One of the "looks" that I commonly shared with Ariel on our 2007 bike tour is the "how the hell did we get here" look, refering to the strange experiences and situations we kept finding ourselves in, day after day. I'm still not sure how this kind of road magic works, but it's why I keep doing this. Today started in tunnels, and ended in me getting personal tours of handbuilt log cabins!
It's already midnight and I'm in the middle of the country in a house so old it doesn't seem to have power outlets, so I am fighting time and battery life. Let's make this quick.
The day started great but late. Dave, Matt, and I had breakfast at a diner and then Dave rode with me about 6 miles to the start of the La Crosse river trail which then connected to the Sparta/Elsoy river trail which is the first rails to trails concersion in the nation.
The trails were great! They are about 10-12 feet wide, are crushed limestone, and pass through woods, prarie, and a few towns. The latter portion had three old train tunnels, the longest being 3/4 of a mile and the shortest 1/4 mile. They were crazy amazing and seem like natural caves from the inside. Very wet and drippy and beautiful.
I did about 55 miles on the trails to (town) and took a breather there. Riding on crushed limestone is better than many things, but not great. It really saps your energy and I was pooped. I had wanted a 100+ mile day today to get me into Steven's Point early tomorrow but with the slower trail and late start that wasn't going to happen. I waited out a big thunderwhompie storm that blew through, chatted with an employee of the depot there, and then decided to head to New Lisbon about 25 miles away.
The roads there were just amazing, and no-longer flat (the railroad bike trail stays under a 3% grade). I had a great time, and watched another storm blow in and enjoyed the off-kilter tailwind that came with it. The rain started to hit just before New Lisbon but I was ready for it and stopped to put on my rain gear.
That's when I met Doug! Doug had passed me before and then did a u-turn to come talk. He offered me a place to stay but lived about miles back the other way so I initially I said no thanks. Then we talked a bit more and my brain started saying NEVER SAY NO TO ADVENTURE! I listened, which is why I'm winning today.
We threw my bike and gear in his truck and then Doug bought me dinner and took me to look at the beautiful log cabins that he hand builds on his land. He had amazing stories about moving a 100+ year old log cabin log-by-log from Minnesota. His work and artestry was inspiring, and it was nice to be around someone who cares so much about his work.
Doug also shared stories of his 24 year old son, who has walked across Sweden, Canoed down the entire Mississippi, and is currently serving in the Peace Corps in Kurgistan. He worries about his son, and that was a big reason behind him picking me up. He would want the same for his son.
Doug and I talked for hours in various locations (my favorite being one of his cabins) and I think he might be one of the wisest people I've ever met. His understanding of people, work ethic, time (now is all you have), motivation, karma, mental discipline (optimism takes work), art, inspiration, and other similar things was just... I don't know how to describe it.
I kept wanting to record the things he was saying or write everything down. He's going to be someone who I remember and who shapes my personal philosophies for a long time. Honestly he reminds me a lot of my Dad, and I'm not suprised that he raised a son who is having the adventures that he is having. Although it might be a suprise to Doug. :)
I'd love to write more, but sleep calls. Enough blogging about adventures, it's time to recharge so I can have more. Tomorrow I see the Wellings!!! (speaking of inspiring people)
ILYI
I love this post. :-) Optimism does take work.
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