Stephan Gliva
Jeremy Cummins and Kyle Schubert
Jimmy Starke and Alex Wolff
Chad Koch
Bernie Robertson
Betsy Vogel
Emily Treder Nie
Ruth Bishop
Jeff Mueller
Jennifer Brady
Sharon Kaminecki
Following are the Trail Explorers from 2008
Bailey Family
Jennifer and Bryce Riemer
Earl Schoonhoven
Rose Meier
Jeff Mueller, Dave Brethaur, Mike Brady
Gene and Carol Prudhon
Bernie Robertson
Sharon Kaminecki
Nash Von Kaenel, Auburn Von Kaenel, Heidi Rufenacht-Von Kaenel

Meet the 2009 Trail Explorers; individuals who enjoy outdoor recreation, set goals, and achieve them. Read their stories, view their pictures, and be inspired to join them. Last year's Trail Explorers are listed following those of the current year.

Stephan Gliva
I drove from Chicago on Friday, August 7th, and I arrived in Freeport in the rain just before noon. I checked out the little Wrigley Field and the Freeport Art Museum while I waited for the rain to stop. By 3pm I decided to check into the West Motel on Galena and give up on a ride that day. I saw "Funny People" at the movie theatre in downtown Freeport and had dinner at Long John Silvers.

I was disappointed to hear thunder when I woke up Saturday morning around 7:30. It continued until after 11:00am, by which time I was itching to get on my bike. I started at the Wes Block Trail access and rode through Orangeville and Monroe. When I got to Monticello, I decided to take the Sugar River Trail to New Glarus instead of continuing north to Purcell Road. I had gotten such a late start, I figured I couldn't get all the way up there and back before dark. I took several pictures with both my digital camera and my film camera, but I had problems with both. They are very old. I'm keeping the digital camera together with packing tape, and the film camera eats batteries very quickly.



I saw several beautiful birds, including a goldfinch, and many, many rabbits and chipmunks. I saw the same white cat with black spots each time I passed through Monticello. Also, there is a sign near Monroe that says it is 6 miles to Orangeville. Either the sign is wrong or my bike computer is wrong, but I came up with 9 miles. Anyway, it was a nice ride and I looked forward to getting an earlier start the next day.



I woke up Sunday to bright skies and warmer temperatures. I drove to Monticello and started out towards Brodhead. I didn't see many riders, but I caught one with my camera as she rode through the covered bridge. To save time I ate trail mix for lunch on the way back to Monticello. Once there, I headed up the Badger towards Purcell Road. I was anxious to see the tunnel, and it didn't disappoint. I was amazed at how dark it was in there-pitch black. My little light on my handlebars was barely enough to see. And it was so cool inside and at the openings that fog formed. As I continued, I had an encounter with a curious and obviously unafraid raccoon. He sat right along the trail as I passed, and didn't flinch. All the other wildlife I had seen dashed into the brush as I approached. I made it to Purcell Road and turned around as the skies darkened. I got drenched on the way back to Monticello, but besides a sore butt, I was fine.

Jeremy Cummins and Kyle Schubert
The date: Wednesday August 12, 2009. The goal: achieving trail explorer status twice in one day. Overall the weather was picture perfect and ideal for the distance we had to travel. The high temperature was in the mid 80's in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Fortunately, we had prepared weeks in advance for the trip including a 90 mile day two days before. The trip was divided into segments.

Freeport trail head after first 21 miles - only 120 to go.

Monroe to Freeport (6:00 A.M.-7:30 A.M.)
This segment was one of our fastest all day. Because we started so early the temperature was cooler and the sun was barely up. Our trip began, specifically, at the Blue Ox Restaurant in Monroe. We chose this location because we were so used to it from biking there before. Heading south the trail was gravel and began to turn to dirt especially at the state line at the beginning of the Jane Addams Trail. Storms hit earlier during the week so a few branches were down but the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Wisconsin and Freeport Park District in Illinois did a superb job of cleaning up excessive debris. On the way we saw many different kinds of animals including chipmunks, coons, deer and even herons towards the end of the Jane Addams Trail. We were very familiar with the Jane Addams part of our trip and coasted through the towns of Orangeville, Buena Vista, Red Oak, Cedarville, Scioto Mills, and ultimately Freeport, at the Carol J (Janssen) Shaffer dedicated shelter, for our first break.

Kyle gazing across a field near Brodhead

Freeport to Monroe (7:40 A.M.-9:13 A.M.)
On the way back to Monroe the sun was staring to rise but the temperature wasn't affecting us yet. Again it was a quick ride and the trail was very smooth and flat. Heading back we saw the four fire truck bays at the Orangeville fire station. Before we knew it we were done with one of the three trails for the day and arrived back in Wisconsin and back to the Blue Ox where we started. We decided to eat breakfast at the Blue Ox. The service was quick and the food helped our energy levels moving on to our second longest segment of the day.

Tastee Cream - best treat along the trail.

Monroe to Brodhead (9:55 A.M.-12:14 P.M.)
Before leaving Monroe completely we made a quick stop at Twining Park, located right off of the trail, to take a quick look at the F-86 Sabre, Nathan Twining's favorite fighter jet. The pace after Monroe on the Badger State Trail was generally downhill and we saw more trees down from the weekend's storms. Finally, we reached our third trail of the day, the Sugar River Trail. It was definitely getting warmer but we were used to biking in the heat ever since an Orangeville to New Glarus trip in the upper 90's in June. We rode on the longest bridge on any of the trails all day near Albany. In Albany we took a water break near the Landmark Services Cooperative facility and counted three large round silver silos. One of our favorite rides all day came in between Albany and Brodhead, biking by many farms and shady areas which helped make the ride more enjoyable towards the end by the Clarence Covered Bridge. We ended up in Brodhead and took a look at the dog standing next to the Victorian woman on 808 W 2nd Ave. before heading to Tastees Ice Cream shop for some shakes. We prepared for our longest and toughest segment of the day.

