Day 6 - The Tunnels

Date: Friday, 15 July 2016

Time on Bike: 5:08:19

Total Travel Time: 8:10:48

Miles Covered Today: 58.58

Total Trip Miles: 303.4

Average Speed: 11.3 mph, Maximum Speed: 19.5 mph

From: La Valle, WI

To: Bangor, WI

(Uploaded from Minnetonka, MN)

Our first camping experience was a success for Woz, he did great!! It rained last night. It was the first time we used our new Coleman tent… and no leaks! Breaking camp with everything all wet is however a pain in the neck.

It was cold last night. We weren’t prepared for that. At 6:00 AM it was just 61 degrees. At a certain stage, Bunny went to sleep in the car as she thought it would be warmer there. Woz’s Mutt Matt proved quite helpful in keeping her warm. Thank you Woz!

We ate our breakfast on our way out of the campground at the pavilion as it was covered and dry. We found decent Wi-Fi there and were able to at least check e-mails & look at our route today. I had a cycling map of Wisconsin that I was using and we rediscovered the built in GPS in our Prius.

I would be on bike trails until I hit the Mississippi River today in La Crosse, WI. Bunny would meet me in the small towns lining the bike trail. There was decent signage to get to the trail in every town, so no more getting separated today!

It still sprinkled a few times this morning. I was wearing my GoreTex rain suit top. The same rain suit from my 1984 bike trip. And… it still fits!!

My first stop was Wonewoc, WI where we actually stayed at the campground last night. I struck up a conversation with a couple from Athens, GA that were on a guided bike vacation with a group. I asked if they knew Mr. Clown, Bunny’s brother Jeff W. who also lives in Athens. They said of course they know Mr. Clown- “everyone in Athens knows Mr. Clown!!” I take a pic with them and text it to Mr. Clown. Come to find out, she was the ex-Mayor of Athens!

The trail is that same crushed limestone that I have been on many times since leaving Chicago.

I am glad I have 1-1/4 inch wide tires on my bike as it makes for better handling on the crushed stone. And maybe even a little safer as I have better bike control on these trails.

I come across some pretty strange signs today…

Anyone want to hazard a guess what this one means??

And glad to know there is a 55 MPH speed limit on snow mobiles at NIGHT!!!!

My first rest stop where I catch up with Bunny & Woz is Elroy, WI. I always love to see my team!

I think there were 5 Pabst Blue Ribbon beer signs on this one block… must be a popular beer around here!

Elroy is the end of the 22-mile "400 Trail" and the start of the 32-mile "Elroy-Sparta Trail". All these trails kinda look the same…

And here is a little history for ya.

My next rest stop was Kendall, WI. Noticed there was Wi-Fi, but couldn’t get on. Asked the girl at the info desk. She said they were having problems with their internet. No new news here... who wasn’t!!!!

But she asked if I was prepared for the tunnels. What tunnels I asked? She explained that in a few miles I would have a ¼ mile tunnel to go thru on the trail. After Wilton, WI there was another ¼ mile tunnel. And after Norwalk, WI a ¾ mile tunnel. And I really needed lights for the ¾ mile tunnel as it was pitch black inside for most of its length. I was stoked!!

I soon went thru my first tunnel. I started by riding as I had my small front light with me. My Cateye headlight did nothing to illuminate the tunnel. I got off and walked! Better slow & safe.

I meet up with Bunny & Woz in Wilton. Good thing as I really needed my more powerful headlight (Serfas Model SL-255 LED) from the car. We sat next to a couple doing the Elroy-Sparta Trail. After I explain my travel plans, we scored a piece of her homemade blueberry bread. It was yummy good! Thank you Steve and Krystyna!!!! I need to do that more often.

I hit the next ¼ mile tunnel and was able to comfortably ride through it with both my headlights in operation.

A quick rest stop in Norwalk, and then on to the ¾ mile long tunnel!

There was a bit of a traffic jam at the entrance as people figured out how to safely get through it…

I slowly biked the length of the tunnel. Water was dripping from the tunnel ceiling throughout a good length of the tunnel. It was cool and damp but I made good time stopping only once to take some pics.

I arrived at Sparta and took a short break. As always, good to see Bunny & Woz!

We arranged a hotel at the information desk as we still had no cell service… Then on to the La Crosse River Trail that started at the same place as the Elroy-Sparta Trail ended.

You know, sometimes you are just in a zone and then suddenly… you see something that wakes you up! I am pretty sure this guy wasn’t poisonous (no triangular head), but it still scared the crap out of me as it was sunning on the trail.

The day ended at Bangor, WI. Really nothing there... not even bathrooms!

We checked into a Motel 6 in La Crosse, WI and were told the AC in our room wasn’t really doing a great job. That proved to be the case…

It didn’t seem to affect Woz… he is doing so incredibly fantastic on this trip! I mean he is only a 17-month old pup and he is hanging out in restaurants waiting for me to arrive during the day, riding in the car from point to pint, and staying in a new place every night. Might be our tent. Might be a hotel room. Might be at friends’.

And for those of you that don’t know, Woz is a Guide Dog in training from an organization in Cassville, New York--Freedom Guide Dog for the Blind. He has his own Facebook page if you want to check him out – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009541246318.

Some additional pictures from the day. A lot of them!! OK... so I guess I am addicted to pictures of farms!!