August 4, 2013 Clam Lake ---> Mercer WI - 55 miles
We left Clam Lake at approximately 9 am under clear blue skies. The temperature was in the high 50's - low 60's. Again, perfect bike riding conditions. Beautifully paved roads with occasional rolling hills, but nothing too drastic. Pretty scenery. Very little traffic - we essentially had the road to ourselves. What really struck me was how quiet it was. Mainly, what I heard were birds chirping. Never did see any elk.
We turned off the state highway onto back roads for the last half of the day's ride. It became increasingly cloudy as the day progressed but, thankfully, no rain. I think the rain will come tomorrow. Alongside the road were all sorts of wildflowers - little yellow, white and purple flowers. Also interspersed were beautiful cat tails and occasionally lining the ditch were lush ferns. I think I even saw evidence of some early beginnings of leaves changing colors, although for the most part everything is still very green.
About 17 miles from Mercer, Randy and I stopped by the side of the road and ate the deli sandwiches we had picked up earlier. Randy commented on how the ride was a little boring in that the scenery, while pretty, was becoming a little monotonous. And while there were lakes nearby, the route did not run alongside them.
We rolled into our destination town of Mercer at about 2:30 pm and found lodging at a quaint little lot cabin type complex called the Northern Exposure Nite motel. Very clean and a great place to relax and re-group for the ride tomorrow when we will likely encounter our first rain of the trip. For dinner we walked across the street to the local Subway.
My anxiety regarding the possible physical challenges of today's ride were entirely unfounded as it turned out to be an easy ride for the most part. My legs and body feel strong and for the most part the muscle soreness has gone away. Feels good.
Tomorrow we continue our ride across Wisconsin towards Conover - approximately 50 miles.
