The End is Near

Sept. 16
You would think that staying at home would enable me to get a great nights rest, but I'm pretty putzy so I only got 5 hours of sleep and still didn't get back to the trail til shortly before noon. Whoops. I started with the Chippewa River segment which was the first MSC project I worked on. Five years seems so long ago but the snow/sleet/freezing rain of the project still stick in my head. The fact that I keep coming back is a great testament to the people who show up at the events month after month, welcoming the new folks and putting up with people like me. The mosquitoes were coming back out after a few weeks of peaceful walking, but they weren't horrible. The trail was in great shape, although a bit overgrown in places. Randy called from the MSC project to tell me they were talking all morning about my leadership style...I don't know if that is a good thing or not. I was almost to the end of the Harwood Lakes segment when I heard heavy breathing coming from behind. My heart skipped a beat and I jumped around only to find an old guy jogging. Jesus, he surprised the hell out of me! I made it to the Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center as a beautiful sunset was unfolding before me. I walked the last few hundred yards in the waning light of another day. I didn't quite make it as far as I wanted, but being only a mile or two short isn't too bad.

Sept. 17
I got a good nights sleep but woke up to an early morning rain. Gotta love Lightfoot. The rain stopped and I headed over to the visitor center and found Brenda and Rod working. I've known them from the beginning of my ice age volunteer era so it was great catching up. My hike didn't start til 10:20, but it was a good morning so it didn't bother me. The last few miles of the Chippewa Moraine segment was very enjoyable. Greens grip on the forest is weakening by the day as orange and red take their turn in the forefront. It's a beautiful thing. Water drips from the leaves as the flora tries drying out in the post shower gloom. The green that remains pops out in a way that the diffused light of a sunny day cannot discover.

I walked into the first bar I saw. The Salisbury Resort was the winner. It was 11 and everyone was drunk. Nice! I feel orderind a PBR garners me respect in a small town bar that my backpack Charlie cannot. I had a great time meeting Rudy, Dick, Chris and a guy they call The Lord. I got a few free drinks and on my way out they gave me a free drink ticket so I'll have to stop back! The day was growing old and I was pretty far behind schedule so I trucked it for a few hours until I came to the Backwoods Bar. A few people told me to stop there for lunch and I'm not one to turn down a meal at a bar. Walking in, I was instantly in awe of how awesome the place was. It felt like a place I could spend a lot of time at. My burger was great and you could substitute cheese curds for fries for the same price! I love it!

Made it to Weyerhaeuser at 5:45. I could either find a place to stay here or walk the last 2.5 miles to the start of the next section. My decision would have to come over a few beers at Porky's. I sat down next to Harlan who was all dressed up, I guess two old-timers had passed and the wakes were today. He was pretty drunk and hard to understand but he was fun to talk to. His daughter came over and asked what I was doing and where I was staying. I was leaning towards heading out and camping in the woods but she talked to the bartender and got me permission to camp next to the bar. She wanted to bring me back to the house but wasn't sure how mother would take it and didn't have her cell phone to call and check. She talked about how mom would make me a great dinner and breakfast but I didn't feel like imposing so I didn't offer up my phone to make the call. The bar it would be! They left and this other lady came over and told me how her cousin walked from Chicago to California and when he moved back home to start a bakery he was shot in a KMart. Sad story. I sat at the bar for a few more beers and then decided to see what else Weyerhaeuser had to offer. The next bar was Burdy's which was a sports bar and completely caught me off guard. This place was new and nice, neither of which I'm used to in a small town bar. The menu was pretty good and they even had IATA membership brochures sitting on the bar! Next up was the Whistlestop, but it turns out it was closed already, but it opened at 7am for breakfast. Sounds like my breakfast is taken care of.

Over the last few weeks people have stopped on the road to ask if I needed help or a ride. That's pretty nice of them. A lot of people ask what I carry for bear or wolf protection and I hold up my fists like a boxer. They can't imagine going out into the scary woods without a gun or bear spray, but show me a report of a bear or wolf mauling in Wisconsin. You can't. Bears will run from you unless you get between a mom and its cubs. Yeah, an animal that runs away from you sounds like something I should be afraid of. Wolves have better things to do than bug you. People are scared of them because of old wives tales and myths. I'm more worried about dogs or even humans. Stories about dogs mauling or injuring humans are pretty common place in the news. A pair of German Shepherds attacked me the other day, barking and circling me with evil intent. Hmm, should I be afraid of an animal I may not see, and if I do will most likely run away, or the animal that runs at me and is nipping at the heels? I think people are pretty irrational about wolves and bears. I like what one guy said to me in a bar, "I wouldn't be worried about the bears but if it does attack, you better put up a fight at least!"

