Detour Narrated By Wiki

We recently took an oversized load from Arizona to Georgia.  There was a portion of the interstate we weren't allowed to travel due to our width of 13'1", so we were routed through the Arizona towns of Safford and Duncan. 

The following are some photos of Duncan - located five miles from the New Mexico border - and some information on the town I found via Wikipedia.  Sometimes, Wikipedia is the best one can do.

The town of Duncan has been destroyed twice by flood and once by fire. The town and area are primarily populated by ranchers and miners - especially from the Freeport-McMoran copper mines in SE Arizona and SW New Mexico. 

Duncan and the surrounding area along the Gila River is world-renowned for Native American artifacts such as arrow heads, pottery, burial sites, cave paintings and other remnants of the Anasazi and other pre-historic cultures, as well as artifacts from garrison camps of the Expedition of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado.  

Also, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who was born in El Paso, Texas, grew up near Duncan on the Lazy B Ranch, which straddles the border between Arizona and New Mexico.  She later wrote a book titled Lazy B: Growing up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest about her childhood experiences on the ranch with her brother H. Alan Day.

Thank you, Wikipedia.
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2012: Say It Loud! Say It Proud!
2011: Stitch Me Up Something Fancy
2010: Hot Dogs Are The New Coitus
2009: Better Than A Five Dollar Foot Long
2008: Isn’t This Grate??
2007: Eddie Gives Me That Smoldering Look Friday
2006: Bringing The Good Stuff
2005: The Road To Sin City

Until I'm One With You

Is anyone watching The Bridge on FX?  I am, and I'm loving it. 

The website describes the show as: 

"The Bridge is a present-day crime thriller exploring the tensions on the U.S.-Mexico border. When an American judge known for her anti-immigration views is found dead on the bridge connecting El Paso and Juarez, Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger) from El Paso PD must work with her Mexican counterpart from Chihuahua State Police, Marco Ruiz (Demián Bichir), to catch a serial killer operating on both sides of the border."

This theme song really fits the intro of the show. It's haunting and dangerous and sad.

I like Diane Kruger, but I really love Demián Bichir.  I first saw him in A Better Life in a performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. 

I can't wait to see where this story goes.  I'm so hooked.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: I Didn’t Even Have To Slip Him My Room Key
2011: Rest Comes For Robo-Ed
2010: Better Than A Leg Press Machine. Or How To Get A Good Looking Left Gam.
2009: How Can I Tread On You When I Can’t Even Turn Around?
2008: Popping Good Time
2007: Touching Down For A Quick Rest Break
2006: Follow Your Heart
2005: All About The Benjamins

Bears Outnumber Bigfoot

This poll was posted in a recent issue of Land Line Magazine.  For the record, I have not just seen a bear, I've hit one.

That said, I can't decide which I find more interesting - the 2% of people who've seen animals not native to this continent (like horses?), or the fact that 5% have reported seeing Bigfoot or other "undiscovered species".

Although, I'm pretty sure I know of one person who voted in that 5% category.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Betting On My Man To Show Me A Great Time
2011: Cut And Color
2010: X Marks The Imaginary Spot
2009: A Field That Looks Perfect For Wrasslin’…If It Weren’t For The Sign
2008: Come Visit Me In Italy!
2007: Asked And Answered
2006: L.E.A.P.
2005: Ed Visits His First Warehouse Store

Waves Of Steel

Our latest delivery was for the Border Patrol in Nogales, AZ.  Nothing special, just two huge communication tower poles.  We took I-19 until we couldn't go any further, then met up with our escort, who took us across the ranch property of a local resident - where goats, chickens and horses roamed freely - to the location where we were to unload.

These guys sprinted in front of the truck and then walked along next to us.  I cut up an apple and three each horse a half.  I was happy when I saw their heads dip to pick it up. 

As we approached the unload location, the serpentine border fence became visible in the distance, following the topography of the landscape.  The ride in was a bit brutal.  Very bumpy, very dusty, very barren, very hot.  We climbed at a rate that made us naturally fall back into our seats.  It felt as if we were going straight up. 

Before we took the truck out here, the escort drove Ed up to the location in his pick-up.  There was one hairy turn that was extremely tight, but since Ed had already done a little re-con on the road he had to take, he knew he'd be able to make it.

I initially thought the structure on the other side of the fence was a house, but as we got closer, it seemed to be a Border Patrol outpost.

