The Feeshko is the best! You are so lucky!

Fantastic information !! Thanks! Will check out the links....

Racpat

When I rode the Paul Bunyan Trail I saw many wild camping opportunities if you're open to that. I held out for Crow Wing State Park south of Brainerd but it sounds like you might be turning off before that. I liked that park after a long day.

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/nocomplaints/six-hours-on-the-paul-bunyan-trail-told-in-eight-haikus-and-twelve-pictures/

I rode the Gandy Dancer on my mountain bike several years ago. It was quite gravelly at that time. Again, there were many places you could pull off the trail and camp in the woods.

Just south of St. Croix Falls is Interstate State Park, which is a great place to camp. But just across the St. Croix River is Minnesota's version of the Interstate State Park and it's even better. It has riverside sites, but they are harder to obtain.


https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/nocomplaints/the-right-and-the-left-sides-of-the-st-croix-river/

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/goingup/an-odyssey-among-a-sea-of-cows/

I rode some of the Great River Trail out of La Crosse on my "Going Up" tour, but never thought about camping. I have yet to do the Elroy-Sparta Trail, but I can tell you to be careful while peeing along that route. My brother did just that and got a serious case of poison ivy. Fluid was squirting out of the blisters on his legs.

Thanks Gregory,
Any suggestions on camping along the Paul Bunyan?
These are the Rail Trails we want to connect with...
#40 Gandy Dancer ST Danbury to St Croix Falls

St. Croix Falls to Menomonie to #33 Junction Trail 3mi

#35 Chippewa River ST 38.5mi to #57 Red Cedar St 14.5mi to Durand

Continue South on US 25 to Great River Road US 35 to Alma-Cochrane-Fountain City (CG Merrick SP) to Marshland

#43 Great River Trail 24mi Marshland to La Crosse (Onalaska)

#45 La Crosse River Trail 21mi to Sparta

#47 Elroy Sparta Trail 33.8mi to Elroy

# 38 400 Trail 22.3mi to Reedsburg then turn East to Baraboo(Continue South to Dodgeville US 23)

#48 Military Ridge Trail 40mi to Fitchburg to #33 Capital City Trail 17mi to Lower Yahara River Trail 2.6mi to Cottage Grove

#41 Glacial Drumlin Trail Cottage Grove to Jefferson (ALT continue on trail to Waukesha to New Berlin Recreation Trail 7mi into Milwaukee) North to Juneau
#42 Glacial River Trail Jefferson to Juneau/Clyman

#62 Wild Goose ST 34.4mi Clyman to Fond du Lac

Oh yes, I'm pretty familiar with all of your route. Itasca State Park is a big plus. Minneapolis-St. Paul would be too, but I can understand if you want to avoid that area at this time. Gandy Dancer is great if you like a lot of trees. (I call them view-blockers.) It was pretty gravelly when I rode it on my mountain bike several years ago.

And pay no attention to Scott's warning. The Feeshko (my wife) will take great care of you whether you like it or not. Whatever goodies Scott & Rachel rejected, The Feeshko made me carry in my pannier in case they changed their minds.

Be careful what you open your door to folks, and especially beware if you see the Feeshko lurking nearby with a large handbag. She’ll load down your panniers with everything she can cram in there: fruit, carbs, electrolytes, the works. Better mail home any extra license plates and hand tools now to free up some space.

From Danbury we will go South to pick up several more rails to trails, La Crosse, Elroy-Sparta, 400 trail....
Racpat

Hi Gregory,
That would be awesome to meet up with you!! Keep the tradition going!
We are now in Crookston, in a hotel so Patrick can watch the EuroCup 2020 final.
The route is published under maps, basically Crookston to Itasca SP in two days. Then to Beminji one day and a rest day. Then the Paul Bunyan trail to Hackesack, next day to Brainerd.
From Brainerd, to Onamie to Isle on the Soo Line trail (one day), then straight across to Danbury WI to the Gandy Dancer Trail south.
Join us anywhere along the route!!
Also, we are open to suggestions if you see something amiss with the route.
Racpat

Hi there Racpats,

I've been watching your tour but I haven't commented yet. I thought it was cool that you took the old ACA route across northern North Dakota. Now you're in MY State -- Minnesota -- I'm curious as to what route you'll be following. If you get anywhere near the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, don't be surprised if I show up on a bike and interrupt your tour like I did to Scott & Rachel and Buddy & Doc.

I’m glad to see you had an easier day on your anniversary. I hope you enjoyed it! You both are so tough!

Glad to see you got an easier day of riding and better wind.

I think they're cuddling.

This is my favorite entry so far; I've come back to re-read it three times already. It makes me want to load up some panniers, throw the kid in the trailer, and head to the Great Plains!

Not quite like Logan Pass, but romance is wherever you find it.

Such a great photo. Congratulations! It’ll be interesting to see where we all are five years from today.