October 25, 2018
Day 9. Milwaukee!
When I initially plan out an adventure, I deal a lot with the logistical side of things. I need this certain gear. Here is the route. After those decisions are made, I can also outline where the challenges lie - both physically and mentally. But on paper, its hard to register their eventual impact. I've often felt that if you put yourself in a difficult enough situation, something interesting will happen. What exactly is hard to define, but stay out long enough and you'll find adventure.
While I was never in danger of falling into a crevasse or getting eaten by a polar bear on this trip in Wisconsin, I do feel like I found adventure. Riding my bike in a blizzard, running rapids on the Milwaukee River, getting lost on the Ice Age Trail. Of course, these are the big moments. There were hundreds of other instances where simply being outside and moving through the environment was adventure enough. I am a process person. I like the journey more than the destination.
Waking up, I knew this would be my last day on the River and the ultimate finish of the WisconsATHON. With only 17 miles to go, there was no rush to leave my warm and cosy Therm-A-Rest sleeping bag. But eventually, I got up, packed up my gear and started paddling. The water was crystal clear and I hesitated to get right into paddling. Instead, I floated quietly pacing next to floating maple leaves that rested perfectly on smooth as sheet of glass river surface. In the distance, I could hear the traffic of I-43, a siren and some construction, but from my perspective, there was only river and trees. And then a mink, with a fish in it's mouth scurrying on the river bank.
At Lincoln Park, I met up with a group from Riveredge Nature Center and who would join me for the rest of my journey to Lake Michigan. It was nice to paddle with the group and enjoy easy conversations and relaxing paddle. Then another portage and some 'bigger' rapids and then down town Milwaukee. As crazy as it seems, I was actually looking forward to this section. And it didn't disappoint. Yes, I love traveling through nature and big wilderness, but if you remember, the point of the WisconsATHON is about finding adventure anywhere - even in downtown Milwaukee.
Eventually, we reached Lake Michigan, circled around a break wall and came ashore, the official end of my journey.
While I was never in danger of falling into a crevasse or getting eaten by a polar bear on this trip in Wisconsin, I do feel like I found adventure. Riding my bike in a blizzard, running rapids on the Milwaukee River, getting lost on the Ice Age Trail. Of course, these are the big moments. There were hundreds of other instances where simply being outside and moving through the environment was adventure enough. I am a process person. I like the journey more than the destination.
Waking up, I knew this would be my last day on the River and the ultimate finish of the WisconsATHON. With only 17 miles to go, there was no rush to leave my warm and cosy Therm-A-Rest sleeping bag. But eventually, I got up, packed up my gear and started paddling. The water was crystal clear and I hesitated to get right into paddling. Instead, I floated quietly pacing next to floating maple leaves that rested perfectly on smooth as sheet of glass river surface. In the distance, I could hear the traffic of I-43, a siren and some construction, but from my perspective, there was only river and trees. And then a mink, with a fish in it's mouth scurrying on the river bank.
At Lincoln Park, I met up with a group from Riveredge Nature Center and who would join me for the rest of my journey to Lake Michigan. It was nice to paddle with the group and enjoy easy conversations and relaxing paddle. Then another portage and some 'bigger' rapids and then down town Milwaukee. As crazy as it seems, I was actually looking forward to this section. And it didn't disappoint. Yes, I love traveling through nature and big wilderness, but if you remember, the point of the WisconsATHON is about finding adventure anywhere - even in downtown Milwaukee.
Eventually, we reached Lake Michigan, circled around a break wall and came ashore, the official end of my journey.