1st Day Long Day Part 2

OK, the next day.  I've had some sleep.  My sleep was disturbed by lots of pain all over my body.

Yesterday, started out arriving at Sparta, WI around 9:30 am.  There was an older lady that dad was able to talk to.  I think he enjoyed that.  I unloaded the car and loaded up the bike. 



The load is lighter than the first day.

I started on the La Crosse River Trail by approximately 9:38 am.  The riding was slow due to high crosswinds and sometimes headwinds.  I changed to closed fingered gloves and wool socks due to the chill in the wind.  I arrived in La Crosse, WI around 3 pm.  Much, much later than I thought.  I finally ate lunch at Burger King.  Since I thought I would arrive earlier, I delayed lunch.  I also didn't have any lunch makings.  I will have to rethink this problem. 

Here are some of the sights I saw on the trail.

After lunch/dinner at La Crosse, I crossed over the Mississippi River.  It really is a brown river. 

My dad was worried about the incline of the bridge.  This was the wrong incline to worry about.  After crossing the bridge, I encountered hills that caused me to walk for long times.  They were brutal, especially, since my knees and thighs hurt constantly. 

My day ended in Houston, MN on the east end of Root River State Trail off of Highway 16.  I actually rode in a truck the last 2 miles.  How?  Walking up, apparently the last hill, I flagged down a truck.  I asked the driver, Mark, how far Houston was and if there was any place to stay, like a hotel.  He said that I was only 2 miles away and there was a hotel.  He then asked if I would like a ride.  I accepted.  I was too exhausted to do the last two miles.  Mark was a nice young man who drove a nice red truck. 

I arrived in style in Houston, MN.  The hotel is Sawmill Inn.  The rooms cost $60.  This was more than I asked God for.  I specifically asked God for a motel that had internet and was around $30.  He provided for about 1/2 of what I asked.  

Janice checked me in and didn't blink twice about my bike.  In fact, she helped me wheel the beast into the room.  She told me a story about two guys who walked from CA to NY. 

After saying goodbye, I slowly and painfully showered and washed my clothes, lubed up my body with ointment, and took pain pills.  I slept fitfully.  My muscles froze up several times, so turning over created new pain as muscles stretched. 

My new prayer request is for some where to sleep each night.  I was really worried the last few hours of daylight.  I really didn't want to sleep on the side of the road while I knew I would be in serious pain from my first day of riding.  I constantly was bugging God asking for a place to stay.  I wanted to rest but I also didn't want to miss God's blessing either.  He did provide with a safe ride and a clean, quiet place to stay.