Old Abe Trail

We arrived in Eau Claire around noon yesterday and headed for the downtown farmer’s market where we got local strawberries, asparagus, and various other provisions. Eau Claire has many sculptures on their downtown streets. I liked this one right by the market

We had a quick lunch nearby and I just happened to look at a map and then just happened to notice an ice cream shop a few blocks away. Seemed like fate. As we ate our cones we discovered the same braggy ice cream sign hanging on their wall that we saw at the Bike and Bean. The ice cream in question is called chocolate shoppe ice cream and it’s good but I think we have much better in New England. Sorry WI.

The Airbnb is very close to town but tucked away in a beautiful wooded settting at the end of a dirt road. It’s wonderful! One of the best we have stayed in. So far we’ve seen quite a collection of wild turkeys and a doe.

This morning we rode 26 miles on the Old Abe State trail. The trail is 20 miles long and connects 2 state parks. We started at Jim’s Falls, about 11 miles from the Brunet State Park. It’s a paved trail and the pavement was glorious! Picture taking commenced almost immediately. I knew the geese were around because of the poop on the trail but you have to look very hard to see them in the marsh

A bit further along I spied this guy hanging out by the side of the path. He was a little closer to the water when we returned some 3 hours later.

Looks like the sculpture tradition carried onto the trail. Can’t remember what these are called but they show up everywhere along hiking and biking trails

I was keeping an eye out for a suitably discreet area as we had heard there were no facilities along the trail and then we spotted this! One of Tom’s many jobs when we are riding is to vet the pee huts so that I can avoid unpleasant experiences. He didn’t seem to think it was a good photo op. Many thanks to Boy Scout troop 120!

As we pulled into the town of Cornell we saw what Tom tells me is a board stacker. Would have been more interesting if it was actually stacking something! The town is right on the trail and I’m sure many of these businesses enjoy trail traffic

We were so glad that we continued on into Burnet State Park. There was a loop ride on park roads and some more trail. It was beautiful and we found a great stop for a picnic lunch. Note: rye bread and PB not a great combo.

Temperature and humidity rising as we headed back and the sun came out as well so it was a tad steamy. Our marsh from the beginning of the ride was way more popular. Those geese know a good thing when they see one