Lakes, farms, and gravel bike trails with lots of beer and cheese along the way punctuated my tour from Chicago to Minneapolis by bicycle. This past week, I completed another stage in my quest to ride my bicycle from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Previously, I've ridden from my home in Cleveland to Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Il. This time, I took the Amtrak to Chicago to begin a trip westward for another leg of the journey.
I was hoping the the whole journey would only take me 5 or 6 days, but because of some issues with my bicycle tire ripping out while I was removed from civilization on the Glacier Drumlin bicycle trail and some issues with my knee, my trip took a little longer. Here is what I did:
Day 1: Chicago to Racine, Wisconsin (Warmshowers host)
Day 2: Racine, Wisconsin to Lake Mills, Wisconsin (Sandhill Station State Campground)
Day 3: Lake Mills, Wisconsin to Madison, Wisconsin (Warmshowers host)
Day 4: Madison, Wisconsin to Wilton, Wisconsin (Tunnel Trail Campground)
Day 4: Wilton, Wisconsin to Lacrosse, Wisconsin (Settle Inn hotel where I iced my knee and rested)
Day 5: Lacrosse, Wisconsin to Nelson, Wisconsin (Creamery Campground)
Day 6: Nelson, Wisconsin to St. Paul, Minnesota (Holiday Inn in downtown St. Paul)
Day 7: St. Paul, Minnesota to Minneapolis, Minnesota (Amtrak back home)
Once I was in Lacrosse, I crossed between Wisconsin and Minnesota a few times. From Nelson, I rode along the Minnesota side because I was told that it was a little flatter yet less scenic from the folks in Wabasha at Eagle's Nest. If you Google Map between the points mentioned above, you'll basically see my path. Wisconsin is underrated for its dedication to creating bicycle paths across the state, and it wasn't very often that I did not have an option of a trail. The trail along the Mississippi north of Lacrosse is particularly scenic. I'll post more details soon.
I was hoping the the whole journey would only take me 5 or 6 days, but because of some issues with my bicycle tire ripping out while I was removed from civilization on the Glacier Drumlin bicycle trail and some issues with my knee, my trip took a little longer. Here is what I did:
Day 1: Chicago to Racine, Wisconsin (Warmshowers host)
Day 2: Racine, Wisconsin to Lake Mills, Wisconsin (Sandhill Station State Campground)
Day 3: Lake Mills, Wisconsin to Madison, Wisconsin (Warmshowers host)
Day 4: Madison, Wisconsin to Wilton, Wisconsin (Tunnel Trail Campground)
Day 4: Wilton, Wisconsin to Lacrosse, Wisconsin (Settle Inn hotel where I iced my knee and rested)
Day 5: Lacrosse, Wisconsin to Nelson, Wisconsin (Creamery Campground)
Day 6: Nelson, Wisconsin to St. Paul, Minnesota (Holiday Inn in downtown St. Paul)
Day 7: St. Paul, Minnesota to Minneapolis, Minnesota (Amtrak back home)
Once I was in Lacrosse, I crossed between Wisconsin and Minnesota a few times. From Nelson, I rode along the Minnesota side because I was told that it was a little flatter yet less scenic from the folks in Wabasha at Eagle's Nest. If you Google Map between the points mentioned above, you'll basically see my path. Wisconsin is underrated for its dedication to creating bicycle paths across the state, and it wasn't very often that I did not have an option of a trail. The trail along the Mississippi north of Lacrosse is particularly scenic. I'll post more details soon.
