A light at the end of the tunnel

Yesterday was an interesting day as we rode from Sparta to Baraboo, Wisconsin.  Much of the early part of the day was on the Sparta-Elroy Trail, one of the first trail to rail routes ever created.    These bike trails can be tricky.   On one hand they are a welcome change as there are no semi-trucks edging the side of the road and traffic is limited to other bikers and an occasional bird watcher or jogger.   On the other hand, the trail was crushed limestone and was a bit slick after the rain which slowed us down a little and even caused a handful of accidents for some of our fellow riders.   On a couple points we stopped and walked our bikes through some tunnels (one was just short of a mile long) that were completely black when you started them and then you could literally see a small light at the end getting bigger and bigger.  All around us water was pouring out of the ground above us -- these were all tunnels built for the railroads in the late 1800's.    We all brought along small flashlights as it was pitch dark.   As you walked out of the dark tunnel and into the light it felt like we were stepping into paradise, a very great experience. 

It was a longer day with the slower trail -- about 75 miles.  I was glad to get into Baraboo, home of Circus World Museum.   I bounced into the school we were staying at (Jack Young Middle School), threw my sleeping pad on the gym floor, hit the showers and made it to Circus World by 3:30 p.m., just in time for their last performance.    They had a good small circus show with acrobats, jugglers and elephants.  I later saw a magic show and wandered around the musuem looking at all the colorful circus posters and even remembered a few acts that I saw as a kid in San Diego when the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus came there in the 1970's.    It was all good fun and I asked a museum employee for a restaurant in the area as I was out too late to join the rest of our biker folks.    I was led to the Village Cafe -- an awesome little cafe with a southwestern theme -- a nice tuna burger did the trick for me along with a cappacino and piece of pecan something pie.  Really went high on the hog but it was nice to relax and be alone for a few hours. 

Today we rode a short 62 miles to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.  Wisconsin is a charming place to ride -- nice rolling hills with farms.  But, not really a place that you need to pull your camera out so much -- maybe for a couple old one room school houses here and there -- but otherwise it was good just to ride with fellow bikers and chat along the way.   I ride a lot with many of the Europeans in our group from France, Holland and the United Kingdom and I'm enjoying their questions and perspectives as we bounce from one small town to the next. 

We are heading soon to Michigan and will take a ferry aross the Great Lakes and into Canada. I'm looking forward to arriving at the Niagra Falls by the end of next week.