Fathers Day

Well in my last post I mentioned how I got all kinds of activities in the last few days.

Fathers Day was no exception.  Bob, now ex neighbor asked if I wanted to go boating on Sunday. By boating we mean kayaking.  I said Sure!  The I realized it was Fathers Day on Sunday.

I know I asked for a nice huge breakfast of eggs waffles and bacon, but I guess Tracy will just have to cook it some other time?

She's still not ready to jump in a long distance trip and this was kind of a long one, even for the first trip of the year.  However, that did not stop Mackenzie from jumping in to be my paddle partner for the day!

The trip started at Grafton's Lime Kiln Park, actually a interesting historical site. They also have disc golf and fishing.  Quite a nice park.  The weather looked kind of cloudy to start the day but it turned out to be great.

We launched before 11 AM and headed on the Milwaukee River to the Thiensville Dam.

Go Kiki

The dragon flies were thick!  I had no fewer than 5 land directly on me at one time, say nothing of how many were on the boats.

We ran across a pair of bald eagles.  Were they nesting?  We couldn't tell but the swooped down enough to get a much better view that this picture I took.

We Surprised some deer around the bend

Lazy and hot was the day.  Dangle your feet in the water to keep cool.

Flotilla

Natural Bridge?

It was a tale of two rivers.  The first 4 miles were really nice.  The water was shallow (some scraping and getting stuck) but it was fast so we made really good time without a lot of effort.  Then the river got wide and slow.  You could tell we were getting into the urban environment.  Houses all along the banks, docks and boats lined up.  You know it was so bad for boat traffic they had slow no wake buoys for almost 2 miles.

The houses ranged from huge mansion type homes to shacks with blue tarp roofs.  I guess it depended on who was still holding onto the property.

Some of the boats were also shall I say, unique?

That is a homemade party pontoon with a porta potty on the back.  Can't get much more redneck that that can you?

The last 1 1/2 miles was all paddling west.  Into a moderate breeze.  Our little party was getting pooped. The river became more of a lake to paddle and at the end near the take out, people had ski boats running for water skiing and wake boarding. Yea it's like a lake at that point.

We got to the boat launch and did the shuttle runs to get the cars and boats all back together.

It was great and exhausting 9 plus miles of boating.  Kiki and I had a great time.  Now I really want to do this but then when done with the paddling, unpack the boat set up camp, relax, fish, swim or whatever.  Pull up the next day and do it again.

When I got home Joel had tended to the grill just as I had asked him.  Fathers day feast fit for a king.

Baby back ribs, baked potatoes and asparagus. 

We ate dinner, I had a few beverages and sat on the deck reading a book until almost 9:00 PM  What an awesome day! I do have a great family, to give me such a perfect day.  I am a lucky man.

Man just after complaining about not doing much last week. I did it all this week.

Wednesday, Kiki had driver's ed at the high school so dropped her off and I hit the New Fane biking trails and got almost 10 miles of trail riding in.  It was perfect, no bugs a little breeze and not too hot.  Two laps - loop 1-3 and then 1-4.  My time on 1-3 was almost 8 minutes better than my best time last year.  All this exercise is paying off?

On Saturday I hit the gym, then the trail.  Finally knocked out the last section of the Ice Age trail in Washington County.  Starting at the Slinger House and ending at the trail parking on Paradise, where I started this back in March.

I wish I could say this was a great hike, but honestly, it was the part I was looking forward to the least.  Over eight and a half miles and most of that on county highways.  Talk about long, boring and a little dangerous.

HWY 41 Overpass

There was about a 2 mile section in the woods. One thing I had not had to deal with prior to this trip....Mosquitoes!  As soon as I entered the woods, it got still and the bugs were all over me.  I did not bring any repellant so I just hunkered down and got through.

The trail also goes through this farmers field.  How cool will this be when the corn gets taller?

After this is was all roadway.  Some 6 miles of asphalt.  Keeping my head on a swivel watching for traffic coming at me.  Amazing how few people look more than just a few feet in front of them while driving.  

About 6 miles in a nice little park with tables and a hand operated well pump.  Took a breather had some snacks before I finished the last 2 miles or so.

Got to my car in 3 hours.  Not bad with 30 minutes of break time. 3.5 MPH when moving and with 15 pounds of gear in my pack (Cameras, food, water, rain gear etc).  

So in 7 days I went from Waukesha County all the was through Washington and into Fond du lac. Over 51 miles!  Now to get that backpack get some heavier loads and do some more training for California.....

Elevation plot

LACKLUSTER PICTURES HERE

Getting Antsy

Don't know how else to put this but I am going some what stir crazy these last 2 weeks.  Too many graduation and weddings and parties that are breaking up my weekends.

