Crosscountrycancer’s Weblog

Got up to Mark Keckheisen making coffee. Mark proceeded to make us what was probably the best breakfast we had the whole trip. Wow. Not only did he make us a great breakfast, him and brother Jim (who had a couple Bloodys to wake up) suited up and jumped on the bikes with us. Great day of riding into Milwaukee. Mark went half way and Jim led us in to Mike’s house in White Fish Bay. Mike and Cindy hosted a wonderful soiree in the back yard (amazingly more Spotted Cow). Then off to Summerfest, one of the biggest outdoor music festivals in the US. Great day at Summerfest. Cool bands, great beer, pretzels, people watching. All the people that passed us on Harleys over the last three days were there without their Harleys. This is apparently what they do when they are not riding. Mike and Cindy picked us up at Summerfest and took us to the dock to get the ferry to Muskegon. See ya, Wisonsin. We loved ya.

-No Towel.

Day 5 was very interesting. We had a fine breakfast served by Steve at the very victorian Franklin Victorian B&B. We took off for Elroy on the Elroy Sparta Trail. We puled out of the “bicycle capital of the world” relatively late and were on the trails. The trails were a mixed bag. The surface was not always great: crushed lime and a some hard packed dirt. It got pretty boring in places but it smoothed out the hills. On the slight uphills it was really frustrating because you could not tell if you were going uphill. On the downside you could not tell you were going downhill. So you thought you were really fast or really slow. THe tunnels are really amazing old hewn rock tunnels that vary in length from .75 miles to .25 miles. In Elroy Jim decided that Chili dogs were the best riding fuel. Gene thought that fried cheese curds were the best idea. Both survived. After lunch, we used trails and roads. It was a little difficult on a couple of places because we were not sure how to get to Baraboo. The Angle of Dairyland (”AOD”) was instumental. She was at every corner where we needed to turn. Once we got to Baraboo, we realized that we had four miles to go. It became something of a time trial.
We spent the night with Lyle and Marge at the Pine Haven Bed and Breakfast in Baraboo. It was a very bucolic setting with a small pond that Lyle had made out of what was wilderness. He also built a nice house with three or four bedrooms.
We went to the Village Cafe in Baraboo for dinner. The setting was very pleasant and the food was great. Lyle tried to get us to go to the Homestead, but with no liquor license, that was a non starter. We got back to Lyle and Marge and their pet mosquitos and had decent if somewhat fitful sleep.

Day six threatened rain all day, but we only got sprinkles. We had breakfast of a celery and sausage quiche and a lot of fruit.
THe riding on Day six was also something of an “adjust on the fly” thing again. Again the AOD was right where she needed to be when she needed to be there.

We had lunch at the DeForrest Family restaurant in DeForrest. After a couple hours of hard riding we made it to Watertown and Mark Keckheisen’s house where there was beer and great food. There we met Gene’s college roommate, Mike Guinta. Mike brought Jeff’s brother Jim with him. Great guys. Many more Spotted Cows.

-No Towel

6/26/08

As we bid farewell to the great Dairy State, we think back on some very fine moments of this ride: Criss-crossing the Mississippi 5 times just to get there; fantastic massages at the Arbor Inn in Prescott; the Great River Road that stretched on for miles with smooth blacktop under our wheels; way too much fun at the Red Ram in Alma, where the trains go by so often you won’t even notice; the Elroy Sparta trail that was officially closed — but open for us as we logged mile after mile on level, hard packed ground and enjoyed the dark tunnels cut through living mountains that seeped their rain water through the massive rock walls on us as we passed;the hospitality of friends Mike, Mark and Jim who opened their homes to us and helped guide us in to Milwaukee; a relaxing afternoon at Summerfest and the smooth ferry ride (second of the trip) to the shores of Michigan. We have proclaimed “Spotted Cow” the official beer of this segment of the trip — our tribute to the goodness of the Dairy State. All in all, it’s been a great trip with great friends. Hoping for more of the same as we head into Michigan! Our thanks to Wendy for her fantastic ride support through dairy land. Mark and Jim, Mike and Cindy, our many thanks for all your help as well!!

Jim

Ouch.  Way way too many Spotted Cows at the Red Ram.  Five slightly green adventurers woke up groggy and bleary – stumbled down the street to Pier 4 for breakfast.  Brave Mr. Grove had  pulled pork omelet.  Another glorious day to ride and great road to Trempealeau.  Stopped at a great bike store (Broners?) outside of Fountain City to have Dee’s bike adjusted.  Great guys.  Hit the Great River Trail after a great lunch at the Trempealeau Inn  which included the house specialty – Walnut Balls.  Sort of like meatloaf made into meatballs, but with walnuts mixed in.  We had to order more.  The trail was good, but slowed us down.  After 80 good miles we arrived at a Great B&B, the Franklin Inn in Sparta.  Off for carb loading at Italian restaurant.  

