Northwoods Day 12- Eagle River WI to Big Lake State Forest Campground

Friday Oct 9,2020

Miles 49.8
Ride time 4:46
Total time ~ 6:30

25 miles on bike path in Vilas
Dirt
Oaks are in season

Not so cold this this morning, and today is suppose to nice, hi 60s to maybe even 70!
I get to wear shorts today. My knees will be blinking in the bright sunshine.
I am leaving the alternate route, 6 miles from where it meets the main route in Conover, and will take a short cut to further west on main route to get to Boulder Junction. I hope to catch the nice Heart of the Vilas paved bike trail and head back west 
The weather is nice as I navigate the busy 4 lane US45. Doubly glad this morning that I avoided it yesterday. I hit my chosen county road to Sayner and start my short ish day.
There is more traffic than I thought on this county road and when I see a bike route sign leading away, I check it out on my maps. Looks like a backroad route can be done, and again it is a wise choice. Narrower, quieter roads, plus some dirt make my steed happy.

I wind through some nice country around forest and lakes, and now it is the oaks time for their autumnal splendor.

I stich together a few  backroad segments and only have a couple miles of main road to Sayner.

I pick up the Vilas county bike path here much earlier than expected. It is excellent riding, oft leaving the road and connecting numerous parks, lakes and campgrounds on its meader to Boulder Junction.

In Boulder Junction, I pick up a few grocery items, like bananas, apples, ramen for my evening feast.


I leave Boulder Junction by revisiting the Heart of the Vilas path, where oaks have now outwaited the maples early chorus and sing their song of reds, maroons and russets accompanied by the pale yellow of birch and basswood. A stray maple can be discerned in the cacophony, but quickly fade as I ride by the never ending stanzas of the oak.

A half hour further west rectracing my tire turns of nearly 2 weeks ago, I turn off the bike path and pedal a mile to the Big Lake State Forest Campground.
I have spent 25+ miles on the Vilas county bike paths today - fantastic. Indeed probably the best day yet. Quite popular on this nice day, many friendly smiles were exchanged, as well as a few thumbs ups, and words of encouragement. 

Quickly setup camp and take my chair down to the lake to relax and watch the light progress toward dinner.


I check my milage and put near 50 miles! So much for my short day!


Some fun signs along the way



And here are today's political signs

hmmm, is this a meme I've missed,or inside joke

Comments

  1. DonOctober 11, 2020 at 6:49 AM

    Ok Dan, It looks like the skeleton riding a bike is a reoccurring theme.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OuttaDoorsDanOctober 12, 2020 at 7:49 AM

      Gotta get photos of those! Might be the future me!!

      Delete

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