The North Woods

We have been riding in Wisconsin for about four days now. Off to a slow start on some busier roads we finally got to some great county roads, ones with letters for names not numbers. The F, the K, the Ff, county S, you get the idea. The counties use the same letters throughout the state so the postal service must have hell of a time with mail delivery. The roads are small single lane roads that roll smoothly. They have little traffic and lots of shade and the drivers in Wisconsin are all business, no cap taps here! They are going to the lake! Yielding to the bikes and merging nicely, half are towing a small motor boat or the canoe is on top. Why ride a bike when you can play on the water?
At first I didn't quite get it, lakes are nice and all but it's not the beach. The north woods are beautiful but between mosquitoes, ticks and biting flies why bother. Many a night we have been trapped in the tent with those nasty bugs trying to get at us, taking any interest away in the greatness that may be outside. Plus most of the places we would camp at would be on the lake but you couldn't see it through the trees, so the pay off just wasn't there. One night at the Saint Croix State Park, after riding 60 miles, instead of sitting in the hot humid tent surrounded by mosquitoes we went for a bike ride. You say what a ride after a ride? Well it was the only way to see the park (walking with the swarms wasn't an option), cool down(creating our own fan) and escape the little f****** (sorry for the language Mom).
But like so many other parts of this trip things came together. Other times it was luck, chance or simple planning but this time it was our friend and neighbor Mark and his family's magical cottage on Black Oak Lake in Land O Lakes, Wisconsin. Allowing us to experience the area the right way and understanding why everybody is in a hurry to get to the lake. I'm not sure if I can do the cottage justice but the place has that feel of those old jeans that you value more then anything and would never think of getting rid of. It's simple elegance is seen thru the beautiful beams in the ceiling and the scattered family relics thru the rooms. Built in 1916 it still holds that time's vib depite electricity and modern plumbing. It's family's love of it's ancestors is felt in it's upkeep as well as photos. Mark's brother David is curator,not a caretaker, of this gem. Caretaking implies upgrades to keep things current. Curator is more accurate. Everything has been kept in good working order but has been left in period, so to speak.
I had been wondering why these homes didn't have screened in porches, and I still don't know why most look like they don't, but this cottage had a charming screened in porch with a view of the lake, a nice cool breeze and a rocker to boot, heaven! The lake is clean and quiet, with it having that neighhood feel. Other families that have been coming here as long as the Hoffman's boat by welcoming everyone back home.
So we've crashed their Fourth of July party for a few days, hoping not to step on too many toes. The timing also was perfect in that I think John and I needed to mix it up with some friends and give each other a break. Twenty four seven is hard to do no matter how much you like and love someone! So this break is great timing to recharge the batteries. Hopefully a few days off the bikes during the busy holiday drive time will also keep us a little safer.
It sounds like there is a parade and fireworks in town and with flags decorating our bikes we are celebrating our independence in more ways then one. But we also are thankful that we have great friends and family helping us to achieve this goal. So grab your kazoo and have a great yankee doodle dandy time this Fourth. Kate