Finally the escort stopped, got out and showed us where he wanted to wait, and then disappeared.  We sat there until the forklift guys came to unload us.  For once, it wasn't a long wait.

Here's a close-up shot of the fence.  The configuration looks different than the pieces we delivered last time to the border.  Those were solid plates of steel, unlike these which are slatted.

 

 Once we unloaded, Ed spun the truck around to head back.  From this angle, the fence seemed to go on forever, undulating into the distance.

It's always weird for me to see another country just feet away.  I felt that way when we rode bikes along the Canadian border.  To the right was the United States, to the left Canada.  The road we were on separated us from an entire nation full of people.

The only difference with Canada, is that up there they didn't have a giant, imposing, metal fence manned by guards in towers.

That's what makes this a lugubrious landscape.


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2012: Forever In Bloom
2011: Ed Visits His First Warehouse Store
2010: HBD 143
2009: Eddie Hauls Laundry The White Trash Way Friday
2008: Sun Setting Over Lake Pontchartrain
2007: Sanchez. Pedro Sanchez.
2006: Remembering Those In Heaven
2005: The Line Of Gold Thread

Save Fifty Cents By Staying Away From The Card Tables - Go To A Concert Instead

We were traveling on I-35 North from Dallas when we crossed the state line into Oklahoma and saw this behemoth.  Where the hell have we been?  I'll tell you where - not in Oklahoma.  We rarely travel from Dallas in this direction, it always seems as if we're going every direction but north. 

It must have been quite a while since we'd been here because we've never seen this casino.  It's called WinStar World Casino.  The exterior façade depicts different buildings of the world - the Colosseum in Rome, the Palace of Westminster in London which houses Big Ben, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, some Bejing, China looking tower, the Chrysler Building in New York - in one continuous line.

Billboards on the interstate as you approach the casino claim it's the second largest in the world.  It's definitely the largest casino in Oklahoma.  Man, those Indians must have muhhh-ney!

We really stopped for dinner since we were starving after having loaded all day and not having a chance to stop and eat - I have no food in the truck because I have to grocery shop.  We figured we'd check this joint out and maybe gamble a little.  We set a verbal limit of $40 each.

There was plenty of parking and no signs restricting trucks, so we parked where we wanted.  In addition to the hotels on the property, they have an RV park on the premises somewhere too, with a shuttle that'll take you to the casino.  Being so close to Dallas and Oklahoma City, I can imagine plenty of people will come for a weekend to gamble. 

We had dinner at the Mexican restaurant inside the casino - oddly Mexico wasn't represented in part of their "world" theme - why, I'm not sure, as there was plenty of space for them to build Chichen Itza's El Castillo pyramid. 

The food was good but overall the casino was a little cheesy.  It was big inside, but the "zones" you walked through - Italy, Vienna, China - were not very distinctive, with the exception of one or two decorative items to let you know which section you entered.  In China, they had two rhinestone dragons hanging over the card tables.  It's definitely no Vegas.  But then, what is?  It was more of a Hollywood movie set.  I guess that's good enough for Oklahoma. 

They do have a 3,500 seat event center that showcases top-billed musicians and celebrities, though.  And at the end of the month, they'll host a Professional Bull Riders event during the WinStar World Casino Invitational.  That should be interesting.  I think if you're going to see Daughtry, D'Angelo or Weezer (they're still around??), it's worth the trip.

After dinner I hit the slot machines and Ed hit the blackjack table.  I promptly lost $20.  So I moved to another machine, hoping to have better luck.  I lost my second $20 there.  My night was a bust.  So I sat and waited for Ed to make enough to cover the cost of dinner and what I had lost - our usual arrangement.  We always try to cover at least our meal.

I chose a seat out of the way, against the far wall in front of an empty row of slot machines.  But wouldn't you know, THREE times I was asked to move by other people wanting to play the machine I was sitting in front of.  To one woman I said, "Seriously?  You want to play this machine?" There were hundreds of empty seats in front of hundreds of slot machines and she had to play the machine I was sitting at.  What the hell is wrong with people?  She clearly didn't get my sarcasm because she stood there stupidly smiling until I huffed and moved one seat over. 

I was ready to leave.

