Day 24: Thursday, 05/31/18, LaCrosse, WI to Red Wing. MN

Map of today's ride:



Distance of Today's Ride: 102.3 miles

Trip Total Distance: 1681.6 miles

Elevation Gain:  2556 feet

Riding Time: 7:01 hrs:mins

Today we had pleasant weather again with no rain and a high temperature of 85 degrees.  However, there was a negative in that for the first day in the 24 days since we left New Orleans, we had a wind out of the WNW which was exactly the direction we bicycled all day. Fortunately, the wind was not too strong which made the ride tolerable.

We rode all day in Wisconsin on the Mississippi River Road which allowed us to view the river many times throughout the day.

At the start of our ride today there were scattered clouds and some high fog. Fortunately, as the day progressed the skies cleared up and it was another beautiful day!

This is a picture of a Dairyland Power Cooperative along the Mississippi River. Dairyland Power Cooperative, an electric generation and transmission cooperative, provide wholesale electrical and related services for electric distribution cooperatives and municipal utilities in the Upper Midwest.  It owns and operates various power plants; and generates electricity through coal, natural gas, hydro, wind, landfill gas, biomass, animal waste, and solar resources.  It serves various counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.  The company was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

A late morning view of the Mississippi River to the west looking toward Minnesota.

With the exception of the last 20 miles or so of today's ride, the road was relatively flat.  However, we did end up climbing around 2500 feet of elevation over the 102 mile ride.. There are a lot of scenic cliffs above the river road, an example can be seen in the above photo.

This picture was taken from Wisconsin toward the end of the ride today as we were getting close to Red Wing Minnesota. A very pretty territorial view.

Today at one of our SAG stops, we were able to sample a non US food product.  We have four British bikers on our trip.  Tim, from Britain, has a Marmite jersey which required explaining to many of the US bike riders.  Marmite is a British food spread.  It's made from yeast extract, a by-product of beer brewing.  Marmite is a sticky, dark brown food paste with a distinctive, powerful flavor, which is extremely salty!  This distinctive taste is reflected in the marketing slogan: "Love it or hate it."  Dad was in the later of the slogan while Mindy didn't think it was too bad... although she doesn't need her own jar!

Day 23: Wednesday, 05/30/18, Prairie du Chien to LaCrosse, WN

Map of today's ride:



Distance of Today's Ride: 66.1 miles

Trip Total Distance: 1579.3 miles

Elevation Gain:  1240 feet

Riding Time: 4:12 hrs:mins

Today's 66.1 mile ride was wet. The rain started shortly after we started riding and it rained off and on throughout the day. Other than a 15 minute rainfall on Day 11 and the rain today, the entire trip has been dry and very warm. Due to the rain, the camera did not make many appearances out of its waterproof bag.

Early in the ride when the rain started, a group of us found a vacant house for sale that we took cover under the front porch.  We waited until the downpour subsided and then rode the remainder of the ride in intermittent rain.

Our one SAG stop at 33 miles into today's ride. Fortunately the front awning of this Military Surplus store provided some cover and kept the food dry.

This ditch along the Mississippi River was filled with these pretty purple wild flowers.

The entire ride today was along the Mississippi River. The river was even pretty with the dark clouds, fog, and sporadic rain.

About 5 miles from our motel in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, a local homemade ice cream shop, Ranison Ice Cream and Candy, provided a stop for many of the riders. The shakes here were very good, made with hard ice cream rather than soft ice cream.

Day 22: Tuesday, 05/29/18, Galena,IL to Prairie du Chien, WI

Map of today's ride:



Distance of Today's Ride: 72.8 miles

Trip Total Distance: 1513.2 miles

Elevation Gain:  4169 feet

Riding Time: 5:09 hrs:mins

Rain showers were predicted on our ride route today starting late morning and into the afternoon. Fortunately, we are now at our motel in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and as of yet the rain has not arrived although the sky has darkened. It was a little cooler today with the high observed at 88 degrees.

