The firm bed at the Best Western led to poor sleep, causing Shelley to have a headache. I woke up at 6:40 AM to thick fog due to high humidity and a significant overnight temperature drop to 56 degrees. I went to the bistro to work on the blog while Shelley rested.
The breakfast at the bistro was typical of other motels, featuring premade omelets, French toast sticks, hash, muffins, bagels, cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, and homemade waffles. I ate a small meal while waiting for Shelley.
Around 8:15 AM, Shelley joined me. She had slept poorly and reviewed the food options. We enjoyed breakfast before packing for the day. We changed our plan from Sparta to Tunnel #3 to the Lacrosse River Trail from Sparta to West Salem (15 miles). Shelley would pick me up there, and we’d do the Great River State Trail along the Mississippi River.
At 10:30 AM, I started on the trail near the Visitors Center in Sparta. Shelley visited the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce, which also serves as a trailhead. The first 5 miles of the trail were well-maintained, but the quality declined after reaching New Salem. Weeds had grown, making it more difficult.
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We arrived in New Salem at 11:30 AM, and Shelley arrived 5 minutes earlier, so we timed our arrival well. We loaded the bike and headed west to the Great River Trail. Unfortunately, a major bridge, the Tank Green Bridge, had burned, closing the trail halfway. We hadn’t planned to ride the entire trail, so it didn’t affect us. Initially, we planned to ride from the Great River Landing in Onalaska north, but the Sparta Convention Center staff advised Shelley to ride from Marshland South for a more scenic route.
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We arrived at Marshland at 12:15 PM, excited to ride. However, the first few miles were a bumpy road and loose gravel. The trail was flooded and closed due to flooding. We regretted taking the Sparta trailhead staff’s advice and had a miserable 7-mile ride.
Returning to Marshland, another cyclist suggested the newly built Flyway Trail Connector, a 6-mile trail to Winona. Shelley grabbed snacks, and we headed west. The first three miles paralleled the road before entering the marsh. A large bridge spanned the railroad tracks and marsh, leading to Aghaming Park and a bridge over the Mississippi River and Latsch Island Park. Tired, we took a rest and snack break on large rocks, enjoying the scenery.
As the sun rose and the heat increased, we decided to return to the car. While the last ride wasn’t scenic, it concluded our two days of riding on a high note. We took scenic Highway 61 home, arriving at 6:00 PM, unloaded, and were ready for rest.
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