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Bikes & Buggies

Sept 28-30, 2007

 

Bikes & Buggies is a weekend cycling tour in southwestern Wisconsin during what we hope to be peak fall color season.  If you've never ridden through the beautiful countryside of this area, you are going to love it! While the Elroy-Sparta bike trail is nearby, the routes will focus on the 'roads less traveled', passing by many Amish farms, horses-drawn buggies, and “truck on a triangle" road signs--synonymous with a FUN downhill! We’ll also wind our way through the hills and valleys of the Kickapoo River Valley, enjoying the scenic quiet country lanes with canopies of trees overhead in their full autumn glory. These roads are amongst the most beautiful in Wisconsin & Minnesota that we've ridden on--we hope you can join us!

RIDES: 

Saturday:

29 SAT 10:00 AM A/B 50-60 mi. BIKES AND BUGGIES I. Depart from the Firemen’s Park in Ontario, WI. Ontario is approximately 1 hour east of La Crosse, WI. The park is located on the southwest corner of Hwy 33 and Division St. There is a gas station within a block of the park.  Today’s ride takes us along quiet country lanes past several Amish farms where we’ll hear the ‘clip-clop’ of horses and buggies on the road vs. “car back”!  We’ll stop briefly at the Cashton Mercantile and learn about Amish customs, then ride to an Amish bakery, furniture & quilt maker and cheese factory and hear directly from the respective owners about their trades. 

Sunday:

30 SUN 9:30 AM A/B 50-60 mi. BIKES AND BUGGIES II. Depart from the Wilton Village Park in Wilton, WI.  NOTE CHANGE FROM SATURDAY’S START LOCATION.  Wilton is approximately 1 hour east of LaCrosse, WI.  The park is at the intersection of Hwy 71 & East St. in Wilton, two blocks east of Main St (address:  400 East St, Wilton WI).  Today’s ride takes us through the beautiful Kickapoo Valley where we’ll criss-cross the Kickapoo River (known as “the world’s most crookedest river) many times.  We’ll stop for lunch in Rockton at the Rockton Bar for their “almost world famous” chicken BBQ where they grill upwards of 400+ chickens on their massive outdoor grills. 

 

LODGING:

Lodging is on your own.  Some of us will be camping at the Wilton Village Park which provides camping, electricity, clean restrooms and showers, picnic shelters and a swimming pool, all for the low low cost of $5/person/night.  For directions to the park, see “Directions” below.  They do not take reservations---availability is on a first-come first-served basis--- but I’ve been assured that we won’t have any problem getting campsites as the campground is quite large, kids are back in school and most people choose to stay at the Tunnel Trail campground just off of the Elroy-Sparta bike trail.  There is no formal check-in/check-out; just set up shop and, in the early evening, someone from the campground will come around and collect the $.  For those of you who prefer indoor lodging, one option is the Driftwood Motel in Ontario (877-337-4660).  Note:  Cranberry Fest (CranFest) in nearby Warrens is the same weekend as this trip.  Apparently, upwards of 100,000 people attend this festival each year and, as such, rooms are very hard to come by so you may want to act sooner rather than later if you’re interested in indoor lodging. 

For other lodging options, search on the towns of Wilton, Ontario, Cashton & LaFarge, or the counties of Vernon or Monroe.  Here are some links that may be helpful:

http://ontario.wisconsin-services.com/travel-lodging/hotels-lodging/

http://www.elroy-sparta-trail.com

DIRECTIONS TO WILTON VILLAGE PARK (campground and Sunday’s start location): 

Wilton, WI is located in southwestern, WI, midway between Sparta & Elroy and about 1 hour east of LaCrosse.  From the Twin Cities, MapQuest will direct you onto I-94; however, we’ve found it much more scenic to take Hwy 52 south to I-90 east.  Apparently this route is supposed to be even more scenic in the fall.  From I-90, take the “Tomah/Wilton” exit (exit #141) which is Hwy 131 and go south on Hwy 131 for 9 miles.  Turn right (west) onto Hwy 71/131 for 3 miles to Wilton.  The campground is located two block east of the intersection of Hwy 71 & East St.  (400 East St).  Wilton isn’t that big---you’re sure to find it.  

MEALS:

SAT NIGHT:  We’ll plan to have dinner at the Dorset Valley Restaurant, B&B and Bakery in Wilton at 7 pm.  Dorset Valley Restaurant is an old schoolhouse transformed into a restaurant, with many “made from scratch” items such as soups, dinner rolls, and PIES of which they sell more than 500 slices per month, not counting the number of whole pies they sell.  All of the berries used for the pies are from the local Amish in the area.  Anyway, they have a prime rib special on Saturday night.  Here’s the link in case you’d like to check them out:  http://www.dorsetvalleyrestaurant.com.  Please let me know by Thursday, Sept 27, if you are interested in having dinner there so I know how many to reserve for.  To RSVP, click here:  

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=0gkH4rwr61sI9n5BS6TXzw_3d_3d.  Thanks!

After dinner, hopefully the weather will cooperate and we’ll have a campfire back at the campground.  All are welcome, regardless of where you’re staying.  I’ll have stuff for s’mores in case you’re craving something sweet!

SUN BREAKFAST:  Breakfasts are on your own; however I thought I’d mention that, on Sunday mornings, Dorset Valley Restaurant (which is associated with a B&B) serves their two B&B specialties in addition to their normal breakfast menu:  blueberry (or strawberry or raspberry or…) cream cheese French toast and an egg bake dish.  YUM!  They open at 8 am but will open earlier if there is a group of 6 or more.

SUN LUNCH:  Sunday’s ride will take us through Rockton, which is a perfect excuse to stop at the Rockton Bar for their “almost world famous” chicken BBQ!  Each Sunday afternoon, they grill 400+ chickens on their massive outdoor grill.  It’s quite the sight (and good too!)

All other meals are on your own.   

 

QUESTIONS: 

Please contact Mary Derks (mderks@comcast.net, 651-335-6505) or Scott Larson (scottglarson@comcast.net, 612-730-8371) with any questions. 

We hope you can make it!

Scott Larson and Mary Derks

 

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