American Suzuki Institute- Day 4 (Thursday)

Sorry, no pics today, you may understand why in a few lines...

Lesson-wise today was the best day ever for Gavin and it was so-so for Garek. Gavin even had the opportunity to have a teacher trainer give him and extra min-lesson. Garek was a bit hard-headed during his second lesson, but at least he perked up for his afternoon lesson as I bribed him with a trip to Coldstone Creamery, where kids under 6 get free ice cream here!!

After lessons, Garek and I went and bought some breakfast supplies and got his free ice cream! (No breakfast is not ice cream, even though that sentence may lead you to that conclusion). Then the boys decided they would like to do more bike riding, so off we go, on another bike ride. It was a bit warm, but we had plenty of fluids, and a lot of the bike trail wove through forested areas along the Plover River. We had already looked at the map this time and planned where we were headed (novel concept, I know). This should have been 14 miles of biking on the circle trail, with 2 miles to cut across town to swing by the ice cream place on the way back to the dorm. As luck would have it, we made it the 14 miles...as luck would not have it, my bike chain broke as we reached the intersection of the road to cut across town. Considering all the forested path we were previously on, at least I broke down in town. So Gavin, Garek and I started walking (the promise of ice cream and the fact we were walking near a train yard helped in the motivation to walk). Matt took off to the dorm (and van) with his bike and the tag along. Gavin, Garek and I made it about 1.5 miles, when Matt met up with us in the van and took is the remaining 3 blocks to the ice cream shop.

The ice cream shop is called Belt's Ice Cream, known for the world's largest cone (apparently). They serve soft serve ice cream, so the largest cone is pretty tall and heavy. It weighs 3 1/2 pounds! And here Matt and I thought his freshman roommate, Tim had the record for largest cones. (Tim used to make cones in the cafeteria at Gustavus that were significantly tall!!) Garek and I shared a medium cone- yum. We then also stopped for some hamburgers (dessert before dinner on a day like today). Needless to say, Garek was asleep by the time we reached the dorm and Gavin was withing 2 minutes of climbing into bed. Finally we wore them out!!

As you may of guessed, no we did not have a chance to take pictures during this adventure, so you will have to take our word for it!! Now tomorrow I will need to work in getting my bike to the repair shop in between lessons and hope they have time and supplies to put on a new chain, since I have a triathlon this weekend!! And here I thought I had to worry about my tires!! In the meantime, I think I am going to take the boys lead, and get some zzz's.