Cycling the Driftless Region | PART 3: ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRAIL

While my original intent was to bike tour through the Elroy Sparta Trail and into Wisconsin, my short time frame left me with a choice: bike into the uplands of Wisconsin or head down the Mississippi River Trail. I opted for the latter. Leaving La Crosse, I head south, cycling along the Great River Road, which follows the Mississippi for it’s entire length. I, of course, will only be taking it a short distance, but enough to get a taste of the magnificent beauty of this riparian wonderland. I wind up in the town of DeSoto, a small river town with a character all of its own.
Music:
Ghosts of the Rail - Gabriel Lewis
Epidemic Sound
Rain is Here - Wildflowers
Epidemic Sound
Spirit Riders - Telecasted
KZbin-AudioLibrary
The Trace of You - Taylor Crane
Epidemic Sound
Always With You - Chris Shards
Epidemic Sound

[@bobspaulding2266]

Thanks Roland & Juliana - your work is such a great inspiration in these cold and snowy winter months! One variation if you're ever in this area again - Trempeleau, WI is a quiet river town about 15 miles north of LaCrosse on the Great River State Trail. The city sits next to one of the most magically picturesque parks in the midwest - Perrot State Park - which includes a campground. And the Trempeleau Hotel in the heart of the small downtown is a magic throwback with quaint, super-affordable rooms, incredible food, and a lawn with live music, lawn games, a fire for marshmallows that rolls out to the river - a picture-perfect place to laze about on a summer or fall evening. We have no personal investment in the town, just one of our happiest places.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Bob. I wish I'd had time to head up that way, it sounds like a great little town. It's on the list!

[@TerrapinCyclist]

Thanksgiving gratitude to you for your heartfelt affection and presentation of small town America. -John

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you so much, John. I'm glad my love for our country shows.

[@markfeldman6509]

Thanks for another edition of your wonderful travelogue. Your video skills and narration are amazing! Happy holidays to both of you!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks so much Mark, and happy holidays!

[@PumpkinVillage]

Another awesome installment. Love small town America. Thanks for the video and take care, Al

[@TheBicycleTourists]

So glad you enjoyed it, Al!

[@stephenmorton8017]

I found foam ear plugs to be absolutely essential on those roads and especially in the Iowa wind. I would have gone mad without them. Incessant wind.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

That’s a great idea!

[@maxdugan5319]

Excellent Thanksgiving weekend surprise! Appreciate you taking the time to give the history of the route. Too often Im Into the riding and fail to take the time to smell the roses👍

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks Max! Making these videos actually helps me focus a bit, knowing that I may need to have something to say! A little research on the area where you're traveling can open your eyes for sure. I don't do it enough.

[@atmrtwbike]

Love the new video! I plan to cycle along part of the Mississippi, from Burlington, through Ft. Madison, Keokuk (I'm a camera operator for the StreamTime LIVE camera there), Quincy and on to St. Louis, before heading west. Very much looking forward to cycling down there. Can't wait for your next instalment!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Awesome, thank you! Maybe you'll get some good footage along your route? Enjoy the trip!

[@gregtitus2467]

Beautiful drone footage!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks so much! The drone really helps put things in perspective.

[@lindahowes5949]

A few laugh out loud moments! Small town America. Thanks for sharing your travels - scenery and historical sites. Definitely “stop and smell the roses” is the best kind of touring! 💜

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I do love small town America.

[@Rarebond11th-ze5lw]

Home sweet Home.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

A nice place to call home!

[@felipericketts]

I like your story telling. I have a much bigger and nuanced view of our country through your images and comments. There is a lot of beautiful out there! Thanks 🙂

[@TheBicycleTourists]

That means a lot, thank you for the kind words.

[@dondonner1095]

Yea, as we age our perspective of comfort and roughing it seems to get somewhat focused in different ways.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

It's true. But I resent how it can limit you.

