Friday, July 21, 2006
Day 33 - The Dells, WI - 21st July 2006
Weather: Great cycling weather Cloudy/Overcast, no rain or sunshine...
Location: The Dells (from La Crosse, WI)
Miles per day: 92.7
Average miles per hour: 12.10
Elevation climb: 2162 Feet
Blizzards/Ice Cream to date: 24 (German Chocolate Cake 9/10). Note Well - It's getting harder to find DQs... wondering if I'm going to have to switch to Ben & Jerry's? Watch this space.
Flat Tires to date: 1 (at DQ)
The last several days have been long and tough so I was grateful for this easy day. Fantastic day of riding - weather and terrain were excellent. We spent much of the day on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail bike trail from Sparta, WI to Elroy, WI. Purchased in 1967, it was the first 'Rails to Trails' bike path in the USA converting railroad tracks built in late 1800s into a 32 mile cycle path.
No cars, stores or for that matter, civilisation. Wisconsin is a big Cycling State, home to Trek and Sparta is considered its capital. 'Ben Biking' is the town mascot (see photo). The trail was crushed gravel, with no more than 3% grade. With 3 tunnels, we alluded hills all day! For more info on Rails to Trails, see http://www.railtrails.org/
'The Final Four' set out with determination not to be the last today and also to make a guest appearance at 'route rap'. All was going spectacularly to plan, until.... We started seeing big placards with photos and messages (about 15 of them). After passing several, Lois comes to a halt, burst out laughing and says, 'That's me'....Her sisters, nieces and nephew had left a series of messages for about 5 miles into the hotel. On arrival, they barraged us with homemade cookies. Delicious! So goes another day and another excuse for being last in! Well worth it!
