8/7/2011 Pepin to Perrot State Park 97k, 4.5hrs, fine 32℃
Well I’m back on line, luckily some notes had been taken about todays passage, the days are just sliding by.
I was up early, often the first about in many camp grounds, allowing minimal movement from my tent to have a leak.
The morning was spent pottering and updating this site, the park provided a shelter with power. So as things dried I sat about. It was relaxing to say the least.
Important things had to be done like taping up the cap on my shave foam that had split, this would stop it from coming off in the toilet bag and discharging. These kind of issues replace those associated with a more familiar way of life. A fair amount of pressure is applied to the toilet bag following its packing.
1300hrs saw me depart from this camp ground. I had the normal Hb”S etc for lunch and headed off, the sun was high and the heat of the day was well developed.
Highway 35 like the previous day was busy but not as scenic, but still a pleasure. I posted a couple of base ball caps home for Cal and Ben at Nelson.
Further down the road at Alma I stopped in at the local grocery store and stomached 3 large carbonated drinks. I have never drunk so much of this stuff, my bod is calling for sugar at these stops. A change from warm water out of the bottles, which bye the way, is now the norm, at times never knowing how good warm water could taste.
The day was really on the boil with traffic quite heavy, although a good shoulder was utilized. Thirst had overcome me again. The roadside bar and grills are really great for topping up the bottles, staff have no problems filling the bootle with ice and cold water, I am using 1 PET bot and a squeeze bike bot plus a spare aluminium one which I carry in a net bag behind the seat. Leaving it empty has not left me short to date.
Anyway getting back to my thirst I pulled in at this bar, had a chat with a guy outside, grabbed my bar bag and empty water vessels and headed inside. So it’s 1500hrs, Friday, upon entering I could hardly see my hand in front of my face, walked 5m and turned into the bar. It was a hard case there were naked girls in the bar with a tidy piece attached to a chrome plated downpipe in the middle of a small dance floor.
I explained to the owner what a great surprise and how this was a welcome break from asphalt, corn and cars, most definitely in that order. He laughed. Ordering a beer was kind of mandatory, so for half an hour I sat at the bar and took in the entertainment, so casual and no big deal. The owner topped up my bottles and I took on the heat of the day again. The bar is well known, called the Four Mile, south of Cochrane. I would rate it as a point of interest and quote it as a recommended stop. There were girls in the small group of drinkers. All were welcome.
Further on I called into Merrick State Park. WI parks are open, MN parks are still closed, can you believe it the state is still shut down because the children are still squabbling over a “toy” namely tax rates.
The park was busy, the ranger informed me that WI park policy is regardless of how full a camp is, they wont turn cyclists away. He explained how Perrot Park was just north of Trempaleau about 15m away, the time was 1530hrs, feeling in good shape the option of stopping there was chosen.
The sun was releasing its influence on the day and riding was a pleasure. The park was full but they put me down by a car park which was still a good location. The first thing you hear in these parks is the noise of air being expelled from air conditioners on the RVs, talk about homes away from home. Showering followed by a quick sortie and a brew saw me hit the nest.
Well I’m back on line, luckily some notes had been taken about todays passage, the days are just sliding by.
I was up early, often the first about in many camp grounds, allowing minimal movement from my tent to have a leak.
The morning was spent pottering and updating this site, the park provided a shelter with power. So as things dried I sat about. It was relaxing to say the least.
Important things had to be done like taping up the cap on my shave foam that had split, this would stop it from coming off in the toilet bag and discharging. These kind of issues replace those associated with a more familiar way of life. A fair amount of pressure is applied to the toilet bag following its packing.
1300hrs saw me depart from this camp ground. I had the normal Hb”S etc for lunch and headed off, the sun was high and the heat of the day was well developed.
Highway 35 like the previous day was busy but not as scenic, but still a pleasure. I posted a couple of base ball caps home for Cal and Ben at Nelson.
Further down the road at Alma I stopped in at the local grocery store and stomached 3 large carbonated drinks. I have never drunk so much of this stuff, my bod is calling for sugar at these stops. A change from warm water out of the bottles, which bye the way, is now the norm, at times never knowing how good warm water could taste.
The day was really on the boil with traffic quite heavy, although a good shoulder was utilized. Thirst had overcome me again. The roadside bar and grills are really great for topping up the bottles, staff have no problems filling the bootle with ice and cold water, I am using 1 PET bot and a squeeze bike bot plus a spare aluminium one which I carry in a net bag behind the seat. Leaving it empty has not left me short to date.
Anyway getting back to my thirst I pulled in at this bar, had a chat with a guy outside, grabbed my bar bag and empty water vessels and headed inside. So it’s 1500hrs, Friday, upon entering I could hardly see my hand in front of my face, walked 5m and turned into the bar. It was a hard case there were naked girls in the bar with a tidy piece attached to a chrome plated downpipe in the middle of a small dance floor.
I explained to the owner what a great surprise and how this was a welcome break from asphalt, corn and cars, most definitely in that order. He laughed. Ordering a beer was kind of mandatory, so for half an hour I sat at the bar and took in the entertainment, so casual and no big deal. The owner topped up my bottles and I took on the heat of the day again. The bar is well known, called the Four Mile, south of Cochrane. I would rate it as a point of interest and quote it as a recommended stop. There were girls in the small group of drinkers. All were welcome.
Further on I called into Merrick State Park. WI parks are open, MN parks are still closed, can you believe it the state is still shut down because the children are still squabbling over a “toy” namely tax rates.
The park was busy, the ranger informed me that WI park policy is regardless of how full a camp is, they wont turn cyclists away. He explained how Perrot Park was just north of Trempaleau about 15m away, the time was 1530hrs, feeling in good shape the option of stopping there was chosen.
The sun was releasing its influence on the day and riding was a pleasure. The park was full but they put me down by a car park which was still a good location. The first thing you hear in these parks is the noise of air being expelled from air conditioners on the RVs, talk about homes away from home. Showering followed by a quick sortie and a brew saw me hit the nest.
