My husband will be updating this log for me on the trip because my Burley is not waterproof enough to carry a laptop.  So Bill, thank you for helping me with this and so many other aspects of the ride.

 

Friday, July 2nd:  Came as far north as St. Croix Falls.  Stayed at the Holiday Inn on Highway 8.  Beautiful place, wonderful pool.

 

Saturday, July 3rd:  Went to Superior to catch the Gandy Dancer.  The Gandy Dancer bike trail is actually an ATV trail from Superior to Danbury.  Not good for the bikes!  So we made it work.  We went to Danbury and started there.  A 34 mile day.  Charley and Connor did marvelous!  So proud of them both!  The Hole in the Wall Hotel "lost" our reservation during a computer transition.  We went to the Trail Side Motel--and were happy to do so!  Very clean and quiet.  Wonderful nights rest.

 

Sunday, July 4th:  Began the ride in Siren Wisconsin.  Great town.  Crab, potato and corn boil on Sat. night followed by Mosquitoe ( Oh, I mean tiki torch) mini golf and of course the Gandy Dancer!  The morning meal was incredible.  We began at Main Street Cafe with plate sized pancakes in blueberry or choc chip!  YUM.  Sat at a long wooden table next to a couple from the twin cities.  Great conversation.  Great food!  Then to the bed races and the parade.  The bed races had 8 beds.  There was a team dressed like Avatar, a team with three weiner dogs riding in a cage attached to the bed and the horse drawn covered wagon! All very creative and fun.

 

After the bed races, we began our day on the trail.  Well, almost.  Bill, Connor and Char began their day.  I had a flat tire and had to stay back  to fix it.  Thanks to MacGiver and Bones, all went well.  A one hour delay and all was well.  The days ride was slightly uphill and against the the wind.  The flies are BAD and it's muggy.  But the worst thing--the weight of the Burley!  It took 5 hours to go 40 miles.  In the end-- we are in St. Croix Falls tonight.  Comfort.

Tuesday, July 6th: 60 miles total distance - very hilly.  Traveled along Highway 95 in Minnesota.  Beautiful ride.  I thoroughly enjoyed the small town of Marine de St. Croix.  A must see. Stopped at the bike shop and a bakery, called the Bikery,  in Stillwater MN to have my bike looked over.  Great place. I will have to send a thank you card to the Bikery for their advise and assistance. Pulling the Burley was very difficult today because of the hills.  Met Robyn, Jack, and her Mom and Dad at the end of the day in Prescott WI.  Had a lovely dinner with them.

Wednesday, July 7th:  85 miles total distance covered.  We had planned on a 74 miles ride.  The last 9 miles were tough.  Very tough.  Congratulations Robyn.  You did wonderful!!  Robyn and I got on the road at 6:30am, thankfully.  We traveled along the Great River Road, stopping at all of the small towns to see their campgrounds and parks.  Bay City has a fabulous camp site along the river for tents. Also enjoyed Stockholm, WI very much.  Robyn and I tasted a lovely WI wine at the General Store and Robyn bought each of us "Biker Babe" necklaces. The Strohmeyers (Robyn's parents) drove north to get the Corolla, which they then drove back to Merrick State Park for me!  They also hauled the Burley in their van today too!  Thank you!  Got into MSP late in the afternoon, set up tent, and phoned home!  The Robaura Mountains, as they are know called, are long and hard.  An Ud Lig was needed after this day.

Thursday, July 8th:  Robyn and her family left late last night.  I'm thinking of them and thankful for their support.  Today's' ride was 65 miles.  Initially I had planned on stopping at a small campground in West Salem, near LaCrosse.  But upon inspection of the location and the distance I'd gone and how I felt, I decided to keep going south where I might find a campsite in a more remote location.  It was a hot day, so I took my time between the hours of 11 AM and 2 PM.  I took a cat nap in LaCrosse under a tree near a beautiful fountain along their river boardwalk. I read some more of a great book given to me by Mary and Glen "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and I went to a book store to get Charley, Connor and Bill a little souvenir.  Char and Connor have birthdays coming up next week!  The ride was mostly on trails today.  It was simplified through the city of LaCrosse.  Thank you LaCrosse for the ease and use of your bike trails!  Another town and state park of interest was Trempaleau and Perrot State Park.  I didn't have much time there, but what I saw was quaint and lovely.  Lastly, I met some fabulous women from Iowa at the Frenchmen's Landing Campground.  I am calling them Thelma and Louise.  They call me Crazy.  Thank you Thelma and Louise for being so open and loving to a complete stranger!  I intend to visit you both in Harper's' Ferry where I hope to purchase some wildflower seed (alfalfa and pink coneflower).

Friday, July 9th:  HOT!  I am glad I got an early start.  My compatriots, Thelma and Louise rose early to see me off and offer more support.  Overwhelming!  Thank you so much ladies!!!  Todays ride was only 42 miles. I went through Prarie Du Chien (Prarie Dog in french) and then off to Wyalusing State Park.  I took a small detour to visit Marquette, Iowa--as it was just over the river.  This is a fabulous place, as is McGregor, Iowa.  I can only hope the disposible cameras I used on this trip will be able to capture the beauty of the river, trains, bluffs and people.  Wyalusing State Park is a jewel.  By far the nicest state park I've seen so far on this trip.  Perrot State Park is also fabulous, I just have an affinity for bluffs and overlooks.  I'm getting tired.  Tomorrow is short and downhill.  I will see Bill, Connor and Charley!  Smile.

Saturday, July 10th:  Incredible!!!  I love the small towns of Wyalusing, Bagley and Cassville.  The ride from WSP to Nelson Dewey was absolutely, positively perfect.  For anyone who wants to take the family out for a 30 mile, downhill ride along gorgeous countryside and waterways, I would suggest this ride. Take your car, take a motorcycle, take a walk.  Whatever you do--just know that this route along C, X and 35 are worth the trip!  The one downfall is that there are no shoulders on the roads.  For kids this can be dangerous if they aren't prepared.  I ended the ride with 367 miles under my belt, enough mosquito bites to last a lifetime, a stiff neck and a smile.  Seeing Bill and the kids pull up at Nelson Dewey was like seeing a glimpse of heaven.