Early Sunday morning in Minneapolis was very quiet. We found a classic cheap diner as an alternative to the  expensive hotel breakfast, and then we were off again. But, what with red lights, bike tracks with diversions, joggers, walkers, and really intricate navigation – this was not the blast along a straight road that we have become so accustomed to – and it took ages.

The first highlight was crossing the Mississippi, above a weir and some locks.

    
 
 
This section of biketrack followed a green ‘parkway’ above the river and was crowded with Sunday morning athletes. Heading down river we soon reached the twin city of St Pauls.

    
Here we saw a proper Mississippi paddle steamer.

    
We tried to save time by riding the main road, but came unstuck when it turned into an Interstate. We ended up carrying the bikes across a field to get back to legality! 

The best section came in the afternoon, when we reached Lake Pepin. Here the broad river winds between wooded bluffs about 200 feet high – very like bits of the Danube that Helen and I rode. Unfortunately, the lake takes all the valley floor and the road was a rollercoaster on the side. Over 3500 ft of climbing today.

  
The rail line comes through here too – so we are back to the hooting of gigantic trains. I loved the lifting rail bridge across a side river, the St Croix, at Prescott. Crossing this river at lunchtime brought us into Wisconsin, our next state.

  
But its the motorbikes that are the noisiest. This scenic river road is plagued with them. Lets hope they don’t follow us tomorrow when we leave the river.

Just had a lovely sunset on this beautiful stretch of river, outside our motel.