Day 32

Madison, WI to Milwaukee, WI

• Miles: 86 mi

• Elevation Gain: 2,116 ft

Anything under 90 miles is starting to feel like an easy day for our group! The Trek Travel team was there to cheer us on as we rolled out of Madison this morning, and the best part — Steve was there too, sending me off. 💗 It was such a boost to start the day with him there!

To make things even better, my coach Tom joined us for the ride, along with a couple of Trek Travel guys. The miles ticked off easily today, especially with no big climbs and lots of good energy on the road.

At lunch, Maggie outdid herself with grilled cheese and tomato soup — perfect comfort food mid-ride. I continue to be amazed at how our guides manage to create something fresh and fun for us every single day.

We’re really finding our groove as a group. My crew — Karen, Letitia, Sara, Dave, Tony, Rene, and Marc — keeps the laughter and camaraderie going strong with our “no rider left behind” approach. Other riders sometimes jump in because, apparently, we’re the fun group! At the finish, some celebrate with a cold beer while I go for my recovery shake, half a PB&J, and some chips — either way, there’s always community at the end of the day.

We rolled into Milwaukee this evening and are staying at the Iron Horse Hotel, one of the coolest spots yet. Spirits are high, legs are feeling strong, and everyone is trying to savor these last couple of weeks. Tomorrow, in addition to some miles on the bikes, we’ll take the ferry across Lake Michigan — a totally different kind of adventure!