Trail Parking Lot - County Road 3, Douglas, MN (7.2 miles from Chipotle stop)

Friendly riding weather continued as I pulled into pit one for a “Welcome to Dodge City” theme with crew members decked out in western gear. Their Ten-Most-Wanted photo collage of them warned me they might be up to no good, old-fashioned slackin’ off, but alas the only crime one could charge them with was giving us too much of a good time.

Pit Stop 2: Another Douglas Trail Parking Lot – 91 S. Main St. Pine Island, MN (12.6 miles from pit one)

As the weather grew warmer, the pits felt hotter with pit 2’s Cabaret theme flashing as much red as they could possibly dream up. Carter Averbeck, strikingly dressed as their Emcee in a red and black pin stripe suit, reigned over his crew with authority while juggling several tasks. Joyce Mundahl and Echo Thoren, as the Scarlett Sisters, wore balloon festooned costumes ready for popping. Once you popped one, you were able to read a message that was tucked inside of the balloon.

By now you could feel a rise in temperature. Crew members and riders were dripping off sweat. Gatorade, ice and water were steadily being consumed. Today would prove to be the hottest of riding weather.

Pit Stop 3/Lunch: Holden Park – Cy Rd 30 & 66th Ave. Way, Holden, MN (21.4 miles from pit 2)

There’s nothing like the power of imagination to cool us down. After completing the longest distance between pits, 21.4 miles, you really worked up an appetite getting to the lunch stop, but it was worth the distance. Lunch Crew Leader Judy Giacabazi (dressed as a Christmas tree) and her crew (elves) inventively recreated the North Pole, a frosty cool atmosphere replete with hundreds of Christmas decorations scattered about along with the appearance of elderly gentleman dressed as Santa Claus. What a perfect antidote to combat the hot weather, a cooling respite of winter-like enchantment beautifully conceived and executed by this fun crew.

Riders munched on ham and cheese croissants or Tzatziki veggie wraps with garden veggies, fruit, cookies and chips. I think the majority of riders hung out the longest at this pit.

After eight miles of riding through escalating heat, I was overjoyed to see the surprising sight of two dear SJA members making an unexpected appearance next to Chipotle’s Burrito Bago RV—Anna Vagle(right), SJA’s Director of Music/ Liturgy, and Claire Whelan, SJA’s morning receptionist. Whelan dressed as St. Joan of Arc in a borrowed Guthrie costume armor breast plate paired with rainbow striped tights. She and Vagle handed out an endless supply of freeze pops and fruit juices along with the most merry of hugs. Next to them, the Chipotle crew offered Propel electrolyte [check out the black cherry favor, my favorite], Dysani water and a refreshing dousing with the aid of large squirt guns.

Riding near Pine Island, our trusty photographer Rick Spaulding’s dear 89-year-old grandmother Joyce Kihlgren(right) once again hand prepared 300 red colored rice krispies treats with hand written notes of appreciation for each of us riders. Spaulding’s wife Tinia Molder greeted us with the treats while sweet granny would steal a few shots of us riders with her digital camera.

Pit Stop 4: Kenyon/Wanamingo Middle High School – 400 6th St. Kenyon, MN (8.3 miles from lunch pit)

Peaks and valleys awaited us as we tackled several spiraling hills. Temperatures now hit 93° with a heat index in the high 90s. At this point, riders were either sagging in or toughing out the last stretch until camp.

Pit Stop 5: Nerstrand City Park – Cherry St. & 170th St. East by Main St. Nerstrand, MN (9 miles from pit 4)

A Fiesta theme provided plenty of tasty guacamole, salsa and chips courtesy of Chipotle. A water shower and wading play pool appreciatively cooled me down at the final pit for the day. Some 10.5 miles were left to travel until camp and a fair amount of head winds paired with the intense heat made this last trek excruciating but when you caught a tail wind, wow, you could really blow through quickly.

