The reason for the big difference between miles on route and miles actually cycled is mainly due to pushing 7 miles beyond Lansing to a campsite on the banks of the Mississippi that was in a state of post flood wreckage. The grass was mud, the water system was contaminated with river water , there were no toilets or showers. The Mississippi looked only a touch high but the disaster happened some weeks ago. I now more fully appreciate the phrase Mississippi mud pie, miles of water the colour of coffee and mud... So we cycled 7 miles back and then another two to the alternative campsite. And there was a kerfuffle leaving Elkader since I needed to send a few emails. The first half of the day was along mildly undulating roads, through Farmersburg (rather busy road limited shoulder) and Monona, we met Ross Huber going initially from the Dakotas to New York but aiming to do much more - Europe and Asia, perhaps even Wales, huzzay. The route then became quite hilly as we approached the Mississippi with a big downhill just before the river, down to Marquette. We met Tom Payne doing the Northern Tier from east to west, from Washington State. He has a blog at thpayne.net. Then two big climbs out of the Mississippi valley both times were accompanied by clouds of flies, and a tough gradient too, and hot. Each time the route descended back into the valley. We finally reached Lansing - and after our muddle with mud we then hurtled up the the Main St the two miles to the campsite. An 8.10pm finish. But the T mobile connectivity is working again, which is a big help (when you try to work out where you are or where the grocery store is...)