ROUTE: Wisconsin Dells to Fond du Lac, WI
DISTANCE: 84 miles
WINDS: What winds? Very light...
DISTANCE: 84 miles
WINDS: What winds? Very light...
WEATHER: Low 50's to low 70s, overcast
TERRAIN: Rolling farmland
TOTAL CLIMBING: 2200 feet
TERRAIN: Rolling farmland
TOTAL CLIMBING: 2200 feet
RIDE OVERVIEW: The day started out chilly and overcast and remained that way through most of the day. After a leisurely breakfast at Perkins Family Restaurant, riders rolled out to cover our route today, which took them along beautiful country roads in the Wisconsin countryside in the morning to busy SH-23 for the rest of the day.
The talk of the day was figuring out how to get in early enough to watch Lance race the time trial at the tour on OLN. We've been following the tour at most of the stops since reaching Minnesota and Wisconsin. Thank you motel staff for upgrading to our favorite July channel. We got in just in time to see Lance start and watched nervously as he snaked his way though the crowds who lined the route. You could hear a cheer go up from all the rooms when he finished with the lead still intact...now for the news.
Today we rode to Fond du Lac...Fond du Lac means "foot of the lake." This city is located at the south end of Lake Winnebago one of the largest fresh water lakes in the country, measuring 28 miles long and over 10 miles wide. I found it interesting that when Lake Winnebago freezes over in the winter, they plow the snow and make roads that crisscross the lake. They even put up street signs! Nifty idea...if you don't like where the roads go this year, wait until they melt and build new ones next year. They probably build the roads to the good fishing spots. In winter I've heard that the lake can resemble a small town with its ice fishing shacks, roads, and vehicles.
Lake Winnebago is not very deep (only about 21 feet), but it holds the largest sturgeon population in the world. Now Mike's story is that according to locals, the sturgeon is a finicky fish that's hard to catch. Regular fish bait doesn't work most of the time, but the locals have found green peas to be the bait of choice for the discriminating sturgeon palate. Seems the fishermen sprinkle the peas along the shoreline and when the sturgeon come up to take a pee, they hit them in the head with a mallet...sounds pretty sneaky to me, but it works for the locals in the know. [Oh, I get it. ]
The talk of the day was figuring out how to get in early enough to watch Lance race the time trial at the tour on OLN. We've been following the tour at most of the stops since reaching Minnesota and Wisconsin. Thank you motel staff for upgrading to our favorite July channel. We got in just in time to see Lance start and watched nervously as he snaked his way though the crowds who lined the route. You could hear a cheer go up from all the rooms when he finished with the lead still intact...now for the news.
Today we rode to Fond du Lac...Fond du Lac means "foot of the lake." This city is located at the south end of Lake Winnebago one of the largest fresh water lakes in the country, measuring 28 miles long and over 10 miles wide. I found it interesting that when Lake Winnebago freezes over in the winter, they plow the snow and make roads that crisscross the lake. They even put up street signs! Nifty idea...if you don't like where the roads go this year, wait until they melt and build new ones next year. They probably build the roads to the good fishing spots. In winter I've heard that the lake can resemble a small town with its ice fishing shacks, roads, and vehicles.
Lake Winnebago is not very deep (only about 21 feet), but it holds the largest sturgeon population in the world. Now Mike's story is that according to locals, the sturgeon is a finicky fish that's hard to catch. Regular fish bait doesn't work most of the time, but the locals have found green peas to be the bait of choice for the discriminating sturgeon palate. Seems the fishermen sprinkle the peas along the shoreline and when the sturgeon come up to take a pee, they hit them in the head with a mallet...sounds pretty sneaky to me, but it works for the locals in the know. [Oh, I get it. ]
Mike is also fond of relating that the Winnebago tribe for whom the lake is named are one of the most intelligent of the Native American tribes. They were friendly to the white settlers after coming to grips with the realization that it was inevitable that they would settle in the area. Mike got to thinking about that and decided that the Winnebagos were smarter than first thought...and they got the last laugh. They invented and mass produced the vacation motor home to sell to the white man so they would leave Wisconsin during the winter months. Pretty clever if you ask Mike. Saved all the sturgeon fishing for the natives.
