We begin the month of July in MI with Gram, spending time baking, while trying to improve skills making the Sourdough bread. We spent time with Gram playing cards, doing yard chores with her and getting ready to buy our bikes. Got a photo of the Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffin recipe, a must take along for our adventures,, cannot wait to bake some muffins.
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LetsGoAero clam shell 34 attached
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| Wildflowers on my morning walks in Alto, brought so much joy to photograph |
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| South Haven Lighthouse |
We installed the LetsGoAero GearSpace 34 clam shell storage unit on the rig for the ebikes we found in Madison, WI. We leave Gram's to get our bikes then we ended up touring Madison, Wisconsin for a few days riding bike trails. We spent 14 days in Wisconsin taking the Lake Superior Tour Loop along the coastline before we crossed into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
We had an amazing time touring Wisconsin with no agenda. We found bike trails and different points of interest as we made our way through the State, using Only in Your State online to find those hidden (not so hidden) gems taking us to some really great places to experience. Seeing places on our bikes or hiking.
It’s funny when there are no plans that you only travel a couple miles when you see something shiney to investigate or that sign that says ‘hiking trail’, waterfalls, or even historical site. We did this often and found some great spots.
So on 13Jul, we woke up in Crazy Lenny's parking lot, bought our ebikes, of course after test riding them on the bike trail behind the store and fitting them in the clam shell storage unit we're. off to explore. Destination Lower Yahara River Trail in Dane County. We boondocked over night in the parking lot of the bicycle trails for Capital City Trail, Lower Yahara River Trail and Lake Farm Campground. We enjoyed a peaceful and quiet tranquility here.
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Here we are in Madison, WI at Crazy Lenny's
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Common Whitetail is a dragonfly found in North America with brownish black bands and translucent wings
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Western Honey Bee or European Honey Bee we say in the prairie flowers along the bike path at Crazy Lenny's
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Our first ride we get out the bikes and rode 25 miles, first trip to McFarland across Lake Waubesa and Upper Mud Lake. We rode a little in the Village of McFarland then had lunch at the rig. Later on, we decided to go off again in a different direction and rode 9.5 miles on Capital City State Trail and Capital Springs Recreation Area. Amazing Prairie flower plantings through out the area.
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Freshly out of their container and ready to ride
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On the Capital Springs Recreation Area grass trails, so beautiful with all the prairie plantings
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Enjoying get out and being in nature together with our ebikes
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Capital Springs Recreation Trail
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Meanwhile, when we return a pair of Sandhill Cranes are walking behind the rig
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Surprise there are two chicks
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14Jul We rode the Lake Monona route through suburban Madison, the trail around the lake brought you to so many cool sights, historical markers like Monona Monona Motors was Ernie’s Trading Post. We could not resist ice cream at Monona Bait & Ice Cream. Continue Lake Loop and Capital City Loop back to the rig after 17.87 miles around Lake Monona. Beautiful ride and gorgeous houses.
Around 4:30, after a nap we head off for a planned shorter bike ride to the Capital Building. There was a vigil being held. We stayed for a few minutes starting to head back, when we took a turn which took us to the Isthmus between two of the lakes. We had to rerouted ourselves to get back before the sun completely set. We saw some amazing contemporary homes and mansions. We returned after dusk putting in 15.48 miles in 2 hours.
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Across the street from the parking lot is a campground, bike trails and observation area with prairie gardens
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Tickseed
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| Prairie Garden in full bloom with so many bees, dragonflies and butterflies |
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Coming into Madison from Capital City State Trail
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Artwork on a building along the bike trail
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| Little girl looking at Lake Monona near The Biergarten at Olbrich Park |
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Interesting place selling Babcock Hall Ice Cream from University of Wisconsin
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| Mural on a building across from the vigil at the Capital Building |
We went back to Crazy Lenny's after 2 days of riding, to realign the handlebars and check the bikes. All is good, we set off to Sauk City with the clouds moving in and drizzle. The cloud cover was low, really amazing with the amount of moisture leaving the ground towards the sky from the rolling hills.
