Gilman WI to Appleton WI: Visit with Aunt Polly

Sept 2 – Gilman WI to Falls Creek WI to Stevens Point and to Appleton WI

Sept 1 – 98 Miles
Sept 2 – 72 Miles

Tue – Sept 1st. I was checking my tire pressure on Monday night (Aug 31) to make sure I was ready to ride on Tuesday and when I checked it the air in my rear tire hissed out pretty quick. I tore my valve stem somehow.

It was 10 pm and I was doing a last minute check before bed. I got out my spare tube and discovered the valve stem on it was holding air but it was about half way torn also. Not good. I was a little discouraged to discover this problem at 10 PM the night before I was going to take off but in hind sight it was quite fortunate that I discovered the problem before I was stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Aunt Polly and I decided that I should go to Eau Claire with her to work and find a bike shop and get a couple of spare tubes instead of riding on a tube that was ready to fail. So I put my bike in her Expedition and went to work with her the next day. Found a bike shop that opened at 9:00 AM but he was there and willing to help me at 7:30 in the morning.

Got the bike fixed up and purchased a new tire pump with a flexible tube that will help to prevent tearing valve stems. Polly took me to Fall Creek, WI to drop me off. That is about the same distance to Stevens Point that Gilman would have been so I started riding from there. I got started from Fall Creek at about 9:00 AM. A little later than I would have liked but not too bad considering what happened.

I saw some Buffalo and a War Memorial about the Korean War, Indian soldiers that served in Vietnam – The Forgotten Warriors, and some other war memorial information.

A grasshopper hopped on my bike panniers and hitched a ride for ½ mile or so.

I saw some pretty flowers.

I rode 98 miles to Stevens Point mostly on Highway 10. Again, I saw plenty of pretty countryside. I wanted to make sure I could get to Manitowoc by Thursday in time to the Ferry so I was pushing things a little.

The day was very beautiful with just a slight breeze (in my face of course). As the evening wore on the breeze got a little stiffer but not too bad. I was about to maintain 10 to 11 mph most of the day up and down the rolling hills.

I got to Stevens Point at about 9:00 PM a little later than I would have liked but I made it there. It was dark by then so I stopped at the first decent camping spot I found on the outskirts of the city. A little patch of woods right next to the train tracks of course. Love that train whistling at me all night. I didn’t have any water so this night was a Baby Wipe bath and to bed. Just a little tired.

An old friend of mine, Randy Breland (and I do mean OLD – I believe he is slightly older than DIRT) has graciously given me the official Indian name of “CREEPING TADPOLE”. I thought that was very kind of him. I have always wanted to know what my Indian name would be and now I know. Thank you Randy Man.

Wed – Sept 2nd. I woke up this morning and noticed that my legs were not killing me from the ride the day before. Very nice. I must be getting more studly. As I was getting ready to leave I also noticed that my physique was becoming quite Chiseled. The only problem is that whoever has been chiseling me has chiseled me in the shape of a Granny Smith Apple. I guess I should be grateful I was not chiseled in the shape of a Pear.

Anyway, I got up and packed up my wet tent (from the dew) and got going. Ate a nice breakfast at a little café and met a very nice man there by the name of Tim Jennings who gave me some directions through town and then offered me a ride to Appleton which would have saved me a ton of time and acute pain to my delicate body.

Much to my dismay I heard my Big Mouth telling Tim; “No Thank You”. There goes that Big Mouth of mine again. That ride would have saved me a fair amount of pain, but nooooo…. I wanted to ride my bike. Anyway, it was very nice of Tim to make the offer.

I rode today and the weather was beautiful. Sunny, nice day with just a little breeze (in my face of course). Made pretty good time at a little more than 11 mph average speed. Got to Neenah (near Appleton) about 4:00 in the afternoon.

My oldest son Kye made arrangements for me to stay at Adam and Brandi Benzaquen’s house. Adam used to be Kye’s boss at American Appliances in Iowa. Once again very nice people. Adam and Brandi offered me a place to stay with a nice shower, laundry and fed me a great dinner. Very nice of them and the offer was very much appreciated.