Day 14, 23 July (Distance Biked 5.3 miles): I left my campsite with the full intention of riding a full day, but during breakfast I convinced myself it might be best for a day off. I checked into a hotel and had almost 24 hours to myself to shower, eat, repeat and do my laundry, and of course sleep.
Day 15, 24 July (Distance Biked 86.4 miles): I started the day off right with a large breakfast buffet and then head back to the room to finish packing. I have been using a Garmin ETrex 25 for recording my route. The Garmin was quite the battery consumer; I changed up to three times a day and had to keep a steady stock of AAs recharged at all times. Throughout my ride the Garmin has been affixed to a mount installed on my handle bars and assumed a counter-productive personality. The Garmin would change screens and even set an alarm without my input; I think the constant vibration through the handle bars caused this activity. Anyhow, I discovered after breakfast that my recorded routes had been erased, so I have ceased using the Garmin to record my routes. My load got lighter, I tossed out 8 rechargeable AAs and kept two. The Garmin now gets stuffed into a case and will only be used when my cell phone map (data) and GPS function do not work.
My route for that day was more than half on biker/hiker trails only. I believe at around 44 miles into the scorching day along the Fox River Trails, Google Maps with the cycling option tried to route me into a weed-grown path along a railroad. The funny thing was that there was a sign that stated “Not A Trail.” I still had to try, but after about 25 yards of increasingly thick weeds I turned back and found an alternate route; I should have taken a picture. While trying to take a break in the shade and unsuccessfully obtain water at a school, I fought off a Horse Fly for several minutes. Later into the ride I had my first bird strike of the trip. A bird flew into my right, front pannier and then flew off apparently unharmed. I love Zeigler’s Apple Cider and found it in the gallon container at a store I stopped at before sunset. I almost finished it off that night, but had my three water bottles topped with ice and the remaining cider for the start of the next day’s ride. That night, I while riding along another closed at dusk-dawn trail, I came across my second police officer on this trip. He could have told me to leave, but he was professional and friendly and I did my best to explain what I was setting out to do and he let me continue on my way. Thank you to all those who protect and serve. I found a secluded spot to camp that night.
Day 16, 25 July, (Distance Biked 71.8 miles**Updated on 26 July**). Today was a little cooler, but the route was predominantly rolling hill after rolling hill. I am currently in Madison, WI trying to see if I can find a place to stay through a warmshowers.org host. I never know how far I am really going to go that day, so it is hard for me to contact people along my route. I need to work on giving people more notice and casting a wider net if I am going to have any success with warmshowers. I may yet be biking some more tonight if nothing pans out. I’ll let you know in my next post.
Peace on the Peninsula 