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| Hiking | 7.42 Miles |
142 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.42 Miles | 2 Hrs 28 Mns | | 3.01 mph |
| 142 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Since I am no longer doing Endurance Karting races — long story — I try to get my karting in during race weekends at Road America. I still love karting, so that means I have to, absolutely have to, return to Wisconsin more often! 
So, if all I did was hike the Ice Age Trail, I would burn through the segments in only three years. What to do then? Hike some other Wisconsin trail on our second visit of the year. The trail I chose is the Wild Goose State Trail.
At the Kwik Trip truck stop (MP 0.2) in Fond du Lac, I kissed and hugged my wife goodbye, hoping the truckers did not think any shenanigans were going on. 
It was immediately obvious Wild Goose State Trail would have quite a bit of #flowerporn, though perhaps not as much as the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory — aka The Domes [ photoset ] — we visited in Milwaukee the day before.
The first 1.2 miles of the Wild Goose State Trail pass through the warehouse / light industrial zone that used to be serviced by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad on whose former right-of-way I was hiking. As on most of the trail to Oakfield, there was plenty of shade, so you can enjoy trees, flowers and birds rather than hulking buildings.
Most the of the farms along the Wild Goose State Trail are crop farms — mainly corn & soybeans — but a dairy farm (MP 2.5) butts right up against the trail a half mile south of the East Branch Fond du Lac River. Often the trail splits farms. In those cases, where a farmer has to cross the trail to get from one field to another, there are black-on-yellow caution diamond signs picturing a farmer on his tractor. 
Oakfield is a typical small Wisconsin town: Clean, safe & friendly. Well, almost.
Walking into town, I was greeted by a friendly gentleman who appeared to be mowing the municipal grass. I’m happy, he’s happy, the world is a beautiful place.
Just a minute later, crossing County Highway D, a big guy left the grain elevator to ask me what I was doing. (I was filming as I walked.) The implication being that I was some sort of ISIS terrorist hell bent on suicide bombing America’s sole remaining source of food, causing mass starvation. Seriously. It’s not illegal to film in a public place. I blew him off, replying that I was filming “Because I want to.” I understand he meant well, but dude … perspective. 
After meeting my wife on the south side of Oakfield, we drove back ‘downtown’ for lunch & beers at Anita’s Log Cabin. Recommended if you are in Fond du Lac County!
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/487235264 |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
It's Wisconsin, so you can hardly avoid flowers! |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
