To read about this same bike packing trip but in 2022, see
https://sfjournal.net/minneapolis-to-madison-by-bicycle-june-2022/
When I was growing up in Madison, Wisconsin I would often jump on my bike and ride the county roads. I knew many of these county roads by heart but often would just explore and head down farm roads often battling dogs and diving blackbirds. Sometimes my destination was Stewart’s Park in Mount Horeb. The sun was my compass. At a certain point I would turn around and find my way home.
Visiting relatives in Minneapolis, I conjured up the idea of instead of renting a car to visit family in Madison, I would ship my bike and do a bike trek. I highly recommend this awesome 300 mile, four-day bike trek from Minneapolis to Madison. You can take longer. The ride along the Great River Road and Highway 35 has a wide shoulder and is full of beautiful views of the Mississippi River. Once you hit Marshall be ready to catch the rail-to-trail bike trails. These run over a hundred miles all the way to Reedsburg. After that you weave your way past Baraboo to Sauk City and then to Middleton and Madison.
I saw only one other person doing a long trek on a bike. He was heading the opposite way. There where many people and families camping and riding the trails.
Day 1
Minneapolis to Pepin
Day 2
Pepin to Veteran’s Memorial Campground outside of La Crosse
Day 3
Veteran’s Memorial Campground to Wilton
Day 4
Wilton to Madison
I could have ridden further on day three as originally I was going to do the ride in five days and spend a night in Wonewoc, but the weather was good so I just kept going.
Good times!
