Day 46 Butternut WI to Manatowish Waters WI

August 2, 2023

It was 64° when we woke up today. We had a nice breakfast of pancakes and sausages at the warm showers before we left. Even though it was warmer we still needed our bike jackets. Jeanne and Dan actually live 4 miles off the bike route so we had to go back into Butternut center to start our days biking. It was a bit over cast so that was nice and we had a tail wind. We followed route FF and then we turned on to route 51 till we got to Mercer. We stopped at one point early on so Hubs could put on his sunglasses and we were right at a driveway to a farm. Next thing you know a truck pulls in and stops. The guy gets out and we start talking. He lives on the farm. He was born on the farm in 1954 and today was his 69th birthday. Happy Birthday Bob. We talked a bit and then went on our way. When we got to the Welcome to Mercer sign we didn’t realize we still had 12 miles to go to get to the center of town. I had to take a picture as we didn’t realize Mercer is the loon capital. We had rolling hills all day and 3 real good ones. On the 3rd one we had to get off and push. ☹️. The traffic picked up the closer to town and when we got into town we couldn’t believe all the cars, trucks etc lined on both sides of the road. It went on for at least a mile. We stopped at a gas station to get drinks and were going to sit outside on the grass to eat our sandwiches and when we came out there were like 8 people on the grass where there weren’t any people therewhen we went in. Someone told us that the 1st Wednesday of August each year they have this huge craft fair. There were people everywhere. I am surprised they have it in the middle of the week instead of the weekend. We did not look around and someone sitting with us told us how we could get around going back on the main road. They also told us we would be coming to a great bike trail that would take us right into Manatowish Waters. They were not wrong. At first it followed the main road and then became the old route 51 and back to the trail again, but then it

Have to take a pic of the roosters when we see them for our friend Paul.

As we were diverting from the craft fair we saw this in someone’s yard. Hubs said he would have loved to put his jacket on him.

The great bike trail we were on today. Hopefully we have one like it tomorrow.

We expected our glasses would have come with more wine than this.

This is exactly why we our doing this adventure.

Selfie with the fish. Not sure what kind it is.

turned into this beautiful trail. I felt like we were biking to Palmetto Bluff with the trees on both sides. We were able to get in early even though we had more miles than yesterday and we are staying at the Pea Patch motel & saloon. Cute place but no air conditioning or refrigerator. So we will be biking tomorrow with warm water. ☹️. We noticed a huge fish across the street in the little park and had to capture us with it. Tomorrow we head to Land O Lakes WI. Hubs says it is on the border of Michigan. Woo Hoo.

Today's ride: 46 miles (74 km)
Total: 1,811 miles (2,915 km)

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