We took off after hearing a warning from Thomas's neighbor that we were going to be biking into an area in a national emergency. There had been a lot of flooding and bridges out. Here was our first warning sign, but no water stopped us.

Here was actually saw water.

We stopped to eat some Ghiradelli brownies here.

Here we found a bridge that was out, but luckily we did not have to cross it. It did cut the traffic down.

Horses.

Black Swallowtail.

Another rest stop.

Thomas found a caterpillar.

After Barneveld, we dove into the countryside with almost no traffic and beautiful scenery.

Thomas found a caterpillar.

We were almost there but needed some fuel before we got there.

Roadside Geology.

Here is a view of Blue Mounds State Park.

Finally, we arrived. Unfortunately once we were in the park, we had to go 4 miles back east to get to our site, and then walk our bikes on a trail about a half mile to get to our backpacking site.

Dinner was teriyaki salmon.

Here is our evening hike to get water.

Night.

Morning.

Bear bag.

Thomas's growing collection of caterpillars.

Orange Dog!

The soft core backpackers who drove to the park.

I had another flat tire (Megan), depsite having brand new, tough tires. I had put the tube in so it folded over onto itself. I was very fortunate Thomas was willing to put in a new tube for me, and not fold it.

This store only sold breakfast and beer.

Blue Mounds again.

I rewarded Thomas with a chocolate ice cream bar for changing my tire.

Read the full story below:

We biked 113.8 horribly hilly miles this weekend. We stared out Saturday morning at 8:45 am. Thomas's neighbor warned us that we were headed to a part of the state that was in a national emergency due to flooding, and that a lot of bridges were out. We were ready for the adventure.
The first part of the ride was a repeat of our route from last September to Blue Mound State Park. Only this time, it was not raining. It was beautiful and sunny outside. We did run into a high water sign and a bridge that was out, but luckily these warnings only seemed to keep the car traffic away and did not stop us.
We were making amazing time. Megan made some Ghirradelli Double Chocolate Brownies for the trip, so that might have helped us. We rode on the most awful road in Dane County, County Road ID. It had a shoulder that was packed full of pot holes and gravel, so Thomas took full advantage of his mirror and we rode on the road when there were no cars behind us.
Once we past Barnevald, a small village, we were completely alone on some of the most scenic and hilly roads I have ever been on in Wisconsin. We flew down a huge hill, and went past beautiful hills, fields, and forests. We were fully in the "driftless" area of Wiscosin, which the glaciers did not flatten. There were sandstone bluffs arounds us too. Thomas was in heaven because he found so many caterpillars and butterflies. It rained all week before our ride, and Thomas said the butterflies will all wait for the rain to stop to come out, and then all come out at once in full force.
We really enjoyed the scenic and very low traffic roads the rest of the way to Governor Dodge. We reached a corner of the state park property about 10 miles before we actually were able to stop biking, because the entrance was on the other corner of the park, and then our site was back by the corner of the park where we had biked earlier. We had a backpacking site, so we ended up having to push our bikes for a half mile on a trail to get to our site. For dinner we had Salmon with Teriyaki noodles and vegetables. It was really good.
The next day we set off early, but then Megan got another flat tire. She had brand new tires and break pads, but apparently she had put her tube in the tire so it was folded up which did not work. Thomas changed her tire because Megan's new tires are so stiff that it is difficult, plus we only have a hand pump with us, and she later bought him an ice cream for that.
On our ride back, a farmer stopped to chat with us. He has an organic orchard and he said he was almost 60 and used to love to climb mountains. Megan could not help but think of her dad who still climbs mountains. As the farmer said to us several times, "More power to you!"
Megan decided to take a "short cut" on the map to get back, but we ended up having to go up one of the steepest hills ever that the long cut went around. Thomas zig zagged his way up (these roads don't have traffic) and I laughed and walked most of it. We got quite a good hike with those steep hills, and ended up taking more time with our short cut.
We ran into a guy with camping gear on his bike, the first time we have ever seen another biker with camping gear. He was riding the Military Ridge bike trail (less scenic then our route and not paved). He said some of the trail was flooded.
At some points we felt so exhausted I felt like it'd be really nice to get a ride. But once we got going again it was not so bad.
We celebrated with Thai food when we returned to Madison.