Day 41 Fennimore to Madison

We woke up to the sound of rain on our tents this morning. Good thing is, it always sounds worse than it really it is. It was cool, so we started a bit later, waiting for the rain to hopefully quit and have the roads dry up. By 9 the sun was shining and the roads were drying already about 1/2 hr into the route. The day turned out quite nice. Right now though it looks like it might rain again.

The first 40 k of road was great, and the wind was helpful as well. Later on had a bike path to ride on for about 12 k which would have been better suited to mountain bikes (pic) but was alright, just slowed us down some.

We came through a place called Mt Horeb. A nicely redone town (pic), popular with the tourists. Fred and I lost track of each other there. I figured he was still ahead so I carried on with Bert S (BC), Ryan B (IL) and Pete W (MI). Turns out Fred was still in town, so I could have hung back and visited a great looking bakery there. One thing about these little towns is the great looking old homes. If I stopped and took pictures of all the ones I liked, I might still be back somewhere in Iowa. The library that was closing just I walked in their door yesterday was about the neatest one I've seen. Marble curved window casings, lots of woodwork, granite etc, obviously been around for a very long time. Anyhow, lots of great looking architecture so far.

We all gathered at a park nearby the church in our Sea to Sea jerseys and rode in together for a photo op deal. It's neat biking a mile or so with 140 cyclists, clogging up the traffic etc.

The Madison CRC people are taking good care of us. Haircuts, massages, shuttles to the showers, a movie tonight, supper tonight, shuttles to laundry, town etc. The whole church bldg is available to us and the people here are great.

Today is also Dini M's birthday.

So we have finished the two long miler weeks. Feels good to have them done. Now there are only 18 rides left. We've completed 36. I think the time is going to move along even faster now.

We picked up the mail at the church here. Thanks to all the folks back home who signed the sheets or sent a card. It's appreciated.

Totals: 120 k (72 mi), 4:29 on the saddle, 26.9 kph avg (16.2 mph)