[@kenmcclow8963]

It’s funny when I lived in Wisconsin, Leinenkugel, Rheinländer and Point were cheap beers you could buy a case for $5 with $1.25 deposit and then after I moved to Seattle they became microbrews and went up market. They always had good seasonal beers. I like cheap mom and pop motels. It’s easier to find them now with search and aggregator sites, but there are always less of them. Wisconsin has lots of ski hills. That’s what they are is hills, but it’s a way to get out and ski locally. Most have a tow rope, or j-bar to get up the hill

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Not to brag, but I liked Leinenkugel and Point before they were cool. As a Coloradan, I appreciate the idea of smaller ski resorts, if not the icy/wet conditions I'm sure skiers there have to deal with.

[@iwazzabadboy1982]

Biked Root River and Sparta Elroy a few times…I was born in Harmony so I’m jaded but southeastern Mn is magical just as is southwestern WI…Just can’t get enough of rural bluff country along the Mississippi…Thanks for videos🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️👍🏼

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Good to hear you say that. People don't always appreciate where they are from. This little section of the country is really lovely.

[@michelesauret7779]

From France Mississippi is a dream.... We saw a lot of movies on this big river. The reality is a modern place, pretty towns, important traffic on the highways. But pleasant to watch. Bonjour à Julliana ❤️

[@TheBicycleTourists]

thank you Michèle. Julianna says hello!

[@cyclistefroisse9267]

Salut Roland, Cinematography is in professional territory. Wow !! For a reference, you might like to check on YT French professionnal (aired on France Television) 52:16 documentary “ Le Mississippi- Au bout, c’est la mer” by Frédéric Pecheux. Frédéric isn’t a cyclist, tough, but hitch-hikes “rides” starting with very small, recreational vessels/fishermen craft, then bigger, commercial if he has the opportunity, vessels, following a River ( and he has cruised many rivers, worldwide) from source to estuary. ( hence the title of the program, At the end, there’s the sea). As you would expect from a Frenchman who enjoys traveling at an even slower pace than a cyclist, Frédéric is interested in the ordinary people who live and work on/by the rivers he follows. Auto generated subtitles, sadly, only available in French. Mute sound and enjoy the Mississippi scenery.

[@greghunt6183]

you would think that with all of the AI tech that they could not only change to a language of your choice, but even maintain the voice of the person speaking.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Claude, I will have to check that out. As a young man I dreamt of taking a raft from my home in Denver, and follow the lowly Platte River (more of a creek) across Nebraska, to the Missouri, then on to the Mississippi and down to New Orleans. Might be a bit slow for me, but its a very appealing idea.

[@cyclistefroisse9267]

Indeed ! Then, perhaps, it’s only a matter of time (i.e. AI) ? Thinking twice, if I were to listen to Roland, speaking in a fluent [enter exotic language of your choice] AI generated voice, Dunno if I wouldn’t find that scary ? 😉 .... and I would definitely miss these, ever so charming “Bonjour”, exchanged between Roland and Julianna with that subtle and cute american accent.

[@cyclistefroisse9267]

“As a young man I dreamt of taking a raft from my home in Denver...... and down to New Orleans”. In the true American pioneers spirit !! You (and Julianna) are far too young for that kind of slow travel, give it a couple of decades.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yes, the time will come...

[@zoltonthemagnificent88]

New to the channel. Very good videos!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you so much! Welcome aboard!

[@bruceperry1408]

Most river roads get traffic especially as you get to intersecting river crossings.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yes, that is typically where the traffic is, for sure!

[@HackHunter1835]

There is always a story to be told in those small towns while bike touring.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

There is indeed!

[@frankducett9]

When you're 93, you'll look back and realize your weren't to old after all.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

You're right, Frank, you have to appreciate where you are!

[@LisaPrice-yk6lz]

these videos are so helpful in planning bicycle trips - thank you! I'm unfamiliar with the map app you recommended - can you provide the spelling or a link and perhaps some more info? (Kamut?)

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I'm so glad these are working for you! The app is Komoot. On your computer you can just go to their website if you prefer to make plans on a bigger screen.

[@LisaPrice-yk6lz]

thanks for the recommendation- they should become a sponsor! many cyclists would pay for curated, proven routes- especially with additional info and video like you are so good at providing! @@TheBicycleTourists

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yeah, maybe we should reach out to them...

[@rochrides8730]

Where is juliana

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Julianna is home with her granddaughter and can't take the time right now.