June 7, 2025
Green Bay, WI to High Cliffs State Park, WI
Day 10 - Saturday
I got up about 6:30 a.m. and packed up the tent. Kirsten, made us breakfast and then also made us some sandwiches for the road. Such great hosts.
We left at 8:30 a.m. as I had decided to hang around and wait for the Grassy Island Lighthouses to open at 10 a.m.
As we were turning off Nicolet Drive, Mark caught up with us in the car as Cameron had left his soap and shampoo back at their house. Thanks once again Mark.
On way our along Shore Drive we stopped at the Bay Beach Amusement Park. Mark worked here as a teenager on the boat ride which we found.
We arrived at the lighthouse just before opening so waited at the marina at the mouth of the Fox River, where I took some photos and identified them later as Grassy Island.
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Once they opened the gate we were able to enter the grounds of the Green Bay Yachting Club where the lighthouses have been moved to.
Once inside we meet 95 year old Melvin who had been instrumental in the restoration process.
We were given a 15 minute presentation of the history, relocation and restoration of the lighthouses. After the presentation, most people went to the rear light so we went to the front light.
Grassy Island Range Lighthouses
Grassy Island is situated at the entrance to the Fox River, outside of Green Bay.
Before a lighthouse could be built a cut had to be dredged through the island to straighten the channel leading to the mouth of the Fox River.
Dredging begun in 1866 and the channel finished in 1867. Between 1867 and 1872, the cut was stabilized and deepened.
Work on constructing the range lighthouses started in 1872 and the lights were first exhibited on November 15th. Two wooden towers painted white, 676 feet apart.
In 1934, the fuel for the lights was changed to acetylene gas and the lights were automated.
In 1966, the Corps of Engineers widened the channel through Grassy Island by removing the land on which the range lights stood. At the time, the Green Bay Yacht club relocated the lighthouses to the club’s property on the Fox River.
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Rear Light. Notice the height difference.
While onsite a Lake Freighter came into the Fox River.
We rode through the industrial part of Green Bay, past a huge Proctor & Gamble plant, then onto the East River Trail to the downtown waterfront.
Here we noticed the freighter was still heading up the river.
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We found a bike shop and a nice gentleman came out and aired up our tires. Broken Spoke downtown Green Bay. That's my plug.
We ventured a block in from the river to North Washington Street where there was a farmers market. After a wander round and taking photos of the movie theatre I decided to buy some cheese to eat later. The girl who sold it to us said it would last 2 to 3 days without refrigeration.
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Trying to find somewhere with less people we crossed river on the Walnut Street bridge and found a park bench where we ate our sandwiches.
Once back on our bikes, we turned south on Broadway then west out to Lambeau Field. We took some photos as we circled the stadium and quickly poked our head in the gift shop to get a cheese head photo
We rode back to Broadway and headed south in a nice bike lane which lasted all the way to De Pere where we were dumped out on a "two lane - one way street not designed to encourage walking and shopping in the town but designed to move traffic through as fast as possible". Once we negotiated our way through that, we crossed over the Fox River bridge and picked up the Fox River Trail heading south.
The trail was well used this Saturday.
Eventually the trail would turn to gravel so we made a right at Eiler Road and headed back towards the Fox River.
Eiler Road turned into County Road ZZ which with a shoulder and apart from the wind we had a nice ride into Wrightstown where we stopped for coffee at The River Coffee and Cream. I had a coffee, Cameron an ice cream so we tried both their specialties.
As we were leaving we spoke to another couple on bikes, they were training for their next ride on their endeavor to ride 50 miles in 50 states. Sounds like a great challenge.
We continued from Wrightstown on County Road ZZ, then turned on to the Old Military Road taking us the last 10 miles into Sherwood.
Just outside our camping area for the night, the High Cliffs State Park was Dicks Market where we picked up food to eat at a table outside. I also picked up a 6 pack and downed one while we ate.
When we went to check in tat the State Park entrance we were told there were no sites left as it was a Saturday night. Knowing that WI had a no turn away policy for touring cyclists I mentioned this to the lady who did admit she was new. Within 5 minutes she had called a Ranger and got everything sorted out. We were in site EB (Emergency Bike).
Then is was a mile long climb up to the campsite with grades up to 9%. Just what you want at the end of the day.
After we got the tents up, I grabbed another beer and we went for a walk along the cliff face and visited the Indian Burial Mounds.
By 9 p.m. we were in bed and remarkedly for a weekend the camp quieten down by 9:30 p.m.
A short time later I had a visit from a Racoon. I had left the empty cooler hanging on my bike to dry out. After flashing my light on the Racoon several times he wandered off and a bought the cooler into my tent. This may have not been the best idea as I had several more visits during the night. Not sure if it was the same racoon or others.
Today's ride: 50 miles (80 km)
Total: 441 miles (710 km)
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