Jeremy climbed to the top in just 15 seconds.

Brodhead to Purcell Road (12:42 P.M.-4:03 P.M.)
We headed back to Albany for another quick water and snack break, put on our headphones and biked all the way back to the Badger State Trail, Sugar River Trail intersection and kept heading north. It was tough from the intersection to the Stewart Tunnel because of the constant uphill slope. We took another short break at the south end of the tunnel. This was a good location to take it because of the cooler temperatures near and in the tunnel. It felt 10-20 degrees cooler which was refreshing because the sun was beating down on us the most during this time of day. Going through the tunnel was interesting because of it being pitch black due to a slight bend on the way. This is why we brought our lights as well as if we needed them at night. The town of Belleville was near and it was easy to get there because of a section of downhill pace. We stopped at John Fredrick (founder of Belleville) Memorial Park at the fountain donated in June of 1986 by the Julian Francois family. We bought some beverages nearby and headed north to Purcell Road. This part was the toughest area to bike all day. It was uphill, nearly endlessly, all the way to Purcell. We thought that the end was never going to be in sight! Finally we made it and took a break at the end and noticed the road next to Purcell (Sayles Trail) going parallel to the trail.

Kyle next to bikes in front of the Stewart Tunnel

Purcell Road to New Glarus (4:25 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.)
We were glad to be heading south knowing that all of the uphill biking coming the other way meant downhill all the way to Belleville. We saw a gas station right off the trail and stocked up on some more Nature Valley bars that we had been eating during our breaks for the day. It was uphill to the Stewart Tunnel and we headed through heading downhill all the way to the intersection of the two trails. It was time for the Sugar River Trail again but before we headed to New Glarus we stopped for a short break at the orange colored depot in Monticello which was restored 20 years ago including the two double hung windows. We were close to New Glarus and went on one of our longest straightways of the day with no shade and going into the sun. When we made it to New Glarus we headed to a gas station to share a pizza. We were relieved to only have one section left for the day. We then headed to the north end of town to the rail depot and looked at the sign describing the initial group of 108 settlers that came to the New Glarus region. It was time to go back to the trail. The final segment was ahead of us.

New Glarus Trail Head

New Glarus to Monroe (7:45 P.M.-9:30 P.M.)
It was a smooth and fast ride to the Monticello depot where we took our last water break. A short bike ride later we were done with the Sugar River Trail and headed south on the Badger Trail to Monroe. This was another tough stretch because it was nighttime and the ride was mostly uphill. We knew that as soon as we saw lights and a water tower on the left that we were close and the downhill section would begin all the way into town. However there was a downhill section that deceived us in the end because it turned uphill quickly for a few more miles. Finally we found the downhill area and crossed Highway 11. It wasn't much longer and we passed the Monroe Cheese Factory before crossing our final intersection and arriving back at the Blue Ox Restaurant in Monroe.

Jeremy next to great scenery from Purcell Road.

Overall the day went smooth and our bikes held up well. Our total mileage was 140.8 miles; total time was 15 hours and 30 minutes. Our average speed was 13.2 miles per hour while on our bikes and the top speed of the day ended up being 19.9 miles per hour. We reached this speed at the very end while we were in town, because we couldn't wait to get back. We have become trail explorers four other times, over several trips, creating other memories and enjoying many of the nearby towns (food, scenery, attractions). However, nothing was quite as memorable as doing it twice in one day. It was physically and mentally demanding but everything seemed to work out in the end.

Jimmy Starke & Alex Wolff, Randy & Carri Wolff (parents), and Brock Chalmers (Scout Master). Photo by Jeffrey Starke.

Jimmy Starke and Alex Wolff
We (Jimmy Starke and Alex Wolff) are both Boy Scout members of Troop 53 located in McFarland, WI. As a part of our Boy Scout Cycling Merit Badge, we rode over 70 miles of the required 150 miles on the beautiful trails found in Green County.

Our first ride was the full 50 mile requirement from New Glarus to Broahead and back on the Sugar River Trail. We had a picnic lunch in Broadhead and even got to view an estate auction - authentic auctioneer and all. As shown in the picture, we got to experience this trip with our parents (Randy and Carri Wolff and Jeff Starke - photographer) and our Scout Master (Mr. Brock Chalmers). We ended the journey with a well-earned ice cream break.

We both completed the Badger State Trail from Belleville to Monroe for one of our 25-mile requirements. We really enjoyed the old Stewart Tunnel and the "air condition" it offered us on a steamy Wisconsin day. We also appreciated the tables and benches in Monroe that were completed as a part of an Eagle Scout project - they were comfortable and well placed under a shade tree - great planning!

The Badger State and Sugar River Trails provided a great opportunity to complete our merit badge on some flat trails with lots of great things to see along the way. We both look forward to many visits in the future. We would like to ride the Jane Adams Trail on some family outings and get more Scouts to explore these trails with us in the spring.

Chad Koch
I work in Fitchburg, my wife works in Monroe, and we live in Belleville, so biking the Badger State Trail is only natural. Rarely does a workday pass that I don't at least consider biking (or occasionally running, cross country skiing, or off-road inline skating) the commute. When my wife works on the weekends, I try to find a buddy to bike with me to Monroe in the afternoon, and my wife gets company on her drive back home! Even more opportunities for adventure are free for the taking when I just consider biking instead of driving to our next social event.

