Day 35 -- I can smell the water...oops, it's only Lake Michigan

July 25, 2004

ROUTE: Fond du Lac WI to Manitowoc WI       
DISTANCE:  57 miles                  
WINDS: North at 5 to 8 mph

WEATHER:  Cool and sunny                  
TERRAIN: Rolling countryside             
TOTAL CLIMBING: 1810 feet

RIDE OVERVIEW:  Susan's sweep today, so I'll post the website.  It all seemed to be going too smoothly this morning. We slept in due to the short day and loaded the luggage after a late breakfast.  Even though it was only a 57-mile day, which most of the group could kick out in less than 3 hours, they were all standing around the lobby like buzzards lurking over a dying cow waiting for me to open the luggage van.  By the time I got all situated and ready for the bags, Josh and I were covered as they were throwing them on faster than we could stack them.  So much for the Type A personalities mellowing out.

About 5 miles from the motel when we tried to turn onto CR 149, we ran into construction detours again (there has been construction on this part of the route for the past three years, I think).  Several rode up CR 151 to take CR Q as recommended by a police officer who conferred with Josh and Cov, but Q road was detoured to W, which was detoured also, and when we finally got to 149, we couldn't turn on it either and had to take another detour to CR A! So we had a detour within a detour within a detour within another detour! Several others took the Ledge Road detour, and a few took the advice of locals and found themselves on Seven Hills Road.  A beautiful but not a fun place to be. These hills were short but steep, and a couple of riders found themselves walkers before the top. By the time all had reached the SS at 30 miles, we were back on route again. And, most astounding, with all the detours, we were at virtually the same mileage as on the route sheet.

Our route (to include all the detouring) was across the beautiful Wisconsin countryside toward Lake Michigan.  I know I've said this about every state, but I think Wisconsin is one of the most scenic states we ride in.  Each state has it's moments, but Wisconsin's dairy and crop farms dot the undulating countryside and remind one of Norman Rockwell paintings.  I rode off route a mile or so a couple of times and couldn't believe the beauty of the landscape...albeit very challenging to ride for the hills were short and steep off the main routes.  I remained in sensory overload most of the morning.  One thing I really like about this area is the fact people take so much pride in their yards.  Everywhere you look you'll find beautiful landscaping and colorful flower arrangements (above left, and right).  I wish we could do that where I live in Alabama, but it's so hot, it kills everything that tries to grow in the summer.

The last few miles before town we got our first glimpse of the "Pond." County road XX took us as far west as we could go without getting wet so we turned north to parallel the Lake all the way to town.  You could tell we were close to the water because of the the cool air that met us within a mile or two of the lake and because of the large flocks of gulls parked in the farm fields.  Tomorrow's ride across on the boat may be a bit chilly...need to tell the troops to take a jacket.

Everyone got in pretty early today so we had our rap and dinner early enough to have our famous T-shirt swap after festivities (left).  Barbara served as master of ceremonies and fun was had by all.  Everyone brought their favorite, swappable T-shirt to exchange for someone else's throw away. We always have fun with the swap as stories fly about the exploits of the shirt to entice others to covet their give away.

Tomorrow we have a day off . . . not really as we will be boarding a ferry and crossing Lake Michigan.  We'll load at 9:00, be at the ship at 12:00, and get into Ludington Michigan about 5 hours later since we lose an hour into the eastern time zone when we get off the boat.  It's hard to believe we only have two more weeks in this trip...I don't think the riders realize that yet, but they will become aware when we get on the other side of the lake.  Tomorrow is going to be a long day, not a rest day at all since we still have to pack up and move out, but we'll get through it like we usually do.

Our next riding day is 115 miles and I'm sweep. I hope I and the riders get some rest on the boat.  Be back again when we ride to Mt Pleasant. Have a good day.  Mike

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:

• "Gee, these Wisconsin roads are an alphabet soup."  
• "Which route did you take?"  
• "I knew I was in trouble when we turned on '7 Hills' road.  I think I counted more than that."     
•  "I wouldn't know what to do if we didn't have construction."     

PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

Remember our friend Fred Frickle the fresh fruity flavored fodder farmer?  Well, here's some more facts about his find.  Here we see one of his subjects during a blind taste test.  Will Fred find funding for fresh fruity flavored fodder? Only the tester will tell.

While we were standing there watching the "blind taste test," a rare unsuspected "feet"nomenon occurred.  The fodder tester developed another set of legs...there goes the funding for future finds from Fred...foiled again...how's he going to explain that one?

Mike meets Lake Michigan--no, that's not the sky in the background,
that's Lake Michigan that we'll ferry across tomorrow.  Notice, even
the water is "uphill" around these parts.

At last report there were at least two people in this town...Me and...oh,
they counted me twice and we both missed the meeting...oh darn.

No kidding . . . and I brought my pole...I was so looking
forward to a good plate of cornfish..

Don't think anyone in this procession is going to exceed the posted
speed limit. Great to see two environmentally friendly modes
of transportation though. But the bikes don't leave deposits on the road.

Sometimes when we get tangled up in construction, the
riders need a hint...here's one of the more subtle ones.