After a night of rain in the tent at a fairly primitive campground we were out early under the cool overcast sky. The temperature was perfect for cycling today. The rain had turned the hard crushed limestone path into a grippy, muddy surface that dragged a bit on our wheels. We considered moving onto the road, but one look at the Devon style hills the road was climbing over and we decided the old railway line was better, even if it dragged a bit.
The trail reminded us of the Plym Valley Trail that we trained on back home, on a disused railway cutting between and through large rolling hills. We passed through a few long, wet tunnels, the longest of which was a mile long. As we approached a tunnel we would be struck by a strong, cold breeze on the trail, before the tunnel came into view. Unlit, and full of mist, visibility was poor and it was fun dodging the potholes as the came into view a metre or two ahead. They echoed very well, and for entertainment in one Jake played the march of the Grenadier Guards while we rode through, the march resonating through the tunnel.
We made it 45 miles along the trail before lunch at a local restaurant in La Valle catering to cyclists on the trail. We decided to go for another long day into Sauk City, with the prospect of a few days off in Chicago drawing closer.
Leaving the nice gradients of the trail, we were on road for the last 30 miles. We kept off the main roads for the most part, sticking to small county roads. Three lycra clad touring cyclists seemed a novel sight to the few locals we passed. We hit the steepest hill of the trip so far, and the first we have had to walk our bikes up.
The final stretch from Baraboo into Sauk City was mostly along the busy Route 12. A light rain started as we ascended the second large, steep hill of the day. By the time we topped out it was becoming heavier. The descent was a wet one as the rain became progressively worse. We moved off the main road onto local roads as visibility worsened, for safety from the traffic. Lightning could be seen ahead and I became somewhat apprehensive cycling in the open ground of the main road, so the local roads were a little less exposing. As we went, the storm grew worse. Lightning bolted overhead. An arc crashed into the treeline at the crest of a hill 100 metres ahead. Every flash that filled our vision seemed too close.
As we came into Sauk City, we made the call the stop in McDonalds for dinner and to use the internet to look up accommodation options. As we parked the bikes up and walked inside a flash filled the windows and the power momentarily cutout as the building was struck! We decided camping was a bad idea, and called the local motel to book in. A night in a wet, windy tent became our first night in a proper bed since Seattle, 34 days ago, a continental breakfast and a heated swimming pool.
We hope to make Chicago on Thursday evening now, with 166 miles to go.
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