Today, as I rolled out with the milk trucks and school busses, I thought a lot about how grateful I am to be able to take time off work and from my “normal” life to do this. It’s really a dream come true and I’m so grateful for my work letting me take time off and my boss, who is out in DC attending a meeting for me, covering for me. I know saying this comes from a place of privilege, but I hope everyone can find ways to break out of the “normal” rut and do things that excite, inspire, and maybe even scare them a little. There is a great quote by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”
Outside the town of Poniatowski I stopped at the 45N 90W Geographical Marker. It is the center of the Northern Hemisphere and is located…in the middle of a field. Fitting.
In Poniatowski itself (unincorporated, I’ll forgive you if you haven’t heard of it before), there was a sign “Happiness is Pontiatowski.” And I suppose it is, since happiness is really wherever you are, right now.
I rolled through Wausau and appreciated the urban bike infrastructure in my first “city” since Eau Claire, as well as the magnificent fall colors! I skipped a trip up Rib Mountain this time, but I bet the view from up there would be fantastic!!
After Wausau, I hooked up with the Mountain-Bay State Trail. It starts unceremoniously next to a warehouse, but soon features nice parking areas, signage, restrooms, and a bike mechanic station. Mountain-Bay is paved through Weston and then becomes a smooth, gravel path that is lovely riding.
I headed north at Elan on the Wiouwash State Trail (the northern section), which was slightly less traveled and maintained than Mountain-Bay, but still not bad. I’ll be back to both later in the trip!
Wiouwash is actually two segments of trail and the DNR is working to acquire easements to connect them and allow the trail to run continuously from Aniwa to Oshkosh.
After Wiouwash ended in Birnamwood, I purposely rode on the highway for a bit so I could see the World’s Largest Badger Sculpture! Another WI curiosity. I particularly appreciated the squirrel in the background. People come up with the strangest ideas…including riding all the state trails on your bike!
I’ve loved hearing and sharing more about the impact of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program during my bike adventure! I’ve learned that while some Knowles-Nelson money goes towards land acquisition, many dollars are also dedicated to improving existing protected places. Development projects include repairs, equipment purchasing, and construction of new amenities. In Antigo, where I finished my journey today, there have been several successful Knowles-Nelson projects, including Peaceful Valley Park, where Knowles-Nelson money funded the construction of a park shelter, and Springbrook Trail, which is a lovely spot for a walk and was expanded TWICE with Knowles-Nelson grants! These projects help improve the community and make it easier for people to enjoy the outdoors!
And although there is proportionally more land that is protected in Northeastern WI, only 17% of Wisconsin’s land is publicly owned, compared to 24% in Minnesota and 21% in Michigan, putting the state at a disadvantage in terms of public access to natural areas and the ecological benefits that come with protected lands.
Moreover, the quality and connectivity of protected land matter. Since 2000, over 20% of large forest parcels in northern Wisconsin have been divided into smaller lots. This fragmentation harms wildlife, reduces habitat quality, and often limits public access.
The most exciting part of the day today was meeting Maria from WXPR at Antigo Lake Park, another Knowles-Nelson success story, to share why I’m doing this ride and what I hope it means to those who learn about it and follow along. I’ve answered this question a lot and, in the end, it comes down to loving being outside. I’m doing this because I love being outside adventuring and I want to do something that helps maintain that possibility in the future. I hope people are inspired to get outside more and also support local conservation and recreation resources by voting, donating to local organizations, volunteering, and letting their representative and new governor know that sustainable natural resource stewardship funds are a priority in this state!
– Sarah
Today at a glance
Day 7 | Medford to Antigo
Mileage: 94
Trails Covered
Explore Nearby
Athens, WI | Managed by: Village Of Athens
Erbach Park is a 200+ acre park next to Black Creek with a beach area and 6-7 miles of nature trails. Knowles-Nelson funds helped update park amenities, including the restrooms and shelter.
Wausau, WI | Managed by: Wausau & Marathon County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry
Pleasant View Park offers basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, and a sledding hill. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funded the original land purchase for the park.
