A short and relaxing ride

June 29, 2025

Stage Five: Sparta to LaCrosse

Today’s journey was a short one—28 miles to Lacrosse, WI, where we plan on spending Monday as a rest day.

The LaCrosse River Trail completes our east to west ride across the state, and from Sparta it is a mostly flat to slight downhill course … thankfully. We are ready to spend a day off the bikes!

Once again, we pedaled past fields and farms, wetlands and meadows. However, there was a lot of industrial scenery—enormous silos, conveyor belts, trucks and tractors. And for much of the ride, a freight rail line on one side; a busy highway on the other.

Still, there was a lot of nature packed into this mile-wide corridor. Finches and red-winged blackbirds flitted among the shrubs, squirrels and bunnies scampered off the path at our approach, wildflowers bloomed in the verge. Two deer, a mother and baby, ate tall grass beside a wetland pool.

On the outskirts of LaCrosse, we turned on to the Great River Trail toward our hotel only to find a sign warning that it was closed due to “wet conditions.” We ignored it and rode on for a half mile to find the path disappearing into a pond and a stream off in the distance. Wet conditions!

We rerouted on local streets and decided to stop in for a drink at the Pearl Street Brewery since it was several hours before check in. It was a fortunate choice. They had room for us to park our bikes in the hallway of their factory building, their beers were excellent, and the people were very friendly. Also, it began to rain and thunder while we sipped our brews so obviously a second round was necessary. 🍻

All in all, it’s been a fairly relaxing day, and tomorrow will be even more of a rest.

Haiku of the Day
Who sings “conk ler ree”?
Red wing blackbird clings to sedge
Hush … doe sips in marsh
— Michelle