This was going to be my longest day so I got up and out quicker than usual. I was fed, packed, and pedaling before 8:00am. The good news was that I had half as much gear to shlep so getting going was quicker. Compare this rig to what I had when I left home in SP2M Days 1 & 2 – St. Peters, MO to Louisiana, MO to Quincy, IL.
I could not have picked a better day for a 64 mile ride. It was sunny with mild tailwinds and cool temperatures. Best of all: The black flies had given up the ghost. The devils never plagued me again. After the stress of two hard days of hills and insects, this day turned out to be a simple, pleasant tour with lots of good pictures and zero hassles.
Nice scenery began as soon as I was north of town. Many of my friends told me that they would be afraid riding to Minneapolis along highways. This is the sort of road that I was usually riding along, when I was on roads. Traffic was not a concern at all.
Alligators, though. Those worried me.
The morning light turned the hills to the east misty blue.
An hour after the alligator, I got to another lock and dam. You can see how much narrower the river is, and greener, than just a couple of days before.
Half an hour further along, the river widened out and sported some islands.
For a fair chunk of the day, I had pretty tall hills on my right, like this.
There was a parking lot across from the next lock and dam (#8) with, of all things, a horse drawn wagon. No one was around so I posed my bike. Maybe I need a rig like this for my next tour? It would be easier to pack, for sure.
I only had a couple more hours of riding from there to La Crosse, which was surprisingly pretty. I rode past Miller Bluff.
I made a quick stop at Smith’s Bike Shop on the way into town. I needed some pedals with a little more grip than the ones that came with my bike. They set me up with a pair in stylin’ purple so now I am feeling the need for some matching purple bar tape.
Dinner was the Seafood Fettuccine Alfredeaux at Buzzard Billy’s. It was more than I could eat, even after a long day in the saddle, but it could not dissuade me from getting a half-order of New Orleans Bread Pudding. Oh my! I could not eat all of that, either, but it was so so good!!!
To be continued….
