Apple River

Day 120, July 30, 2011, Apple River

Route from Amery to River’s Edge Resort, New Richmond, WI

29.7 miles, averaging 12 mph

Worst Moment – The front air conditioner isn’t working right- again.  I think and hope that it is an issue with the power that it’s getting.  I don’t think that there’s enough juice.   

Best Moment – We were sitting outside enjoying the cool breeze as a group of college-aged kids camped across the road from us were walking up toward the activity center.  They were carrying a cooler.  Neita asked what was inside.  They replied, “Beer, would you like some?”  Neita, thinking of our tubing on the river tomorrow, said we’d like 4.  They gave them to us and didn’t want to take anything in return.  Later after they returned from the pool they stopped and talked some more.  We found that they were from Partyville, WI.  (Actually it is Pardeeville and is close to Madison.)

The original plan was to get closer to Minneapolis, (which is off the route) for the rest day coming up tomorrow and possibly take Rocket into the city.  However the campground there couldn’t accommodate us, and going into the city wasn’t really that important, so we looked for some other place sort of on the route.  We found the River’s Edge in New Richmond or Somerset WI, on the Apple River and it sounded like a fun place.

Since we weren’t going into the Twin Cities, the ride today was thankfully very short – a good thing.  The first ten miles or so was on Stower Seven Lakes Trail, a re-purposed railroad bed.  It is now a wonderful trail for cycling and hiking.  There is supposed to be a $4 fee for a day permit.  The website indicated that there are pay stations at the trailhead, or you can purchase permits at various merchants in town.  Well there were no pay stations, and I had no idea where to find the merchants selling the trail passes, so I’m a scofflaw.

 A Good Thing

After leaving the trail, I was again on wonderful Wisconsin County roads.  This state has probably the best rural roads that I’ve been on for the whole trip.  I think that Neita agrees.

I got to the River’s Edge before Neita and got us signed in.  This is quite an operation!  There is a waterslide open in the afternoon, miniature golf, a swimming pool, supper club, but the big attraction is the tubing on the Apple River.  The fairly high camping fee covers all of the activities.    

After we got set up, we walked around the grounds.  It is a bit of a walk from the campground to the river and water slides.  The supper club was there and we stopped for a beer.  The place was built in the 40’s still had much of the same kind of décor.  We were the only customers, but it was early.  They were getting ready for the weekend crowd.  The owner was there and told us a few stories about River’s Edge.  He tried to talk us into staying for dinner, but it was really too early to eat.

The campground is party central.  The rolling hills of the campground are covered with groups of college-aged kids camping in tents.  There are a few, but very few RV’s.  The alcohol consumption must at this campground probably is as much as a month’s worth of drinking at all of the other campgrounds we’ve been at combined.  It is quite a sight to see all of the kids having a good time.  And I guess this is a good place to do that – they won’t be drinking and driving. 

Later we went to the Rec Hall to watch the karaoke.  I think that we were probably the oldest folks at the place by at least 20 years.  A great crowd of kids having fun, almost made me wish I were 25 again.  We got back to Ruby as a huge thunder/rain storm hit.  Really cooled things off.  Tubing tomorrow!

  

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.