TalulaT

60 miles – 274 total miles

Today we awoke not as well rested as we might like from freight trains rolling through all night long. Not a big deal but we were a little tired starting out. But once we hit the road a gentle tail wind under cool cloudy skies made for fast and easy travel to the Nelson cheese shop by 11. Good time for ice cream! From there we crossed into Wabasha, MN to visit the Eagles Nest coffee shop. We go there annually on the super fun 3 speed tour. We planned to ride back into Wisconsin and up the eastern shore of Lake Pepin but heavy road construction meant once through was enough.

We missed Java Jim but had a nice break and departed Wabasha on familiar territory although usually when we are there we are wearing ties and dresses on old English steel bikes. Strange to cover the same ground so fast but in good English fashion it was raining! I got to try out my new rain gear (rocks!) and just enjoy a cool easy transfer up the road next to Lake Pepin.

The biggest realization for me today had to do with a 3 or 4 mm adjustment to my saddle position. About 3,400 riding miles ago, outside Arcata, CA, on the first talulat ride, I noticed my hamstrings feeling too much strain. Having never ridden a road bike before and barely riding any loaded bike, I just figured it was part if the deal and pushed through it (gaman-suru style). Well today after so much more riding, with pain in my hamstrings getting annoying, I decided to try adjusting my saddle forward a couple mm. On the side of the highway, rain pouring down, with 7 miles to go on the day, I made the adjustment and like magic the pain was gone!! All those literally thousands of miles I suffered not knowing a mm or two was all that was necessary. Luckily we are in for the log haul!

We are tonight at the moondance inn b and b for two nights and a rest day tomorrow. Already bad a nice warm soaking bath and looking forward to a day off the bike to rejuvenate and hit it again in a couple of days!

78 miles – total 140

It was a fantastic way to turn 40! We departed under light clouds highlighting a blue sky that never got too hot and the winds were kind, so we just had to spin our legs around to cover easy ground of the entire 400 trail and Elroy-Sparta trail. We got pretty dirty from the crushed limestone trail and got wet in the tunnels from seeping groundwater. So cool to see, hear, and feel!

We arrived at a walkin campground just before Sparta (have you driven from Madison to La Crosse? If so you’ve seen a bike path bridge – campground is 100 m from there) but wanted a celebratory bottle of wine. A boondoggle ensued throughout Sparta, stopping briefly at the Piggly-Wiggly where I shifted the chain into the spokes. On a tandem, the stress on the drivetrain is such that when these things happen, they do so with passion! So – there was no pulling the chain out. Yesterday morning while debating which tools to bring, I decided (sassily) to bring spare spokes and therefore a chain whip and cassette tool, even though heavy, to be prepared fully. But … Revealing said tool to gloriously free the chain, I discovered the adapter for an Allen key was missing! Luckily a dude in Packer gear with “handy man” on the door of his pickup was, indeed, handy and lent us a socket set that fit the bill. The liquor store grew on significance!

Of note was our first flat but before the onslaught of advise about avoiding them it must be stated that the flat was on the trailer on a tube with 5,000 miles on it (!). We have a spare tube that has traveled those same 5,000 miles waiting for it’s day of glory which I, the birthday boy, implementing absolute authority over my surroundings thanks to Chandra (who normally has that role) granted to said spare tube. We should be good for another 5,000 miles or so .

So here we lie in the green tent. It has traveled far with us! It’s a good thing we brought it! When I told our 4 year old nephew Leo we were going to ride a bicycle from Wisconsin through Minnesota, he said, after thinking a bit, “you’re going to need a tent”. True indeed young Leopold! And now we rest happily in the green tent.

The only sad note today was a failure of the pie gods to deliver. It seems since Pies are Square closed in Wilton, mo one has taken up the mantle of providing pie to hungry cyclists. We will find good pie soon enough!

62 miles

We got an early enough start this morning but it involved starting the packing regimine, doing laundry, mopping the kitchen, going to the store – all the stuff we should have done all week but when we’ve done a much longer trip this one we let preparations slide a bit. As the clock struck high noon and all our neighbors happened to be around to see us off in style we departed!

It was strange to ride what is usually my morning commute for 10 miles or so with the tandem loaded down. Wasn’t too long before the focus switched to the Merrimac Ferry and pondering which kind of ice cream would best follow a 3 pm lunch of sardines, sexy pumpernickel, and peanut butter with apples. Chandra opted for cookie dough whilst I rocked the moose tracks. Wisco-sized servings

The calories were needed and used before long as we rode the fully legit hill of bluff road into Baraboo. Probably a 10% uphill grade in spots. Three hearty and vocal cheers for gravity on the other side though!

A quick grocery run in Baraboo and then on to mirror lake. Back in the dells a second weekend in a row! Westie was right – a little highway noise but I feel confident that the ride + Chandra’s rad pesto + some hoppy love from Sierra Nevada will lead to fine sleeps tonight!

On the eve of my 40th birthday I could not imagine a better thing to be doing or a better companion for that doing! Blissed out!!