Hills of SW Wisconsin.

Last Thursday, after I got Harper on the bus for school, Charlie showed up and we headed to Ted's house in Minneapolis. From there we jumped in Dom's excursion van (it was huge!) and made our way to Trempealeau, WI.  

We were on the bikes riding by 11:30.  This area is no joke.  So many hills.  And not hills like around home.  These are long climbs with steep grades...bluff country.  We did hit some gravel but most of it was paved.  But not your typical paved road.  Tiny, meandering roads that would seemingly be gravel anywhere else.

One of the gravel sections.  The paved roads were no wider.

Day 1.  Some serious climbing for this guy.

Day 2 we were on the bikes earlier, despite waiting a bit for it to warm up.  It was a chilly start.  Our route showed less overall climbing so we foolishly thought it would be an easier day...ha!  We had a handful of climbs with 20% grades and more that just kept going.  It was nuts.  Three or so hours from home and there are such amazing hills blows me away.

Loved seeing signs like this!  However they must not salt much but rather lay down lots of sand.  Corners were a bit sketchy.

This was near the end of Day 2, following the Trempealeau River back into town.

My left knee started to hurt a bit more than I like on Day 2.   I ride a 1X setup.  If I rode this area with regularity I think a double would be called for.  The knee is better now but does worry me some.

Day 2.

We originally thought we'd stay another night and ride a half day on Saturday.  But rain was forecasted.  After our ride on Day 2 we headed home.  

Since the pandemic started this was my first trip with friends.  Two were vaccinated already and we still took precautions.  It was also my first time eating in a restaurant in over a year.  The place was great though.  We basically had a whole room to ourselves.  

It was an amazing trip that I'd do again in a second.  Good friends, beautiful area, and bikes....doesn't get much better!

Saturday rained all day at home.  I spent the day being rather lazy.  Lots of NCAA basketball, some kid shuttling, and putting stuff away from the trip.  I worked Sunday but got out for about 60 miles before hand.  Today may hit 70 degrees but the wind is 20-30 mph with higher gusts.  Ugh.  Tomorrow has a high of 39.  Spring man, why?!