Menominee River Century

This past weekend the husband and I headed over to Eastern Wisconsin, specifically the Wisconsin/Michigan border, for an organized bike ride called the Menominee River Century.  We orginially did this ride 19 years ago (1992 by the T-shirt logo) as poor broke college students.  The only thing I remember about that ride was a) I enjoyed it and b) the drive back to the Twin Cities at 9p at night, dreadfully tired, in the rain. 

Imagine my surprise and delight when I found the ride was still active!

We left Duluth Saturday after dropping the hounds off at Pookie Prison (ala "the Kennel"), and were on the road by 9:30am.  Now GoogleMaps put our anticipated drive across Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula in the 5 1/2 hour mark...try actual time of 7 1/2.  One hour of that was for lunch and an ice cream break, but it was still a long drive.  A beautiful drive, but one which didn't leave us anytime for sightseeing (again). 

Sunday we wanted to be at the start by 7:30a and under anticipated how long it would take us to get ready, eat breakfast, and drive to the start.  We got off about 8:00a.   As someone who is used to riding rolling hills, on rough roads, in a headwind, this ride was absolutely delightful!  It was FLAT!!!  It had ONE hill!  Almost NO WIND!  Can you tell I was thrilled?!   I loved it!  It was so awesome to be able to just...ride.  If you're a biker, you'll know what I mean. Maybe...you might not have the hills like Duluth does...

The Husband enjoyed the ride too until his butt started hurting (new seat). 

When all was said and done, we did about 51 miles, averaging 14.5 mph.  There were 5 rest stops with great food (banana bread, strawberry bread, cookies, rice krispy bars, bananas, peaches, gatorade and water), a post ride meal of sloppy joes (vegetarian and regular), police support at major intersections, and wonderful volunteers. 

We are contemplating going back next year - twenty years after our first visit!



Our first rest stop - the historic town of Peshtigo, WI (not our bikes in the background). 



Dee! They had ALL their firetrucks out!