Riding a Glacial Wave

Yesterday I finally took the time to ride the length of the Glacial Drumlin Trail.  It follows the bed of an old railroad bed from Cottage Grove to Waukesha (just west of Milwaukee).

After the heavy heat and humidity last week, it was a perfect day to ride with a late day high of 72.  In the morning there was even a cool breeze to welcome me to the trail as I moved east and made it to London.

Yep, London.

I couldn't find the Princess and child at home, but Prince William joined me at the local watering hole for a drink and conversation before I got back on the bike.

The trail moves in close to a straight line through Deerfield and Lake Mills before taking a jog around a grain elevator that still makes use of some of the track.

Much of the country is covered in marshes for as far as the eye can see.  I'm sure there must have been some wild rice in there some place.

For long stretches there were canals so people could move around easily.  We've learned through the years that wetlands are important in controlling floods, so thankfully these acres upon acres are still serving as our sponge.

A couple of places along the route there were apples littering the trail.  It made me think about those times in the car munching on a Honey Crisp and chucking the core out the window when done.

Was it littering?  Well, I suppose it is.  But, it is natural and biodegradable.

Seeing the apple trees along the old track line, I got to thinking about some passenger or train worker finishing his (or her - but do women through apple cores out windows?) apple and flinging the remaining core out a window.  Decades later - a tree stands offering fruit to folks on bikes.  Who knows, but it could've happened.

After the slight detour north of Jefferson, as I got back on the trail - before me I saw a jogger and two running mates.  Her dogs.  My past experience makes me a bit leery of such situations and it is usually the case that the runner eventually reverses course or gets off the trail at the next cross road.

So, I followed.  And followed.  And followed.  She kept running and the dogs along side.  I rode about a block behind at 6 miles an hour.  I didn't want to get too close and alarm either her or her dogs (who might get protective if she was alarmed), so I followed some more.  Four times while I crawled along I saw signs posted:  "All pets must be on a leash and under physical control at all times."  Ah, nope.

After a half-hour I was able to get her attention, she got her dogs under control, and I was on my way.

I don't blame her for having company and protection on her run.  But as a bike rider and someone who is, shall we say cautious about dogs, please put them on a leash.  We don't know if you have them under verbal control (seems like most owners really don't) or not.  I really appreciate the dog owners I encounter on the trail who take good care of their "best friends."

The Glacial Drumlin route includes many marks the glacier left behind - hills, lakes, and great farmland.  It's another beautiful bike ride in Wisconsin.

The last 11 miles were paved for a fast finish in Waukesha, so I could log a 52 mile ride and another of Wisconsin's State Trails off my  to-do list.