Elroy Sparta Trail - Ride #3 September 18, 2010

Jordan hadn't been on the Elroy Sparta Trail since we rode it when she and Jake were kids, about 20 years ago, so we took the chance to do it together.


Cody, Sue and Wax joined us. Jordan and Cody brought Opal and Crow along, so Wax was the SAG (support & gear) wagon and dog sitter. He met us at various points along the trail.


Jordan, Deb and Sue get ready for the ride.

It was a little chilly as we began, but we got warmed up as we worked. This was Sue's first official ride - Cody did take her out for an 8 mile ride last weekend to get her prepared. It was also Jordan's first ride this season.

About 6 or 7 miles into the ride there is a spot where you can look down into a valley and sometimes see horses. Today the horses were out and we learned they are Clydesdales.

We watched them graze and then walk through a tunnel that goes beneath the bike trail, to get to the farm on the other side.


It was very neat to be able to watch these large, stately horses.

There were many cyclists using the trail today, so it was quite a social outing.

We took breaks along the trail as needed - to stretch, enjoy the scenery, drink water and eat cookies!

We prepared for the journey through tunnel #3 that is 3/4 mile long. Today we could see from one end to the other. At other times this year, the other end of the tunnel was not visible - why would that be? The angle of the sun? The clarity of the air? The difference between the temperature in the tunnel and outside of the tunnel? We don't know. If you know, share your wisdom.

Beyond tunnel #3 there are some nice outdoor restrooms and this little red building - other people were taking photos here, so we thought we would too!

I love this picture - it is such a joy to have the splendor of nature enfold you like this!

Wax and the dogs were eager to see us arrive in Norwalk. We unpacked our picnic lunch and ate in the park alongside the trail. It was about 2pm by now. Sue and Jordan decided they could continue through the next tunnel and on to Wilton.

These yellow flowers were the perfect spot for a family photo of Cody & Jordan, Crow & Opal.

By the time we got to Wilton we had covered about 18 miles - not bad for their first efforts! Cody and Wax planned to shuttle cars, bikes and people back to Sparta and Larry & Deb began the ride back on bicycles.

We arrived at the motel in Sparta within minutes of each other. That evening we enjoyed some good Italian food at Angelini's restaurant in Sparta.

On Sunday, Sue and Wax needed to head back home, but Deb & Larry joined Jordan and Cody on an excursion into La Crosse. We checked out the friendship garden at the riverfront park and walked around the downtown. Then we planned to head up to GrandDad's Bluff, however there was roadwork and a lengthy detour, so we skipped that and headed back to Appleton and the kids were going to travel up the river and back to Wausau via Hwy 29.

We drove Hwy 16 to Sparta and then Hwy 71 to Elroy so we could see the lay of the land by road.

We came across 2 escapee Shetland ponies trekking up the highway. We stopped to see if we could coral them and fortunately a couple of other motorists did too. They had more horse smarts than we did.

By this time we had traffic backed up so I called 911 and they said they had a deputy enroute.

Eventually, we had them calm enough to get them in hand and a deputy sheriff and the owners turned up to take them home.

It was a nice to be together and do some biking. The Fall colors are creeping in - the next few weeks should be beautiful for biking and enjoying the Fall vistas.