Camp: Northfield Middle School, 2200 Division St. S. Northfield, MN (10.5 miles from pit 4)

I rode out this morning at 6:45 am and made it into camp by 3:11 pm riding 73.5 miles today. This middle school is located at the outskirts of Northfield and comes up alarmingly quick. I expected to ride at least two more miles ahead but there to my left was camp. I’d say today was the hottest of temperatures we endured while riding these past three days.

Impressed indeed with the accommodations this quite posh school provided, I checked in, deeply stretched and showered before jumping into a nearly Olympic sized swimming pool [at a Middle School, no less]. Overheated and exhausted, I instantly revived in the refreshingly cold water of this glorious pool. Doing some back strokes, diving off a low board again and again, bouncing joyously up and down, I basked in a cooling heaven of invigoration. I think it was only when another swimmer said to me, “Okay, you’re having WAY too much fun,” did I come down a bit.

Prom Catering served a scrumptious buffet dinner which they called an Interactive Pasta Bar. No one quite saw how pasta could become interactive but the Ravioli, Penne and Tortellini pasta was prepared on site so that probably explains ‘interactive.’ A divine Tiramisu completed dessert. Yes, all quite delicious. We were rewardingly spoiled tonight.

Friends and Family Night

Friends and Family Night, something new to the ride, offered guests to come to camp for the first time and see what the Red Ribbon Ride is all about. We could co-mingle with each other, eat dinner together and witness our Special Presentation held in Northfield Middle School’s state of the art auditorium.

During past rides, we offered a Remembrance tent where a ceremony or ritual took place and each rider collectively submitted a memory of someone who has passed away from the AIDS virus. Written on white paper bags, these dedications were illuminated by dropping glow sticks into the bags and placing them in a ribbon like formation on a wall in a darkened room. We then would silently read them while passing by.

For F & F night we decided to take advantage of the theater space at this school and put on a dramatic theater testimonial of people living with HIV today. Under a spotlight on a bare proscenium stage, Derrick, from Hennepin County’s Red Door Clinic HIM (Health Intervention for Men) Program spoke briefly about the history of HIV around the world and how this pandemic affects us today. Then the spotlight would focus on a person living with or losing someone to the AIDS virus. Each provided their own personal testimony.

Back and forth the spotlight would engage Derrick who provided sound facts and then to personal insights from the five speakers: Ride Doctor/Medical Crew Member Chris Christiansen, who with her husband Jeff spent several weeks in Africa this summer witnessing horrific devastation and vague signs of hope for HIV-affected people struggling with a lack of medication and religious intolerance to sexuality issues; Penny Rosseau, who lost her son to AIDS a decade ago; myself, Michael Reinbold, who has lived with the AIDS virus for 14 years now. I talked about my life growing up gay in a farm community, moving to the Twin Cities and living with this virus that’s been for me in remission for ten years; David Hansen, who offered insight from his perspective of living with HIV in a rural community; and Mark Salzberg, who revealed his struggles with AIDS living in Los Angeles. Lorraine Teal, Executive Director from Minnesota AIDS Project, a beneficiary of the ride, eloquently concluded our presentation with future hopes that included challenging us to not become complacent but active in seeking continual funding for HIV prevention.

Entertainment coordinator Kyle Schmidt ran an informal Karaoke contest with a few participants. Family and friends caught up with one another and one long, hot roller coaster ride of struggle, laughter, tears, sweat, butt balm, soreness, bruises, rewards, affection, bear hugs, comfort, disclosure, enlightenment and nourishment came to a close. Tomorrow will take us home.

Michael Reinbold, a continuing web reporter, freelances as a writer and banquet caterer. A passionate believer in SJA's mission of social justice and collaborative ministry, Michael is an SJA Choir member, mass reader, Team Oz AIDS rider and Grace House volunteer cook. With an extensive background in theater, photography and fundraising, he relishes all aspects of the arts, staying fit and inspiring and working with people.

Rick Spaulding is a photographer specializing in digital photography for the theater and works for National Camera Exchange. He is also an antique dealer and eBay afficianado who enjoys collecting marbles but his true joys in life are his two boys and his beautiful wife, Tinia.