I have not got one trail ride in - too much rain closes the trails.  Had not got much paddling in because I have not had the time to devote to a trip of more than 2 hours. The only thing I have done is hiking, but I want to expand that to some overnight hiking trips in the area.  I really want to test myself with that.  I still think that Pacific Crest Trail hike at the end of August it in sight.  Yea I still need a backpack (part of the test and training). You can bet I have researched everything else and then some (airfare, car etc.)

Physically, I can't recall when I was in any better shape. 3 days a week of Crossfit, followed by 90 minutes of basketball on Sunday and the occasional hikes for the last 4+ months has really made a difference.  I can actually pick up my boat and place it on top of my car, no extra supports or help needed. I don't get winded doing light activities. I don't get nearly as sore as I did when I do anything strenuous. Not to say anything of how this improves my mood more often than not.

I am pushing myself to set some goals for activities.

Finish the Ice Age Trail in Washington County Slinger segment
1-2 Overnight backpacking trips, locally (any Friday/Saturday night)
1-2 Overnight Weekend Kayak trips (St Croix in September and the Lower Wisconsin July)
4 Days of mountain bike trail rides (lunch time during the week for local runs)
4 River trips of 8 miles or more. (Milwaukee, Horicon/Rock River, Cedar Creek)
1 Car camping weekend  - Long/Mirror?Devils Lake?
5 Day PCT trip end of August?

Throw in the the weekend for the Great Taste of the Midwest and a week of back to school in Arizona (for the last time) and my dance card is full.

I am looking for anyone interested in coming along on any of these activities.  I am not adverse to being a lone wolf, but hey I will take the company.  Currently all these overnight activities (minus car camping) are pretty much pushing the envelope for Tracy and her hip. My daughter being a 15 year old girl, can't stand the thought of going 1-2 days without a shower and Joel hasn't sounded too interested either.  I have an extra boat for the overnighters if interested.  Camping on the sand bars of the Wisconsin River, sleeping under  the stars....

Ice Age Trail Hike VI

A week back from Mexico and 3 days removed from a business trip to New York. The weather turned for the better and gave me a shot at another section hike of Washington County's Ice Age trail.

I started on Shannon Road, the same place where Mom and I ended our first short hike a few weeks ago.  From there I head north for the last part of the Holy Hill section.

Surprisingly the trail is in great shape, considering all the rain we had received the whole week before.  The other thing completely different from the hikes going back to March....LEAVES the trees and bushes are in full glorious foilage!  So neat, sun peaking through, color other than gray and brown.

Up trail, a bit gnarly

Finally I reached the Pike Lake section of the trail.  

The other interesting item to note here is how flat, wide and generally large the trails are in this part.  You can see by the trail post this particular trail section is shared by Pike Lake brown, blue, orange and green with the yellow blaze of the Ice Age trail at the bottom.

There is an observation tower on Powder Hill.  I made it to the base had a little lunch.  That consisted of an Epic meat bar (pretty gross, wont have those again) Peanuts and chocolate chips an energy gel and a few cookies.

Next the climb to the top. I did not count the stairs but there was some info on how this is the second highest point in Southeastern Wisconsin.  The tower is on an elevation of about 1300 feet and itself is 60 foot tall.  Look at the elevation graph at the end to see if you can figure out where the tower was.

Pike Lake

Zoomed in

Actual distance

Pike Lake trails are busy.  With the campground there as well as being so close to Slinger, its an easy hike for most people in the area.

I was not paying too close of attention to my trail markers apparently.  Since so many wide trails and the Ice Age Trail shared them I missed the part where it finally split off.  I only noticed it after hiking some time then looking at my GPS.  Grrr It added over a mile to my hike to backtrack like that.  

When I got back on track, I found that Pike Lake also has campsites exclusively for trail hikers.  3 sites that you do need to reserve in advance, but very cool.  Gives me some ideas to try my chops at overnight backpacking.  I just need a real backpack.  The day pack I have is not big enough for such a expedition.  Food shelter etc.

The trail crosses Hwy 60 dips into the woods and then pops back out on the streets of Slinger, about 4 blocks from Hwy 144.  

I hike to the Slinger House where I left my car. Utilising all my willpower to not go in for a burger and beer.  I had bison steaks waiting to be grilled when I got home.

All in all it was a nice day. A little under 4 hours total and 3 hours 15 minutes actually hiking with a distance of 10.4 Miles.  The longest hike to date by at least 2 miles.  Only one more section to complete the whole county section.  Then I can go north or south after that or redo some now that they have all the leaves!

ALL PICTURES HERE