The 2008 Great River Energy Mississippi River Challenge is just over a month away on July 26 and 27. We’ve got a lot to be excited about with our fifth anniversary of the event. In case you haven’t heard the news — this year’s Challenge offers a cycling route on Saturday. But register soon…fees increase by $10 on July 1.

Cyclists meet up at Fort Snelling to check in between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday the 26th, bike the gorge and the Minneapolis riverfront to join paddlers at Bassett Creek for lunch, then bike back to Fort Snelling — all together, an approximate route length of 22 miles.

Then you can tour the historic fort, rest, hike in Fort Snelling State Park or, if you’re up for it, you can bike along the floodplain river and the Saint Paul riverfront in the afternoon (another 22 miles) before returning to Fort Snelling for the evening’s festivities. All cyclists are welcome to camp at Fort Snelling, and have the option of paddling on day two. A bonus: the drawing for raising $500 in pledges includes a chance to win a beautiful Bianchi Milano bicycle donated by Hoigaard’s! We’d love to see as many cyclists on the trails as paddlers in the water this year, so spread the word and get your cycling friends out for a weekend to protect the river! Please note that the registration fees and pledge minimums are the same as those for paddlers.

Visit the Mississippi River Challenge web site to register on-line or mail in the registration form found in the newspaper-style brochure (call 651-222-2193 x19 to have a copy mailed to you). Either way, you can start fundraising from friends and family in person, and visit the website to set up a personal fundraising page.

We’ll be on TV, too…

Watch for us on KARE-11 at 5 p.m. on July 10 as we join Belinda Jensen in the Backyard to talk about the 2008 Great River Energy Mississippi River Challenge. Read more…