Hiking Dude Blog

I walked about 19 miles yesterday.
As we approached the Elkhart Lake area, some very loud mosquitos could be heard in the distance. Over the next hour of hiking, it became clear they were racecars at the Elkhart Speedway - amazing how far across the country the sound carries!
After completing the La Budde segment, we altered our roadwalk to the main entrance of the raceway. PapaBear's overwhelming power of suggestion convinced a gate tender to let us visit for free (rather then $30 each) so you can see our route goes right through the facility and out the southern gate. It wound up adding < 1/2 mile. The cars and crews were fun to watch as we strolled through the paddock area. No $3 pepsis for us, though.
We sped through the first 3 miles of the Kettle Moraine forest to meet our ride. Back to Potawatomi for the van and finally to my folks' home around 8:30 for a long day with not many trail miles.
The cars in the pic are Porsches doing practice laps.

We got an early start with a ride from a very helpful scout back to the trail at 6am. We've hiked 7.5 miles - all on roads - and are now resting on the front porch of the old hotel at the Rhine Center intersection. Check out my current location on the map.
Today will be short with my mom shuttling us back to Potowatomi to get my vehicle and make plans for the next week or so while staying at my folks'.
Yet another beautiful day walking through the farmland of Wisconsin. A 3mile trail section is ahead and then the long Kettle Moraine forest trails.

I traveled about 28 miles today.
Camp Rokilio Rox! We hiked here from Manitowoc today on almost all roadwalking. The hike wasn't too exciting but the destination is great! We arrived just at dinner and the staff was very welcoming. They are just starting their last session of Cub World for all cub scouts so the staff should be pretty tired - but you couldn't tell.
We've been given a cabin in which to stay and a scout staffer is driving us back to the trail early tomorrow. Oh, dinner was great too!
After dinner, I was asked to talk to the cubs and I just let them ask me questions for about 5 minutes. It was fun and there were still more hands up when we finished.

This morning, we've walked about 17 miles from Mishicot to Two Rivers via the Point Beach state forest. We found where all the mosquitos have been hiding!!! Our bug suits worked wonderfully and were a real fashion statement.
We have about 11 more miles today - it's a long one!
Check out my current location on the map.

We left Mishicot after a terrific french toast breakfast using real home-made bread! We're on a road walk due east to the Lake Michigan shore followed by a nice, long trail walk to Manitowoc.
The short trail through Mishicot included this cool covered bridge that originally led to a brewery across the river. There is also a popular salmon run up to the Mishicot dam from the lake.
Hike On

I traveled about 21 miles today.
After a great night's rest behind Janda's, we were on the trail (road) at 6am. Rain threatened all morning but only succeeded in keeping the temps down for a perfect day of hiking.
Toaday was mostly road walking with a trail stretch through Tisch Mills and Mishicot.
Just as we were entering the new Mishicot segment, a truck stopped and the land owner introduced himself - he had just mowed the trail and was glad to see hikers using it. We thznked him for letting the trail pass through.
Entering Mishicot, we didn't know where we'd stay. I had lost info for my contact here. A vehicle stopped and a lady asked what we were doing. A short talk was followed with an offer to stay with her family. So, here I am, showered, fed, and on a soft bed heading to sleep - ready for another day thanks to more generous WI folks!

I traveled about 30 miles today.
Super day with many miles! Weather continues to be perfect and the trail is smooth and wide. We met many people on the trail and it's fun telling them what we're doing. :-)
This tunnel was on the Kewaunee River Trail. We hiked to Kewaunee and had breakfast at Kunel's Korner. We continued on to Ellisville and are having dinner at the only (and best) place in town. They are happy to have IAT hikers eat and camp out back.

We started hiking from the Ice Age Trail eastern terminus at Potowatomi park at 6am. Stopped for breakfast in Sturgeon Bay and continued on to Maplewood. There, we spied Richard's Grill and sfopped in. We met 3 guys and had a great time over a couple beers. Mark gaves us his extra string cheese and we were off again.
4 hours later, we're in Algoma at the Steelhead saloon having cheese curds and onion rings. It's a tough job, but...
Hike On

we're on the trail!
Left Potawotomi Park trailhead at about 6am and are looking for breakfast in Sturgeon Bay soon. Check out my current location on the map.

Papa Bear arrived by train from Seattle on Tuesday night - just a 13 hour delay - Go Amtrak!!
Yesterday, we visited REI and a couple other places. Today, we walked 10 miles. Tomorrow, we head to Wisconsin!
Here's Papa Bear on the trail this morning. Check out my current location on the map.