Heading Northwest From Minneapolis
"But once we caught on, of course, nothing could keep us off these roads, weekends, evenings, vacations. We have become real secondary-road motorcycle buffs and found there are things you learn as you go. .. We have learned how to spot the good ones on a map, for example. If the line wiggles, that’s good. That means hills. If it appears to be the main route from a town to a city, that’s bad. The best ones always connect nowhere with nowhere and have an alternate that gets you there quicker."
Rural Rt 10 Northwest of Minneapolis, MN Considering the above ZMM passage, what highway(s) would the ZMM Narrator have chosen from Minneapolis? Mark Richardson in his forthcoming book, reminded me of a passage from Mr. Pirsig's second book, Lila: "Redford says he's always had a special interest in Minnesota. His movie "Ordinary People" was a Minnesota story, although it was filmed in northern Illinois. His college roommate came from Minnesota, and he'd visited his house there and never forgotten it. .. "Where did he live?" Phædrus asks. .. "Lake Minnetonka," Redford says, "Do you know that area?" .. "Sure. The first chapter of my book touched down for a second at Excelsior, on Lake Minnetonka." Recently, we asked Mr. Pirsig if these words referred to their travel route that July of 1969. His complete reply is given in the 3rd previous photo. There, he implies that the towns of Savage (Southwestern suburb of Minneapolis) and Excelsior (near Minnetonka), were several areas for weekend rides, rather than part of the ZMM Narrator's route. So, on your ZMM Pilgrimage, whether on a weekend ride or starting out on a ZMM Pilgrimage, you might try the following "ZMM Quality filled" route that connects to Minneapolis to the ZMM Route on Rt 55 where you may continue the ZMM Route: from Sutherland's home at 2649 S. Colfax, go West on Lake Street. After several miles, angle left onto Minnetonka Blvd (Rt 7), which goes directly to the center of Minnetonka, MN, and continue West to Excelsior, MN. Here, on the west side of town, (consult a map) you could turn North onto a wonderful twisty road that runs along a series of "near islands" in Lake Minnetonka. This road goes thru towns of Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Spring Park, and Mound. "If the line wiggles on a map, that’s good." From here Pilgrims can then explore the narrator's pleasant and beloved back country roads "eyeballing it" North and West on their way to Rt 55. Thus Pilgrims Should also heed Mr. Pirsig's advice mentioned on the previous photo: make your own route as you travel!!
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(Photo = Summer2006-0176 ...... Lila passage is near Start Ch 19. ...... WayPt = -011i)