Day 51 65 miles to Phelps WI

Up at our usual time, made breakfast, loaded up and rolled out. All of us were cold most of the day, but had managed to stay mostly dry. The sun was very enjoyable  the few times it came out. Stopped in Boulder Junction to grab some warm tea and snacks and waited out a passing shower. It is a fun little tourist town with a short little bike trail through the pine trees. Since we had a relatively short day we decided to do lunch in Conover WI, and then only have 10 miles to Phelps. At lunch it was raining on and off, we tried to wait it out, and then decided to just marinate in the pleasure of a cold ride in the rain for the last 10 miles. It rained on us the entire 10 miles, and not just a sprinkle, but really wasn't all that bad. Once you're moving you can stay warm and at least your legs stay mostly dry ...the rest of you though. Anyway, by the time we got to Phelps we were almost totally soaking wet, and ready for a warm shower and dry clothes.  When was the last time we did laundry? Maybe the rain was good for something after all.

Sally leaving Boulder Junction

A very wet pine needle covered bike trail

Bringing sexy back with thigh highs, Bitches!

Day 50 road 58 miles to Mercer WI

We woke up and grabbed breakfast at the restaurant attached to the hotel, and while we were eating it started to rain. The consensus was to wait out the storm and hit the road once it had passed. By 9 it was over and off we went, knowing we were gonna have some strong head/cross winds and rain. We made it to Butternut, with the worst of the day done, and grabbed lunch. Matt and Sally were pleasantly surprised by the multiple veggie options, and Kayleen continued to eat heart clogging animal flesh. Made it into Mercer at 3:30, replenished our groceries, and took a shower for the 2nd day in a row! Mom got her USA Today (now with spots!) and Kayleen got her ice tea.  At 5:30 a nasty thunderstorm rolled in, we were happy to have decided on a hotel room. 

home of the mighty midgets, but...

...Eat At Jumbos!

found Sally murmuring incantations to the loon

Day 49 rode 65 miles to Clam Lake

We woke up to frost on everything and a temperature of 30 degrees... Brrr. Everyone bundled up with all of our cold weather gear and after a hot breakfast and tea we set out seeking the sunny spots. As usual we soon overheated and within 5 miles of rolling hills we stopped for the daily road side strip down. The ride was gorgeous, rolling hills, big green/yellow/orange/red trees and many lakes and a few rivers. The temperature didn't get above 60 and every time we stopped for too long it was a mile of ridding before we warmed ourselves up again. The plan was to stop at a restaurant and grab lunch but we were 0 for 4 on open places, everything is closed for the season up here. Our plan B was a snack of 6 peanut butter sandwiches and some Clif Bars. Finished the day in Clam Lake at 3. Due to the wet tents, sleeping bags, and the forecast calling for another cold night, we decided a hotel was in order.

Bundled up for the day

Day 48 day off in Birchwood, WI

Last night we were awoken by a crazy lady screaming.... Sally had a raccoon try to get in her tent! It rained last night for about an hour, so we had a very wet campsite. We decided to do our laundry, and have breakfast at the cafe that is joined to the laundromat. Across the street from Big Sexy, who was also having breakfast there. He said we should have lunch at his place. Sally had a wonderful 63rd birthday, she got presents, people sang happy birthday to her, and last but not least ice cream! It was a very relaxing day, we walked back and forth from town to our campsite a few times, and enjoyed our peaceful campsite on the water. 

This may have been the racoon's view of Sally

Day 47 rode 87 miles to Birchwood WI

We were all refreshed after a restful night in the hotel. Left earlier than usual and where off to Birchwood. Had lunch in Cumberland, at a nice little cafe. We decided lunch goes by much faster when we stop to eat somewhere that is closing within the hour. With 52 miles down we headed to Birchwood, got to the campsite at 4, on Birch lake. The site was right on the lake, quiet and only 10 bucks... Score! We had been on the bikes for 10 days, so we decided to take a day off in Birchwood. Today we saw osprey, bald eagle, wild turkeys, and one suicidal squirrel. We also started a new tradition, all the county roads are lettered here in Wisconsin. So at the end of the day we write down all the letters and come up with words that start with those letters to describe our day!

Wisconsin ski hill

How Wisconsinites learn their letters

the food was surprisingly good!

Wild Life as We've Seen it

Osprey

Mule Deer Buck, Theodore Roosevelt N.P.

Wild Horses, Theodore Roosevelt N.P.

White Tail Deer, Lake Crescent

Raven, North Cascades N.P.

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Mountain Sheep, Glacier N.P.

Bull Bison, Theodore Roosevelt N.P.

Day 46 rode 72 miles to Dresser WI

Up at 6:15, our internal alarms are in sync with our phone alarms. We enjoyed a scrambled eggs and toast breakfast, compliments of the adventure bicycle bunkhouse. Then we hit the road, and there was no wind. Stopped a few times to find a bathroom, and with very full bladders we lucked out that a bar owner let us into us their bathroom. Our new friend Dan was riding with us to Osceola, then we parted ways he's headed down the Great Rivers route. We took pictures and Dan and Sally may be able to connect when they are in Asheville. Dan was a pleasant and interesting traveling companion and wished him luck and happiness on his journey. After Osceola we had trouble finding a campground, so ended up in a motel for the night. This means enjoying The Big Bang Theory and beds.

Schmidt Beer

Smallest USPS I've ever seen

Sunrise, MN

Dan and the 3 of us before we part ways