Day 35

Location - Manitowoc, Wisconsin Miles/Total Miles - 57/2,565 Climb - 1,350

We reached the edge of lake Michigan today on the final day of this leg. The day off tomorrow couldn't be more appreciated . . . I am tired, real tired. We got off to a real slow pace and never really got going averaging around 15 mph but to our surprise, nobody caught up to us. It was evident that everyone else was feeling the same.

We were greeted today at the hotel by the local bicycle club to wish us well. They had a table set up in the lobby and were serving ice cream donated by the local creamery. Hospitality like this has been evident throughout the trip. When you get away from the big cities, the idea of "Home Town America" is still alive. The hotels set out soap and towels to clean our bikes, they provide cookies and lemonade, one place even had a cooler full of beer.

The houses and barns in this area are built of brick and stone instead of wood siding. It gives the countryside a European look.

Day 34

Location - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Miles/Total Miles - 83/2,508 Climb - 1,800

We arrived in beautiful Fond du Lac at noon today and I got talked into walking down (2 1/2 miles) to see the lake. As you can see, not much different than our big lake (Pacific) on a windy day (gray and dismal). The falls were at a little town called Packwaukee (say that ten times), looks like an old quarry.

He's a couple of statistics - Today was actually 84 miles (there they go again) and I did it by noon going 18.8 MPH (not Armstrong speed but quite respectable, 1st in too). I traveled 542 miles this week burning 39,000 calories on the bike.
I ride a lot with these three guys Jack (one of my room mates), Larry and Steve. They're all stronger riders which keeps me pushing harder each day and getting stronger. Kati, I hope there are a few of these hotels left on the schedule. Not Bad.

Packwaukee Falls

Day 33

Location - Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Miles/Total Miles - 75/2,425 Climb - 1,200
Wow, what a beautiful day . . . They sent us on a bike trail for 35 miles today that was limestone instead of being paved. The trail was built on an old railroad bed winding through towns with the depots still intact and used as tourist information centers and shops. There were three tunnels that you had to walk your bike through using a flashlight because each one was about a mile long and curved with water leaking through the overhead and running in a stream down both sides. If you turned off the flashlight you couldn't tell which way was up. It started raining just as I left the dirt path and rained all the way in . . . being first in, I was wet but missed the mud, not many did.
I also have a bone to pick with this company (see Jenn, I can Bitch). The mileage I give each day is out of the brochure, but each day it seems a little bit longer. yesterday was really 92, the day before 91, then 102 and 106 . . . tomorrow supposed to be 90 which makes five 90 plus miles this week . . . wow.

A shot looking out of the tunnel . . . it was dark!

Day 32

Location - La Crosse, Wisconsin Miles/Total Miles - 89/2,350 Climb - 2,850

Out of Minnesota and into Wisconsin and yet another state in or North American Tour. The scenery as definitely change today with more changes in elevation and much more foliage. The farms are almost manicured, it's a beautiful area. We went through the town of Rutherford which had a bike path that went for sixteen miles along a river, through fields and country side. It's used for snowmobiling in the winter. A deer broke from the woods alongside me and ran parallel for about twenty yards before it could duck back into the underbrush . . . wow, what a sight.
Kati, can I have this? We have to move it to San Diego though . . . it's too cold in the winter here.

I think I'll try this next, not quite as demanding.

Nice farm, Huh?


I forgot to say that we crossed the mighty Mississippi River today. It borders the two states.

Day 31

Location - Rochester, Minnesota Miles/Total Miles - 100/2,261 Climb - 2,400

We rolled into Rochester (Home to the Maio Clinic) this afternoon around 1:00 pm to finish up the second century in two days (another first). The scenery is beginning to change a bit, rolling hills, stands of trees, and of course, corn. Altogether now . . . "Old McDonald had a farm".

Look at this picture . . . check back in two days and I'll post one that looks exactly the same. If you want I can dig one out from last week and post that too.

This is a beautiful lake (they have a lot of these in Minnesota) with houses lining the edges.

Day 30

Location - Mankato, Minnesota Miles/Total Miles - 102/2,161 Climb - 1,000

There were just about no elevation changes today and a bit of a tail wind to boot so it was ride, ride, ride. We pushed it to see how well we could do on a century. We had three SAG stops and I think we spent a grand total of about three minutes at all three. The miles flew by and we did a hundred miles in five hours and twenty minutes. By the time we went through town our MPH dropped a bit to 18.6, still not to shabby. This isthe seventh century of the trip and definitely easy and fast.

Your typical mid west town . . . where is everybody?



Another courthouse in another town.

Day 29

Location - Worthington, Minnesota Miles/Total Miles - 70/2059 Climb - 1,300
We had a rain delay today for about twenty minutes before we could load luggage. As it turned out, it was the only rain we would see the entire day. We left on the same bike path I took on our day off so I had a chance to see the scenery and the falls one more time before heading out into farmland. Overcast skies and cool temperatures made the seventy miles pretty much a breeze. We slipped quietly out of South Dakota and into Minnesota today adding another state to the trip and going over 2,000 miles. Although we're in a different state, the scenery remains farms and more farms.

Like my fancy new rain jacket?

We're all beginning to come to grips about our addiction to Dairy Queen . . . I think I may need rehab after I get back.