You're viewing the comments posted on the entries, photos, and maps for this journal. Want to add a comment of your own? Click anywhere you see the icon within a journal entry. Go to the most recent entry in this journal.
I've been enjoying following your journey. I cycled the Pere Marquette trail a couple of years ago while on a family visit to Michigan. Your photos of Reed City definitely brought back memories. Great rail trails in Michigan. Bob
5 years agoHI,
If you go north along the Mississippi River, I think the road and traffic are better on the Wisconsin side until you get to Wabasha; on the Minnesota side, the highway is something like an interstate, two lanes in each direction with a median up the middle. Cross into Wabasha and go north along the river to Red Wing. You can then get onto the Cannon Valley Trail (very nice) and from there, head to the Singing Hills Trail.
The east end of the Singing Hills was in rough shape in 2016; it's a very old trail. The western 2/3 was fine after they had recently repaved it. They had plans to do over the eastern end after 2016, so it's probably okay now.
When the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail ends just before Mankato, take the trail to the right before going under the highway. That will eventually take you along the Minnesota River. It doesn't go directly through town, but if you go through a break in the cement wall on your left side near town, you can go into town, and see the famous buffalo statue.
Continue on the trail along the river. There will be a trail to the left, which will become the Red Jacket Trail. Take that and it will follow Old Hwy 66. When it "T's " at a crossroad, go right on S Route Trail. This will take you to Minneopa Falls (worth a visit). Leaving the falls, go right on 69/Gadwell, then left on 574th. At Route 68, go left and this will be a very nice cycling road that will take you to New Ulm, a German town.
From New Ulm to the South Dakota border, most of Route 14 is okay to ride. Last time, we took back roads on the south side of 14 just for a different route. Some of the back roads are dirt. I checked them out in advance, because our riders don't like to do these dirt roads with road bikes.
There aren't many places to stay after New Ulm. (the next large town is Brookings, South Dakota). We used to stay at a church in Tracy, a nice little town. I think there might be a motel there. As you get closer to the state line, there will be hundreds of wind turbines. There were just a few when we went through in 1996, and there have been more every time we rode through.
One thing about one of the towns on this route: Faribault, at the north end of the Singing Hills Trail, has always been very confusing to get through. The streets don't make any sense. It could be hard to find the beginning of the trail. There is a Dairy Queen right at the start, so look for that.
Any questions? Just let me know!
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Any routing you can share is welcome! I'm using your journals to piece together our route!
From Winona, we thought we would ride up along the River to the start on the Singing Trail for starters. Looks like it would be interesting. It would take us through the towns you have listed.
I'm also looking at S. Dakota and riding through the Badlands. If we ridd from Kadoka, its 59 miles through the park and up to Wall.
Thoughts? Advice? Thanks for any help.
Hi,
Are you going to take the Great River Trail along the Mississippi River to get to Winona? It gets rough after Trempeleau, so if you get off and take side roads up toward Winona, you can avoid some of the main road, I think it's 33? When you cross the bridge over the Mississippi River into Winona, take the sidewalk on the left/westbound side because there is a lot of traffic and no real shoulder.
We went north along the Mississippi and turned west on a county road toward Rochester. If you want directions on which roads we took, let me know and I will get back to you tomorrow. I have directions to Rochester, Faribault, Mankato and New Ulm.
How were the donuts? I only eat donuts when I am on a bike tour!
Nancy
Hi Nancy!
We are taking the SSBadger this Saturday! I have us mapped as far as Winona. Some of the 400 and the Elroy-Sparta trail is damaged and closed so it will be a good mix of some 33 and 71 and some of the trails.
Right now I'm pouring over the Minnesota/ South Dakota options. In your journal you mentioned going along the Mississippi to arrive in Winona. Did you follow the Sakata Singing Hills State Trail as it ran north and then come down the River?
I am enjoying following your route, especially the trails in Michigan. We have been on several of them. I am so jealous, you got to go to Cops and Donuts! If you are going to take the Badger ferry, let me know and I can tell you the name of a great bakery in Manitowoc, Wisconsin!
Nancy Wright in Sharon, Vermont
Hi you two! You almost caught us as you Zoomed up the coast. I better go see where you are now.
5 years agoYou are on a route very similar to part of ours last summer. It's been fun recalling places we went. We stayed at that same hotel.
5 years agoThere has been so much rain here, everything is green and healthy and bursting with new growth!
5 years agoThey really did a beautiful job restoring it.
5 years agoThere are fireworks tonight here in Algonac, Michigan! I hope I stay awake long enough to see them. I may take a nap so I can wake up and watch them after dark!
5 years agoSee any fireworks? Guess not if you are in Canada lol
5 years agoNice house
5 years agoHow pretty
5 years ago
Hi Bob,
5 years agoBeautiful Trail. Hope they finish it all the way to Ludington at some point!