So I moseyed over to the table and tapped Ed on the shoulder, asking if he was ready to leave.  He had only lost $15 of his gambling money, but we were still down overall so he wrapped it up.  What he didn't like more than losing a few dollars, was that the casino charged fifty cents per hand that was played at the tables.  We've never heard of that before, nor come across it.  It felt greedy.

And because of that, we'll never go back.  I'll go to Vegas if I want to see a fake world.  At least we'll have an extra fifty cents to explore it with.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Zero Tolerance Zone
2011: Flicker Of Hope…GONE
2010: Knee Deep In Training
2009: She Sells Seashells By The Seashore
2008: Shopping At Walmart Is The Closest Some Of Us WilL Ever Get To China
2007: Giving Indians A Bad Name
2006: Six Flags Of Horror Fly Over Texas
2005: Snake River

I Wonder How These Longhorns Would Feel If They Knew A Steakhouse Was Named After Them?

How many times in your life do you get to see one of these??

Okay, so if you live in Texas or Oklahoma, it's probably like, every single day. 

But I don't live in Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain, but I was there today and I wasn't leaving without pictures.  So when we saw these guys on the side of the road, I made Ed stop so I could take pictures.  I walked up to the fence line and stood about ten feet away, with a skinny strip of barbed wire separating us. 

They were pretty amazing up close.  Wikipedia says their horns can extend 7 feet from tip to tip for steers and exceptional cows, 36 to 80 inches tip to tip for bulls".  These steers were clearly exceptional.  I stared at this guy for at least ten minutes.  He seems to be staring back, doesn't he?

Look at this one.  Check out how the horns grow right out of his head.  I know, I know, they're horns, where else should they be growing?  But that's gotta be way uncomfortable.

I reaaallllyyyy wanted to touch them.  The horns, that is.

But then they started to fidget, nudging each other with their horns.  Then a few started to get up and walk around.  Whoa.  Huge.  

The one thing I found amusing was the fact that they were lounging below a McDonald's billboard.   

If they only knew.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Frying Up Memories
2011: Icy Beverages, Sun, And Sand
2010: Smalltopia And Rowdy Kittens
2009: Severely Disabled
2008: Boys In Dresses
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: When I'm Done Peeing, Do I Bang On The Pipes Or Just Yell When I Need Someone To Take Me Back To My Cell?
2005: The Emerald City

Have A Little Faith In The Romantic Comedy

I watched a cheesy romantic comedy last night, one of the free flicks from my Amazon Prime account, and heard the following song in the movie:

The song is called "Have a Little Faith in Me" and was part of the movie's pretty decent soundtrack. 

I love the kid at 1:37 in the video, and the little dance he does at 1:46.

I've already added this to my iPod favorites playlist.

Here are the lyrics: 


Have A Little Faith In Me

When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark
And have a little faith in me
And when the tears you cry
Are all you can believe
Just give these loving arms a try, baby
And have a little faith in me (5x)

And when your secret heart
Cannot speak so easily
Come here darling, from a whisper start
To have a little faith in me
And when your backs against the wall
Just turn around and you, and you, you will see
I will catch you, I will catch your fall, baby
Just have a little faith in me
And have a little faith in me (4x)

Well, I've been loving you for such a long time, girl
Expecting nothing in return
Just for you to have a little faith in me
You see time, time is our friend
Cause for us, there is no end
And all you gotta do, is have a little faith in me
I said, I will hold you up, I will hold you up
And your love gives me strength enough, so
Have a little faith in me
I said hey, all you gotta do for me, girl
Is have a little bit of faith in me


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: The Perfect Volunteer
2011: The Men Who Stare AT Goats
2010: A Peek At A Working Team
2009: Alligators Are Not A Girl’s Best Friend
2008: Forget Your Cholesterol. Get A Hearing Aid.
2007: Sizzling Good Time
2006: Amarillo May Smell Like Cow Shit, But They Have Some Pretty Tasty Steaks
2005: List Of Fives

Her Happiness Is OUR Reward

"Happiness is a virtue, not a reward."
~ Baruch Spinoza, Dutch Philosopher

 

Today is my mother's birthday.  This is a picture of her from September 1946.  She was four years old.

Even at four years old she was happy in the morning.  She's like that to this day.

And just like in this photo, you'll find her most mornings in her bathrobe and slippers.  Filled with joy.

There hasn't been a day where I've been in her company that she wasn't happy when she woke up.  Even if she's tired.  Even if she's in pain.  Even if she knows she's facing a busy or challenging day ahead. 

