Wednesday, July 23rd: Baraboo, WI or … can I also join the Circus?

My woman tells me it’s another bicycle path day. But before we leave Sparta, we have a good breakfast at Ginny’s Cupboard. 

As we are heading towards the bike path, we meet this guy on his bicycle. 

The bike path is not paved this time – it’s hard packed gravel, which makes todays ride a dusty one but also a slower one (yes, that’s still possible!). On the Sparta to Elroy trail are three tunnels – they start each time at the top of a hill. It doesn’t look as we climb, but the elevation maps tell a different story.

My woman has a flash light from the Shuli-woman. The first tunnel is the longest one and it is very dark in there. 

The two other tunnels are somewhat shorter. Each time my woman has to walk through them. Water is sipping from the rocks on my fur and in the second tunnel a bat nearly bumped into me. That is not so fun. Once in Elroy we change bike paths: now we use the 400 State trail.

I do like trails because they take you away from traffic, but cycling 60 miles between rows of trees and bushes does get boring in the end. So I am happy to reach Reedsport and tell my woman to get off route and visit the sponsor – Kwik Trip! 

Now we are back on paved roads and my woman likes this – even if it means having to climb. The little ponies, the funny man along the road are a welcome change of scenery! 

And that view of Baraboo in the distance, here on top of that hill. My woman takes a healthy break eating some fruit she took from the picnic station. She offers some to other riders.

A great descend and another smaller climb brings us finally in Baraboo. Here Sweet Machine takes a bath – controlled by Cody.

We are staying at the campus of the University, which gives us a great view of the surroundings. The three water towers make my woman think of some extra-terrestrial creatures (like the movie War of the Worlds). Let’s hope it’s just her imagination!