Day 32 Crossing into Wisconsin

Today completed our 300 miles in 3 day blitz across Minnesota.  The State went out in a blaze of glory - for sure.  It was 96 degrees by 10am and by noon it was pretty close to 100.  It was pretty damn hot.  The National Weather Agency issued an advisory for people over the age of 60 to stay inside.  Yup, good advice.

At mile 64 we had a 1 mile hill to climb that had a 10% slope to it.  10 percent at 100 degrees.  Nice.  The reward was that if you made it to the top the Sag van was waiting for you to either fill your water bottle with ice - or take you to the hospital.

Now the problem is that it is almost impossible to ride your bike up a 10 degree slope and take your hands off the handlebar to grab your water bottle.  Hence when you get to the top you really don't need a refill.  That is until you stop at the van and consume 2 water bottles in less than 20 seconds - making up for lost time.

The good news about hills like this is generally there is a downhill on the other side.  Which there was.  Two miles straight down reaching 35 mph.  My  courage on going fast has increased as the temperature has gotten hotter.  The faster I go down the hill, the longer I get to coast at the end.

We crossed in Wisconsin at about mile 83 and just before the city of La Crosse.

About a mile later we crossed the Mississippi.

So that makes six states we have ridden through.  The recent states are getting greener and greener.  A far cry from the desert like conditions of Dakota.

Here is a progress map.

We have ridden 2,438 miles since June 16th.  It has taken 192 hours, 49 minutes and 31 seconds (give or take a couple of seconds).  My average speed has been 12.6 mph and my average heart rate has been 97.  We have burned 79,848 calories.

Another long hot ride expected tomorrow.