If you're not a morning person, she might annoy you.  She has a signature, sing-song "Good Moooornnniiiing."  It's really cheery.  Disney cheery.

So good morning to you, Mommy.

And Happy Birthday!!


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2012: A Student Of Life
2011: There Is No One Alive Who Is Youer Than You
2010: The Serious Bather
2009: There’s More To The Woman With The Mona Lisa Smile Than Meets The Eye
2008: Blond Bombshell Birthday
2007: Milestones And Yardsticks: How To Measure A Good Life
2006: The Roaring Twenties
2005: Escape

Cats In Trucker Hats

Ed's convinced he can watch his blog numbers go through the roof by implementing one little change.

Photos of cats in trucker hats.

I think he may be on to something.


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2012: Marbelize It!
2011: Inner Harbor Fixture
2010: Sandía On The Wall
2009: Big Rig Parking AT #34
2008: The Benefits Of Marriage Without The Hassle Of Dieting To Get Into The Dress
2007: Gateway To The West
2006: Taking A Lesson From An Eleven Year Old
2005: Rejoicing And Be Sad

Big Shoulders And Tall Buildings

"Hog butcher for the world,

Tool maker, stacker of wheat,

Player with railroads and the nation's freight handler;

Stormy, husky, brawling,

City of the big shoulders."

~ Chicago, Carl Sandburg, 1914

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2012: After The Storm

2011: A Constellation Minus The Celestial Bodies

2010: Opulence. I Hyaz It.

2009: Flipping It At The Bird

2008: Eddie Flippin’ Friday

2007: Hope Collapses

2006: You Do The Math

2005: 14,410 Feet Of Beauty

Too Unorganized To Organize, But I'll Bet They Have Thirty Minutes To Write A Letter

So far, this summer has been fantastic.  And I'm not talking about the weather - because anything over 65 degrees is too warm for me - I'm talking about the freight.

Holy dollar signs!!

Cornfields in rural Louisiana.

We've been all over the place in the last few months and have been raking in the dough.  We're not working hard (which I love), but we are making money (which Ed loves).  And while doing so we were able to fit in a week-long vacation in Montreal with friends, an extended weekend of bike riding in Chicago, and a Louis Prima, Jr. outdoor concert in the park in New Jersey.  And that's just since the end of May!

The freight rates have been pretty good - there's a lot of stuff falling within the $3.00 to $5.00 per mile mark - and when we see something we like, we jump.  Otherwise, we sit and wait.  The other drivers can take the $1.46 and $1.81 per mile loads. 

Many drivers have been concerned about the new Hours of Service regulations which went into effect on July 1st, in regard to how it's going to impact their ability to make money while abiding by them.  Thankfully, it hasn't had any effect on our revenue.  And we get an extra thirty minutes to officially relax during the day.  I say "officially" because now we have to log that thirty minutes. 

We get a lot of email from readers seeking our advice - usually people looking to transition from company driver to owner-operator, or those considering this as a new career.  Most often they're couples and the emails incorporate some variation of "How can we do what you're doing?". But there are others.

I recently got a message from a girl who is planning to go on the road with her driver boyfriend for a year and she wanted some advice on what she should expect and what kinds of things she needed to bring with her.  I gave her the scoop.

A guy we met through a family friend arranged a lunch meeting with Ed and I to pick our brains.  We gave him a few trucking magazines and a small pocket truckstop guide, filled him in on what being new was going to be all about - at least until he gained a little confidence - and wished him the best of luck as he set off to begin his new job in trucking.   

Then there was the young couple we corresponded with for several months who eventually quit their jobs and became team drivers, citing us as their inspiration. 

And just recently, yet another couple who had been reading my blog for several years (and who we actually met in person) had questions regarding certain aspects of our operation. 

We were happy to answer everything they asked and openly shared any other information we thought might be important to them.   

Me on my bike, crossing the stream in downtown Sparta, Wisconsin

They're interested in the technical and the practical.  Ed gets the fuel mileage, equipment upgrade, mechanical techniques, and truck gadgetry questions.  I offer all of the fun-planning, travel highlights, day-to-day responsibilities, and tips and tricks info.  I really don't care how the video surveillance cameras work (as long as they do), and there's no way in the world you'll get me to talk about a greasing system for longer than seven minutes.

