15 May 2007: Adventures in Navigation
Marinette to Kaukauna: 84.3 zippin' miles; lows 60s, late rain
Ahh, the simple days of route finding are now behind me. Yesterday my route notes read:
* follow M35 51 miles to Menominee, left on US41 over the bridge to the library
The superb route that Maureen charted for me ran like this:
* US41 south to T Rd, left and immediate right on Old Peshtigo Rd
* Cross US41 to Frontage Rd south, then cross bridge on 41
* Left on first street (Front St), follow to end
* Two quick rights, and immediately left on Y Rd into Oconto
* Left on S Rd to Little Suamico
* Continue on J Rd to end
I then stopped at a Subway for lunch and directions. The clerk directed me to three men sitting nearby who "know everything about the roads here." They gave me directions to the bike path along the river in Green Bay:
* South on Frontage Rd one mile
* Right at stop sign onto J Rd, follow it curving left
* At the light, turn left on Velp Rd
* At the third light, bear right on Military Rd
* In appr 2 mi/5 lights, turn left on Mason St
* Take Mason across the river, and the bike path is right there
This got me cruising through the Green Bay suburbs in record time, until I hit the Mason St bridge to find a NO BICYCLES sign. Of course, no signs tell bicyclists where they CAN cross, so I head upriver for a mile until I find a store to ask. Of course, they tell me the only good crossing is a mile and a half downriver. I bit the bullet and went back (out of my way) so I could sample the trail.
The trail was highly scenic, following the river for six miles or so, passing beautiful riverside homes and gardens. Much to my disgust, they also had signs declaring it a user-fee area: pay by the day or by the year. Okay, maybe I'm biased, but I find the idea of paying toll on a bike path abhorrent - if ahything, they should pay users a rebate to encourage them to get out of their cars. If you have something which could alleviate traffic congestion, combat obesity, diminish air pollution, and make the population healthier, why in the world would you charge a fee to discourage its use?!?!? I must give Green Bay a grade of D- for its hositility to bicycle commuters. (And this in a state that pioneered rail trails!)
Since today's ride held the distinction of this tour's longest, and I had an early library talk at 4:00, I left my morning school talk at 9:35 and cranked on the pedals. For hours I averaged over 17 mph, only slowing when I needed to verify directions. As I left the metro area with time running down, I actually shifted up from my high touring gear, pedalling five miles at 21 mph to the final turn toward Kaukauna. I made that turn onto ZZ Rd at 2:50 - just when the rain started. For the last 45 minutes I endured a light rain into Kaukauna, arriving at the library at 3:35 - barely time to freshen up and change clothes in the restroom.
After an informal discussion with the book club, I met my hosts for the night: the library director Rick Krunwiede, and his wife Becky, a lactation consultant (i.e., she sells breast pumps). They treated me to a Cajun restaurant in Appleton, then we retired to their home for good company - just like we'd been best of friends for years. When their son Dave come home from his Geek Squad job, he entertained by juggling three stuffed chickens.
Ahh, the simple days of route finding are now behind me. Yesterday my route notes read:
* follow M35 51 miles to Menominee, left on US41 over the bridge to the library
The superb route that Maureen charted for me ran like this:
* US41 south to T Rd, left and immediate right on Old Peshtigo Rd
* Cross US41 to Frontage Rd south, then cross bridge on 41
* Left on first street (Front St), follow to end
* Two quick rights, and immediately left on Y Rd into Oconto
* Left on S Rd to Little Suamico
* Continue on J Rd to end
I then stopped at a Subway for lunch and directions. The clerk directed me to three men sitting nearby who "know everything about the roads here." They gave me directions to the bike path along the river in Green Bay:
* South on Frontage Rd one mile
* Right at stop sign onto J Rd, follow it curving left
* At the light, turn left on Velp Rd
* At the third light, bear right on Military Rd
* In appr 2 mi/5 lights, turn left on Mason St
* Take Mason across the river, and the bike path is right there
This got me cruising through the Green Bay suburbs in record time, until I hit the Mason St bridge to find a NO BICYCLES sign. Of course, no signs tell bicyclists where they CAN cross, so I head upriver for a mile until I find a store to ask. Of course, they tell me the only good crossing is a mile and a half downriver. I bit the bullet and went back (out of my way) so I could sample the trail.
The trail was highly scenic, following the river for six miles or so, passing beautiful riverside homes and gardens. Much to my disgust, they also had signs declaring it a user-fee area: pay by the day or by the year. Okay, maybe I'm biased, but I find the idea of paying toll on a bike path abhorrent - if ahything, they should pay users a rebate to encourage them to get out of their cars. If you have something which could alleviate traffic congestion, combat obesity, diminish air pollution, and make the population healthier, why in the world would you charge a fee to discourage its use?!?!? I must give Green Bay a grade of D- for its hositility to bicycle commuters. (And this in a state that pioneered rail trails!)
Since today's ride held the distinction of this tour's longest, and I had an early library talk at 4:00, I left my morning school talk at 9:35 and cranked on the pedals. For hours I averaged over 17 mph, only slowing when I needed to verify directions. As I left the metro area with time running down, I actually shifted up from my high touring gear, pedalling five miles at 21 mph to the final turn toward Kaukauna. I made that turn onto ZZ Rd at 2:50 - just when the rain started. For the last 45 minutes I endured a light rain into Kaukauna, arriving at the library at 3:35 - barely time to freshen up and change clothes in the restroom.
After an informal discussion with the book club, I met my hosts for the night: the library director Rick Krunwiede, and his wife Becky, a lactation consultant (i.e., she sells breast pumps). They treated me to a Cajun restaurant in Appleton, then we retired to their home for good company - just like we'd been best of friends for years. When their son Dave come home from his Geek Squad job, he entertained by juggling three stuffed chickens.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home