We arrived in Sauk City, found a nice spot to park on Riviera Drive, in this quaint, historical city along the Wisconsin River. We spoke to a local police officer and verified we could Boondock there overnight. We grabbed lunch then went for a walk along the River Path and down the banks of the River. There was a cute water park for families.
We walked along Water Street seeing the original buildings from the early settlement. Really quaint old small town established on the former Sac Indian village in the 1700’s. This was a farming community which eventually became two communities, Sauk City and Prairie du Sac (northern village keeping the French fur trading name).
After walking and the incoming rain, we stopped in the visitor center for The Greater Sauk State Trail, we will move to that location the following day. We were told by the Visitor Center we could park in their parking lot overnight, this is where the trail head starts.
We returned to the rig, relaxed during a powerful thunderstorm, had double nachos for dinner and after the storm passed went for a walk at sunset, grabbed some photos and returned home.
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Sunset after the rains stop on the Wisconsin River
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Trailhead for The Great Sauk State Trail, $5 to ride the trail
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Main Street in Sauk City with mid 19th century architecture
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River Park, where we slept overnight
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| Part of the Sauk City Historic Preservation is small 18'x24' single story commercial building built sometime in the 1860s, know as a 'temporary' building on Water Street. |
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Keith and I are ready to take a ride on The Great Sauk State Trail
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Marker down the road from the visitor center
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| The area is so relaxed filled with thousands of wildflowers |
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Keith took the lead and we are off to tour by bike. The ebikes have been a game changer with the throttle for more assistance on some uphills.
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We lucked out with beautiful weather and views like this. Everything is so lush and green following the rain.
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The corn is pretty high along the bike trail
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Wildflowers growing freely along the landscape makes for a perfect foreground photo of this tranquil landscape along the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area - Badger Lands. The trails are mostly paved near the decommissioned Badger Army Ammunition Plant, Indian Mounds, rolling landscapes and the Indian Reservation lands. The trail was easy to ride with some inclines.
In 12 days we took it slow and steady with riding the ebikes, hiking and exploring. We did not look for the Ice Age Trail but stumbled across it all along the way. We rode the bikes 140.70 miles and hiked 5 miles. We have enjoyed our travel through Wisconsin and made some hard decisions about wearing our masks while hiking and biking to protect ourselves from others who will not wear them.
We spent 2 days in a family campground in Baraboo Hills when the weather was forecasted for heat index at 104 degrees. We did walk around to explore but wore our masks and avoided the large crowds.
We found out about Thimbleberries and how delicious the berry is, we actually picked 2 pints of them later in our travels.
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Natural Bridge State Park, Honey Creek, WI
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We met this very interesting man, Sam Tartamella, Guiness World Record Holder for doing a handstand on a skateboard in 1996. He told us to remember 5 things: Look, Listen, Learn, Love and Live. Very cool free spirit.
We stayed around Devil's Lake for 5 days, rode the 400 Trail Bike Path for 16 mile from Reedsburg to Labelle. We utilized Tumble Rock Kitchen & Brewery parking lot to boondock for a few days. We did have dinner there each time and met John & Becca from s/v Halcyon (we met them in French Polynesia) for lunch. Nice to reconnect with people as we continue to travel.
We walked from Tumble Rock to Devil's Lake then hiked the West Bluff 1.5 miles along the bluffs overlooking the lake and park. Since the weather was perfect for hiking we decided to hike the Ice Age Trail to Balanced Rock on our way to Devil's Doorway up the side of the bluff along steps from tumbled rocks, sidewinding to the top then across the bluff on this difficult trail but so worth it. The views are unbelievable.
