After a full “rest” day playing on the water with friends, it was time to get back to the journey. I rolled out of Madison with some great company, Mike and Gretchen joined for a good stretch of the morning ride. It was awesome to have friends along for the miles and the sendoff. Huge thanks to both of you for the amazing time in Wisconsin! I’d done a little route planning during my day off (a rarity on this trip), and I’m aiming to stick to as many rail trails as possible for the final stretch. Today’s goal: Milwaukee. We headed northeast toward the Glacial Drumlin State Trail, a fantastic path that connects Madison to Milwaukee. Mike and Gretchen rode all the way to the trailhead with me and joined for a number of miles before we said our goodbyes. I’m already looking forward to seeing them again. The trail was smooth, shaded, and quiet, the kind of surface that helps the miles disappear without effort. I made it into Milwaukee late afternoon and got a room downtown. After checking in, I grabbed a pizza and on the way back stumbled into a tucked-away alley concert. The band was excellent, so I found a spot and ate my dinner to the sound of live music bouncing off the old brick buildings. The age of the city gave it a distinct character. Tomorrow’s ride has something special I’ve been looking forward to. Headed to bed early, excited for what’s next.