The boys liked the
ride we did last year so much that they were waiting to repeat it again this year. Sunday looked like a good day to tackle this feat. This time Chad and I headed in with the Jeep to downtown Madison and parked it in front of a restaurant that we have been waiting to try,
Bradbury's. We biked back home on the tandem to pick up the boys. We had a slow start getting them moving, because of course they were not ready to go when Chad and I picked them up.
The day was hot, but felt nice in the tree lined bike trail.
There was also a breeze the helped too. We took pictures at each sign again, and were especially excited that the missing Uranus sign was back in place after last year's disappearance.
John Nolen Drive was closed Sunday and was eerily quiet. It was cool to coast across the road with no traffic. There was a bike event on the road, but not many riders when we were around. At the Sun there was a sun dial instead of the flower planting they had last year. The kids tried it out, before we moved on.
The Sun is close to Monona Terrace, and Chad thought they had a bike elevator. Of course we had to look for it and take it!
The tandem/trail a bike rig didn't fit so Chad took it apart quick so the doors could close. It was neat to have our own elevator for bikes, and it took us up several levels and we were able to shoot across the Capitol square to the restaurant.
It took us longer than we thought for the trip, but the restaurant serves until late afternoon.
Chad had his meal picked out from their internet menu, the Blueberry and Lemon Curd crepes. I considered one of the savory crepes since I was pretty hungry after the 53 miles on bike. But I decided to go with the Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt crepes. A great choice.
The kids had crepes with cinnamon sugar. Definetely a restaurant deserving of a repeat visit. Besides, they were out of the cold press coffee that I really wanted to try. Maybe next time.
Frog Droppings!
Bear Poop!
The boys liked the ride we did last year so much that they were waiting to repeat it again this year. Sunday looked like a good day to tackle this feat. This time Chad and I headed in with the Jeep to downtown Madison and parked it in front of a restaurant that we have been waiting to try, Bradbury's. We biked back home on the tandem to pick up the boys. We had a slow start getting them moving, because of course they were not ready to go when Chad and I picked them up.
There was also a breeze the helped too. We took pictures at each sign again, and were especially excited that the missing Uranus sign was back in place after last year's disappearance. 
John Nolen Drive was closed Sunday and was eerily quiet. It was cool to coast across the road with no traffic. There was a bike event on the road, but not many riders when we were around. At the Sun there was a sun dial instead of the flower planting they had last year. The kids tried it out, before we moved on. 
The Sun is close to Monona Terrace, and Chad thought they had a bike elevator. Of course we had to look for it and take it! 
The tandem/trail a bike rig didn't fit so Chad took it apart quick so the doors could close. It was neat to have our own elevator for bikes, and it took us up several levels and we were able to shoot across the Capitol square to the restaurant.
It took us longer than we thought for the trip, but the restaurant serves until late afternoon. 
Chad had his meal picked out from their internet menu, the Blueberry and Lemon Curd crepes. I considered one of the savory crepes since I was pretty hungry after the 53 miles on bike. But I decided to go with the Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt crepes. A great choice. 
The kids had crepes with cinnamon sugar. Definetely a restaurant deserving of a repeat visit. Besides, they were out of the cold press coffee that I really wanted to try. Maybe next time.
and this is what I'm lucky to have now, really glad I didn't take her almost running from my car after our first date as a bad sign.
Jenny goes for the emergency caffeine gel, turned out it just got a ride and dropped back at home. Real coffee is way better but from what I got via text messages she may have needed the gel to stay awake in her boring meeting.
My breakfast ride food choice is a bit less exciting, 365 brand fig cookies from Whole Foods. I hate gels and the cookies are cheap compared to "real" energy bars.
Quiet streets as we head west out of town so I'm out in the middle of the lane taking pictures.
More messing around in the street, look mom no hands.
A nice 2 mile downhill in the shade. Of course this downhill lead to 5 miles of winding uphill back into town. The climb is very gradual until the last mile which has one steep pitch followed by a pair of switchbacks.
Jenny laid down this patch of rubber doing a 
A county park just outside the next village and the great view across the valley. The downhill from here is 3.5 miles and is way more fun than climbing it which takes me close to 30 minutes. On my way down I passed a couple I'd guess to be in their 60's headed up, hope I am still riding at that age.