And everyone wants to know what kind of money can be made.  That's a hard question to answer because a lot of teams who say they make a lot of money are running around the clock, non-stop, racking up five to six thousand miles a week.  We don't do that.  Ed carefully chooses our freight like the former Marine he is - so we work smart, not hard.  The best part? Anyone can learn how to do it!

Ed's not afraid of hard work, but he learned during his first few years in this industry that working less for more money is the no-brainer way to go about it.  I'm not afraid of hard work either, I just don't see any need for it.  I can't stand having the truck rolling every second of the day, hearing the engine continuously hum.  It's annoying.

I like having a day or two off (at minimum) between our runs and I like to enjoy our time out here.  People joke about us being paid tourists.  It's no joke to me.

Tree lined street in Wisconsin

So we tour, and we get paid.  Although we're team drivers, we've never run like a typical team. And almost everything we've hauled this year - with the exception of a few recent loads - has been solo freight. For those of you not familiar with industry terms, that means we take loads that one driver could do with the hours they have available to them for driving.  They could legally log any of these loads.

Ed likes to turn many of these loads into what he calls "Super-Solo" runs, which means we'll drive a little more than a solo, but a lot less than a team.  It translates into more money in a shorter time period and less work overall.  The perfect cocktail.

I've said this before and I'll say it again - this is one of the best jobs I've ever had.  It truly is what you make it.  I know that sounds super corny, but some people would rather bitch and complain about regulations instead of enjoying the experiences they have doing a very unique job.  Don't get me wrong, I bitch about almost everything, but having the opportunity to travel as much as I do and make money doing it is not one of them.

The latest round of complaints have to do with the new regulations regarding our Hours of Service.  Personally, I don't care what formula or data the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) used to come up with their new edict.  It's done.  And I'm not driving my truck to Washington, DC to protest anything.  Mainly because I'd rather be vacationing or riding bikes, but mostly because anyone with a brain will tell you that you can't get very far in any kind of vehicle in DC.  You think you're restricted on the interstate?  Try driving a big rig into The District.

And talk of a shutdown is just stupid.  There's zero chance of that happening.  Remember back in 2008 when truckers shut down on April Fools' Day to "send a message" about the fuel prices being so high?  Yeah, neither do I.  Because it didn't happen.  It was all talk.

You can't get a group of truckers to organize a backyard barbecue, you think you're going to get them to shut their trucks down in protest?  These drivers bitch about losing a few dollars a day under the new regulations, do you really think they're going to lose an entire day or several days' worth of pay, or their job, just to express they're unhappy?  I highly doubt it.

Shit, hundreds of the people out here driving trucks decided to become drivers for the very reason that they couldn't find a job in the towns they lived in.  So I doubt they're going to risk anything that will send them back home where they'll be spending their days filling out applications to get a job at the Piggly-Wiggly or Bob's Big Boy.  If those places are even hiring.

In fact, Anne Ferro, the Administrator of the FMCSA was in attendance at the biggest truck show in the country, and truckers couldn't get together to protest.  AND THEY WERE ALREADY THERE.  Thousands of them.  In a place with TRUCK PARKING. Perfect time to get everyone together, dontcha think?

But they were too busy eating corn dogs and collecting free swag from the exhibitor booths to be bothered with bending the ear of the person they claim is "regulating them out of a job". 

I say next time, they should forget about collecting mouse pads and tote bags and take the free pens.

Then use them to write their elected officials.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Islands Are Out, But What About Canals?
2011: Survival Training And Retirement Planning
2010: Just A Glimpse
2009: Eddie Mails A Package In His Dorfman Friday
2008: Shower Jam
2007: Golden Arches
2006: The Land Of Fruits, Nuts And Flakes
2005: Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

Personalized

Another view of the landscape from our Sparta, Wisconsin bike ride - a personalized plate that oddly has special meaning to me. 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Fire On The Island
2011: Harborside Education
2010: Yo, Vin!
2009: Sweeter Words Have Never Been Spoken
2008: More Proof I Ate At A Sushi Place
2007: North Sally Port
2006: Holy Cow!
2005: Wishing

History On Water Street

Historic Downtown Sparta.  Not so beautiful in the overcast colorless sky, but we did get a pretty glimpse of it the day before when we rolled into town as the evening sun was casting its light over the buildings nestled together on the tree-lined street.