Barb & Box set up SS#1 in in Montello at a beautiful little park with waterfalls and nesting swans. I set up SS#2 in a grassy area with picnic tables near a Subway sandwich shop in Ripon. They did a booming business because most riders arrived close to noon. Many gave me their coupons, so I have filled my card and am now ready to turn it in for a free sandwich. Josh, "The Kid" got the urge to surge today. He wore his trucker girl (you know, the silver silhouette on semi mud flaps) socks and trucked right along, arriving at SS#2 nearly a half hour before the next rider in.
We are in a Ramada Hotel in the city tonight. There was a room mix-up so here I sit at the dining room table in a fifth floor suite of rooms--full kitchen, two baths, two TV's, AC units, living room etc. It was nice to get in early as I wanted to finish the website and to clean my bicycle before Mechanic's Hour as tomorrow I will ride and the bike is still full of grit from the Elroy Sparta Trail. Riders are ready as usual for a break in the action when we cross the lake, but tomorrow we ride again, albeit a short 57 miles. We will sleep in tomorrow morning before another day on the road. Tune in tomorrow.
Barb & Box set up SS#1 in in Montello at a beautiful little park with waterfalls and nesting swans. I set up SS#2 in a grassy area with picnic tables near a Subway sandwich shop in Ripon. They did a booming business because most riders arrived close to noon. Many gave me their coupons, so I have filled my card and am now ready to turn it in for a free sandwich. Josh, "The Kid" got the urge to surge today. He wore his trucker girl (you know, the silver silhouette on semi mud flaps) socks and trucked right along, arriving at SS#2 nearly a half hour before the next rider in.
HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:
- "I'm cold."
- "Is that a woodpecka?"
- "Food, give me food . . . now!"
- "Wow! This is a beautiful Sag Stop."
- "I'm cold."
SEEN ON THE ROAD...ACTUALLY YESTERDAY: Robert came in beaming and telling the story that he had been chased by a pack of wild dogs along one of the lonely country roads."They were vicious and charging at me at a dead run," Robert exclaimed. "I put it in the 'big' gear and sprinted away from them for all I was worth. I couldn't believe how fast they were and how fast I was able to turn the pedals in my escape!" It's stories like this that make our ride exciting, but when you tell stories of close calls that make the listener's hair stand on end, you should make sure there were no witnesses. According to Jim and Jeff, Robert's riding buddies, the dogs were two tiny Pomeranians yipping along the road behind a picket fence. Scary, but a couple short of a pack and certainly not wild, at least not according to their rabies tags. I'm sure the sprint was exciting though, for the dogs anyway.
PS: We've been busy and remiss. We forgot to mention our new rider who joined us in LaCrosse. Bob Bruno will be riding with us the rest of the way to Portsmouth. He rode with us in 2002 but crashed on the way into LaCrosse an had to abandon. He will finish what he started in 2002! Welcome back Bob!!!!
PS: We've been busy and remiss. We forgot to mention our new rider who joined us in LaCrosse. Bob Bruno will be riding with us the rest of the way to Portsmouth. He rode with us in 2002 but crashed on the way into LaCrosse an had to abandon. He will finish what he started in 2002! Welcome back Bob!!!!
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| Bob Bruno, 63, Bethlahem, PA |
PHOTOS OF THE DAY:
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| A picture of contrasts: Lynn in several layers, arm warmers, and long sleeves; Mark in his traditional sleeveless tank top |
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| Liisa flings her leg over her bike and starts her ride with an abrupt downhill. She's on a roll . . . |
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| There's no flies on these two. Neal and Paul may not have tails, but they swat the flies off just as efficiently as the cows and horses they pass with their standard issue, essential bike fly swatter attachment. |
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| Susan and Barb hard at work at SS#2. [Actually Barb & I noticed Mike aiming the camera our way and we were joking about how the man seems to pop up and record the 1.8 millisecond per day when we are not working like dogs!] |
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| The Wisconsin DOT named this road just for Louis, who has watered more greenery between Astoria and Fond du Lac than any other rider in history. |
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| An X-rated Wisconsin road closed by the DOT to anyone under 18 |
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