My friend Tom Kunau, a very fine cyclist, much more experienced than I (and fresh back from Colorado’s Triple Bypass ride – look it up, it is crazy) launched me this morning by joining me at our house and leading me to Prescott through South St. Paul and Woodbury, I guess, though I have to refer to my computer’s map to be sure. It was a great and fast start and very nice to have a companion, at least, for a while.

Actually, Tom may have saved my bootie in the first half mile – south of the monument on Mississippi River Boulevard. He was riding behind me and noticed that one of my bags was coming off. We stopped and I realized that the attachment that Thule uses – which is perhaps a little too clever – had lost a tiny screw which meant the whole bag would fall off. Had that happened a day later, it could have been disastrous. As it was, I called Lisa, who brought another bag and we switched them out. I also checked the same screws on my other bag and found one missing. I cannibalized the bad bag and all was good. As we worked, runners and friends came by and we chatted.

Today’s was a sweet ride – the Wisconsin side of the river (Prescott is where the St. Croix and the Mississippi converge – it is a confluence) is by some accounts the more scenic side. I can verify that and add that it is also the hillier side. From Prescott south for nearly twenty miles, there were no towns, many steep hills and a lot of hot sun. I’ll include an image of the elevation and temp.

I stopped at a bar in Bay City for a beef sandwich and a Bud Light and lots of water. I realized how depleted I was and actually got a little light headed. I only had twenty miles to go and knew there were a couple of cute towns ahead, Maiden Rock and Stockholm. I stopped two times just to relax, take more fluids and look at the lake, which was beautiful and full of all kinds of boats.

Also, I was passed by approximately 27,500 very loud motorcycles.

I beat Lisa to Pepin, set up the tent and then welcomed her and we caught up on our days. We were surprised to learn that there was a wine and cheese tasting at the campground with live music, which was lovely, and we met many dogs and their people riding around the Pepin Campground on golf carts.

Dinner was at the Harborview, one of the area’s most renowned restaurants and it was delicious. We had a long wait for a table which we spent wandering along the harbor, looking at sailboats. And now we are sated, and tired! And heading back to our site.