Julie building a campfire at New Glarus Woods State Park

After less than five minutes on the early morning streets of Belleville, I'm already biking north on the BST toward Purcell Rd, and ultimately on the popular bike route Borchert/M/Fitchburg/Vroman/Seminole into Fitchburg. Along the way there is sometimes a groundhog that scurries across the trail near the farmer's stand on highway D. As I leave town I remember the branch I once had to walk my bike under and how the DNR cleaned it up by the time I came home in the evening, thanks! Frenchtown marks three miles for me, and if I'm feeling chipper I'll see if I can make the short mile to highway A in under three minutes (but I usually save the reverse route as a post-work workout). At Henry Rd I congratulate myself for making it "t'Basco," a play on words I'm sure the locals never get sick of. Under Sun Valley and I get ready for that farm dog to start barking at me. The horse doesn't seem to mind. Neither did that deer that crossed the trail just ahead. Depending on the weather, at Purcell I may stop for a swig from my water bottle and shed a layer as it warms up and I can see the sun again. The ride into town has some nice rolling hills and it isn't too busy except for M (which has a nice shoulder) and the stretch on Seminole south of Lacy (I'm especially looking forward to the trail being completed along that segment! Did I see the beginnings of a trailhead where the railroad grade crosses Marketplace?).

Phil lifting part of an old rail north of Monroe

Of my trips from Belleville to Monroe, my friend Phil's first trip with me was the most memorable. After we crossed Tunnel Rd (a "foreshadowing name" I like to tell my friends who haven't seen Stewart yet) and after we dismounted to take out our headlamp and flashlight, we heard singing from inside the tunnel! We alternated between slowly walking through the dark and standing silently as we listened to beautiful hymns. At the center of the tunnel, two local families introduced themselves and said they were trying to start a tradition. Then they asked us if we liked to sing! From then on, singing "Rock of Ages" calls to mind some fond memories. We continued walking through the tunnel with songs bidding us safe travel from behind.

Rebecca and the Eyeball Machine mailbox in Belleville

With my friend Andrew, south of the tunnel I took Exeter Crossing over to the Sugar River Trail and down to Monticello from there. I was excited to find running water and bathrooms at the SRT trailhead! They proved quite useful during my marathon training runs between Monroe and Belleville. Exeter Crossing is also a fine route from Belleville to New Glarus via the trails. It seems like there is always a festival going on in New Glarus in the summer, and Polka Fest did not disappoint when my wife Julie's parents came to visit (and go for a bike ride!). On a trip to New Glarus Woods for an overnight camping trip with Julie and her sister Rebecca, I confirmed that Tunnel Rd and Exeter Crossing aren't as flat as they seem, albeit quite scenic. Phil and I found the same to be true of roads around Monroe when we thought we'd be extra adventurous on our Belleville to Monroe trips.

It was after all these adventures (including a trip with Phil from Belleville to Monticello to Brodhead via the BST and SRT before heading out of town on 4th street toward Monroe) that I learned about the Trail Explorers Program. I only had the Monroe to Freeport segment to complete, but how was I going to answer all those quiz questions of places I had already been? Well, one more bike ride to work via Purcell, an inline skating outing in Belleville with Julie, a bike ride with our friend Willie through Monticello to Monroe, a bike ride to a fish fry date with Julie at the Glarner Stube in New Glarus, and a bike ride to a corn maze date with our friends Andy and Amber in Janesville (via Albany and Brodhead and out of town on Footville-Brodhead Rd) put all those fears to rest. Lots of adventures in those rides, but the one that sticks out the most was biking through the tunnel at 6:30 in the morning. With both ends of the tunnel dark before the sunrise and my eyes adjusted accordingly, my headlamp lit up that tunnel so much that I could see better than I could under the open sky! I've never been able to see the beautiful tunnel so well, and I wish that experience on everybody.

Chad skiing across Bridge 28 south of Belleville

So that leaves Monroe to Freeport. On a cold Sunday morning, the second day of frost, I hitched a ride with Julie to work. It was cool, but I was dressed accordingly. First stop was Twining Park, which I hadn't made to yet, and I did a quick loop on the walking trails. Before leaving Monroe I had to scout out the Cheese Country Trail. Looks like fun, but I'll invest in a mountain bike before tackling that one. I started getting excited near the state line: I'd never biked in Illinois before, and I wasn't disappointed. The canopy over the trail was gorgeous, and the beauty of the colored leaves made me forget the cold. At the Orangeville trailhead I relived a childhood memory by walking on a railroad rail and then jumping to the other rail to balance the length of that one too, just like my dad and I used to do on our walks to the park (thanks Ryan Callendar of Boy Scout Troop 8!). I checked out the Butterfly Farm south of town, and I got excited when I read that the trails are open to cross country skiing.

Several other mini-adventures happened along the way, but pictures tell better than words, and memories better still. After I reached the Freeport trailhead and recorded the last quiz answer, I couldn't help but bike the last three-quarters of a mile to the very end. Across the historic bridge, I gazed beyond the gate that signifies the end of the line as a doe walked onto the railroad bed. We stared at each other for five minutes before she jumped into the brush with a fawn on her heels.

I biked into Freeport in my usual hilly-but-not-too-busy-road style (Fairview/Henderson/Lancaster/Van Buren) where I discovered another historic bridge, which I learned will eventually become part of the Jane Addams Trail! In Freeport I was drawn to Krape Park which has a carousel, ballpark, playgrounds, walking trails, a river, geese, everything! I got a good tour of the Flagstaff Hill area while playing a quick round of disc golf. Stephenson/Van Brocklin/Stockyards/Harlem Center brought me back out of Freeport and onto the trail for the return trip to Monroe. At Cedarville Rd I stopped for a bite to eat and read a brochure about the historic significance of where I was at. Jane Addams' hometown and gravesite were just a mile away, so I knew that my day's adventures weren't quite over yet. I went into town and wondered about, and when I had given up on finding the cemetary I took Mill Rd out of town and there it was. I was standing only feet from where she was laid to rest. Now I can say that I've completed the Badger State Trail, Sugar River Trail, and the Jane Addams Trail. This year, anyway.

