Ride 24 - Merrimac

Colsac III approaches shore. 9/1/25 dwm

 One of my favorite rides last year was also the first time I rode to Merrimac from Verona. 

 Merrimac is on the north shore of the Wisconsin River and the fastest way to get there from the south shore is by taking a ferry.

 Colsac III is the third boat serving cars from March to November or December, depending on temperature and whether ice is on the water.

 We usually make a point of taking it a few times a year because it provides a 7-minute break from the drive when you can get out and stretch your legs enjoying the trip across the river.

From the trail next to US - 12. 9/1/25 dwm

Last year, I was on a ride to Waunakee, and when I got there, realized I wasn't far from the ferry and continued the ride. This time I took a more direct route.

From home I headed north on County M then stayed on Pleasant View to Airport Road then jumping on a bike path that parallels U.S. Highway 12 from Middleton.

I sometimes use this path as a destination, riding it to where it ends at Rawls Road then going home; this time I turned at the community of Springfield and used two county highways to reach Lodi.

Co. P takes you thru farm country. 9/1/25 dwm

 The stretch from Springfield to Lodi is 13 miles and features more than six long hills. Thankfully there was room to the right of the lane line suitable for cyclists. At highway speeds there were still times where cars and trucks were too close for comfort. 

 When I resumed biking more than 20 years ago, a friend who was a fellow-rider from north to south Wisconsin referred to climbing hills on a bike as character building. 

 Since then I've climbed every hill. There have been plenty of times I might have been able to walk at the same speed, but it was a matter of principal, or should I say, character? I'm sure there will come a time when that streak will end, but I expect to be at least a few years from now.

My stop in Lodi. 9/1/25 dwm

Lodi is the only community on this ride large enough to have a downtown and a Kwik Trip along the
route. I stopped there on my to Merrimac and a second time on the way back. 

One of the nice things you can do at Kwik Trip is get a free refill of your water bottle, which I appreciate. I also bought one of their chocolate dunker donuts for quick energy. It has some substance and isn't sticky so you can eat while you ride.

It's five miles from Lodi to Merrimac on State Highway 113, a narrow two-lane road that isn't heavily traveled because tractor-trailers can't use the ferry. It doesn't have what I like to think is the 'bike lane' outside the white line but it feels comfortable.

Colsac III returning. 9/1/25 dwm

 This was my fourth time taking a bike across the Wisconsin River by ferry. The first time was when the GReat Annual Bicycle Adventure Along the Wisconsin River (GRABAAWR) made the ferry part of its seven-day ride from Eagle River to Prairie du Chien.

 The second was on the RAW (Ride Across Wisconsin) trip from LaCrosse to Milwaukee. The third and fourth trips were part of this four-hour ride.

 When I reached the ferry, my bike computer read 34 miles. By reversing course, the ride total was 68 in 4 hours, 14 minutes, an average of 16.2,

The cables control the ferry's route. 9/1/2025 dwm

Sauk County is on the north shore of the Wisconsin River. 9/1/25 dwm