Ten miles after leaving Galena this morning we rode out of Illinois and into Wisconsin. Preliminary riding observations for Wisconsin are good smooth roads, but today's ride had a lot of steep hills, with the day's climb total a little over 4000 feet.

Within the first three miles after leaving last night's motel, while still in Illinois, we climbed two hills that the Garmin indicated had 16% grades. The hills in Wisconsin were many, but the highest grade observed was 12%, still a challenge to climb!

The Dickeyville Grotto is a series of grottos and shrines in Dickeyville, Wisconsin.  It is located at the intersection of US Highway 151 and Highway 35.  The work is dedicated to the unity of two great American ideals - love of God and love of Country.  The creation in stone, mortar and bright colored objects were collected from all over the world.  These include colored glass, gems, antique heirlooms of pottery or porcelain, stalagmites and stalactites, seas shells, starfish, petrified sea urchins and fossils, and a variety of corals, amber glass, agate, quartz, ores, such as iron, copper, and lead, fool's gold, rock crystals, onyx, amethyst and coal, petrified wood and moss.  This site is visited by 40,000 to 60,000 visitors per year.

A typical farm site along one of the roads we rode today in Wisconsin .

Although we did not see a lot of cattle on today's ride, the odors in the air from livestock operations was almost continuous and very strong!

Wisconsin is the nation's leading milk-producing state.  The dairy industry has been important to Wisconsin's economy and heritage.  Each dairy cow produces about 6.5 gallons of milk per day.  Less than half of this milk is consumed as a beverage, the rest is used for butter, cheese, ice cream, milk powder and other processed products.  The diary cow was designated the state domesticated animal of Wisconsin in 1971.  (The state mammal is the badger).  A dairy cow is featured on the US Mint's Wisconsin quarter, and milk is the official state beverage of Wisconsin.

Today we encountered a new sign on our travels.  Many communities in central and northern Wisconsin have designated public roadways for off-road vehicle use.  In addition to bicyclists, motorists are sharing the road with all-terrain and utility-terrain vehicles (ATV/UTV).

The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River.  At approximately 430 miles long, it is the state's longest river.

Day 21: Monday, 05/28/18, Moline to Galena, IL.

Map of today's ride:



Distance of Today's Ride: 93.1 miles

Trip Total Distance: 1440.4 miles

Elevation Gain:  3255 feet

Riding Time:  6:48 hrs:mins

Our day started with Mindy having a "hotel" flat tire... Mindy thinks Wayne/Dad punctured it during the night since he needs laundry washed!!

Today's ride was hot with the temperature on my Garmin external sensor reading 96 degrees for parts of the ride. We had one rider who is temperature sensitive, and he chose to ride in the SAG van toward the end of the ride. Knowing that the forecast for today was supposed to be record breaking, we had breakfast at 5 am and we were all on the road pedaling a few minutes after 6 am for the 93 mile ride day. 

We rode the first 35 miles today on the GRT (Great River Trail) for only bicycles and pedestrians. The trails are nice for not having to deal with road traffic; however, trails are also slower and can be more confusing than normal roads. Consequently, it takes more time to cover the day's distance on these higher mileage days.

Happy Memorial Day!  Today is a reminder to remember and honor those who have dedicated their lives to our country.  "To those in uniform serving today and to those who have served in the past, we honor you today and everyday." ...Unknown 

This picture was taken just prior to entering Port Byron, IL.  The town shown is Le Claire, Iowa.  It is the birthplace of Buffalo Bill Cody and home of American Pickers on the History Channel.  Every year, there is a tug-of-war across the mighty Mississippi River between Le Claire, Iowa and Port Byron, Illinois.  On a Saturday every August, all water traffic yields the right of way to a 2,400 foot, 680 pound rope that stretches between Le Claire, Iowa and Port Byron, Illinois.  Eleven teams from each side are formed and the side with the most winning teams takes the Alabaster Eagle trophy for that year.

A view of the riding on the Great River Trail.

