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Happenings, Reflections, Ideas, Analysis

TRACE THE MITTEN

Moving into Door County

4/27/2021

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The first Europeans in this area were part of the fur trading industry arriving in 1673. Other areas of Wisconsin and Michigan were part of this big business.
The first Europeans to travel in this area were the explorers using the lakes and rivers as the pathway.  Fur traders followed trading knives, blankets and other goods for fur.  The fur pelts were taken to Montreal for shipping to Europe where they were greatly valued. Conflicts arose between the French and English for control of the trade.  Settlements increased following the War of 1812.
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This section of Wisconsin is very obvious because it is a peninsula extending into Lake Michigan and Green Bay is on the other side.  This area is called Door County.  The name is said to originate  from Native American tales of the dangerous waters at the tip that would cause shipwrecks. (The Door of Death)
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Many passenger steam ships were on the Great Lakes. If you have never seen Lake Michigan it is like an ocean in size.
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 Ragweed causes half of the Allergic Rhinitis in North America.  The late growing season up in this part of Wisconsin did reduced the ragweed infestation into the fields and this was very attractive to those hay fever suffers.   The area began to attract seasonal visitors in the later half of the 19th century.  This interest lead to the passenger ship business on the Great Lakes, which lasted into the 1960's.  I know of one ferry between Michigan and Wisconsin, but I found 18 ferries in Michigan. https://www.michigan.org/ferry-services#?c=44.4299:-85.1166:6&tid=141&page=0&pagesize=20&pagetitle=Ferry%20Services Most of these ferries now run to the islands located in the lakes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2TX0Mvwpw4 The first resorts in Door County.  This was a great getaway from the busy metropolitan areas of Milwaukee and Chicago.
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It is common to see cyclists on the roads in Door County.
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Up at Rowley's Bay you could kayak.
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Rowley's Bay Resort in Ellison Bay. I hope that does not confuse you.
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Further up through Wisconsin: From Cedarburg to Manitowoc

4/24/2021

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Traveling along the Ozaukee Interurban Trail.
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Interurban railroads were also used in Michigan. For many years it was a good way to get between town. Now we would rather use a car. Some areas do have bus lines that run between towns.
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Harrington Beach State Park. This beach stretches for a mile.
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Oostburg is named after a town in the Netherlands. In 1873 they decided to move the town 2 miles to attract the railroad. It worked! The town boasts a population of 2600 residents and is a suburb of Sheboygan.
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Sheboygan Breakwater Light.
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Sheboygan is at the mouth of the Sheboygan River. In Michigan we have a Cheboygan.
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Near Mosel I had a great view overlooking Lake Michigan.
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Wisconsin is know as the dairy state and you will find many farms growing crops too. This is near Cleveland.
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Wisconsin has many wonderful inland lakes. I will be canoeing soon.
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The S.S. Badger ferries daily across Lake Michigan to and from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI. It is common to see cycle tourist going across as they do the coast to coast Northern Tier cycle route.
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Manitowoc Breakwater Light has been in service since 1918 to mark the opening of the harbor.
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In Wisconsin Further along Lake Michigan: From Racine to Bayside

4/23/2021

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 French missionaries arrived in the Milwaukee area in the late 17th century. Like most areas that grew it is on a river and here we find the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers. What do you think of  when you here Milwaukee? Beer? Laverne and Shirley? Wayne's World? Brewers? Bucks?

The name Milwaukee is derived from the Potawatomi Indians and means "council grounds" or "gathering place by water."
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Milwaukee Pierhead Light (1872)
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Milwaukee Breakwater is at the entrance of the harbor. It was built in 1926.
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North Point Lighthouse (1888)
This cast iron tower raises to 74'. At one time it was relocated because the park trees obscured the  beam. The Oak Leaf Trail will lead you right to tower and living quarters. This position was to mark the entrance of the Milwaukee River.  Mineral oil was the first fuel and then coal gas and then electricity.  Like so many of the lighthouses a supporter group oversees the care. There is also a wonderful museum on site.
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Kevich Light near Grafton, WI
This light is unique in what I have seen about the lighthouses along the Great Lakes.  This light was built privately and was constructed  in 1981.  The light is 53' above the ground and sits on a bluff 120' above the lake, making it the 2nd highest light on Lake Michigan.
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Port Washington Breakwater Light (1935). I had never seen a pedestal like this.
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I found a quiet spot along the shore to finish the day.
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Satisfied with what I can do.