Bernie Robertson
After riding the trails late in the fall last year, I had planned on riding them this year in the summer - enjoying the warmth and longer days. Well, another extremely busy summer passed without riding on the trails. So, with shorter, wetter and colder days - I hit the trails later than planned.

There are benefits to riding in the rain, few bugs (if any), no dust and no crowds. Not to mention, my bike gets cleaned (after I get home).

I was fortunate to ride the Badger Trail south to the Jane Addams Trail on a beautiful day (cool but sunny). Wildlife was abundant and many riders were on the trail. What was especially nice was meeting a church youth group riding the trail. They were mostly in their early teens and were all enjoying the day of riding and the sag stops arranged by the parents. It was great to speak with many of them and it is always refreshing to see the younger generation enjoying the out-of-doors. Numerous turtles and snakes were on the trail today sunning themselves.

This weekend's ride is from Monroe to north of Belleville (cooler and wet). A few turkeys were along the trail near Monticello and other than a few people walking their dogs, not much activity along the trail. The leaves are beginning to turn color and the position of the sun is definitely a sign winter is just around the corner. I was prepared and did bring a flashlight along to go through the Stewart Tunnel (walking through the tunnel without light is always challenging)! It is amazing to consider what efforts were made to construct the tunnel with the tools of the trade in the late 1800's.

To finish out the Trail Explorer's questions, today's ride begins in Brodhead and ends in New Glarus (and then the return ride). It is "great" to be riding in a light rain today. There are a few hardy soles on the trail today. It is worth mentioning that having the proper gear makes riding so much more enjoyable. If I didn't have to wear glasses, rain would be more tolerable. Remember, the wooded bridges are slippery when wet (close, but I did stay upright). The leaves are still turning color and numerous geese are flying south for the winter.

I am on a mission today, get the answers and get back to Brodhead as soon as possible. The hot chocolate in New Glarus was great. The ice cream shop in Brodhead is closed for the winter so no stop there today.

I'm hopeful for an Indian summer yet and more opportunities to ride the trail before the snow flies!

Betsy Vogel

Emily Treder Nie
September 7, 2009 We went to explore the trails and see what they were like. Our starting point was in Freeport. It took some searching but we found the trailhead just off of 20. The map said it was further into Freeport. We walked until Scioto Mills and then turned around and walked back to the parking lot. It was about 3 miles total according to Ruth's pedometer. Then we drove around to find some of the other trailheads.

September 13, 2009. Ruth and I start planning for our trail rides. We had some problems to start with. First, she has not ridden a bike in many years and was afraid to ride. She said her balance wasn't what it used to be. When I asked her about her bike and family bikes she might ride, it sounded like the bikes were too big for her. She is only about five feet tall. It sounded like she had never been properly fitted for a bike. I learned three bikes ago, that fit is important. I encouraged her to go look at bikes and try them out to see if her fear was indeed her bike and not a figment of her imagination. Our goal to complete the trail explorer requirements for the orange patch was fueling her desire to bike again. When the appointed day came near, she still had not looked at her bike to check the tires and get on it to make sure she could ride and to get over her fear. I encouraged her to look at the bikes at the neighborhood store. She found that they were on sale so decided to look. She left me a phone message that she had purchased a bike that fit and had to try it out in the parking lot. She did not fall off!

ALBANY TO BRODHEAD Sunday, September, 13, 2009 So, the appointed hour had come. I found my car leaking oil right before I left to pick up Ruth and the new bike. We cancelled the plans to ride the trail. We were disappointed. I was to bike to her house and then we would ride around town. When I got to her house she had the car and the truck ready. We loaded the bikes in the truck and headed for the trailhead in Brodhead. We dropped off her car in Brodhead and took the truck and bikes to Albany. We paid the trail fee, even though I had a pass, I didn't bring it because I thought we were just riding around town. The weather was perfect, the shade was beautiful and the sun was not too hot. No mosquitoes bothered us and the trail was not crowded. She did not have a helmet. When we were discussing helmets, she fell off her bike and down into the brush at the side. Her new bike was not damaged but she had a few scrapes but got back on and shakily tried to ride. She thought her bike was not working so I tried it and it was fine. I think she had to see that it was fine before she trusted herself to ride it again. This fall convinced her she needed a helmet. The ride was pleasant and not too hard. My battery is dead in my bike computer so I couldn't tell how fast we were going, but I estimated it at about 6 miles per hour. It was a good first ride for her and it was easy going for me, and very relaxing. I could look around and listen to the sounds of the trail. Now Little Sis is all gung-ho for the next outing.

ALBANY TO NEW GLARUS September 17, 2009. Ruth took the afternoon off so we could do another leg of the trail, perhaps finish the Sugar River Trail. Again, we shuttled bikes, people and cars, which was a bit much. We dropped her car off in New Glarus then took my car and the bikes to Albany. Again it was easy going, the weather was real nice, not hot, and the shade on the trail was nice. We walked only a little bit. The bridges were really bumpy and the trail north of Monticello was quite bumpy and disintegrating. But, we finished the Sugar River Trail in two hours. We had to then leave the bikes, drive her car to Albany to get my car and then drive back to New Glarus to get the bikes. If she had a carrier, we could cut down on the car travel.

