Sharon and Ralph got up at 4:00 AM to send us off with hugs and another great breakfast. We had to tear ourselves away and start pedaling off all that good food.
Leaving Crandon, we had a beautiful ride around Lake Metonga. We even got to glimpse an adult eagle that Pam spotted high up in a tree. We were close enough to watch his poop fall down as he watched over his baby learning to fly. It may have been the same family of eagles we had observed the day before.
Our first town today was Mattoon, 50 miles away. So Carol and I stopped to eat food from our panniers in a lovely spot, Bent Cemetery. I think the name is for the location at the bend in the road. Arriving in Mattoon we didn't find anything open except the Post Office. The local post mistress kindly filled up our water bottles and we were back on our way.
Right outside Mattoon we noticed a sign: Homestead, Welcome Neighbor, Come and Sit a Spell. Carol and I braked to check it out. There was a replica of a 100 year old village. This village was built single handed by Harold Knowles, whose great-grandfather had homesteaded the farm after the Civil War. Harold is a retired Junior High School Math Teacher and farmer. His wife, Carol is a retired school librarian, who had her own grandchildren in her classes.
Harold gave us a personal tour of his town. He is the Town Mayor and the Justice of the Peace. In the blacksmith shop he had original handmade tools, that a town blacksmith had donated. Harold even let me play the 100 year old pump organ that was in his miniature church.
Leaving Crandon, we had a beautiful ride around Lake Metonga. We even got to glimpse an adult eagle that Pam spotted high up in a tree. We were close enough to watch his poop fall down as he watched over his baby learning to fly. It may have been the same family of eagles we had observed the day before.
Our first town today was Mattoon, 50 miles away. So Carol and I stopped to eat food from our panniers in a lovely spot, Bent Cemetery. I think the name is for the location at the bend in the road. Arriving in Mattoon we didn't find anything open except the Post Office. The local post mistress kindly filled up our water bottles and we were back on our way.
Right outside Mattoon we noticed a sign: Homestead, Welcome Neighbor, Come and Sit a Spell. Carol and I braked to check it out. There was a replica of a 100 year old village. This village was built single handed by Harold Knowles, whose great-grandfather had homesteaded the farm after the Civil War. Harold is a retired Junior High School Math Teacher and farmer. His wife, Carol is a retired school librarian, who had her own grandchildren in her classes.
Harold gave us a personal tour of his town. He is the Town Mayor and the Justice of the Peace. In the blacksmith shop he had original handmade tools, that a town blacksmith had donated. Harold even let me play the 100 year old pump organ that was in his miniature church.
We felt refreshed for our last 10 miles into Bowler, where we were greeted by Pastor Dave Dukovan of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Pam had found him sitting outside the church in his back yard. We were glad for the rest.
Pastor Dave Dukovan, Lutheran Church Bowler, WI
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