4/18/2021

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Are you satisfied with your workout results?  I bet most of us are not satisfied and if we are satisfied we tend to be humble.  Of course, we know a few braggarts, don't  we?

During my ride yesterday while I had to downshift to the granny gear to make it up the hill.  I was hit with a feeling disappointed. Luckily I quickly shifted by thinking, instead of my gears. I decided that I was pleased to still be able to do what I can.  This effort will serve as the  baseline for this year.

Throughout the riding months I will quite often do route multiple times.  Some sections will be timed segments on the Strava app and I will occasionally look and compare the last couple times on that section, but I am satisfied with self-assessing how I was feeling.

I just want to push myself as much as I can feel I can handle.  When I take my pulse during rides my range will be 90-110 beats per minute.   The chart at the fitness center described is range based on my age as the "Health Zone", 50-60%, which help fend off chronic disease like blood pressure and cholesterol.  I can also see benefits with helping these issues.  I got off the cholesterol medicine and now I need meds to help the BP. My pulmonary and asthma doctors say that my regular exercise help slow the decrease in lung function. In this zone I will be able to workout everyday.

When my heart rate increases during exercise to the point of the "Fitness Zone", 60-75%, I will start to wheeze and need to reduce my effort to calm my respiration down.  That is when I shift to easier gears.  If, by chance, I do a harder workout, I will do easier rides before I push it again.  

​I am happy to maintain what I have.  


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Through Illinois along Lake Michigan and up to Racine, Wisconsin

4/16/2021

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Whihala beach in Whiting , Indiana looking toward the Chicago skyline.
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The Lakefront trail runs along the waterfront runs over 18 miles. It gets heavy use.
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The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the many sights along the route.
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Later I came to the Shedd Aquarium. There are so many wonderful things to see in Chicago.
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Looking back at the John Hancock Building and other skyscrapers. Many beautiful buildings.
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Being a Big Ten fan I needed to stop at Northwestern University in Evanston.
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I love searching out the lighthouses when I cycle the Great Lakes. This is the Kenosha Southport Lighthouse the rebuilt 1866 version. It is located on Simmons Island Park.
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As I was still in the Kenosha area , I came upon the Wind Point Lighthouse * (1880) which reached to 112' compared to the 40' Southport Lighthouse. This is believed to be the oldest and tallest lighthouse still operating on the Great Lakes.
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The Racine Harbor Lighthouse (1903) helped guide ships into the harbor. The building was added later to create quarters for the lifeguards who would venture out to save the souls in peril from a shipwreck.
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Parital trace the Lake Michigan shore

4/15/2021

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In 2011 and 2012 I traveled along the Michigan shore on the Lake Michigan side during two bike tours. Earlier this year I did a virtual tour circumnavigating the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My next step was do the path from Whiting, Indiana on the Indiana-Illinois border up through Wisconsin to the corner of the the U.P.  In this way I can say that I will have gone around the Lake Michigan.

In recent weeks I see that the  large group bike tours within Michigan are postponed from 2021 to 2022.  I am comfortable with that I will go on many day rides and do some overnight tours on my own in the State.
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I decided that I needed to do a connection with New Buffalo heading to Whiting. I am familiar with this area.
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Michigan City Lighthouse at a very pretty time.
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The Indiana Dunes are such a beautiful area.
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Oak Savannah trail in the fall.
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In 62 miles I had made it through this corner of Indiana. Next stop Illinois.
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  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
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