January 1, 2013: Cottage Grove, Wisconsin

I've skipped a few outings on the blog during the late summer and autumn, mainly due to the time involved with these posts. Time to get a fresh start and share a short trek from today.

It was a cold day, around 15 degrees F. I waited for mid-day so it would be as warm as possible, then broke out the snowshoes I bought last winter.

This was more of a shakedown cruise. McCarthy Park near Cottage Grove is not really known  for it's scenery, but it is nearby and the terrain is not too challenging when I'm still practicing with the snowshoes. Out and back in just over an hour, and I was pretty wiped out at the end. Basically, the military-surplus snowshoes are made for the average person, and I'm much larger than that. I sunk pretty far in the powder most of the time.

 

I started hitting my stride with the gear about half-way and didn't step on my shoes anymore when turning. It might go better the next time out. It's also getting near eagle-watching time at Praire du Sac, so that could be another near-future destination.

In time for the holidays: 2013 photo calendars

I have created a photo calendar in 2 different size formats with Lulu.com. Many of the pics have not been published in this blog, well because I've been too active with things to post every trip I've taken this year. They can be purchased directly using the links below.

"Standard" calendar 11x17 size with center-binding. Glossy stock paper.

"Premium" 13.5 x 19 size with a binding at top. Matte finish paper that is easier to write on.

Sunday August 5, 2012: Deefield to Lake Mills, Wisconsin

Another bike ride on this day. This time on the Glacial-Drumlin trail. I am not sure how to approach the main trail entrance in Cottage Grove at this time due to the main road in the village being closed and detoured right now. I just drove to the next town (Deerfield) and picked up the trail there.

I expected to just ride to Cam-Rock lake in Lake Mills and turn around for an estimated 17 miles or less of riding. Beautiful morning for this as it was sunny, in the high-60's to low 70's as I went. I saved about 15 geocaches on my gps that I would ride by. I only attempted to get one.

Somewhere around that tunnel is a cache I actually stopped to try to find (I was all by myself there). I had no printed cache-description sheet so no idea of what I might be looking for. Gave up and drove on.

Cam-Rock lake, but I did not turn around here. I pressed on a while farther.

I went all the way to the old train depot in Lake Mills and stopped there a while. Nice bathroom facilities to use. Visited with some other cyclists just starting a ride from there.

I reversed-course and rode back to my parking spot in Deerfield. Had to take a break in London (a very small town in-between) and I sat with an older couple who were also taking a break while biking the trail. I listened to their stories, and followed them from a distance all the way to Deerfield. Here's the end of the ride for me.

And the overview on Google Earth. 18 miles round-trip. 2.5 hours with the rest breaks.