and Wisconsin Makes State Eight
This was a very interesting day as it involved rolling along more hills in the great state of Minnesota. This was followed by a very pleasant jaunt down a forty mile bike path with a nice climb up to “farming shangra la” Then we entered the great state of Wisconsin and the nice little town of LaCrosse.
The morning started cool and we are starting to wear our sleeve and leg coverings to go along with our vests. The weather quickly warms though and the wind is more of a breeze than a gale. In other words perfect fall cycling weather. After lunch at the half way point, we jumped on to the Root River Trail. This was my first time on a trail constructed on an old rail trail. When I say constructed I mean paved and with well maintained bridges. The little towns one passes along this trail are very bicycle-centric. It was a pleasure to be away from the passing automobile at least for a little while.
According to the Department of Natural Resources:
The paved Root River State Trail meanders 42 miles alongside the Root River from Fountain to Houston. Constructed on an abandoned railroad[ the trail is generally level and wheelchair accessible except for a steep half-mile segment between Vinegar Ridge and Houston that may be challenging for some visitors
The Department of Natural Resources actually goes by the abbreviated “DNR” which may medical friends might find amusing. We took no chances and avoided Cardiopulmonary Arrest while on the trail. Along the mostly shady trail there were lots of grins and photo taking as we anticipated closing in on another state and of course the finish for the day. But one more hill. However after the relative ease of the previous mileage and the outstanding views at the top, there was not much complaining upon arrival to our boutique hotel in LaCrosse. It was a converted candy factory with well appointed reminders to its previous life. It was the kind of place I would like to visit again in a more leisurely fashion. Tomorrow is one day closer to our rest day and our first full day in Wisconsin.
| Distance (miles) | Elevation Climbed (feet) | Calories Burned |
|---|---|---|
| 2095 | 79,936 | 75,709 |
| Fitness | Fatigue | Form | TSS Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 153 | 251 | -95 | 287 |
Eric Britton says:
September 16 , 2022 at 4:03 am
Each state is a great accomplishment in and of itself. Congrats! How does your gps always stay charged for those side trips you keep taking??
Reply
brb5280 says:
Se ptember 16 , 2022 at 11:26 am
Thanks Eric. It is a nice thing that the states are getting smaller as we head east.
Wanderings 