Meet Will B. Rollin. This 30 foot fiberglass statue of an old-time bicyclist (on a Penny Farthing) stands along the Mississippi River, in downtown Port Byron.  This was a $60,000 gift to the village from former mayor Larry Bay and his wife, Carol.  Their investment is intended to promote the riverfront, the village, cycling and good health.  The white trousers and blue jacket represent the water and sky.  Will B. Rolling was spiced up with John Deere green for his tie and hat band.

A changing view from the GRT

While riding today, Wayne/Dad's front wheel stopped turning!  Turns out he had a material like fishing line that wrapped around the hub of his front wheel which suddenly stopped his wheel from turning.  Lucky that he wasn't going down a hill at 35 mph when the wheel stopped turning. Also lucky for us, Michael, the mechanic (in a cape) happened to magically appear and save the day!

This picture was taken just prior to the end of our ride on the GRT near Savanna, IL. The river is overflowing its banks due to all the rain the area has experienced.

Today, at mile 55, we began our initial climb into Galena, IL.  (BTW, the first hill we encountered had a 15% grade!) About 20 miles out from the town, we had a spectacular view of the farms and country side.

Tonight we are staying in Galena.  It is a small town in northwest Illinois known for its well-preserved 19th century buildings.  Galena is a popular destination year round, with peak travel times May - October.  Downtown Galena boasts a half mile of more than 120 independently owned stores with boutique shopping, antiques and gourmet food.

Day 20, Sunday, 05/27/18, Galesburg to Moline, IL

Map of today's ride:



Distance of Today's Ride: 58.8 miles

Trip Total Distance: 1347.3 miles

Elevation Gain:  1467 feet

Riding Time:  3:55 hrs:mins

Another pleasant, sunny, but HOT, 58.8 miles today. Favorable winds but it was very humid and in the mid 90's at the completion of the ride. We rode primarily through agricultural land again today, very similar to yesterday. As this is being written, we are fortunately in our hotel for the night in Moline, Illinois. Fortunate, because we just had a major wind and rainstorm pass through the area. We would have been very drenched bicyclists if we had still been on the road!

Once again today, smooth roads with low traffic for riding!

Casey's General Stores, Inc., is a chain of convenience stores in the Midwestern United States.  Casey's has over 2,000 stores in 16 states.  Casey's is more than a gas station - offering made from scratch pizza, coffee, donuts, sandwiches, ... It is a great break spot for snack and bathroom needs for long distance bicyclists!

The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 299 miles long, in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois.  The Rock River has low-head dams and provides a diverse fishery.

As we entered the Rock Island/Moline area, we rode on the 5.5 mile Rock Island Riverfront Trail which began at Sunset Park and continued to the Rock Island/Moline border at Sylvan Gateway Park.  Entering Rock Island, we passed through Schwiebert Riverfront Park, which was named for the former Mayor Mark Schwiebert (1989-2009 terms) for his tireless efforts to promote public use of the riverfront.  Both the Rock Island Riverfront Trail and Schwiebert Riverfront Park are part of the Great River Trail.  The GRT is a journey along more than 60 miles of the Mississippi River in Northern Illinois.  We are riding more of the GRT tomorrow.

Across the Mississippi River from Moline, Illinois is the town of Davenport, Iowa.  Davenport is the 3rd most populous city in Iowa and is part of the Quad Cities (Four cities in NW Illinois and SE Iowa - Davenport in Iowa and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in Illinois.)

The John Deere Pavilion in Moline, IL offers a unique experience for every John Deere fan who walks through the door. From the vintage machines to today's agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, the past and future are on display in this modern facility. This John Deere tractor (Model 8295R) on display in front of the Pavilion has a list price of $409,217.

This new combine on display in the Pavilion has a list price of $620,000! A lot of capital is needed to be involved in agriculture!

Day 19: Saturday, 05/26/18, Keokuk, IA to Galesburg, IL

Map of today's ride:

Distance of Today's Ride: 94.3 miles

Trip Total Distance: 1288.5 miles

Elevation Gain:  2090 feet

Riding Time:  5:40 hrs:mins

Today's ride was a fast 94.3 miles due to a consistent tailwind and/or side wind. Although there was a very loud thunderstorm around 4 am this morning, we woke to clearing skies which held throughout today's ride. The temperature was 90 degrees toward the end of the ride.