ORANGEVILLE TO FREEPORT September 27 2009. I met Ruth at the Freeport trailhead after the dog show in Freeport. Sporty was outfitted, in the car, with a wet cold-cloth and a bag of ice. It was not too hot for him to wait for us in the car, but I wanted to make sure. Ruth had a two-bike carrier and that cut down on the shuttling. The weather threatened to storm so we only did the 10-mile trek from Orangeville to Freeport. It did not rain. We stopped a few times to rest. The surface was pretty rough and slow; too many ruts and holes and lots of leaves. But, the scenery was beautiful and nice to ride through. The bridges were smoother than the last part. Scioto Mill was an interesting place, with its old rustic mill buildings. I would have liked to explore the mill and some other buildings on the side of the trail, but there were "no trespassing" signs installed.

ORANGEVILLE TO MONROE Saturday, October 3, 2009. We started at Orangeville and went to Monroe. The Haunted Mill looked like it was open for the season. Last year, on the night ride in October, the mill was our group's destination, but there were scary sounds coming from the mill, so I did not venture in. We dropped off my car in Monroe at Twining Park then took Ruth's car to Orangeville. Dark menacing clouds were in the sky but we encountered only a little bit of sprinkles on the trail. The trail was nice and smooth, and there were some places we were riding pretty high in the air. Staying upright on the trail was very important, so I hoped Ruth was doing better with her balance and did not fall off the bike and off the trail down the hill. I rode ahead most of the time and encountered a large tree that had fallen across the trail. I tried to move it but the top was entangled in the wild grape vines so I could not clear the trail. Further down there was another tree that had fallen, a smaller tree, and we were able to ride over that one. As we neared the end of our journey, I wondered why there wasn't a short cut to Culvers, we were hungry and tired. That leg seemed uphill most of the way.

BELLEVILLE TO MONTICELLO, PAOLI TO MONTICELLO

Sunday, October 11, 2009. After a hard frost we started out from home this morning at 7:30 am in 21 degree cold. It truly was cold riding for a while, cycling made us warm. My fingers were a bit cold but they warmed up fast if I dawdled in the sun a few seconds. Frost was everywhere and the leaves were falling frantically. Our ride today began in Belleville towards Monticello. After shuttling the cars, Little Sister thought it was too cold but I convinced her it would be perfect once we got going. I like Belleville, with its square and the antique fountain, which was actually working! It was not working earlier in the summer. The fountain is the same make and model as one in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, except that one is painted green, with white swans and orange beaks. It works too. By now it is probably covered for winter. The tunnel between the two cities was fantastic. I have been through it before the trail was made, twice. The first time I didn't actually go in it, but the rails were still there and we took speeders from Monticello out to the tunnel on Green County Depot Days. I loved riding the speeders and I actually signed the petition to keep the rails from becoming a bike trail. That was many years ago. The second time we actually walked through it, after the rails were taken out but before it became a trail. That was during Depot Days too. There were pigeons roosting in the tunnel and they flew when we entered. At first I thought they were bats. There were broken eggs on the ground. Graffiti covered the signs and walls. There was a spray paint can in the debris. Out of the tunnel, down the way, we ran into the ranger, who checked our passes and told us all about the person responsible for the graffiti. The trail south of the tunnel seemed to all go downhill so I hardly pedaled for what seemed like miles. The ranger had told us we had five or so miles to go to Monticello but I knew that couldn't be right, and it wasn't. We were soon in Monticello. At that point Little Sister decided she could do the leg from Belleville to Paoli, so we took my car to Paoli, found the trailhead (east on PB to Purcell) and biked to Belleville. It was not a long leg and the weather was a tad warmer. We came across a new section of the Ice Age Trail. There weren't many on the bike trail today, perhaps it was too cold. Driving from Monticello to Paoli, we stopped in New Glarus for hot chocolate and donuts. In Belleville, we stopped at the quilt store, which is open on Sunday. It was a fine day.

MONROE TO MONTICELLO October 17, our last leg. We've earned the patch! We started in Monroe and rode towards Monticello. It was in the low 40s but I had on my new cold weather cycling gloves. We had candy bars at mile 13 for energy. Riding was uphill for a short ways and then it seemed like a lot of downhill and we were done. It seemed so fast. There was hardly a soul on the trail until we came to the intersection of the trails, then there were a lot of people.

This was a great experience. First, I got to ride and be with my little sister in a different way than we've ever been since growing up and going our own ways. Second, it got her out on her bike and perhaps on her way to making biking a greater part of her life. Third, it made me realize that there isn't much distance between cities, and it must have been fun when the trains ran between the cities. The two seasons we biked in are both beautiful in their own ways. Riding in the heat on the shady trails was not a problem and riding in the cold on the sunny parts of the trails was not a problem either. We are already making plans for next year!

I would encourage anyone who has not ridden in a long time to get back on a bike and ride the trails. There are no hills to go up, only gentle rises and you don't have to go fast-it should be slow and enjoyable. Doing both trails in several sections and through several seasons is the best way. Get a comfortable bike and ride!

Ruth Bishop
September 13, 2009 - Brodhead to Albany
Started to ride at 3:30pm. Easy ride. A few of the trees are losing their leaves, only a few people on the trail. Beautiful, funny and warm, upper 70's. Saw a chipmunk. It as been a long time since I have ridden a bicycle. Like the covered bridge on this part of the SRT.

September 17, 2009 - Albany to New Glarus
weather was warm and sunny. Trail needs fom work in spots, not as smooth as I thought. Lots of crunchy leaves today. So many bridges! Since it was Thursday only saw two people onj the trail. If we stopped and there was water on the side of the trail, we got attached by mosquitoes! Very nice day for a ride.


