bikes shoorams

Alas, it has happened. I took no photos today. Why, you ask? Well, the day started out sunny (granted, a bit headwindy), but just when I got down to my minimal riding attire, the clouds rolled in.    I stopped at the only convenience store I came to today, got a snack, and saw there was some big black cloudy nastiness coming my way. I stowed that which had been drying on the rear rack, and pulled out my rain shorts. My rain jacket was already tucked in the pocket of my pannier.   Not even a quarter mile down the road I had to stop and don my rain gear. I could hear thunder in the distance. I wish I had looked closer at my map because there was definitely a section of gratuitous miles. Although, who knows, with the rain, it might have been better to go the way I went instead of the County road I had been on, then returned to. I'm sure there was less traffic.   The rain continued with prolonged periods of downpouring. It brought to mind my ride along the Soulange Canal...

It rained last night so due to that, and condensation, my tent was a soaking wet blob once it was packed up...yay...   It was as thick as pea soup on the road. It makes me glad I have a headlight and taillight. Although, there was hardly any traffic to speak of. Foggy road     I continued on County Road FF. I decided FF stood for Fur and Feathers. First I saw deer bouncing across the road. Zoom in on the photo below and you might spot one. See it? Then I saw a bunch of turkeys--some baby gobblers too. Then I saw a small rodent, not a mouse, too small for a mole, maybe a vole (there's such a thing right?). It was running across the street. A car was coming. Instead of continuing across the street, it did a sweeping 180, and headed back the other way. I told it to hurry or it was gonna get squished. I think it lived to scurry another day.   The first town I came to was called Butternut (no joke). I wonder if their football team is the Squash. Actually, I'm not sure if ...

After the first few days of riding by dairy farm after dairy farm, I thought I just wanted to get across Wisconsin and back to Minneapolis. While it is still true that I'm looking forward to getting back to Minneapolis and My Sweet Baboo and Little Miss, I am really enjoying Wisconsin now. Even the last two days in the rain weren't that bad, and of course there was THAT BEAR I SAW!   Speaking of bears, I was on the lookout as I left this morning. I didn't see any bears, but I saw a few deer--not nearly as exciting. It wasn't raining this morning (yay!), and the road continued to be rolling hills past numerous lakes. Still a little foggy and cloudy, but not raining!     I picked up the Crystal Lake Bike Path into Boulder Junction. It was a nice path into town. I decided I would look for a restaurant for 2nd breakfast. I haven't had the opportunity for awhile. As I pulled into the parking lot of The Granery Restaurant, another couple pulled in on bikes. They were ther...

Today was another full day of riding in the rain. It mostly drizzled. Still, I ended up pretty wet. Combine that with yesterday's wetness, and most of my riding clothes are wet. Putting on the still soaking wet arm warmers this morning was...delightful. But, once I had my rain coat on, I was warm enough.   Today I continued riding by multiple lakes. I really wish the weather had been nice because I'm sure it would have been beautiful. Whitefish Lake--would be beautiful I'm sure. On the upside, this being Sunday, there probably would have been a lot more traffic if it had been sunny. As it was, there was very little traffic on the winding roads. There was much more traffic on the highways, but there was a shoulder then.    The best road (even in the rain) was Military Rd. Scenic Byway. It was winding and a rollercoaster. It was really fun. It was through the Nicolet National Forest. Here's a little info. Nicolet National Forest     I had decided to even out today...

I actually had to bring out my climbing legs today! They were a little rusty.   The rain started before I even left the campground, but then it quit for awhile. I stopped just 6 miles down the road at the Mattoon grocery as I knew I would not have any other food opportunity today.   The rain started again in earnest about 15 miles in. It didn't quit, and still hasn't quit as I sit here in my tent typing up this post. It's not a downpour, just continuous.    The hills were not terrible, but I did have to use my easiest gear a few times. I can't remember the last time I had to use it. There was this sign for a ski hill! An actual hill!     Not only is this area of Wisconsin pretty heavily forested (there is even a Forest County), but there are a ton of lakes of all different sizes. I wish it wasn't raining as I think it would be quite scenic.   On my map today there was another trail--the Wolf River Trail. ACA did not say it could be used as a shortcut l...

