More learning

So, from my recent travels, what have I learned:

1)  I don't know that I am a distance rider.  By that I mean, do I see myself biking across the country, day after day.  That idea intrigues me but I don't know if that is who I am.  I am an urban biker and a bike commuter.  Just as I learned that I am not a bike racer, perhaps I need to take this lesson to heart.  I am who I am and I need to live in a way that is true to myself.  Of course I may need to experiment from time to time to see where I fit.  In the end, I need to do what is comfortable for me.

2)  I have had plenty of time to think while biking.  I like that forced concentration time.  Lately, I have been thinking a lot of my kids heading off to college....instant empty nest come August.  I have a good cry every few days and then I move on.  I know this is the way things are supposed to work.  I just think I would have made a terrible Robin.  I never would have kicked the little birds out of the nest.  But I guess that wouldn't be good for anyone.  And as I ride the trail, the path takes me somewhere.  I am excited to see what is around the next corner or in the next town.  I keep telling myself that this is just the way it is for my kids.  I am excited to see what is in store for them in their next chapter...on their path.  It might be something cool or something scary but like me on my bike, they have what they need to get through it and enjoy it.

Tunnel #3 Elroy - Sparta Trail

Leading up the tunnel one comes to the tunnel watchman's quarters.  This person had to open the doors for the trains.

When they built tunnel #3 in 1873 they hit a spring.  There is water dripping down plus running along side the trail.  Here was a frog enjoying the clear, cool water.

Beautiful rocks on the east side entrance.

This tunnel took three years to build.

A rider exiting the tunnel (Although the signs say one should walk the bike)

Checking out the tunnels is a definite must see if you are in the area.   And it is natural air conditioning on a hot summer day.

To Trempealeau - morning ride

I left at 5:45 am to go to Trempealeau.  I was greeted early on by my requisite deer.  I paused to take out my camera and this one paused to look at me and pose.

  So is this where Betty Jo, Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo hung out?

One of the things that I love about the Rails to Trails is the connection to the hey day of the railroading days.  There was plenty to offer in that regard along this section.  A benefit was the trail paralleling existing rail lines so every now and then you could hear and see trains.  I loved it!  And why do so many have a fascination with trains?  I love traveling by train.  And unless you are in a hurry and stopped for a train, there is something idyllic about trains that captivates many, self included.

Along the trail is a Hopewell Indian burial mound.  This was an surprise to me.  

There was a nice rest area looking out over the flats along the water, Lake Onalaska or the Mississippi.

I also noticed a pair of cranes.  Wait, are those the same cranes I played chicken with a few days ago?  Are they stalking me?

And I made it to Trempealeau, just under 26 miles round trip.  

Reedsburg area

I began my day at Linda’s brother’s farm south of Loganville.  

Here is the view from the hill looking back. 

The ride to Reedsburg was only about 12 miles but there is a killer mile long hill just before you get there.  There is a wayside near the crest of the hill so that was a good place to catch the view.  Coasting down the other side is good!

 

One of the local businesses in Manitowoc is Lakeside Foods.  Here I was 180 miles from home (and Lake Michigan) and I find another part of the same company.

In Reedsburg, right near town, some kind person has a rest station in their backyard.  There is a bench, water, cups, a garbage can and some decorative yard art.  What a nice gesture!  

 

Also right at the trail off Main Street was a map indicating where local businesses were.

The trail outside of Reedsburg was a hard clay with little gravel.  I think that had there been recent rain it would have been slow but since conditions were dry, I was able to go at a good speed for a while.  (15 mph)

 

A few miles west of Reedsburg I noticed three cranes in the path – two adults and a young one.  As I approached, they stood their ground.  The little one scurried off into the tall grass and the larger of the two remaining started coming toward me.  So here I was playing chicken with a crane!  I stopped and so did he.  I was contemplating how many miles out of my way I would have to go by back tracking.  I thought that perhaps I could go back and then just go really fast toward them.  I also debated what I would do against an attack from a beak like that.  I started to inch slowly toward it, and then, the two adults slowly turned and ran away.  And if you have ever seen cranes run, it looks rather goofy!  When they got some momentum, they took off, squawking away and they circled back behind me.  It reminded me of the killdeer doing the broken wing act to steer people away from its nest.

I liked this stretch of trail as it wound through smaller towns like LaValle, Wonewoc, and Union Center.  There were signs indicating the local history.  The rest stop at Union Center was very nice.   Wonewoc was a nice area as well.  There was a free area where people could camp.

The trail leading into Elroy was bumpy as people with horses must have ridden on the trail when it was wet, leaving tons of small potholes to navigate.  Thanks.

Elroy itself is a quaint town.  There is another nice rest area, complete with showers.  

Day Three, July 1, 2011

Day Three......or not.

My knee was still quite sore.  I didn't sleep well.  In part I was agonizing what to do.  The forecast was for temps 95 - 99 with a heat index of 105 - 110, with a southwest wind (the direction I was heading) of 15 mph.  Given my knee and the weather, I decided at 4 a.m. that I was going to stay put for a day.  I had a couple of offers of a ride home and I gave in to temptation.  My plan was to wait a day but it was still going to be windy, hot and humid.  Part of me wishes I would have toughed it out but I just didn't know about how much my body could take.  I feel as if I failed.  Instead, I realize that I have learned from this.  Here's some of my learning:

1)  I pushed myself beyond what I thought I could do.  There was one moment of despair.  On the trail, in the middle of nowhere between Shawano and Wausau, aching joints and dozens of deer flies buzzing about, unable to swat them as I needed to keep both hands on the handle bars because of the weight, I wondered why I was doing this.  But at that point, I had no options.  So sometimes things seem rather hopeless but they will change for the better.


