Cambridge, Minnesota to Somerset, Wisconsin Friday, June 18, 2021
I knew I had a long way to go today, so I hustled and got out “early”, meaning at 9:45. Pretty pathetic, actually.
The Adventure Cycling route is meandering back-and-forth across the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin, so today I reentered the Badger State after more than three weeks. Crossing the state line was spectacular, the St. Croix River Valley, although the surrounding bluffs meant a steep descent and then ascent. In trying to maintain momentum, I was unable to snap a picture. Too bad, the Saint Croix is a National Scenic River Area.
The 40 miles before the crossing was flat and fairly featureless, although I find the verdant farms quite beautiful. There was no place to stop for lunch for 36 miles, but a saloon in Shafer served a great meal, and across the street was a real gem, the Maklin Bike Shop. The owners, Steve and Lynn Hamlin, decided to quit their professional careers and the “rat race” at a young age and opened up a first class bike store in this tiny town, surrounded by beautiful bike routes. I love stories like that. I bought a pair of high-end (to cover my lower end) bike shorts there at a better price that I could find in the city. They were both very busy, as all bike stores are in this post-pandemic time, but they still made time to chat with me, and give me advice about the best roads to take.
I was dismayed to see that the Adventure Cycling route put me on a road that had loose gravel, so I jumped onto a fairly busy state highway to take me the last 5 miles into Somerset, where there was a delightful campground on the Apple River. This is a popular tubing area, but with the drought the river is so low that it’s not happening. Sure was a scenic place to camp, though.
That building across the way is a venue used for weddings, and there was one there tonight. Sort of weird to be roughing it across from people dressed to kill; the schmaltzy wedding music ended before it got too late, and I was lulled to sleep by the babbling river.
Distance 62 miles, 2,842 total. Time 8 hours with stops. Elevation gain 1,292 feet.
©️ 2021 Scott Luria
The Ends of the Earth 