August 1, 2003

Oak Leaf Trail, St. Francis to Summerfest Island

Maybe I should have brought a map??
Beginning Mileage:   1053.4
Ending Mileage:      1068.3
Total Miles Traveled:  14.9

Today was a good day.  After a six-hour workday and breakfast at Prime Table Restaurant in Oak Creek, I headed for St. Francis.  I parked the truck at the culdesac on Thompson Avenue and rode east on Howard Avenue, then turned north on Lake Drive and joined the Oak Leaf Trail (the actual "paved path" that's supposed to run along Lake Drive) about 1/4 mile north of Howard Avenue.  I spotted evidence of the trail being much farther east than it is now, from before the former Harnishfeger headquarters building (1) was built (now Stark Investments). 

Most of the paved trails on this section of the Oak Leaf Trail system seem to be a bit older, with a lot of cracks in the asphalt.  I really need to get one of those newer-style gel seats!  (_!_)<OW!  This section of the trail is also not very well marked, either, since I missed a couple of turns, and wasn't sure about a couple other spots!  I ended up going up 1st Street instead of 2nd Street because I missed one sign, and in the Third Ward area, I missed my turn completely and ended up behind the Summerfest Grounds.  The end of my ride came on Harbor Island (2).  There's a nice gravel path all the way around the "island". 

I then turned back and followed the ACTUAL path down 2nd Street to Maple Street, but I turned on 1st Street instead of KK Avenue.  No problem, I just hooked up with Becher Street, which runs into Bay Street and again on the Oak Leaf Trail.

On Bay Street, I saw my friend Greg's car parked in front of his house (3), so I decided to stop by, since I hadn't seen him for a while.  (Bonus:  he gave me chips and Kool-ade!  Thanks Greg!!)  I left when he had to leave for work, and I continued back down the trail.

By the time I was getting close to the truck, I decided to cut a corner, so I headed down Packard Avenue to Howard Avenue.. Today would have been a 15-mile day had I not taken my shortcut!!

Next mission:  follow the trail from the Third Ward!!  Maybe next week...

-Mark