Biking with Bill

FLASHLIGHTS IN THE TUNNEL


The first thing we all noticed at route rap yesterday were the3 hugh peaks on the topography chart given to us along with the day’s route directions. Lil (France) said, “This looks like the Pyranees”. The alarm was quieted when we were told: “Don’t worry , we don’t have to climb them. We will go through TUNNELS”.

With flashlights in hand we made our way through these dark, wet tunnels through the mountains, while walking our bikes. The first was 3/4 of a mile long and cut through solid rock. A new adventure on our bicycle trip.

The highlight of today’s 94 mile ride was our 32 mile segment on the Elroy-Sparta Trail–the first Rails to Trails bicycle and walking pathway built in the US, we were told. It was on this trail that we experienced the tunnels, as well as great country riding on a hardpack surface. As with yesterday’s trail in Minnesota, we rode through woods and rural countryside, but today on Elroy-Sparta we saw many families and youth groups out for a morning bike ride. The trail from Sparta passed through the towns of Norwalk, Wilton, and Kendall to Elroy, MN, all with cafes, facilities, and parking for trail users. We all enjoyed the Rails to Trails experience and the change of pace to our daily rides.

We arrived in Wisconsin Dells; “the Midwest’s #1 destination” in time for a late lunch. The busy tourist town is located on the spot where the Wisconsin River has cut through miles of sandstone to form the Wisconsin Dells scenic riverway. Boat rides through the “Dells” are available–along with every type of tourist theme park, waterslide, miniature golf etc.

Jessica, a reporter for the Wisconsin Dells “Event” newspaper, came to the Super 8 motel with her young children to interview me this afternoon. The razzing continues from the cycling gang about all the publicity for RTC–except those whose pictures also appear on the TV spots.

Bill