September 27, 2009 - Orangeville to Freeport
Mid after ride. Partly cloudy, thought maybe we would have some rain. We did have a couple of rainbrops but nothing to even complain about. Saw some wood ducks thru binoculars. The trail was very bumpy. A lot of leaves on the trail, it was cooler than when we rode the SRT. There were quite a number of people on the trail. We went thru a couple of residential areas.

October 3, 2009 - Orangeville to Monroe
Late morning to after noon. Cold (55 degrees). Very cloludy, it rained as we drove to the trail and rained as we went home, but we didn;t have rin as we rode the trail. Leaves were falling from almost every tree. There was a big tgree blocking our path in Wisconsin. A lot of twigs from the wind a coulple of days before. Nobody was on the trail today. The grade on eigher side of the BST was very steep. SR69 goes over the trail...that was different.

October 11, 2009 - Belleville to Monticello
Morning - Very cold frost. We started out at about 8:30am 29 degrees. Winter jacket, winter gloves! Warmed up as we rode. Green trees losing their leaves in piles. Came to the tunnel, put my head light on and carried a small flashlight. The tunnel is the highlight of this section. Again the grade was very steep in many areas of the BST. I loiked looking over the valleys and seeing all of the leaf color. Ranger stopped us for our trail passes, a very friendly guy.

Paoli to Belleville
Afternoon - Quite a bit warmer than when we started the day. I am not particularly fond of running over black walnuts...something you have to tlook out for on many portions of the trail. Several people on the trail. Beautiful afternoon.

October 17, 2009 - Montore to Monticello
Last leg of our journey. Cool and crisp, started out sunny, by the time we were done, the sky had turned cloudy. Still a very nice day. This was a big accomplishment for me, I am nearly fifty years old and out of shape. Each leg was a challenge, but very enjoyable. I enjoyed the beautiful Wisconsin Scenery as well as the portion in Illinois. Doing this in the fall makes it more magnificent. I will do it again next year!

Jeff Mueller

Jennifer Brady

Sharon Kaminecki
This year I did half my trail riding in conjunction with events with the Friends of the Badger Trail and the other half by myself. I shuttled my bike to Monticello and rode to the Badger Friends meeting in Belleville in May, joined the Blue Moon ride in June riding from Brodhead to Stewart Tunnel, and the Haunted Mill ride in October riding from Monroe to Orangeville. In the Spring I rode from Brodhead to New Glarus several times because I can bike right from my door. I finished the last three sections in the fall by shuttling my bike to Monticello and then biking to Monroe, to Orangeville and then biking to Freeport, and the last time to Belleville and then biking to Paoil. Although I do more biking on the back roads because the surface is smoother and it requires less peddaling, it is fun to mix it up with some trail riding which is very beautiful all year around.

Following are the Trail Explorers from 2008

At the end of the Badger Trail

Bailey Family
Al, Sara, Kathleen, and Melanie Bailey (ages 8. 12, and 40+) were the first to achieve Trail Explorers status. They did it in one trip over 4 days in July, 2008 traveling on a tandem and two single bicycles, biking from town to town and staying at hotels in New Glarus, Monroe, and Freeport with assistance from Bike Green County. As a family they are involved in geocashing so the scavenger hunt on the trail was a fun family activity. They documented all 9 questions with photos.

Starting out in Brodhead; In Belleville; In Orangeville

On the Badger Trail; At the Tunnel; Back in Brodhead, victorious and tired

Clarence Bridge Birds

Jennifer and Bryce Riemer
On Tuesday June 17, we started the Trail Explorers journey. We had been getting our bikes upgraded for our transition from a two car family to a one vehicle/bike commuting family and we wanted to test out our new gear. What better way to do it than become Trail Explorers?

We biked about 7 miles from rural Brodhead to downtown Brodhead to get the answer to our first trivia question. Then we rode to Albany and back to the farm again. This is a stretch of the trail we knew well, but each trip is a bit different. This trip included a stop on Clarence bridge for a photo shoot and attempting to avoid two snakes on the that were crossing the trail. It also included the biggest hill climb on a bike we can remember on County Hwy F between the Sugar River trail and our farm. As a runner, Jen wanted to dismount the bike and run it up the hill, but pride would not allow this. All in all, it was a successful 20 mile ride.

Jen at the New Glarus Depot

On Sunday June 22, we were dropped off at the trail head in Albany, to bike the rest of the Sugar River Trail. This trip included a quick ride to Monticello for lunch and a visit to New Glarus with a stop into the depot, Whistle Stop ice cream shop and a tour of downtown. Jen had never explored New Glarus before and we both truly enjoyed the Swiss town. On the trip home, the wildlife was the highlight. We came across a turtle and twin fawn's on the trail just south of New Glarus. Upon arriving in Albany we visited a friend's house just off the trail, then the storm rolled in. In true summer 2008 fashion, we had a torrential downpour, but we were fortunate to have made it to our friend's for shelter. When the storm let up a little we hitched a ride in our friends pickup back to the farm. This was the longest bike trip to date for a total of about 33 miles.

At the Pseudo Trail head of the Badger

On Wednesday July 9th we were very ambitious and took on the entire Badger/Jane Addams trail. We had a very difficult time finding access at the north end of the trail, but eventually started at a questionable spot. We biked about 1.5 miles north to Purcell Rd which is the current north end. We then started heading south counting trestle bridges and missing Bosco (I think).

