I awoke early today. I'm excited to be only 86 miles from John's place in Madison!
- Awoke at 5AM.
- Frost on the grass outside.
- No heat.
- No breakfast (until I pedal 6 miles to Kwik Trip!)
- I noticed a headwind out of the South, which I expected with the long-range forecasts at home. My early departure ought to help get ahead of the winds?
- Popped out from under the 2 quilts, and dressed into all warm layers of bicycle clothing.... including my booties and cap (inside helmet) were EXCELLENT. Remember, I practiced outdoor bicycling in Minnesota during March and April?!
- I was hungry by Elroy, and bought a full quart of orange juice, and hot breakfast sandwiches.
- John has a favorite phrase, "Second breakfast" from the hobbits in The Lord of the Rings. With these days of long exercise, I eat at least 5,000 calories daily. I eat many small meals, and eat from the supplies I carried along.
- 22 miles along the last (gravel) bicycle trail. It's called: "400 Trail".
- The "400" follows the Baraboo River for many miles. It has many ponds with thousands of birds. I heard many song birds and geese here.
- I saw a handful of local residents for daily walking exercise, but between 6:00 - 10:00AM, I met only 1 other bicyclist.
- My 3rd meal was at 11:00AM in the Reedsburg "Kwik Trip".
- After Reedsburg, I'll bicycle on the road shoulders.
- Unfortunately, the headwinds grew stronger all morning. I travelled 250 miles so far in 2.5 days, only 50 miles left. It is getting tough!
- The countryside is pretty on top of the Baraboo Range. I thought of my sister Jean Pociengel's parting words on Sunday "I love green!" This green valley looked so special. I rested on top, and visited with a white hair farmer who was tending to his flower garden.
His farm looks East over that green valley, and in the far distant hills, we can see the familiar hills along I-94 freeway running North of Madison. He wishes me a great day, and I cruise down his long hill, and back into the headwind.
No comments:
Post a Comment