Personally, this was one of the most anticipated days of riding for the entire trip. On this day, we we would promptly cross the Mississippi over to Wisconsin, where we would eventually ride on the Elroy-Sparta bike trail. I had only ever ridden along this path once before more than 16 years ago while in Boy Scouts, and to this day that particular bike trip was one of my favorite trips while in Boy Scouts. You see, the Elroy-Sparta bike path is on an old railroad bed, and this alone hardly distinguishes it from other bike paths elsewhere. However, what makes this bike path truly unique are the three tunnels that riders pass through. I was very much so looking forward to riding this path again! Shortly after taking off, we were researching the status of the Elroy-Sparta trail. Based on what we found online, as of two days ago, the trail was closed due to strong storms that had passed through the area only days ago. In my stubbornness, I declared that I was going to ride the trail. Upon looking at potential routes more closely, Garrett and I determined that we could check the status of the trail once we arrived at its terminus in Sparta, and change the route if need be once in Sparta. We had quite the ride in front of us, as we had already ridden, approximately, 55 miles before reaching Sparta.
Once in Sparta, we quickly determined that the trail was open, as the presence of riders and the absence of signage indicating closure suggested that the trail was open. It is important to note that this is not a paved trail, so it is a lot more subject to the elements, such as heavy rain, due to its crushed limestone surface. Over the course of the ride on the trial, we found only a few spots that had been left as ruts due to being washed out. Otherwise, the only minor challenge was riding through soft, sometimes muddy, spots along the trail. After riding about 15 miles along the trail, we were welcomed by the first of the three railroad tunnels. This tunnel was the longest of the three (nearly 3/4 of a mile in length), and it was also the muddiest going into among the three. Once in the tunnel, we walked our bikes through the surrounding darkness. With each step, natural light became scarce and the light echoes of distant voices almost hauntingly passed by us. Water ran off tunnel ceiling and the center of the tapered path to our left and right, where it then ran further to the side of the tunnel that we entered; a subtle reminder that the flat path indeed had a slight incline. Daylight increasingly greeted us as we approached the opposite end of the tunnel. Once at the other side, we put our cycling cleats back on and proceeded further along the trail.
The second and third tunnels were similar in most regards to the first tunnel. However, they retained uniqueness by being shorter in length (both approximately 1/4 mile in length), and both were dryer than the first tunnel. We encountered fewer people here, as the day was getting late. Despite being later in the day, sharing the tunnel with fewer, if no other, people made for a pleasant rediscovery of this path and tunnels. Once we had reached Elroy, the path continued on, though, bearing a different name: the 400 (apparently named after the Twin Cities 400 passenger train which traveled from Chicago to Minneapolis/St. Paul in 400 minutes). From here, only 22 miles separated us from our destination in Reedsburg.
We arrived in Reedsburg shortly after 7:00pm, and found the most inexpensive hotel and cleaned up before having dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. We found this restaurant set back considerably from the street, tucked near trees that surrounded all but one side of the building lot. The exterior of this restaurant was very underwhelming, appearing as though it was a decade overdue for residing. Despite this, unrelenting hunger would not turn us away; especially at this hour after a long day of riding. We were extremely surprised by the quality of the food and how cheap it was. This was by far one of the better meals we had the entire trip, and in all places, an obscure building in Reedsburg, WI. I can say with unwavering confidence that I would go back.
