We’re venturing outside our usual haunts to explore a gorgeous regional trail, rolling through historic southern Wisconsin towns, a bustling port, and a serene quarry lake at a state park adjacent to Lake Michigan. Along the way, there are excellent opportunities for birdwatching, and plenty of local shops and restaurants to visit for refreshments and souvenirs.

An overnight stay (at each participant’s expense) is required. For suggested accommodations, see below. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS OUTING. WE NEED A MINIMUM OF 6 PARTICIPANTS.

Highlights:

The Ozaukee Interurban Trail stretches the length of Ozaukee County in SE Wisconsin and links charming historical communities of Cedarburg, Grafton and Port Washington, terminating at its northern end at the outskirts of Harrington Beach SP known for a scenic and serene quarry lake. The nearly 30-mile paved trail is part of the Route of the Badger, a Milwaukee-area trail network.

Details:

• On Sunday, May 17 we’ll meet at the Upper Lake Park parking area in Port Washington, WI (see map) at 11:45 am for a 12pm departure.

  • We will ride north on the trail almost to the town of Belgium, where we will turn onto quiet country roads that will take us to Harrington Beach SP.

  • We’ll follow paved park roads to Lake Michigan shoreline, and then to the limestone quarry lake, where we will stop for a mid-ride bring-along snack before riding back.

  • Route Notes: There may be some off-trail construction as we head out of Port Washington due to a data center construction. This may require a short detour. There is also a short, unpaved road to access the State Park.

  • First day riding distance about 20 miles.

  • We will return to the hotel, and have the option to explore Port Washington individually, or have a restaurant meal as a group.

• On Monday, May 18, we’ll set out from the hotel at 10am. *Please check out of your room before the ride.*

  • We’ll head south to the town of Grafton, former home to Paramount Records, a leading recorder of early Delta blues artists. The trail passes through town on about a mile of city streets.

  • We’ll continue south to Cedarburg, WI. This is a beautiful town on the banks of Cedar Creek, known for its restored historic downtown, and bustling atmosphere. We’ll stop here for lunch and refreshments before heading back to Port Washington.

Ride Guidelines:

• These rides are somewhat exploratory in nature. We have not pre-ridden all of the trails, and while we are on the lookout for announced trail closures and obstructions, there can a bit of guesswork involved. Sometimes, we rely on other riders who are more familiar with the trails for guidance. Please maintain the spirit of curiosity and open-mindedness about last-minute route tweaks.

• These are NO-DROP rides. We ride with participants with widely differing abilities, and it is our goal to keep a cohesive group. We will stop periodically throughout the ride to allow everyone to catch up. If you need to make an unplanned stop, the group will wait for you at the next rest stop.
  If you prefer a faster pace, please let us know at the start of the ride that you will be going ahead without us.

• Please observe trail etiquette by staying in the right lane except when it is safe to pass.

• Ride at your own risk

Accommodations:

• Rooms are being held under my name (Justyna Frank) at theHoliday Inn Express & Suites Port Washington located at 350 E Seven Hills Rd, Port Washington, WI 53074 at the rate of $199/night.

• If you decide to join us, please call the hotel at 262-284-2100, and change the room reservation to your name.

• I am holding rooms for the nights of Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 in case anyone plans to arrive the night before. If you plan to arrive on Sunday morning, you can book only for the night of the 17th.

Registration is REQUIRED for this event.
The trip will not run with fewer than 6 participants.