Friday, June 14, 2013

Trip Recap Part Two - Point Beach State Forest

With the predicted rain for Sunday evening, I was in the mood to spend the night in a nearby motel, so made the short trip to Plymouth, WI and checked in.  As it happened, there was no rain over night; the evening stayed dry as well.  I did some reading, tried to get caught up with my friends' blogs but there were too many  Posts for me to cover them all.

Upon leaving the track Sunday afternoon, I was only partly surprised to see the coming weekend's SCCA event participants already arriving at the track.  There were some folks at my motel that were obviously there for the week; the car racing their destination.

My campsite, the MotoFizz bag on the picnic table, ready to be unpacked and my tent erected.


Random Distribution??


Inside the Park's Lodge, another building built by the WPA.....still a beautiful building.


Only one of the places I watched the waves and gulls interact....



Tuesday afternoon I headed south into Manitowoc to visit the Maritime Museum and this submarine is one of the institution's gems.


On the sub's deck, the Badger in the distance, the ferry that runs from Manitowoc to Ludington, MI









According to our Tour Guide, NO one in the service eats, or ate, like the submariners.




This large engine, from a former railroad ferry on the lake, was actually revolving slowly.


The prop on the other side of the wall.




I struggled figuring out what these large components were until I decided that they must be thrust bearings.


A model of the rail ferry....



Foodstuffs from the sea (lake).......


After visiting the museum, I stopped at the almost new and very nice Two Rivers Library.  I had my Kindle along but the battery was low so I didn't get much time to get caught up.  Cell service was limited back at the campground.

My firewood hauler, two bundles.....as easy as pie thanks to a pair of ROK straps.




Friend Chris asked me to check out some scupture work that he and family had done earlier this season....I wonder if this was what was left of it?



The outside of the WPA Lodge, as lovely as the insides were




Monday evening around the fire......


Tuesday morning I rode back into Two Rivers for coffee at The Brake, a combined coffee house/bicycle shop.  It was fun meeting the shop owners and one of their favorite customers.



I've crossed the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin (1000 miles long) more times than I can count; it runs from the east side of the state to the MN/WI border on the west.  One of our ADVrider friends is in charge of parts of it and a former employer volunteers to patrol a section of it in  Burnett County.  I've never walked more than 100 feet on the actual trail itself, something that should change.

More wood......


After dropping off another bundle of wood, I headed NW to Cherney Maribel Caves County Park.  Once a Spa and Popular Resort at the beginning of that other century, it is now a natural area.




The still-standing old resort buildings, now on private property.



After some hiking and exploration of the caves, I headed back to the campground for a quiet afternoon and evening.  I did some serious beach sitting, some less serious beach walking and generally watched the waves roll in.

Some very large deer tracks in the wet sand.....even though we're surrounded by deer at home, I'd have loved to see the big creatures on the lakefront.


One of the largest lighthouses on the Great Lakes, this one has protected Point Beach for many years.





Evening sun at the campsite....


Smoky sunlight.......


Always a good sign.....


Just after my last daylight session on the bench....I returned at dusk to watch (and listen) to it get dark.


There were a few rain sprinkles overnight, but only clouds at 6AM.  By 6:30 I was packed and headed west, before 8:30 I rode into Green Bay and right next to Lambeau Field, something I've seen from a distance before but never up close.  I think I felt a bit of holiness......I'm not sure, maybe it was just a rough road.

Halfway across the state is the low, marshy region of Wisconsin, an area known for its cranberries.  The flooded ponds beside the road contain water that felt almost level with my shoulders as I rode past.



I was home before 4 in the afternoon, only rode through just a few rain drops around Wisconsin Rapids (must be the biggest small city in the world, took me forever to get through).  A bit over 800 miles for the week, roughly 300 over, another 100 in and around the track plus a few sidetrips and then home.  The Yamaha never missed a beat, even with dealing with some headwind.

7 comments:

  1. Coop:

    I would have loved to tour on that submarine. I have only been on one before during Expo here in Vancouver.

    It looked to be a few days of relaxating and contemplation. something that I would like to do except during a bit warmer weather

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. Bob, if you ever get down to San Francisco, you can tour the USS Pampanito, a WWII era Balao class submarine. I think I took the tour in '08?. AWESOME!!



      COOP,

      More great pics. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us!

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    2. Bob,
      The weather was actually very nice for riding and for sleeping, only a bit cool right next to the lake.

      The Manitowoc Boat Works built 28 subs, 4 of them lost in the war, the rest scrapped. This one was built in Groton, CT but "was very similar" to those built in WI.

      Thanks Erik, there were a lot more photos taken, most of them were uploaded to my Picasa albums.

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  2. What a great trip you had. I always enjoy seeing submarines and it's good to know I don't have to go back to Hawaii if I ever want to see one again! The Broken Spoke is a nice space. And the Park Lodge is a beauty. Thanks for sharing all of this. You had a WONDERFUL time.

    Oh, and glad you got to feel the aura at Lambeau...

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    Replies
    1. Martha, I honestly did have a great time, just exactly what I was after. Original intentions were to spend all non-race time riding but I needed some time to be out of the saddle.

      I had to admit that there was a feeling there in the vicinity and it surprised me.

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  3. I'm glad the rain held off for you. It is always nice when you have a series of days with nice weather.

    Interesting info on the plaque about cranberries. It seems whoever wrote it is a little nostalgic for the old days. Also, that old resort would be cool to explore.

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    Replies
    1. David,
      Those rainless miles are definitely appreciated and considering how wet it's been this spring, I've done well in the miles put on.

      The plaque struck me the same way re: historic methods. It is such an interesting form of agriculture and very different from what I'm familiar with. It was much the same on P.E.I.; I was and still am fascinated with the potatoes on land and lobsters from the sea, the "crops" that so many of those in the food industry participated in. I found it a form of quaint and industrious endeavor and it really struck a magic nerve in me.

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