Day 7 (11 May 2024) - "aren't you bringing your bike?"

Miles - 8.9

Total Miles - 51.0, Miles left - 164.7 (per NCT map)

Elevation Gain - 498', 3,884' total

days - 7 hiking, 8 total since start

Bike shuttling - 8.5 miles (total 14.1 miles)

My plan today was to hike from Copper Falls SP where I finished yesterday to the Chequamegon National Forest's first trailhead. Then I was going to bike back to my car at the SP and then do another section. Of course for me to be able to leave my bike at the trailhead I would actually need to be in possession of my bike. I was just starting to pull out this morning when Deb walked up to my car, with a smart ass tone in her voice (trying not to laugh) asked me, "aren't you bringing your bike?" - shit, I forgot to put my bike on my rack - had I driven 30+ miles to the trailhead just to realize I had forgotten my bike I would have been a tad pissed off. Thankfully my better half was looking after me today.

The first section of the route was trail, but nothing exciting as it paralleled road. After 2.2 miles I was on pavement for 1.3 miles and then gravel for 1.5 miles. No more road sections for about 90 miles - I'm so excited. My bike ride back to the car after my first section was fun as it was downhill for the first half.

My second hike was amazing. Just incredible forest scenery. On my second bike ride back to my car I went around a curve and saw a beautiful large wolf in the middle of the road - it immediately took off and I had no chance to stop and get a picture.

Super fun day and still no mosquitos but the gnats are a pain in the ass.

Tomorrow is a down day to begin to plant my garden and also to collect my camping gear for Monday. I'll camp Monday night and then on Wednesday and Thursday I'll be in Madison. So this week I won't make much progress.