A foggy day as I left Madison.

It was still foggy as I set out from Reedsburg along the Baraboo River.

The moisture in the air collected on droplets everywhere, including on my glasses, which made it hard to see.

I looked down and my arm was covered with droplets.

All around was foggy beauty for the first hour of the trip.

Finally the sun started to break through the fog.

The sun was shining brightly as I arrived at the most important street in Wonewoc.

Made it to Elroy by 9:45, the 400 trail took two hours. Time for a short break.

Up ahead on the trail, two sandhill cranes.

Pastoral farm scenes along the trail.

Just beyond Kendall, the first tunnel.

On the way to Wilton, crossing the headwaters of the famous Kickapoo River.

Fall colors sneaking into the late summer.

An Amish buggy parked at a gate along the trail.

Alongside the trail, a small ecosystem on top of a post in front of a burbling waterfall.

The second tunnel has a small alcove (for the door keeper) inside the entrance.

The farm fields eventually gave way to quiet forests.

Always glad to get through the third tunnel and its steady dripping water. The tunnel goes under a spring.

A dozen turkeys on the trail, blocking the way to Sparta.

Arrived in Sparta, “America’s Biking Capital,” at 1:30pm. It’s the home of Ben Bikin’.

On to bike trail #3, the LaCrosse River trail. Alongside is one of the state’s largest sand depots.

Bad news just past Sparta, flat tire. Glad I brought along a spare but puts me further behind schedule.

On the LaCrosse River trail, trains are rumbling by on a regular basis.

At LaCrosse I rode onto the 4th and final trail.

The Mississippi River came into view as I rode through Onalaska.

The Great River Trail crosses 18 streams and channels in the marsh between Onalaska and Trempealeau, including the Black River.

And finally, at 6:45 (11 hours and 93 miles later), I rolled into the parking lot at Trempealeau. Thank you to my brother Jim for coming to meet me and drive me back to Madison.