Fighting off fatigue, semitrailer trucks and a few navigational blunders, Abe Kolstad completed a 3,217-mile bike ride across the country this week in the name of his brother, brain-injury victim Isaac Kolstad.
By the time Abe, 22, dipped his bike tires in the Atlantic Ocean at Rehoboth Beach, Del., to complete the ride, he had raised thousands of dollars for people like Isaac who are struggling to overcome traumatic brain or spinal-cord injuries.
Kolstad said his brother was fortunate to have community support when he was injured last year in a fight in downtown Mankato. The money raised from the bike ride will go to victims who don't have the same support, he said.
Kolstad rode about 80 miles a day as his father, Blaine, drove a support vehicle. He started May 21 in Newport, Ore., enjoyed Idaho scenery, stayed upright as trucks roared past and camped with his father along the way.
"I was happy to see it end, but it was a lot of fun," said Kolstad.
For more, go to www.YouCaring.com/Coast22Coast
Matt McKinney @_mattmckinney
Lutsen
Newer, faster gondola coming to ski hills
Skiers at Lutsen Mountains will get a faster ride up the hills after the resort installs a new $7 million gondola.
The new towers, faster-moving cables and larger, eight-person red gondola cars will initially increase rider capacity to 1,000 per hour. The existing gondola moves 300.
