Day 38 Pepin to Sparta WI

The route today started on route 35 which is the Wisconsin Great River road.  It was very nostalgic for me to cycle along the Mississippi enjoying the very high bluffs, the many locks and dams and small river towns. I spent a great deal of my youth in Davenport, Iowa which is a town on the Mississippi so I really enjoy seeing the river in different locations. One of the main differences I noticed was that the Bluffs were much taller along this section.  I didn't get many pictures today because I knew they just wouldn’t surpass the image I captured in my mind.  

After lunch, we got on highway 54 for a short time.  Boy were we glad to get off that road.  Narrow shoulders and lots of semi traffic.  We had a few rude truckers blast their horns at us and we were as far to the right as we could be!  I don't know why they have to be so rude!  Anyway, we got off that road and on to some back roads that were fun to ride because of all the “rollers”.  

Around mile 70 we stopped at a little store in Mindoro, and I bought this coffee drink that was loaded with caffeine.  Boy was that a mistake as I started to feel terrible almost immediately!  I wont be doing that again!  Anyway, we slowed down some the last 20 miles so I could recover from the caffeine overload. We finished the ride with 3 short steep climbs with 13% grades!  We made it to Sparta by 1:30 which put us in as one of the “early riders” so Terri and I helped unload the luggage truck.  

Stats: 91 miles, 2,559 feet of elevation gain

Twin Bluffs

Local crops


Big Viking in Buffalo City

Collection of windmills 


Route Meeting

Dinner at Ginny’s Cupboard - Excellent!!


Funny woman’s  restroom sign












Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 56 Star Lake to Lake Placid

Image
We started our day with breakfast at the same restaurant we had dinner at last night. It was great service!  It was ready when we showed up, no waiting in line and they had both french toast and pancakes along with eggs, bacon and other good food. Definitely two thumbs up!   Our ride today was along route 3 which is a bike route with very wide shoulders. Again, pine tree line, rolling hills, scenic  and we passed several lakes along the way. The skies were blue, sun was out and temperatures were cool. You really couldn't ask for a better day of riding.  Picnic was at mile 39 in Tupper Lake a beautiful stop.  Then on to Lake Placid from there.  We stopped several times today for pictures, coffee, explored a bike shop with our final destination being the Crown Plaza for 2 nights.  We ate dinner at the hotel with about several others group our group.  It was definitely not up to the same quality as Niagara Falls but we enjoyed the company!   Sta...
Read more

Day 58 Lake Placid to Plattsburgh

Image
 We are getting used to these late starts. Today, we had breakfast at our hotel.  It was really great!  Made to order omelette, potatoes, french toast. So good!   Then, we finally hit the road at 8:15 our latest start yet!  Today’s route was in general downhill with some fun rollers mixed in. Kim rode with Terri and I because Scotty and Barry her usual riding buddies decided to do the optional whiteface mountain climb. It was an 8 mile climb with 8-12% grades. Those that did it said it was the toughest climb to date but very beautiful!   Even without that climb, today’s route was stunning!  Couple of waterfalls, a covered bridge, rivers and Ausable Chasm to name a few!  Again, the roads of NY were great and the weather just like a perfect fall day. Definitely, a very memorable and fun day!  We made it to our final destination of Plattsburgh NY by about 1:00. Tonight, we are staying in the doom rooms at SUNY.   Stats: 57 miles, 2,146 feet...
Read more

Day 63 Durham NH to Gloucester MA

Image
 Last day of riding!  Just doesn't seem real. We ate our last breakfast together at the college then spent the first part of the morning on New Hampshire backroads before crossing into Massachusetts.  It was a little warmer today and we faced a bit of a headwind today. I guess that was Mother Nature’s way of slowing us down so we would cherish this last day together.  Our first destination was the High School in Gloucester where we waited for everyone to to arrive. Then we did the last mile with police escort to the Harbor for the ceremonial wheel dipping.  Ride stats:  65 miles, 2,887 feet of elevation gain   The evening was spent on a harbor cruise drinking margaritas and reminiscing.  This was such an amazing trip thanks to the Cycle America staff!   As always, these endings are bitter sweet.  You are ready to be home with your family but hate saying “see you down the road” to your new friends!  Never say goodbye as we all promis...
Read more