2)  It was my dad who gave me a ride home.  I had called home because my mom was worried.  My dad really wanted to give me a ride home.  The proverbial straw for me was getting to spend two hours riding home in conversation with my father.  I enjoyed that.  At one point, he said that all too soon I would be having to bail him out and come to his needs.  I know that and I recognize that.  I'm not sure if I am ready for that.  Hopefully my own kids know that they can always call on me.  And hopefully I will be around for them.  We never stop being a parent.  (Apparently)


3)  As I biked on the abandoned rail corridors I reflected on our world.  I don't know that we have changed for the better.  I passed through small towns that had character.  And as I could sometimes hear the sounds of roaring traffic that long ago bypassed these towns, I wonder if this really is progress.  


4)  I learned to appreciate the sense of smell along the way.  I smelled newly cut hay and the fermenting wondrousness of haylage.  I could smell newly cut wood and down the road I passed a saw mill.  Free stall farms have a distinct odor from conventional farms.  I have noticed that I am keenly aware of smells when I bike.


5) I heard the sounds of people waking up.  As I proceeded west before dawn I saw America come to life.  Some of the America were humans, getting ready for work or the day's events.  I also heard the creatures of the forest come to life.  Many croaking frogs and chirping birds.  I startled and got startled by a number of deer.  


6) I learned that friendships are important in this world.  As one person I met said, "After all, we're all just part of one big planet trying to get along as best we can."  I was able to reconnect with a friend and I realize that I have the love and support of many people.  I feel fortunate to have crossed paths with so many wonderful people.


7)  I have a supportive family who tolerates this passion that I have for biking.


8)  That next time, and I hope it is soon, I will pack lighter!  I brought some ridiculous things with me.  I'll leave it at that.  I know that with less gear my body will hold up better.  Now, where is my calendar....

Day Two, Thursday, June 30, 2011

Today was the day for traveling about 55 miles from Shawano to Weston.  I got up early (what's new!) and was on the trail by 5:45.  The trail wound around Shawano a bit and it wasn't marked the best once I got out of town.  The Mountain Bay trail is just on county roads until you get farther west.  As I made it farther west of Shawano, the trail got very rustic.  It looked like an old gravel country road with two ruts for tires.    In fact, I had two vehicles driving toward me.  One was a county sheriff and the other was a maintenance worker.  Other than that, I only saw two people using the trail in 50 miles!

I saw a variety of wildlife, mostly deer and small mammals.  There were a few cranes in my path at one point.  

And this was a long stretch, here is the view looking back.

One nice thing about trail riding is that it smooths out the hills.  There are some low, slow climbs.  The downside is that there is no down side.  By that I mean you do not get to rest by gliding downhill.  At a few places, when the trail parralleled the road, I went on the road just to break the scenery.  Anyone know what town this picture is from?

Bowler.  It took me a moment when I saw it.

At mile 12 on this leg, oops, another pun, my knee started hurting some more.  It got increasingly more tender and I stopped more often and even walked a bit.  By the time I approached Weston, I was in  pain.  It was quite excruciating every time I bent my knee and if you know anything about bike riding, one bends the knee a lot!  My intention was to stay in downtown Wausau but I remember I stayed at an AmericInn in Weston a few years back.  Since it was not too far from the trail, I went there.  I think it was only about 1 and fortunately I was able to get cleaned up and collapse in an air conditioned room.  And I thought I would be camping.  Ha!

Day One: Wednesday, June 29, 2011

I headed out at 4:55 a.m. and I was treated to a beautiful sunrise on the DenRock Trail.   And as I headed down the path, I was led by an Indigo Bunting.  I have noticed that some birds and animals will go with me while others cross the path.  I imagine that some are entertaining themselves, matching my speed while they attempt to figure out what I am and what I am doing there.

I saw many of the animals one would expect.  The turtle was a surprise.  That was on the Fox River Trail at about mile 28.  By then I was getting a little tired and I reasoned that at least I was going faster than he was.  

This cool bike sculpture was on the Fox River Trail in memory of a judge who died a couple years ago.  What a beautiful setting!

All in all the first day was a positive one.  I was surprised 31.7 miles from my house to have a paved trail!  The Fox River Trail was paved heading into Green Bay.

I just used google maps to plan my route.  I ended up going through an industrial section of Green Bay.  When I crossed a railroad track too fast, my basket dumped a bunch of my gear all over the ground.  Fortunately, nothing was seriously damaged.  With all the weight on my bike, I can’t just hop off as I could normally.  

I squirreled around and had a little trouble finding the trail head for the Mountain Bay Trail.  I have my own system for rating hills.  I give them a score based on how fast I can go up them.  A bad hill is a 7 as in 7mph.  Well, leading to the trail head I had a 6.  

Once I got on the trail it was okay traveling.  Good conditions.  It was quite rustic but there were places to stop every now and then.  I appreciated the water spots and the shaded picnic tables.  There were even a few porta potties along the way.

As I biked on I got rather weary.  I had wondered if I had bitten off more than I could chew.  I went 44 miles in the first four hours, that was including a few short breaks.  I ended up averaging just under eleven mph.  For pulling 70 pounds and being on a softer trail, it thought that was about right.  

About 6 or 7 miles from Shawano I was wondering if I would have enough fluid to get there.  All of a sudden there was a bar and it was open.  This trail doubles as a snowmobile trail.  I went in, the only customer for a lonely bartender.  We talked while I drank lemonade and she kindly filled one of my water bottles with more lemonade.  That helped me with the last leg.

My intention was to find a campground but I talked myself into soaking my muscles in a tub and I ended up zeroing in on the Super 8.  I was a mess.  I had little black bugs caked on my arms.  I must have looked a fright.  It was 92 degrees when I pulled in exactly 10 hours from when I left.