"Also, any info on the MSPI river trail would be helpful."

First place to look is here: http://www.mississippirivertrail.org/ There is also a guidebook, Bicycling Guide to the Mississippi River Trail, available on Amazon among other places: http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Guid.../dp/0981895204

Finally I would check out www.crazyguyonabike.com for journals of people who have ridden the trail - just enter "Mississippi River Trail" in the search box. There are at least two people journaling their ride right now. Here is one of them: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?..._id=13091&v=DD

mike