This is Water Street,  the main drag, where you'll find consignment shops and antique stores, banks and attorneys, and realtors and appliance stores.  Many businesses are housed in buildings dating back to the late 1800s, like Maiden Wisconsin, a gift shop occupying the space in the Sugden Building, which displays a date of 1899.

According to History of Monroe County, Wisconsin Past and Present, by Randolph A. Richards, J.M. Sugden, a first class painter and paper hanger, came up from St. Louis in 1854. When he erected this building – which he used as a paint shop – it was the largest building on the street and people called him crazy for putting up such a large house just for a paint shop.

Because the paint business wasn’t very lucrative at that time, he added bricklaying to his list of skills and started to make small chimneys for people’s homes, charging an honest penny for his labors. Doctor Gage, in an article on the early settlers, said of Mr. Sugden, “He became known as ‘the handsome bricklayer’, but whether this term was to be applied to the individual or to his work has never yet been with certainty known.”

Directly across the street from that shop, and owned by the same people, you'll find Ginny’s Cupboard.  A café, coffee shop and purveyor of fresh, baked goods. 

The interior is old-timey looking, with vintage décor and mismatched coffee mugs.  The chalkboard up front displays a menu of coffee drinks.

I couldn't tell if the items on display were authentic or not, but some of the stuff looked old and weathered, as if it were the real deal.  Doesn't matter though, the look totally works.

I ordered a hot latte and a date filled cookie, a treat I'd never seen before.  It seemed to be two thin sugar cookies - homemade - spread with a date filling and pinched around the perimeter.  It was crispy on the edges, soft in the middle and sweet.  It gave me a few ideas for making "filled" cookies of my own.  I had two bites and gave the rest to Ed. 

I sat outside while I drank my coffee waiting for Ed.  I thought I'd check out some of the action in the town but alas, there was none.  It was quieter than a library and had less movement than a cemetery.  If we ever go back, we'll check out their lunch menu.  Judging by the tables that hadn't been cleared yet, the place was busy before we got there. 

It's a great place to hit before or after a bike ride.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Do It Like The Settlers Did. With Whiskey.
2011: No Vacancy
2010: Imperial Sand
2009: How Many Twenty Year Olds Have A Seventy Pound Head?
2008: My First Time
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: Text Me
2005: Eddie Dines Out Friday

The Bicycling Capital Of America - Welcoming Those On Both Two Wheels And Eighteen

Yesterday we delivered a load to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, a place we had only been to a couple of times.  On this trip we were able to unload early in the day which left us the rest of the weekend to explore, so after doing a little online research we decided to hit the next town over - the Bicycling Capital of America - Sparta, Wisconsin.

Get ready for a picture-heavy post!

We hit the store for some groceries then found a place to park in the downtown area. We were less than a mile from Water Street, which is where we needed to be if we wanted to be close to where we'd pick up the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail. Everywhere you went in town, there was a bike - on people's lawns, in business logos, on the street signs. But there was no bike as big as the one on the southeast corner of the intersection at W. Wisconsin and S. Water streets.

That's where you'll find Ben Bikin', the 32-foot-tall bicycling mascot of the town.  He's billed as the "world's largest bicyclist" and was built by the F.A.S.T. Corporation, a local company specializing in the manufacture of fiberglass statues.  In fact, their mold yard is just a few miles away on Highway 21 between Sparta and Tomah. That alone is a tourist attraction worth seeing.   

From this park area, we crossed the little wooden bridge and headed south on Water Street.  We were making our way to the Sparta Chamber of Commerce, located in an old train depot, at the south end of Water Street.

Just a few blocks down, before the railroad tracks and almost to the train depot, we came to the Caboose Cabin. It's a 1968 SOO-line caboose that you can stay in! 


It's set up like a cute little vacation home, with a beautifully landscaped yard and as you can see, SOO painted on the side, like all the SOO line rail cars sported. 

It was here that we discovered just how much Sparta loves truckers.  Because this is where we found the parking lot they have dedicated to truckers ONLY.  Just past the edge of the property of Caboose Cabins, if you make a right on Foss Drive and follow it to the end, you'll see a sign that says "Parking for Semi Trucks ONLY.  All others will be towed."  Well isn't that refreshing!  Usually the sign is the other way around, restricting the trucks.

