May 30, 2025
Cedarburg, WI to Kohler-Andrae State Park, WI
Day 2 - Friday
I was awake before 6 a.m. with the sun starting to stream in the windows of our room. Knowing it was too early I rolled over and managed to sleep another hour until 7 a.m.
After packing up we headed over to the main house where Erin had made us coffee and breakfast.
After another great conversation we finally pushed off heading back through Cedarburg to the Piggly Wiggly grocery store to pick up supplies. Leaving the grocery store at 9:30 a.m., we took one last tour down main street taking some more photos.
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We rejoined the Ozaukee Interurban Trail, where it crossed Main Street in Cedarburg and continued to head north. The trail runs along the right of way of the Milwaukee Electric Railway passenger line which serviced between Milwaukee and Sheboygan from 1905 to 1951.
Three miles further down the trail we stopped in Grafton at the Grafton Arts Mill, an old grain mill on the Milwaukee River.
Around 11 a.m. we rolled into Port Washington and rode out to the pier. Unfortunately, the Port Washington Breakwater Lighthouse was covered for most likely sandblasting and/or painting.
After some quick photos we left and rode through Port Washington and then up a steep climb to the Port Washington Light Station passing the St Mary's Church on the way.
The Light Station hadn’t opened up for the season but luckily the director was onsite and I was able to get a couple of lighthouse stamps for my passport.
Port Washington Lighthouse
Built in 1849, the Port Washington Lighthouse was a brick tower thirty-two feet tall. A brick house was built nearby to house the keeper.
In 1859 – 60, the lighthouse was replaced with a two-story keeper’s dwelling built of cream city brick with the new new tower was placed atop the southern gable.
Piers were completed in 1888 and in 1889 a pyramid shaped tower was erected on the north pier.
In 1889, an assistant keeper was appointed to help with the duties of maintaining two lights.
in 1903, the 1860 Lighthouse was decommissioned as the pierhead light was deemed sufficient for navigational needs.
When the new breakwater light was built in 1935, the lantern room and tower were removed. After the breakwater light was automated in 1976, coastguardsmen continued to live in the dwelling until the station at Port Washington was eliminated in 1992.
In 1993 the lighthouse was leased to the Port Washington Historical Society began using the building as a museum and a replica lantern and tower were re-installed in April 2002.
On October 7, 2007, a fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed in the lantern room.
Port Washington Breakwater Lighthouse
In 1869, work begun to improve the harbor in Port Washington with two piers with a lighthouse constructed on a pier in 1889.
This pierhead light became the main light when the 1860 Port Washington Lighthouse was discontinued in 1903.
The pierhead light was electrified and automated in 1924.
In 1935, a new art deco style light was built on the northern pier. This is a twin to the Indiana Harbor Lighthouse. This light was fully automated in 1976 and at some time the lantern room has been removed.
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After taking some photos we decided to have some lunch and found a spot on the grass next to the Light Station.
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After our lunch, we left the lighthouse at 12:15 p.m. heading down the hill only to pick up the bike trail and begin a much gentler climb back up. Once we swung around and under the I43 freeway, we turned north again into the countryside. This was the first time we had really got into a rural area. The trail was straight with small undulations we had a side wind.
Looking ahead the clouds began to darken so we knew we were riding into some weather. Checking the weather app, the radar showed a storm would pass through within the hour. Arriving at the town of Belgium we looked around but didn’t see anywhere to shelter. We decided to push on another 5 miles to Cedar Grove where we found the Ugly Mugs coffee shop and a small place to shelter the bikes while enjoying coffee and donuts inside.
After an hour the weather had passed and we left Cedar Grove at 3:30 p.m.
In the town of Oostburg we stopped beside a reconstructed rail station, then rode across the street to the Piggly Wiggly (our second of the day) to pick up groceries for the night.
After Oostburg the trail ended and we rode the last 5 miles on county roads, heading into Kohler - Andrae State Park on Old Park Road, only to find we had to ride back out to the main gate to register to camp.
At registration we were advised we got the last site for the night. It was a Friday night going into the weekend but I thought things would be slightly quieter.
The site was $40 including paying an extra $15 out of state fee. I am sure some politician thought that one up.
We arrived at our campsite at 4:30 p.m.
Once we set up we began to cook, but it was windy from the north so cooking took a while. Tonight’s menu was sausages and potatoes. We barely got finished when another band of rain came through.
I went up for a shower during a break in the rain and then it really came down so I was stuck up at the shower block for a while. When I got back to my tent, water had seeped through the floor, so I sopped up the water as best as I could and got comfortable for the night. My site selection for my tent wasn't a good choice.
As it was wet outside, we were both in bed by 8:15 p.m. It turned out to be a pretty cold night.
Today's ride: 41 miles (66 km)
Total: 68 miles (109 km)
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