Approaching the tunnel

The tunnel was the highlight of the trip. We could not believe the temperature drop as we approached the tunnel! With headlights in place we slowly made it through and snapped several pictures on both ends. We stopped in Belleville at the John Frederick Park for lunch and then headed off on the long slow lonely stretch of trail from Bellville to Monroe. With only a short stop on a trestle bridge south of Monticello, this was by far the most difficult part of the trail for us. We were happy to find a farmers market on the square in Monroe. We rested, we ate raspberries and local homemade goodies, and enjoyed the action on the town square from the shady lawn of the courthouse.

Fun with a turtle on the Sugar

The escape from "real life" to the trail is a time of rest and joy, even while working hard to propel our bikes forward. We encountered nature several times from the snake to the scared doe that ran ahead of us for 400 meters or more before leaping over a fence much taller than I would have imagined it could ever clear.

With renewed energy, we traveled from Monroe to Orangeville where we coordinated via cell phone (you gotta love technology at times like this) with our shag wagon who was driving down to Freeport.

Bryce at the State line

We hopped on our bikes knowing we were at least 45 minutes away from Freeport and turned on the home-stretch kick. We found our two girls with their grandparents waiting for us at the finish line. We strapped our bikes to the rack and made it to our 4-year-old niece's soccer game just in time! We biked exactly 47 miles in 4 hours which, for us, was a great accomplishment and something that even we doubted possible at times.

Now we are planning trips to other trails and looking forward to much more biking for commuting to work or just for fun! We are glad to be Trail Explorer's, but why stop there?

Badger Trail in Monroe

Earl Schoonhoven
May 12, 2008: Freeport to Orangeville - Good ride, good weather.

May 30, 2008: Orangeville to Monroe - Hard ride, very windy (20 mph). Found duck egg on trail.

Trail Head in Monticello

July 13, 2008: Monroe to Monticello - Another windy ride. Got checked by C.P.O. for Trail Pass. First time ever checked.

July 22, 2008: Monticello to New Glarus - Weather is very good but deer flys very bad.

July 24, 2008: Belleville to Paoli - 6:30am, got early start, 48 miles to Belleville. Weather is very good for bike ride. Got to Purcell road and the trail ends, but no Paoli! Acording to "Trail Explorers" the trail ends in Paoli.

At the State line

Aug 3,2008: Great day for a bike ride, 80 degrees, 18 miles on the Jane Addams.

Aug. 14, 2008: Great day for a bike ride, 77 degrees, no wind. Started at Albany to Monticello. Saw Dam in Albany.

Badger Trail in Belleville

Aug. 18: I'm on a mission today. Drove up to Belleville again. This time I'm looking for Sun Valley Parkway. Rode to Purcell Rd. and no Sun Valley Parkway, but I did find Bosco. The main thing is that I had a good ride.
Note: It was in May I rode from Brodhead to Albany. The Sugar River Trail is old, but still a great trail to ride.
I soon will be 74 years old and am thankful to my Lord and Savior for my health.

Rose Meier and Earl Schoonhoven with bikes

Rose Meier
I started riding about 6 years ago with my Dad, Earl Schoonhoven who rode the the Jane Adams Trail when it opened. My dad and I used to ride to the state line and look ahead at the unfinished Badger State Trail. And we would say " pretty soon they'll have it done. I sure can't wait." It did open and we do enjoy it!

Covered bridge on the Sugar River Trail

We also would ride the Sugar River Trail and we would look at the intersection where the badger state trail would be going. Now when we ride it it's fun to look back at those days when we were hoping it would get finished.

One of the many stone bluffs on the Badger Trail

When I saw the Trail Explorer Scavenger Hunt this spring, I thought it would be fun to try. It took me about 5 different trips to finish this. It was alot of fun and look forward to next year. These are some of the pictures I took along the way.

Starting with four riders one cold, chilly Oct. day.

Jeff Mueller, Dave Brethaur, Mike Brady
We knew we were interested in doing the Trail Explorers Program.

We knew we would have fun in the process.

Then the question came up; "what would be the best way to approach it?" A weekend trip...a multi-day adventure...? What about the logistics, the car shuttles, the back and forth? Work schedules, soccer practice? Getting the kids to the vet. Take the dog to the hypnotist. When would we be able to fit it all in? Then some IDIOT said "let's just do it in one day." All at once, everyone in the bunch (we happened to be out for a road bike ride at the time) said "sure, why not". A couple e-mails (and no arm twisting) later, it was a go.

We were supposed to start with five, then it dwindled to four (one being Kerry, who did not intend to ride the whole distance). So the four of us (Kerry, Dave, Mike, and Jeff) started out from the south end of the Jane Addams Trail, just outside of Freeport, IL, around 8:00 a.m. in chilly and foggy conditions October 18, 2008.

At the State line

The temperature kept us moving, as we were all trying to warm up just a bit. We passed through Orangeville, IL then Clarno, WI then Monroe in short order. At the point that we crossed the state line we also began our journey on the Badger Trail. All along the way seeing lots of fall color that would drift towards our eyes through a damp mist that lingered well into the morning. The option of stopping for something to eat in Monroe was discussed. We all agreed that we were finally warm and we should just continue on. This is when those Power Bars and Jelly Belly Power Beans are a smart choice. We did stop for a bit, to shed a few layers and get some time off the saddle. Then onward to Monticello.

If there are red cows, it must be New Glarus

In Monticello, Kerry had had enough of our shenanigans and arranged for a pick-up. The rest of us kept on riding, taking in more fall color and as the day was older now, we saw many more bikers and pedestrians along the way. We made our way to, and through, the Stewart Tunnel which is a neat experience any time of the year and any time of the day. We took a few moments to stop and listen to all the pigeons cooing in the dark tunnel that lay ahead. Then on to Belleville, WI and over the steel trestle bridge and on to Purcell Road where we had arranged for our first (and only) car shuttle of the day. This being at about the 50 mile mark. As luck would have it, we got to the pick up spot a while before our drivers did and we sat in the sun and gawked (and waved) at all the road cyclists that were out in force on Purcell Road. The day was most certainly well on its way to being perfect.

