| Description: | First big thanks to the workshop organizers to give us a Wednesday afternoon off, which allowed me to do my big ride of the week. After Monday's experience I figured the best is a combination of the easy going on the rail trails (which are very flat) with some rolling country roads to stand up and stretch. I first headed west out of Madison on a local road, connecting to the Military Ridge trail and going to the village of Mount Horeb, ca. 20 miles west. Then headed south through series of county roads. The countryside was very similar to Czech one, with some blue farm silos I almost expected to see the "Vitkovice" sign on the top . Then made it to a town of New Glarus, which is trying to sell its Swiss heritage. Had an ice cream at the main square and then headed to a brewery on a hill south of town that looks like a castle. Just made it before the 5pm gift and tasting shop closing - got an $8 pint which included keeping the glass. Refreshed, I headed west on the Sugar River trail some, and then turned north on county roads to Belleville, where I connected to Badger trail, which took me back to Madison. Here I just barely managed to catch the end of the weekly classical concert at the capitol lawn and grab a beer and some food. |
