It’s over. The trip that we had been thinking about, and planning for the last year, is history. The tough miles are fading; the good memories of the adventures and fun we had on this trip will be lasting. Lessons learned? It's probably too soon to know. But we're also thinking about what comes next, God willing.
If all goes well, we will pick up the tour next year in Milwaukee and ride to Fargo, ND—roughly 600 miles. That will require us to ride at least two more days than the current trip, so it will definitely need to thought about more fully. The journey beyond Fargo? That may need to wait until we can spend more time away from home.
Next year is already on our minds. Returning to Milwaukee would not be a hardship. We really liked the city and the people—friendly, relaxed and approachable. The County Clare Inn is a gem. We would stay there again, and we would recommend it to anyone.
The ride by the numbers:
9,097 feet cumulative elevation
489 miles
20 hours, 11 minutes and 48 seconds of pedaling
12 days total for the trip
9 days spent riding
5 states (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin)
4 breweries
3 museums
3 baseball games
2 flat tires (one that had to be fixed twice)
1 eagle observed in northwestern Ohio
1 root beer float
Before heading home, we took a day to see a bit of the city. We split most of our final daybetween the Milwaukee Art Museum and a tour of the Miller Brewing Company. We managed a few other highlights. The city’s River Walk is a definite hit. We stumbled onto an evening summer stage concert. The band, Growing Nation, sounded great. We hung for a few songs to enjoy the scene—kids running around the park, adults dancing on their feet and in their seats, vendors selling food and crafts.
The Milwaukee Art Museum is housed in a striking building, inside and out.
In their design wing, this little beauty hung from the ceiling. I had a bike with a banana seat, but I don't think it had a "four-on-the-floor" style shifter.
The Miller Inn was designed to be like the old beer halls of Europe. For a time, it was a popular destination for the general public and a place for the company to kick back and to show off.
