Another Ride another 14 miles in under 1 hr

I now have over 100 miles on the year so far. Only 2 weeks until the Trek 100. Then I can stop riding these road trips and get back to trails!

Voiden Maydage

After a long day of moving on Saturday, I was treated to another nice day and decided to get out on the water.

Loaded the kayak on the car and took it to Erler lake.  Its less than 3/4 of a mile from our house as the crow flies.  However not being a crow, I had to drive.  It's less than 2 miles via car.   Has a nice little swimming beach, a fishing pier and a boat launch.  

Unhooked the boat from the car and carried it over to the launch.  Quite a few people out there today.  Two boats, people fishing from the boat launch and fishing pier.  

I get in and take off.  Went across and then did a loop of the lake.

Pretty happy with my paddling skills I head back to the dock to grab some fishing gear.  I had a little bit of an issue getting out of the boat and ended up getting my feet wet a bit but no big deal.  

Grabbed the gear and headed back out to do some angling.  Something kind of funny,  it has been so long since I last had a Wisconsin fishing licence I got it at the welcome back/new fisherman rate of $5.00.  Apparently that means more than 10 years  or more since the last time I did that.  

Found a few little places and started casting.   All in all I caught 5 total fish.  No keepers (the large-mouth bass on this lake have to be at least 18" to keep).

The lake was definitely behind due to the weather.  There usually are a lot more weeds and structure on this lake but not yet.  It looked like mid April, not mid May.  I mean look at the trees, no leaves and barely budding.  

I was out on the water for about 2 and a half hours and it was really nice.  Can't wait to get on some river trips and more fishing later this year.

  

Remember a few months back Tracy and I went to Madison to the canoe and kayak show?  Well we took off on Monday and went back to finish what we started.

We got to the shop around 11 ish to do some test paddling and a few other items.  First, it took over an hour to find a PFD that I liked and fit well.   I must have tried on every one they had.  Tracy was done in, oh, 15 minutes tops.  It was so bad that, when I took the kayak out to test paddle I actually tested 2 PFD's at the same time I tested the boat.  Who knew it would be that tough to pick one.  One that actually fit me well and would be comfortable enough that I would actually wear it.  For hours at a time.  

Needless to say Tracy and some of the staff had a good laugh at my expense with the PFD thing.  I had to laugh at myself as well.  I mean it was pretty ridiculous.  

We spent a lot more time at the shop than expected.  As we were hindered by thunderstorms that would not allow us to get on the water right away.  At least it was in the 70's temperature wise.  It would have been miserable if it were like today (40°).  

We did buy the boats we thought we would at the show.  They are nice, comfortable and stable.  A little on the larger side, but better that then too small and not as usable a few years down the road  (Can anyone say kayak camping?).

We strapped them to the car, and headed home.  Now just a few more things to take care of.  First a place to store them (garage rafters), some warmer, non rainy weather and finally a bit of free time to enjoy them. 

The weather will eventually get here and the free time will too.   I already have a few trips planned as soon as we can get out there ( I am such a map nerd). Until then we have the small public lake less than 2 miles from here to practice paddle on and fish from (Erler Lake). Yes, an added benefit is being able to do some boat fishing, not the public pier fishing I had stopped doing.  The little lake has a nice blue gill and smallmouth population.  Should be fun to get out there and bring a basket home for a fresh summer fish fry.

Here is hoping for warmer weather and a relaxing summer.

My boat is the lime green one.

Tracy's is the mango/sunburst color one.

Same boat and model except mine is 1/2 foot longer, for you know, extra weight capacity.

32 Miles

Hey another Saturday and another ride - 32 miles.  The track shows less but my GPS/Bike computer ran out of juice before I finished.

Serious Elevation gain for sure. I peddled through 3 counties too.  Washington, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac.  Almost got hit by a pickup truck - get this as he was backing out of his driveway.  He took that lazy ass backup into the shoulder I was riding on.  I gave him a little shit, I have to that what arrogant bikers do. he apologized.  I should have let him hit me. Then I would have made him feel real bad. Ha.

Just one of many large hills, this is the only one I stopped to take a picture of

Then here is a nice little wayside I stopped at the 18 mile point.  Should we not have leave on trees yet?  Barely budded.

Wow what a crazy week.  Good news is the weather is getting better, finally.  Bad news is that just means I have less reasons to not start projects like painting and other things.

So last Saturday I did a brake job on the car with 310,000 miles.  It pains me to stick even a little money into that car.  After that you all saw the 25 mile bike ride.  Then I had softball practice, then off to Madison to do the annual Great Taste of the Midwest wait in line thing.  And wait we did.  Actually not too bad.  We got to the new spot a little before 6:00 AM and procured the 127-130th place in line.  Pretty much after 150 there is no guaranty you will get a ticket. We were close, but we all got tickets.

Tuesday I headed off to Cincinnati for a business meeting.  'Cause business is boring I will just go with the cool parts.  First, I grabbed Chick-Fil-A because such a simple sandwich should not be that good. But it is, and we really can't get them here.

The other place I ate at was called Buckheads.  Now mind you Cincinnati is on the river and the downtown is alright, but there is probably more action on the south  side of the Ohio river in northern Kentucky.  This place had a huge outdoor deck to eat on and here is what it looks like

Pretty cool, even if it is just Kentucky.  This place also had their version of fried cheese.  Called 'cheese boulders'  how could a Wisconsin guy pass that shit up?  AMIRIGHT?

Just what you expected.  4 kinds of cheese in one ball breaded and fried topped with Parmesan cheese and a side of marina. 

The next day I had to leave but not before a little more of the things you can't get up here.  The George Webb of the south: Waffle House  or for the hoity-toity Waffle Haus.

Yea I know, I know where is the waffle?  Trust me on this, I make better ones at home.  They use the same Carbons waffle mix we use, its just not a Belgian style but a flat pancake type waffle.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  But the rest of this is pretty tasty.  In fact, the hash-browns are right up there, better than GW by far. 

Now back to the bike this weekend gotta work off some cheese boulders.  I only have 28 days until the ride.  Gulp.

Hey it's been a year since we underwent the great road trip out west.  Good times.  The pictures still play when apple tv goes into screen saver mode.  That was pretty awesome.
http://turkstravelogue.blogspot.com/

Alright  I got this ride in today!  24.94 miles in a little over 2 hours!  Wind was horrible, my butt hurts but I got one down!