No Towel

Day 3 started late with the SAG wagon arriving in Prescott at 10 am.   The Angel of the Prarie (Wendy K.) stayed at the B&B for a few hours after the rest of us left to rid herself of the stresses of her regular life before assuming her duties as AOP.   Great riding conditions in every way – great road, slight overcast, the banks of the Mississippi with great views, and tailwind.  Bike nirvana.  Arrived in Alma and great B&B (the Hotel deVille) run by Jeff and Dan who also have a cool coffee shop and gallery across the street with absolutely amazing gardens.  Their motto is “it’s not done until it’s overdone.”  Alma is cool – Jeff says it’s Paris without the attitude.  Had a great dinner of Wisconsin cheese, lamb sausage and crackers.  Then off to the Red Ram down the street for many Spotted Cows, a pool table and a great jukebox.  The only down side was the trains that ran outside the B&B – “so often you won”t even notice”.   Rattled the whole B&B every time they went by.

No Towel

Friday started out on a sour note and ended better than I could have planned. Mechanical problems in Chicago warranted an airplane change that put us hours behind schedule. Upon arriving in St. Cloud, we discovered my bike’s back wheel was damaged in transit and, due to the unavailability of replacement spokes, unusable. $$$$ spent. Left with a new wheel and things started to change for the better. A stong NW wind at our backs, we were flying between 20 to 27mph and made the Rand House B and B in record time. Our many thanks to my college roomate, Guy Thomas, for transporting us to the start from the airport and staying with us until all repairs were made. Guy, it was great to see you again, and we all appreciate your time and sacrafice to get us on the road!! Thank you!! Saturday, 6/21/08 Fantastic breakfast. Great night sleep. Off by 9:00 a..m. Wind at our backs again! Followed the Great River Road and crossed the Great Muddy 5 times. 86 miles for those who stayed with the group (Jonathon!!). (A few extra miled for those who forge blindly ahead without a map.). One flat tire. Made it to the bridge at Hastings only to find it closed!! Crossed it anyway. Made it to the Arbor Inn in Prescott, WI for beers, massages and the hot tub. What an incredible finish to a fantastic day. Gene and Wendy Killeen to join us tomorrow.  

Jim

Today started off wonderfully. We still had a tailwind. We had terrific weather and we were well fueled by Duffy’s breakfast. By 10:40, we had ridden 30 miles and we could see Minneapolis. That is where things got fun. Fun if you are a cartographer. Getting to downtown was not easy if you don’t want to take the interstate. And they frown on bikes on the interstate. It took us at least another hour and 40 minutes to get downtown. Note to self – don’t ask a lot of people you see out and about; many of them can’t find their way around either. 

We had lunch at a cool brew pub called the Town Hall Pub (I think, the “Town Hall” part is correct). Then we started to zigzag across the Mississippi. Don’t forget, Minneapolis and St Paul are bisected by the river, but it is not a straight shot. So I think we crossed and recrossed three times. While the sight is impressive, it involves a lot of reconnoitering, especially with the 35W bridge still out.

The ride got a little long once we got towards Wisconsin. One of us (okay, I) missed a turn. Jim had to call me to reel me back in. That added 6 miles to my day. 

We arrived at the Arbor Inn at about 6, having had an 86 mile day. 

Jim had booked us massages. Debbie, one of the proprietors is a massage therapist. Right now, I have had a couple of beers and some food. I am sitting on one of the porches (yes, there are several) listening to light rain and soothing music. All is well. 

Tomorrow Gene arrives with Wendy driving sag. then we can shed those ridiculous packs. 

Jonathan

I am sitting here at the Minneapolis/St Paul Airport waiting for the Groves. They were at O’Hare. Their plane needed some maintenance, with a rivet gun. That is never good. I on the other hand flew Continental, using frequent flyer miles, of which I have hundreds of thousands. Continental almost won the prize however. When I got to the airport, I found, with little time to spare, that One Pass had not actually booked my ticket. One Pass decided that I didn’t actually want to book a one way ticket, so they stopped the process. The folks at the ticket counter were powerless. I made two calls to One Pass and finally got them to book me. I made the plane with minutes to spare. Mom, if you are reading this, don’t worry. Continental is on the job, protecting me.  Continental sent me an e-ticket 10 minutes after my flight took off. They love to fly and it shows. 

So, we may actually get on the road today – we’ll see. 

Jonathan

Well, we trained, a little, but not much. This could be “the year of pain”. Oh well, the fact is that I get to ride my bike through beautiful country for 600 miles with people I like. That doesn’t really sound too bad. Better yet, we get to raise money for a Center that does work that needs to be done. Surviving cancer as a child is not the end of the issue. Surviving life as a survivor of childhood cancer is not always easy. The Center and the 3 or 4 like it really help these people.
So now the ride looks like a pretty good deal, trained or not.

Jonathan

And it’s not like we didn’t want to train.  The weather was bad, relatives came in from out of town, we ran out of gas — it wasn’t our fault.  Still, fat and flabby is no way to approach the land of beer and bratwurst!  On Wisconsin!  On to the land of cheese curds and brew pubs.  We forge ahead to St. Cloud and beyond undaunted by the pitiful state of our training.   We are on a worthy mission for a worthy cause.  Last one to the Wisconsin state line buys the first round!!   Jim