Appleton, Wi to Manitowoc, Wi

July 13, 2003

Westbound: Marshfield to Appleton Eastbound: Manitowoc to Ludington

Appleton to Manitowoc: College Campus to Port City

Following my late night and grand repast, I was in no rush to wake up. When I did, my first priority was to continue to catch up on internet stuff. The Wingate’s room was spacious, quiet, and equipped with a nice desk and several wires. I was unable to make the direct internet connection work but the data port on the phone was more than convenient to connect via Qwest’s local number.

With half an eye on the clock, I did make it downstairs in time to catch the self-serve breakfast and toasted some English muffins to top off the tank. The house was reasonably full this Sunday morning and I shared a little table with an older gentleman. He and his wife were in the midst of an annual trek with their RV. Stopping at a nice hotel was an enhancement and break from the more spartan existence in their rig.

When I saw the staff trying to close the breakfast down, I went back up to my room and continued my internet session. Once caught up, I then packed and headed out. It was nearly 11 before I was underway but with only about 50 miles to cover to reach the Lake Michigan Ferry, I felt no pressure.

Once rolling toward the downtown, I reached a Subway and stopped for lunch. Appleton has to have contributed to the stabilization of my weight on this trip. By 12:20 I was moving again and enjoyed the transition along College Avenue from new shopping centers to older residences and then to downtown. Just beyond downtown lies the campus of Lawrence University. On the west bank of the Fox River, the buildings seemed closer and older. Upon crossing the Fox River, the campus seemed more open, less treed, and newer. About this time a young fellow on an upright bike with very skinny tires turned in front of me. For a mile or so, I picked up my pace to match him, but he ran a red light and left me behind.

Appleton’s east side did not seem as well developed as the west side and the road soon changed to CR Ce which I took to Holland. I turned south on CR D and stopped for juice at a gas station convenience store at the County Line. My intent was then to turn on Schmidt Road which becomes CR K and would take me beyond Interstate 43. Continuing my expert navigation in Wisconsin, I missed the turn and soon reached U.S. 10. Rather than retrace a mile, I stayed on the highway until it joined I 43 just north of Manitowoc. The afternoon became quite warm and my journey on U.S. 10 included another stop for a milkshake in an air conditioned ice cream joint. Whether or not I needed the fuel, I did need the cool.

I continued east past the Interstate until I came to a major road and then turned south. A few miles later I was able to turn east again and reach Lake Michigan. I might have saved a mile by turning right on CR P just before 10 jogged to the north on the way to joining the Interstate.

More than the continental divide in Montana and more than crossing the Mississippi in Minnesota, reaching this inland sea had an impact on me. I took several pictures and then rode slowly along the shore toward downtown.

At a park, I called home and then chatted with a policeman and asked his advice on where to look for convenient lodging near a coin laundry. I followed his directions and found the Heritage Inn, an older establishment near the center of downtown and only a few blocks from a good laundromat.

My first priority after checking in was to get some Orange Juice. I found an ok convenience store and stocked up. Entertainment then surrounded me because the downtown area was serving as the race course for various serious and well-organized bicyclists. I watched these athletes race for a few minutes and then returned to my room, ordered a pizza, and settled in.

51.25 miles in 4.08 hours on the bike for an average of 12.3 mph.

Back up to Cambridge to Manitowoc

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Westbound: Marshfield to Appleton Eastbound: Manitowoc to Ludington