Icelandacrossamerica

Yesterday morning we started in high spirits as this was our last bicycle day. The weather was good, the trail was excellent and the km just rolled in so effortlessly. After 74 km we were close to the Chicago O’Hare airport, 10 km to the hotel. But BANG the traffic was heavy, with cars all around and drivers that were in a hurry. So we had to think and think fast how to get out of this mess. Well the rental cars airport building was close by and we managed to get there. We went into the elevator were the Sky Train was. Asked which stop was at our hotel and quiss bang bang three stopps and ten minutes later we were at our hotel the Hilton. So we ended our 16.000 km journey, circling the USA on our bicycles, in the Sky Train. It was a hilarious ending and boy were we happy. It has been a fantastic experience and now we have finished. To all of you that have accompanied us on this journey, we say thank you for all your motivating comments. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

After a long day yesterday we decided to sleep a little longer than we normally do in Winona. It has been an easy ride today to West Salem Wisconsin. The weather was comfortable and we stopped in a number of places and met some really nice people. I was wondering while bicycling about the different watertowers one sees when getting closer to the towns. What is the purpose and is there some kind of arcitecture in them. They all seem different. I asked Sigurjón to collect his pictures of the watertowers and yes they are all different.

Yesterday morning we crossed the Missisippi river leaving Minnesota and entering Wisconsin. Stayed in Pepin a very small town last night. So far everything is going well. We have been lucky with the weather. It is not too hot and we are still in good shape.
We are now in Winona.

The days are similar to each other. Wake up, coffee, shower, dress, get our gear ready, and breakfast just before leaving the hotel.

The scenery here in Wisconsin is really pleasing for the eye. Lot of beautyful lakes, and trees. We are bicycling through a lot of small towns and meeting people. Beautyful towns, a little old fashioned, which is nice until one finds out that everything closes at five or six in the evening. So no dinner last night except from the store that is open twenty four seven i.e. The gas station.

Still two more great days biking towards our final destination. Sun shining, not too hot, wind blowing our way and flat rail trails. Today and yesterday. We are getting into a great routine. Wake up early, shower, dress, and breakfast. Stop by a gas station for supplies and then we are on our way. After a good day’s ride arriving at our hotel we take a swim, relax and then its dinner time. What more can one ask for?
Tomorrow we reach Minneapolis/St.Paul.

Today we had a marvelous day. The temperature has dropped, the wind was blowing in the right direction and the paved road on an old rail-trail was a luxury to bicycle. We stopped in a small town named Evensville and had a bite. A waffle with berries, whipped cream, and hot chocolate. Maybe not exactly the thing you would choose in 26C but it was very good. From there we just bicycled on, visited a memorial for fallen soldiers, enjoyed the view and I was thinking of how easy life really could be on the road. All in all this was an easy and enjoyable day and we are 82 km closer to our final destination. Here you can see some pictures from today.

We arrived in Fargo yesterday. Today we leave North Dakota and enter Minnesota. Last days have been beautyful with good riding conditions. The temperature never above 30C. Sometimes I get a little homesick and the mosquitos seem to love me too much. Then I have to remind myself that this trip has been our dream and we are now in the middle of that dream. We hope you all like the pictures, they show how an ordinary day is with us.

We had a good start yesterday out of Bismarck, ND. Started early as we were trying to avoid the heat that has been killing us. Started on the highway and after about a two hours’ ride stopped at a local gas station for a hot chocolate and hot dogs. A good combination. We met two nice gentlemen and talked about the Trump/Harris debate. It is always good to hear the opinion of the ordinary people. We then headed to a country road. More quiet and very good scenery. But then the wind started blowing hard and as luck was not with us we had it straight in the face. But we made it to Steele but it was tough going. Today the wind is so strong that we transferred by car to Jamestown. Tomorrow we are bicycling to Valley City, ND and then on to Fargo, ND.

On the road again. We left Iceland a week ago. Our destination was Minniapolis and from there to Bozeman, Montana. We are continuing our bicycle trip from were we left last year. Friday morning we headed towards Livingston about 60 km. It was supposed to be a nice and easy ride. But boy did we have a full day. About six hundred meters up to a mountainpass, the sun was shining and it was 31 Celsius. Yesterday another very hot and tough 33C day. If sucessful we will reach Chicago at the end of this month closing our bicycling circling the USA.
Join us on this magnificent adventure.

We visited Glacier NP. Truly the crown jewel of the USA National Parks. The Going-to-the-Sun-Road up to Logan Pass (6.646 ft) is the most spectacular road we have ever travelled. Literally cut into the vertical mountain face. The fall colors added an extra. It is October and winter is coming. The visitor center has been closed and snow removal equipment is ready. To top the day a female black bear with two cubs walked across the road. On the way to Seattle we ran into a herd of elk. After reaching Seattle we spent another spectacular day in Olympic NP going up to Hurrycane Ridge. Today we fly back to Iceland, back to familily, friends and normal life.