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West Bluff overlooking Devil's Lake State Park
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Selfie time at Devil's Lake
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Devl's Doorway
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Keith at Balance Rock
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Wayne at Balanced Rock
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Love this photo of us at Devil's Doorway on the East Bluff
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With us posting our daily routine on Facebook our friends, John and Becca from s/v Halcyon tapped us. They we on their way through from Minnesota to Madison, WI. We planned to meet them at Tumble Rock Kitchen & Brewery for lunch. We decided to take the Baraboo Riverwalk Trail by bike while they traveled towards. So we moved to the Ringling Bros. Circus parking lot, got the bikes out then took a tour. The Ringling Museum was by reservation only and not completely open but cool to see.
Off we go continuing our adventure in Wisconsin to Wisconsin Dells, we were disappointed with the overly touristy playground feel to this place, the lack of social distancing and no mask requirements. We walked along the Riverwalk then we left for our first Boondockers Welcome host. Super nice people and location.
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| Rig parked in the shade at our Harvest Host |
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| View from our rig |
We wandered through small towns off the interstates we entered Friendship, WI, population 792 the following day. Like our usual travel we saw a sign for Roche-A-Cri State Park. This park has indigenous Petroglyphs and rock formations. We hiked the Chickadee Trail for 2.15 miles then back to the rig. Nice hike, warm weather and historic significance.
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| Roche-A-Cri State Park |
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| Petroglyphs from indigenous people |
We started to meet more interesting people by chance along the way, a couple from South Carolina while parked in Bayview Park in Ashland, WI. They were charming and hope to cross paths again. We had our lunch there as well, before we headed to Bayfield, WI.
We purchased our tickets to Madeline Island, Apostle Islands Lakeshore National Park. We had permission from the ferry company to park there. We had the first parking spot looking out on Lake Superior. While we were parked some locals stopped by to introduce themselves, former New Englanders.
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| We took the Baraboo Riverwalk trail early in the morning before John and Becca arrived |
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| Baraboo Riverwalk crossing the Baraboo River |
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| Baraboo River |
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| Widown Skimmer |
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| Azure Bluet |
We continued our journey in Wisconsin along the Lake Superior loop, boondocking in some remarkable places, hiked many trails to waterfalls and vistas. Wisconsin along Lake Superior is a gem, the water is a bit frigid.
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| Once the sun came up, here is the daytime view |
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| Our home for 2 nights toured Madeline Island |
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| Taking our bikes around Madeline Island |
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| Madeline Island |
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| Big Bay Sand Spit and Bog State Natural Area |
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| Welcome and Good-bye to Madeline Island |
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| Foggy morning sunrise |
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| Fog rolls in to the Bayfield Bay |
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| Apostle Islands National LakeShore hiking |
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| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore |
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| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Meyers Beach and Little Sand Bay |
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The fog lifted while we hiked in the wooded planked forest. As we left the wooded area out onto the bluff, we could see the layers of rock exposed to the elements of Lake Superior. This natural bluff was hit a week ago with 100 mph winds knocking many trees over onto the trail and on the overlooks.
The views were fantastic and the hike was somewhat easy but once the sun came out it was hot and humid again. Once we made it to the outer part of the Bowl we had the place to ourselves. Kayaks and hikers were now gone. Listening to the water come into the caves below and wind in the trees was wonderful. |
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Lost Creek Falls Walking Trail, Cornucopia WI |
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| Lost Creek Falls Walking Trail |
On day 14, we drove 20 minutes when we found a sign for Lost Creek Falls, stopped and hiked. This area is filled with hiking trails crossing the North Country National Scenic Trail.
We leave northern Wisconsin and cross into Ironwood, MI staying at a Harvest Host, Big Snow Resort/Indianhead Mountain. We did not anticipate we would get the e-bikes and tour WI. We are very lucky to have seen so much of the State during COVID and being able to stay safe.
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| Alto, MI to Ashland, WI (first 10 days) |
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| Ashland, WI to Porcupine Mountains, MI (Day 11 -16) |
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