It was pretty chilly to start with. I actually put on my leg warmers for the first time. It was 47 degrees in my tent this morning. I guess Fall is coming. At least it warmed up to a comfortable 70 or so.    I wasn't really sure where my end point would be today. I had the option of taking a shortcut on an unpaved trail. When I was planning this trip, I thought I might take the trail, and camp somewhere along it. Although, I had no idea what the trail would look like.    First, I had to get to Shawano, where the Mountain-Bay Recreational Trail started (for me anyway). It was another day of dairy farm after dairy farm (it takes a lot of milk to make all that Wisconsin cheese). I saw where the baby cows live. These little pens have a milk bottle holder on the side of the little kennel. I saw a guy putting the bottles in the holders (otherwise I would not have known that little tidbit of information).  Baby cow houses See the wire thing on the one to the left? That...

This might have been the coldest morning I've had at 56 degrees. And it stayed cooler for quite awhile.    As I suspected, I woke up a little before 6:00. That's a little before 7:00 Eastern time, but now I'm back on Central time. Since I was in the hotel, I didn't have much packing to do. I was on the road by 7:00.   So far, Wisconsin is mostly rolling hills. The smell of dairy farms is in the air most of the time. It's not the most pleasant smell, but it's better than some smells I've encountered. This is Land O Lakes butter country.  The rolling hills of Wisconsin     There are lots of corn fields, but they seem to be primarily feed corn (which makes sense). I did see a couple of fields of Milo being grown for Kaytee (the bird seed company). It looks like this. Milo     I also saw a couple of fields with herons in them. I'm used to seeing those long legged birds in the water. Here's a photo. Herons and Canada geese     The only town w...

Part 1--The SS Badger   I packed up this morning and rode to the ferry. When I rolled up, a guy with a drug sniffing dog stopped me so the dog could have a sniff. I'm sure he thought there was some good smelling stuff--and by good smelling, I mean pretty stinky, but not...illegal...I guess... Anyway, he (the guy) told me to go up to the front and tell them Tim sniffed me, and I'm good to go. So...I rolled up and said, "The guy said to tell you Tim sniffed me. I don't know if Tim is the dog or the human, but I've been sniffed."   The SS Badger The SS Badger went into service in 1953. It was built so the freight trains could cross Lake Michigan, but also for passengers too. It has a twin ship, the Spartan, but it's no longer in service. The Spartan This ferry reminded me of the big ferries in Europe. Only, in this case, people don't drive their own cars onto the ferry (some do, like the guy with the 1958 classic Corvette--I'm guessing it's a liab...

Today was all about getting to Ludington.    There was a thunderstorm last night, and today seemed as if the eclipse was still going on because it was dark and dreary. I only had 45 miles to Cartier Park in Ludington, but they were a boring 45 miles. I stopped for a break in Free Soil (would that be dirt that costs nothing?) after 25 miles of non-stop pedaling. I know for roadies, 25 miles isn't a lot without taking a break, but for loaded touring it is a long stretch.   After another 12 miles I came to a grocery/deli in Hamlin (don't know if it's really a town or just a suburb of Ludington). Today's lunch special was a hot turkey sandwich for $4.99. Such a deal! It was pretty tasty and filling.   The park was just another 5 miles down the road. Although I am very close to Lake Michigan, I can't see it. I guess I'll just have to wait until tomorrow morning when I go to the ferry. I'll have just a mile and a half, with part being on a bike path, to get to the...

Okay, not really a total eclipse, since I'm in Michigan, but the eclipse did happen, and I was on my bike.   I wonder if the impending eclipse had something to do with the craziness of the people last night? I don't think they were in the campground I was in, but just down the road. They were yelling and screaming well into the wee hours of the morning! It took me forever to go to sleep. Consequently, I slept until almost 7:00 this morning. I was on the road by 8:00.   The terrain has definitely changed. More rolling hills, less fields, more trees. A nice morning for a bike ride It was a pleasant ride. There weren't many towns today. I stopped in Leroy at a bait shop to get a Coke. There was supposed to be a grocery store (probably a Dollar General), but I didn't see it. I also stopped at the post office and mailed another postcard (from Lake Huron) to Grayson. I saw there was a bike trail, but later down the road I could see it went the wrong direction for me.   I sto...