This is the only city we can think of that has done this.  So yeah, awesome move Sparta.  A place specifically for those of us with eighteen wheels to park, in order to explore on two wheels. 

Just across the tracks from that intersection of Water Street and Foss Drive is the old train depot, which houses the Chamber of Commerce.  It's also where you'll pick up the trail.  To the east is the Elroy-Sparta Trail, to the west, the La Crosse River State Trail.

We decided to head east because we wanted to see the first of the three stone train tunnels along the trail.  Riders over the age of 16 have to buy a $4.00 day pass to use the trail (a yearly pass is $20.00), but people walking it can do so for free.  We paid our money and headed out. 

Wisconsin was the first state to convert abandoned railroad tracks into bicycle trails.  The Elroy-Sparta trail was their first.  The trail surface is hard-packed dirt with finely crushed stone on it.  I actually felt like I was riding on slightly bumpy pavement.  It was very comfortable to ride on. 

Most of the scenery on the trail is pretty much the same - it looks a lot like the photo above - but there are spots where you'll see cows, barns, and silos peeking through the trees.

There are several wooden bridges along the way, most of them pretty small. This one was a little longer than most and seemed like just the right spot for a quick photo break.  Since it was late in the day, there weren't too many people on the trail.

But when there were, they seemed to come in packs.  And there were several families, like this one passing Ed.

The scenery in the open spaces was classic Wisconsin.  I swear I saw cheese being grown.  Yes, I'm kidding.  I know they don't grow cheese.  Because if they did, I'd totally quit trucking and go into farming.

We saw wildlife both scary and cute.  This thing made me stop in my tracks.  I saw something odd shaped in the trees.  It looked...well...out of place.  Round.  Not a leaf.  Not an animal.  So I took a picture. 

Then I zoomed in and realized it was a nest.  Hornets, I'm guessing. I remember seeing them when I was a kid. I didn't stick around to see what exactly was flying in and out, as those things freak me out.  And there's no way I can out-bike a swarm of flying stinging whatever-the-hell they were.

This little rabbit was one of the cuter critters we saw.  Earlier on the trail we saw another one hauling ass out of the weeds.  Right behind him was what we later found out was a mink.  Apparently, they're common in that area and they chase and kill the rabbits.  Damn.  The minks may get their jollies chasing and killing bunnies but unfortunately (for the mink), they're later made into beautifully luxurious coats.  

The trail was nice, lots of trees, lots of shade - not that we needed it since it was a cool, overcast day - but not much to look at.  Personally, after the first mile or two, I was bored.  I like to see stuff.  I like to ride through villages or cities, taking pictures of interesting things.  This was too much of the same. 

The path is lined with trees on either side most of the way, so you really aren't seeing anything but woods.  And from the train depot to the first tunnel is nine miles.  NINE miles of woods is about eight miles too much tree for me.

As I mentioned, the trail is straight and relatively flat, but really it's a slow, gradual upgrade.  For Ed, it's cake.  For me, a bit more challenging. Small hills do me in. I needed to stop more frequently.  When I hit a long, steady upgrade, my quads - those muscles on the front of your thighs, the ones I thought I'd go my whole life never knowing the name of - burn as if I were doing squats for hours.  And if you know anything about me, there is no exercise I do for minutes, let alone hours.  But man, when I ride, I feel that freakin' burn. Maybe I need to start doing squats!

I was just about to give up on reaching the damn tunnel when we rounded the bend and came across this guy - Tunnel Tom.  He lives right on the trail, had bikes in his yard, and runs a little stand that sells drinks, snacks, and flashlights, which you need for the tunnel.

Tunnel Tom had been living on this property his entire life.  He had ten acres of land and the house belonged to his parents, who had passed.  He was a furniture maker - once working at one of the factories in town but later making furniture at his home - a guitar player, a cat lover (he had more than ten of them), and a cyclist.  He rides over 100 miles a week. 

After we were talking for a bit I asked him, "How far is this damn tunnel??"  He said we were two minutes from the opening.  "Is there food on the other end?" I wanted to know.  He said the tunnel was a mile long and the town of Norwalk was three miles past that.  I was seriously thinking of buying a dinner of Snickers bars right there at Tom's shack.

He was so nice, I could have sat and talked to him for hours.  But I'd already ridden nine miles and I wanted to get this damn tunnel over with.  So we said goodbye to Tom and headed toward the tunnel.  We were thrilled when we got the first glimpse.  

