Trip 36 - To the Drumlin

The Glacial Drumlin trail. 10/19/24 dwm

The penultimate ride was the coldest ride so far. It was in the upper 30s as I was getting ready, so extra clothes were necessary. 

I wore sweat pants over leggings and a long-sleeve t-shirt over a long-sleeve jersey along with a hat under my helmet and two pair of gloves. I should have considered an extra pair of socks as my feet were the only part of me that got cold. (They recovered quickly when I got home.)

The mileage coming into this ride was 1.402.My plan Saturday was to get on the Capital City trail from the Military Ridge trail and follow it to where it ends on Cottage Grove road.

I got an early start, heading out before 6am, which meant enjoying the now waning full Super moon, also called a Hunter's moon (photo below left), as it reflected light in the pre-dawn darkness. It's difficult to look at stars while riding a bike but I did enjoy the view of multiple constellations.

A waning full moon. 10/19/24 dwm

In the morning darkness I saw quite a few deer, several only feet away before they ran away, and an opossum ran next to the bike for a few feet before it ducked for cover. There were quite a full sand hill cranes I heard and a pair I rode past less than 5-feet away.

 When the bike trail ends at Cottage Grove road, it goes under U.S. highway 51 then over I - 39/90 toward the community of the same name. 

 I've taken Cottage Grove road in the past and thankfully work has been done since the last time, so the road had space for bikes to ride out of traffic and was in excellent shape. I turned right on Vilas road, following it over active railroad tracks then taking Clark street into town.

 When Clark stopped it was across from the entry to the Glacial Drumlin trailhead (photo lower right). The goal for the ride was 60 miles, 30 out and 30 going back home. The bike computer was over 28 miles by the time I rode onto the trail's path.

The trail connects Cottage Grove to Waukesha.

Just to be safe, I rode a little father than 30 miles just in case I needed any extra tenths of a mile at the finish. 

The trail is paved until it leaves the city where it changes to crushed limestone. It was in very good shape compared to other trails I've ridden.

The turn-around came 2-and-a-half miles from the start (photo top right) where I reversed course and re-traced the route from the other side of the road.

The little extra on the trail meant I need just 4 more tenths to finish with 61 miles for the 4-hour and 3-minute ride. The long-range forecast is good for next weekend when I'll need just 37 miles to reach my 2024 goal.