Day 34 Boulder Junction to Crandon

Day 34 (6 Sep 09) Boulder Junction to Crandon, WI 77 miles.

A quick breakfast in the room and we’re on the Crystal Lakes bike trail a little after 7 AM. On County Road K at 7:30, we see sunlight filtered by gossamer mist in the trees. Quite beautiful. A Palliated Woodpecker flies across the road 20 feet in front of me (Jim). At first I think it’s a duck, then I recognize the bright red splash on the back of its head. Len missed it because he was adjusting his mirror. The nature of chance. Here come the hills - the first requires the granny gear.

How dare those motorcycle riders wave to us? They should bow to us as we ride the rollers and push the wind. They can stop at any bar, smoke a few ciggies, swill a few beers and buzz right past us again. They have no idea that today I (Len) want to hop on one of those beasts and get the rollers done with. A yellow Vespa beside the road - $400, helmet included - beckons me.

Actually , we rode through the Chequemegon-Nicolet National Forest on a scenic byway and the quiet of the forest was beautiful without the sound or smell of motors. There was the occasional truck pulling a boat. When you buy a truck in this part of Wisconsin it comes with a boat, trailer and bait bucket. Part of the stimulus package for this section of the country.

We stop for lunch (the aforementioned motorcycle group already on the bar side) at the Hile Inn and get an education in menu reading. Leonard, still looking for polenta does not know:

Paddles - hot wings without sauce

Bottle caps - sliced jalapeño, deep fried

Popper - deep fried jalapeño covered with cheese

Bskt - slaw and fries

Curds - lightly breaded, fried cheese

But wait there is more; at dinner we learn that “Wisconsin Veggies” are:

Battered fried mushrooms

Battered fried Cheddar Snaps

Battered fried cauliflower and cheese

Battered fried broccoli with cheese

Battered fried mozzarella sticks

Battered fried onion rings

We have put in about 2500 miles, but we stay away from these veggies and get the burgers instead. Little wonder half the people around here exceed their optimal body weight by a factor of 2 or more!

We arrive in Crandon. Some kind of off-road vehicle race going on. A huge fairground is full of RVs, campers, etc. Looks like a very BIG deal for a town of population 1961. Looked like a Cycle Oregon campsite only with campers instead of tents. Hotel room is really nice; dinner sucks.