As we got nearer, we noticed the temperature changed noticeably.  It was very cool.  Almost cool enough for a sweatshirt, which is a significant remark coming from me, the lover of all things polar.  Look how beautiful this is.  Like a storybook.  Or a horror movie.

We realized the cold air was blowing out from the tunnel, which as we got closer seemed a little creepier.  

The plaque near the tunnel said:

Back Breaking Work

Boom!  Dynamite blasts echoed throughout this valley as workers excavated the tunnels.  They used hand tools, horses, mules and oxen to remove the freed rock.  All tunnels were dug from both ends, but this tunnel was so long that workers also dug two long, deep shafts from above to help remove the rock.  These shafts were later sealed with bricks.

This tunnel was slow and labor intensive to build.  Workers struck an overhead spring which kept the tunnel wet and difficult to excavate.  Today, the ceilings and walls still drip with water and provide cool relief on a hot day.

The tunnel is 3,810 feet long, cost $247,272.00 to build (or, $65 per foot), was started in 1870 and took three years to complete.

They were not kidding about the cool or the wet.  The sign outside the tunnel requested those riding bikes to walk their bikes through the tunnel.  We had a flashlight in our pannier bag so Ed got that out and he also strapped our lights to the handlebars. 

We started walking.  It was very cold and once we got past the light that came in from the opening, it was also very dark.  You couldn't even see the other end.  And you couldn't see people walking either, only the lights from their bikes until they got closer and the dark masses turned into faces and baseball caps and little kids.  The trail surface was the same inside the tunnel as it was out except that it was raised a little in the center with drainage ditches on either side where the water ran freely.  And there were several ruts in the center of where we were walking, which I think was probably due to the dripping water. 

As you get into the center of the tunnel, you really can't see a thing.  It's even colder at this point, probably forty-five degrees, and the sound of water dripping creates a constant, hollow echo.  I guess I'm glad we visited when we did because from November to May there are bats in the tunnel and I don't really know how I'd feel walking through there knowing there are creatures that thrive in that inky black environment flying around my head.   It was so spooky.  I've never been in anything like it.  The tunnel was really unique and probably the highlight of the bike ride, but I can't say I loved it.

Here's a shot of Ed exiting the other side.  The tunnel is almost a mile long (.73) and for the last 500-feet, we got on our bikes and rode out.  My feet were wet from stepping in puddles, my hair was soaked, and my shirt and pants had big, wet drops on them. 

Once we made it to the other end we decided not to ride the additional three miles into Norwalk.  We were hungry, but it was getting late and we didn't want to go the extra distance and then get caught riding back in the dark.

So we turned right around and went back through the darkness.  We rode most of the way this time, only seeing one or two people along the way.  I just followed Ed's silhouette and steered wherever he did. 

After we passed Tunnel Tom again, shouting our thoughts on the tunnel to him and thanking him for the chat, we commented to each other that we'd probably enjoy the ride back more since it was mostly downhill.  I know I was happy about that because that meant the ride would go a lot faster.  I was bored with the scenery at this point and starving.  I brought water and a package of Fig Newtons, which we devoured the other end of the tunnel, and now I just wanted to get back to Sparta, eat dinner, and relax for the night.

In all, with our riding around town before we hit the trail and after, we logged about 25 miles for the day.  That was enough for one day and I was happy to see Ben and his giant bike again because it meant we were close to the truck. 

We used the hose at the Information Center to spray the mud and debris off our bikes and then rode to get a bite to eat.  It was a full day and a great experience. 

This place is great for anyone who wants to put a few miles on their bike (or feet) and for truckers who like to bike or walk and are looking for a place along their route to do it.  Now you know there's a place where you're welcome, and where you can safely park to get out to explore.  There are other locations along the trail that offer parking, so be sure to check out  Bike Sparta and the other links in this post for additional information. 

There are over 101 miles of connected trails that all come together in Sparta.

I'd say that's a damn good reason to call it the Bicycling Capital of America. 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Crossing The Mojave
2011: Justin Time For A New Pair Of Boots
2010: Miles Of Smiles, Hours Of Laughs
2009: I’m Dreaming Of Blue Skies, Key Lime Pie And Pink Flamingos*
2008: Stop Beyond The Palm
2007: Kittery Dittery Do
2006: Crab Infested Thoughts
2005: Bi The Way