Back to Where We Started Our Bike Tour

 

Back to Trempeleau

Our time in Madison was too brief, but we had a wedding to go to.  I had reserved a U-haul and on a Monday, we loaded it with our bikes and gear and drove back to where we started our bike tour in Perrot State Park.

On our drive back north, we were passing Sparta when I asked Steve if he wanted to try again to see the Bicycle and Space Museum.   

You may recall that when we came through Sparta on our bikes we tried going to the Bicycle and Space Museum, but couldn't see it because it was about to close.

So I asked Steve if he wanted to stop.

He said "sure!"

We parked and walked up to the museum.  A sign told us it was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Well, ok then!  We went for a stroll and stopped at a coffee shop.  Instead of coffee I enjoyed a kale and fruit smoothie.

We drove into Perrot State park wondering if Big Blue would still be there.

I was glad to see Big Blue.  Other than a few spiderwebs, it was just as I had left it.

We stayed in Trempeleau by the park at the Inn on the River.  There we met up with long-time friends of mine, Kay and Jim.  They were part of the fun bicycle group that Kathi and her husband Karl were members when we all lived and worked in Waukesha, WI.

The Inn On the River is a favorite place to stay.  Kay said they have been coming every year since 1990.  The front porch looks out on the Mississippi River with busy train tracks in between.

When we are visiting on the porch all conversation must stop when the train zooms by.  We can't hear a thing but the roar of the train.  Once Steve counted 145 cars pulled by three engines.

Kay arranged for us to got to Sullivans Supper Club on the first night we were together.  Steve had never heard of a Supper Club.  We tried to explain it.  I looked it up on Google and it says that the restaurant is a destination place, it is usually rural so people take a drive in the country and end up having dinner at the Supper Club.   Sullivans is just outside of Perrot State Park.  

Kay also arranged for the shuttle service!  Sullivans has a van and will pick people up and bring them to the Supper Club.  A standard drink at a Supper Club is a Brandy Old Fashioned.  Steve had never heard of it.  He ordered it.

We spent two nights at the Inn on the River.  We took a short bike ride to the National Wildlife Preserve nearby.  We saw pelicans and a couple swans.  

In the evening Steve and I walked toward the locks on the Mississippi.  We passed a huge huge pile of sand.   On top of the pile sat two eagles.

A sign explained that the pile was created when the river channel was dredged to keep it deep enough for the big ships and barges passing through.

We had to repack once again.  We needed dress clothes for the wedding in Washington and hiking clothes, we didn't need biking clothes and cooking gear. 

We had a short drive to a hotel in Minneapolis.  To break it up, I looked on Google maps for quirky stuff to see.  I found a sculpture park!

And we stopped at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN.   Wabasha is where the Grumpy Old Men movie was filmed.

Our hotel was great in Minneapolis.  Hurray for a nicely equipped fitness room.  We were an easy walking distance to a nature preserve with trails and just a few blocks from the Mall of America.

The mall has several roller coasters and rides inside.

It was 7:30 when we bought tickets for the Aquarium in the Mall.  We didn't know until we entered that the Aquarium closes at 8:00.  We still got to see the whole thing, some of it we skimmed over.

Our flight won't be until 2:30.  We will have time to walk the preserve nearby before we shuttle to the airport.