The good was cool temps and low humidity once again - the weather gods have been more than generous to us on this trip. More of the good was taking the Sparta to Elroy Trail. This is one of the first Rails to Trails pathway in the country. It is gorgeous - it's an old railroad bed and goes through woods and farmland and 3 tunnels. The tunnels were fun. We had to walk our bikes and use flashlights to see (one tunnel is 3/4 mile long) and we got dripped on from leaky spring water. The photo here has me in front of the first tunnel we went through. (Sorry, the picture is blurry, but you get the idea....) I also saw a deer on the trail - pretty neat.
The trail was 33 miles long and because is is hard packed dirt, you can't go very fast, so by the second SAG stop where we got off the trail, things started to get bad. I had no power left in my legs and I had 30 miles to go. I kept pedaling - but very slowly. Then things really got ugly when I started to hit the hills again. By the time I got close to the Dells I was cursing under my breath - it was not pretty!However, things ended on the good side - when I got to the hotel, members of TEAM JEAN were waiting for me - but looking in the wrong direction!!! This is what I saw as I rode in.
My Mom, Dad, sister Anne and my Aunt Ginny and Uncle Bill cheered me in - once I yelled to them "You're looking the wrong way!" Mom also brought oodles of freshly baked chocolate chip and ginger cookies and I shared them with all of the group. Mom was the favorite person of the day!
I had a good visit with the family and then went out with 4 of my college girlfriends who were in town - another good to offset the bad and ugly of the day.
6 comments:
Hi Jean,
We got the leftover 3 cookies. Just how big of a group is this that your biking with?!!
About those people facing the wrong direction -- if you'd have been biking backwards as was suggested to you, hundreds of miles ago, Team Jean would have been facing the right direction!
Franklin liked his mini-telescope. He took it with him to Stevens Point.
Did the ferry hit an uphill headwind? (Hehehe)
Love,
Ann & George
Hi Jean
What a superstar you are!
To take a picture of your family looking the wrong way. What a priceless photo.
I'll send this comment to make sure it goes through and then send a longer note.
Here's a blast from the past that you'll love. I heard on the radio today "Convoy" and thought of you and all those truckers heading out.
more soon
love,
Jo
Hi Jean
just checking, did you get my last comment?
I've been resetting e-mails all night (of course, that's not as hard as doing 3 century rides in a row...)
Jo
Hi Jean! I've been hearing a lot about your bike trip lately- and I am truly amazed at what you're doing. I biked from Minneapolis to Stillwater, MN (just across the river from Hudson, WI) with a friend on Sunday, which ended up being a total of 60 miles round trip. I was exhausted afterwards! I thought about you frequently during the ride and couldn't imagine being able to continue for another 5 hours, both physically and mentally. So, point being- I think you're incredible and wish you the best of luck for the rest of the ride!
You Go Girl!!!!
You are my hero:) I am just amazed with your determination. My the winds be at your back and your guardian angel be at your side.
Jean,
You know how to keep us in suspense. Your next installment is overdue! You must be okay as it hasn't been noted otherwise on the ABB site.
Keep up the good work - this wonderful, restful vacation is almost over!
MB
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