67 miles.  All on unpaved bike trail.

The entrance to the La Crosse River Trail was very near our hotel. Most of the reviews of the trail bemoaned its sorry condition and warned against riding it with anything other than a fat tire mountain bike – not what we’re riding. We had planned to meet another Wright Foundation Board member, Ray, in Sparta, a little town 22 miles down the trail to bike with him to Hillsboro and Ray had learned that the actual condition of the trail was quite a bit different from the reviews and was very rideable. Besides, the highway alternative is very hilly so we gave the trail a shot and it was good.

There is a $5 daily user fee payable at a kiosk at the trail head so we stopped to pay our dues and were engulfed with mosquitos! A quick getaway freed us from the swarm and got us on our way. The surface of the original crushed limestone path was largely eroded but the dirt base was fine for riding with no ruts or potholes. I think the number of bad trail reviews is yet another proof that it is mostly negative views that get posted on the web. Very few people will take the time to write something positive.

We made it to Sparta just as Ray was riding up so the timing was perfect and away the three of us rode. The Elroy-Sparta Trail was the first rail to trail conversion in the country and includes three very dark railroad tunnels from the late 1800s through which one must walk the bike.  Water dripped from overhead and seeped down the stone walls illuminated eerily by our very bright LED bike lights. The longest tunnel is over 3500 feet long of total darkness. The cool air inside the tunnels was welcome on this hot and humid day and we emerged through a fog of condensation at the other end.

On we rode to the town of Kendall where we stopped at a bar (The Hidden Inn) for lunch and wi fi so Ray and Maja could join in a Foundation Board conference call. The call lasted long enough for all three of us to dread getting back on the bikes but at least Maja and I had our first taste of Wisconsin fried cheese curds!

After the call we dragged slowly to Hillsboro and the Hillsboro Hotel where we are recycling and headed to dinner at the Hillsboro Brewing Company – they make a great IPA.  Tomorrow we ride through Richland Center and have just arranged a tour of Wright’s A.D. German Warehouse and hope to see the house where old Frank was born.