We got our car shuttle to New Glarus, WI, ate some lunch, then got started on our last leg of the journey,. By this time the day was warm, sunlight plentiful, and bikers and walkers were out in force. All ages, all abilities, but the one thing they had in common was that they were all having a good time. Now on the Sugar River Trail, we made it to Monticello in short order, onto Albany. then the last leg, the home stretch, to our final destination Brodhead!

Seventy miles, and I have no idea how many hours later, we had arrived at our final destination! On the last leg from Albany to Brodhead the suggestion came up "we should make this an annual event." I, for one, think that sounds like a great idea!

Stewart tunnel, trail end, fall color, stopping for a photo

Hopping on the Sugar River Trail, at the covered bridge

Gene and Carol and their bikes

Gene and Carol Prudhon
We had a great time on the trails, riding the two trails in five segments. We rode two of them by dropping off a vehicle so only had to ride one way. The others were out and backs. The most picturesque ride for us was from Belleville north in late October. We were in a darkened area in a canyon like setting with towering trees adding extra shade. The sun was behind us and the wind was driving some ash leaves through the brightly lit sky we could see ahead of us at the end of our darkened "tunnel". It was picture perfect fall in Wisconsin. My camera was forgotten at home. In recent past summers we found it too easy to procrastinate riding the trails. We appreciate the efforts put into creating the Trail Explorer program since it gave us a goal and got us out on our bikes. We hope to do this again next year.

A Trail Scene

Bernie Robertson
I completed the ride on 3 different dates (next year's goal is to complete it in 1 summer day when the days are longer--and warmer).

The things I always find interesting on the trail are the fauna, wildlife and other riders.

Needless to say, the changing color of the leaves is always spectacular, and this fall was no exception along the trail. The cold weather also helps diminish the presence of insects, except the soybean field I was riding adjacent to and they were harvesting (put your head down, keep your mouth closed and accelerate)!

Another benefit of riding in the fall is that wildlife is easier to view with fewer leaves. I had the opportunity to view the most wildlife along the Jane Addams Trail from Cedarville to Freeport. I saw many deer cross the trail, lots of snakes on the trail sunning themselves and numerous squirrels gathering nuts for the short warm winter we are going to experience this year (sounds like someone ready for spring)!

Few riders were encountered on the trail but I did have a couple of interesting experiences while riding the Once in a Blue Moon on the Trail event the evening of October 18th. After visiting the Haunted Mill in Orangeville, I had Beetle Juice attempt to catch me while I was riding my bicycle. He gave it a valiant effort but these old legs can still spin when necessary. The second interesting experience also involved "spinning", spinning of car tires as I came upon a couple who had decided to "park" on the badger Trail south of Clarno Road (sorry, no pictures)!

Here's to a short winter with little snow!

Spring on the Badger Trail

Sharon Kaminecki
I planned on riding the entire trail in the spring but the demands of work and rain on many of my days off prevented me from finishing it until the fall. It took 5 trips, riding the Jane Addams trail for the first time this year on the night of the Blue Moon ride to Orangeville in mid-October and then the last segment from Orangeville to Wes Block Access a week later.

Summer on the Sugar River Trail

Riding over three seasons has it benefits. You experience the fresh new growth in the spring, lush foilage (and bugs!) in the summer, and color and crunch of leaves and that wonderful woodsy smell in the fall.

Fall on the Jane Addams Trail

My favorite parts of the trail system in Southern Wisconsin are the areas south of the Stewart Tunnel (you are up so high and the view is fabulous) and the sense of time standing still, pastoral settings, and the canopy of trees in Illinois. Most days I commute on my bike on the southern section of the Sugar River trail, so many of the trees and bushes on that part have become as familiar as old friends.

Nash Von Kaenel, Auburn Von Kaenel, Heidi Rufenacht-Von Kaenel
We had read an article in the paper about becoming a Trail Explorer and thought that would be a fun activity to do with the kids (Nash age 10, Auburn age 6) over the summer. We tried to bike every Wed. when I didn't have to work but at times we had to alter our plans so we did not finish during the summer.

Day 1 - We started in Brodhead on July 4. we thought that would be a good place to start since we live by Juda. We were dropped off and picked back up in Albany. We rode our bikes to the sculpture and watched the river.

Day 2 - We started in Monroe and we only reached Clarno since it was very hot and we needed to ride back. It was windy and since we had the Burly it was harder to pull against the wind. Nash did very well and was bard to keep up to.

Day 3 - Clarno to Red Oak and back. On the days we had to ride back to our truck we did not get as far as we liked. The days were hot and we had limited places to put our water bottles.

day 4 - Albany to Monticello. This was probably our easiest and most scenic ride. I brought along my backpack with a thermos of water. We also put Auburn on the back of the tandem. She could not reach the pedals but put her feet on the bar and held on. I had forgotten the camera that day so we didn't get any pictures.

Day 5 - Monroe to New Glarus. We were picked up in New Glarus so we planned a longer ride. We had gotten Auburn a trail bike to ride. I think I like the tandem better. I had also gotten a basket for my bike but we had to put it on Nash's since it would not fit on mine. It was a very pretty route but it was not and there were a lot of mosquitoes.

Day 6 - Red Oak to Freeport. This was out last ride of the summer before school started.

Day 7 - Paoli to Monticello. We got a ride to our starting point and rode to Monticello. It was at the end of Oct. Most of the leaves were off the trees and it was very windy. We all enjoyed the Tunnel and wished my husband Jer could have come along.