We enjoyed 2 nice bike rides over the last couple of weekends after a long hiatus from the bikes this year. Both Sundays were gorgeous- sunny and not too warm. We are definitely getting out and taking advantage of the nice weather while we can. Both rides were great- the longest (and second longest) bike rides of my life!
Mountain-Bay State Recreational Trail
Date: Sunday, August 31
Route: Our apartment in Howard to Pulaski Polka Days grounds and back
Distance: 28.3 mi
We have walked portions of the M-B Trail many times, but had been waiting for a nice day when we had a few hours to bike. The Trail (in the rails-to-trails system) actually runs for 83 mi from Howard to Wausau, and there are a couple of towns along the way. We decided to bike out to Pulaski (Wisco pronunciation: PULL aski, unlike the Virginian PEEWW laski), which is the next town to the northwest. Rather than load the bikes up and drive the short distance to the trailhead, we left right from the garage, which added some extra mileage to the trip.
Most of our bike route went through farmland (lots of corn) and then forestland (lots of pine) and then back to agriculture again as we approached Pulaski and the first sign of civilization- McDonalds (go figure). We proceeded on a little further into town and stopped for a break at the Pulaski Polka Days grounds, home of the ever-popular Pulaski Polka Days in July which Scott attended while I was out-of-town for a workshop earlier this summer. Then it was time to turn around and backtrack.
We were both really worn out by the time we got back to Howard, but if I had known the distance we covered at the time, we might have tried for 30 miles in honor of Dirty Thirty.
Rawley Point Recreational Trail (and a portion of Mariners Trail)
Date: Sunday, September 7
Route: Lighthouse Inn, Two Rivers to Rawley Point Lighthouse, Point Beach State Park and back + Lighthouse Inn toward Manitowoc and back
Distance: 15 mi + 4 mi (approximate)
I tried mountain biking once in Virginia. I really had not been on a bike since I was a kid, so I was a little (a lot) rusty on maneuvering and control. Mountain biking lasted about 10 seconds! Just last summer, I finally bought a hybrid bike to ride the Huckleberry Trail in Virginia with Scott. Rails-to-trails biking was definitely more my style.
The Rawley Point Trail is pretty much a flatlander's mountain biking trail. The surface was crushed limestone, but a very well maintained trail with decent sharp turns, little hills, and wooden bridges, mostly through the Point Beach State Forest. We almost lost the connector trail through town if it wasn't for the nice local couple who found us lost newbies and showed us to the Rawley Point trailhead. The ride from where we parked to the trailhead was marked well with signs until the very last turn. So close!
We rode all the way into Point Beach State Park (~7 mi, no use fee for bikers!) and had a delicious ice cream cone at the concession stand. The views were great- and the water was super clear. After a little rest, we biked through the campground to the Lighthouse Picnic Area. The Rawley Point Lighthouse was clearly visible, but not open to the public since it is US Coast Guard property and currently in operation. A nice walk along the beach (water is getting colder!) and then we headed back down the Rawley Point trail into Two Rivers. I really liked the being on the trail- great atmosphere and no scary jumps!
We refilled our water bottles and rode a few miles of the Mariners Trail. This paved trail runs right along Lake Michigan between the towns of Two Rivers and Manitowoc. Exceptional views! We were tired after our "mountain" biking experience, so even though the trail was flat and easy, we didn't go too far. Future plans include returning to ride the Mariners Trail all the way into Manitowoc to visit the microbrewery there (closed on Sundays).
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