We crossed the bridge from Keokuk, Iowa to Illinois immediately as we left the hotel this morning, and rode 94 miles to Galesburg, IL. The terrain was similar to yesterday with farms and fields. In light of that, very few pictures were taken.

This is the Nauvoo Temple and second one constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio in 1836.  When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo in the winter of 1846, the church attempted to sell the building, finally succeeding in 1848. The building was damaged by fire and a tornado before being demolished.  In 1937, the LDS church reacquired the lot on which the original temple stood.  In 2000, the church began to build a temple on the original site whose exterior is a replica of the first temple, but interior is laid out like the modern LDS temple.

This was a typical road we pedaled today with farms and fields. This part of Illinois looks very similar to many areas throughout the Midwest.

Since no gravel roads were mentioned at last night's RAP, we were surprised to find ourselves riding on gravel for two miles. (RAP is a meeting held every evening before dinner. At RAP, the following day's map and cue sheet is handed out and then explained by our AbB trip manager.)

Day 18: Friday, 05/25/18. Hannibal, MO to Keokuk, IA

Map of today's ride:

Distance of Today's Ride: 58.8 miles

Trip Total Distance: 1194.2 miles

Elevation Gain:  1161 feet

Riding Time:  3:35 hrs:mins

We left Hannibal, Missouri about 7:30 am and immediately crossed the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge into Illinois. We followed the Mississippi River north and crossed the Keokuk-Hamilton Bridge into Keokuk, Iowa where we are spending the night. This is as far as we will travel in Iowa as tomorrow we will be riding in Illinois again all day.  Wisconsin and Minnesota will be the final two States we will visit. Today, with the exception of the bridges, the majority of the ride was in the State of Illinois. We had a tail wind for almost the entire ride. There were light clouds the latter part of the ride but we did not encounter any rain.

This is the Bayview Bridge.  It is a cable-stayed bridge bringing westbound US Route 24 over the Mississippi River.  It connects the cities of West Quincy, Missouri and Quincy, Illinois.  Quincy Memorial Bridge serves Eastbound US 24.

We rode through a lot of "Big Sky" farmland today.

A pretty scene along the road we biked today.

All the roads were very lightly traveled today. This road ran along the Mississippi River for many miles.

This is a picture (from the Internet) of Midwest Controlled Storage.  We didn't stop as the air temperature in the vicinity dropped drastically so we kept peddling!  This operation offers a unique alternative to conventional warehousing and distribution.  Carved into the rocky limestone bluffs of the Mississippi River are subterranean caverns, an average of 100 feet below the earth surface.  The year round ambient temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit, provides an ideal atmosphere for product storage.

We were just approaching these tracks when this train stopped and blocked our path. After several minutes, they disconnected the rail cars and moved the train 
 to provide an opening so we could continue on our way. Pictured on the right is Wayne/Dad and on the left is Richard Hedges of the United Kingdom.

This is the view of Keokuk, Iowa from the middle of the Keokuk-Hamilton Bridge. An interesting fact is that the water tower appearing over the trees in the right side of the image is the second largest water tower in the United States.  It holds 4 million gallons of water and stands over 150 feet tall.  The tower was installed in 2011 at a cost of $7.2 million dollars.

Lock and Dam No. 19 is located on the Upper Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa.  In 2004, the facility was listed in the National Register of Historic Places covering 1,605 acres, 7 buildings, 12 structure and 1 object.  Major commodities moved include grain, aggregate, petroleum, coal and chemicals.  The present lock was put into operation in 1957 at a cost of $13.5 million dollars.  The lock is owned and operated by the US Army corps of Engineers.  

The dam in the background is owned and operated by Ameren Missouri.  It stands 10 stories above the top water level and runs almost a mile long.  Keokuk Energy Center and Dam near Keokuk, Iowa, is the largest privately owned and operated dam and hydroelectric generating plant on the Mississippi River.