The entire way from Madison to Milwaukee was on an amazing (tolled?!?!) bike trail. Some parts were full of happy people, and some stretches I would go for dozen of miles without seeing another human, except for one car that followed me and really creeped me out.

Coming into Milwaukee was rocky. I lost my notebook and shoes from the back of my bike.

But I had a connection here! My friend Mike, who was the other outsider at the South Dakota family reunion, had a musician friend who could put me up. So I stayed in the gracious company of Matt and Julia and their school age daughter. They thought I was arriving on a motorcycle bicycle and so were confused by my timeframes (how could it take him 3 hours from there??) but were incredibly welcoming. I decided to head to Chicago for a few days while they hold my stuff. (Taking the train from Milwaukee because biking through city sprawl is the worst.)