Trip Log 17: GRABAAWR 2019: Day 0

GRABAAWR 2019: Day 0
2019/06/08

Day 0
I fell in with a group that was going out for dinner. It turned out that we went to Eddie B’s White Spruce Inn, the same place I went for lunch with my parental units on the way in. I didn’t mind because the food was good and the atmosphere of the restaurant was good. I just had a salad and a Pabst because I had eaten a late lunch.

It seemed like the group I was with all new each other from previous events. The lady of the group had ridden in a supported ride across the U.S. I am envious of anyone who has the time to do that.

My guess is that there is about 30 to 35 participants. (Correction: I learned later learned there were around 75 participants.) It seems that this is much less than previous years. That, in fact, many of these kind of events are suffering from declining participation. Perhaps, it is the fault of the economy. Or maybe people are too scared these days to get out of their 4-wheeled metal shells. Still, I look forward to getting to know my fellow bicycle tourists.

Tomorrow is the first day of riding. There is a choice to be made. Join those who are going on the century route up to the headwaters of the Wisconsin River near the border with the Michigan Upper Peninsula or to take the shorter router of 48 miles to Rhinelander. I am tempted to take the Century route just so I can brag that I rode the Wisconsin River from stem to stern. And claim that I rode in the U.P. But, I am still uncertain how riding my dad’s mountain bike is going to be. I will have to decide relatively quickly as the divergent point of the routes happens relatively soon after the start. I’ll just play it by ear tomorrow.