Sept. 18
Woke up to a cool, crisp Autumn morning with a beautiful sunrise. Packed up and headed over to the Whistlestop ("the whistle goes woo woo!") for breakfast. Had a great breakfast with an OJ and a bloody to get me going. I liked the bartender who referenced Road House at least twice in an hour. Met up with the less mysterious Ginger Lee who was being shuttled by local chapter member Jim Kurz. That guy has done some hardcore canoeing in his day! It was perfect hiking weather, probably the best day of the trip so far. We ran into a slew of hikers on the trail which I always like to see. We also ran into an army of bear hunters with a legion of dogs running about the woods. They didn't seem to know that the IAT is off-limits to ATV's, but I wasn't about to say anything because I didn't think Ginger wanted to walk the rest of the day by herself. The Northern Blue Hill segment was really nice when it ebbed and flowed with the many creeks it encountered. Ginger wasn't sure she was going to make it the full 19 miles but through all her whining and my sarcastic comments, she made it. She was doing a lot of complaining about her feet but seemed to stop and comment on the pretty leaves and mushrooms quite a bit. Everything little thing amazed her which amused me.

I was going to stay at the sweet picnic shelter at Murphy Flowage but there was a big party going and the campfire surrounded by chairs told me they werent going anywhere any time soon. While I was putzing around, two couples arrived from the trail and I got talking to them. I'm pretty sure if Ginger wasnt there with a car, I could've went with them for supper and a place to stay or I could've schmoozed with the party that was going on and filled my belly over there. Oh well. My Aunt and Uncle live in Birchwood, just North of there, so I gave them a call to tell them I was in the area and would like to meet up the next day, but no one was home. Ginger and I headed to Rice Lake for supper. She had been talking about stopping at this pie place south of EC on her way home, but I thought why wait so we ate at the Norke Nook in Rice Lake. I debated whether to have a root beer float or a piece of pie for dessert, but I couldn't decide and ended up getting a piece of pie with a scoop of ice cream! (ala mode-e) My Uncle John called and offered to pick me up in Birchwood so Ginger and I headed back up there. I had never been to their cabin, but it's a real nice place. I'll need to get back up here again. My Aunt and Uncle were here, along with my cousin Mike and his girlfriend. I had a piece of apple strudel to top off the night! Excellent! I had the pleasure of watching Michigan St. beat Notre Dame right before bed. After that, I slept great.

Sept. 19
My Aunt Nancy made bacon and waffles which hit the spot and my uncle dropped me back off. I was a little nervous this morning because the TV crew from Discover Wisconsin was coming to film and interview me. They showed up late (typical show-biz elitists) and filled me in on what was going down. The put a microphone on me and had me walk towards and away from the camera while asking me questions and then had me talk some more while standing in front of the creek. All in all it went OK, but in the half an hour after the filming all I could think about was how lame I was. As soon as the camera turned off, my mind opened up and the poetic juices started to flow, but it was too late. My great one-liners and evocative words were left in my mouth unsaid. I missed my chance to shine. The episode should be airing in April, hopefully they don't cut my whole segment.

The Hemlock Creek segment is quite beautiful with the fast water running along the superbly crafter tread. There is a sign along the segment that tells you how far it is to the eastern and western terminus. I think there should be more of these along the trail. A lot of people who hike the trail in their area don't realize that the segment they are on is part of a much larger trail that spans our great state. Plus, its fun for long distance hikers to see their progress. After talking smack about bears the other day, I of course, run into a pair of bear cubs today. I didn't have time to get a picture. Darn! The bears turned and ran directly down the trail where I was headed. I waited around a bit to see if mom would show herself, but she did not appear so I continued in pursuit of the young ones. To my dismay, I never saw them again, but at least I got to see a bear on my hike! I made it to Brill along the Tuscobia and headed to the Wagon Wheel for an NFL update and some drinks. This lady in there was pretty hammered and said if I was doing this hike, that meant I was rich or had rich parents. I could never do something like this without being rich. In the hour she was there she spent $20 which could get me pretty far on the trail. I love drunks. My aunt and uncle stopped in and brought me back to their place for another night. They made brats and potato salad for dinner and it was good. For dessert I had chocolate cherry cake which might have been better than my moms.

Well it's Sunday night and I have been on the trail for nearly 8 weeks, but I'll be done by this time next week. A shade less than 100 miles of trail lie between myself and the end. Work and the real world await my return, but I'm not sure I look forward to them. The weather looks like it may be crummy for my last few days but that's how it's been most of September. I don't think rain can stop me at this point. I'll cross the finish line Friday evening or early Saturday afternoon. I'll zero in on the day as it gets closer and keep people posted. Ah, the end is near!