Lakes to Mountains Tour

Return to Mukwonago

Sun Apr 27: Gurnee to Mukwonago: 51 miles; 58, thin clouds, breezy, 11:00-5:10
If there's one thing more ubiquitous than media on these trips, it would be the friendly, considerate people.
As I sat on the shoulder of WI-142 waiting for Tim to catch up, I noticed a sports car barreling south on WI-75. As I watched, he made a big U-turn on the road, came back to turn onto 142, and pulled up to me. "Do you need any help? Is there anything wrong?" It's heartening to know that people everywhere look out for you.
I spent a bit of quality time today sitting on the road shoulder, waving at all the passing cars. (What can I say? I have weird hobbies.) Just outside Mukwonago one van stop after I waved, also asking if I needed assistance.
The one problem with overscheduling myself on this trip - and for me, Mukwonago is synonomous with booking myself heavily (four schools there last year, three this year) - is that it makes it difficult to adjust to crises. Twenty miles shy of Mukwonago, I busted a spoke. Unfortunately, the only bike shop along our route (in Mukwonago) was not open on Sundays. Thus, I must delay my third school to get it fixed tomorrow morning. Which increases the chances that I'll have to accept a ride from Tim's sister or brother-in-law in Prairie du Sac, our destination 90 miles from Mukwonago.
Our night's lodging came courtesy of one of the teachers who'd arranged last year's talks. I hadn't written down the directions, and working from my memory (always a bad idea), I turned one street too soon. As I called Shannon on the cell to find out where I went wrong, who should roll up but Jasonn and his family, who had hosted me last year. He'd made the same wrong turn I did, trying to get to Shannon's. (Didn't someone once say that great minds think alike?)
We got to Shannon and Josh's to find the cookout in full swing. Beside Jasonn and family, the principal of Shannon's school and his family, and another teacher from Rolling Hills (and her family) had come. Good food and good company - what better way to end a glorious day!

posted by Glen @ 7:33 PM