New Asphalt Bike Path From Raymond Road to Flagstone Drive Proposed

The City of Madison is proposing to construct a new asphalt bicycle and pedestrian path from Raymond Road to Flagstone Drive at Quartz Lane, in 2013. This is an extension of the existing Ice Age Junction Path which begins in Verona. and currently ends at Raymond Road. This project will include a new bike bridge over Upper Badger Mill Creek. The project also includes a connecting path to the end of existing Jeffy Trail, sanitary sewer installation serving Hawks Creek subdivision and stormwater improvements downstream of the ponds east of Jeffy Trail.(This project is separate from  but related to the proposed changes for the property purchased from Madison Audubon Society, for which there was a recent neighborhood meeting.)

Neighbors and other interested citizens are invited to attend a Public Informational Meeting where City staff will present maps and information, and seek input on the project. The meeting will be: Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Madison Police West District Station, 1710 McKenna Blvd.

For further information about the project, please visit the City’s website: http://bit.ly/IceAgePath or you may contact for information or special meeting accommodations.

Cam Rock Mountain Biking

Cam Rock-a mere 30 minutes east of Madison in Cambridge, Wisconsin, has a lot to offer in terms of biking and outdoor activities. There are numerous trails, some gravel, some grass, some dirt. The mountain bike trails are labeled like ski runs with blue intermediate signs and black most difficult. We parked at Cam Rock 3 and got lost on some fun trails of varying difficulty.  Ride here and you will find banked downhill corners, rocky sections, steep up and down, narrow crossings, and even a man made wooden obstacle.  The park is quite big with views of meadows, bridge crossings over the river, and frequent changes in scenery.  In some areas you feel like you are constantly descending and wonder if there are any uphills.  The day we rode was pleasantly uncrowded despite being a Sunday with sunny temps in the high 70's.  One thing to watch for are the signs indicating "wrong way" on the trail.  If you ride here you will enjoy the clearly labeled trails and you will notice time flies by when you have to pay close attention to each turn.  This is a wonderful gem for Wisconsin bikers.

The map below shows various parking places.  Click here to see actual mountain bike video of the various trails.

A great place to check out before or after your ride is Cam Rock Cafe and Sport. We noticed the sign below while riding and stopped by after the ride. The Cafe offers coffee, beer, food, soda, and has a nice lounging area with fireplace and tons of bike magazines. They also have a shop area that rents/sells bikes and SUPs and sells accessories. 

Madison Summer Bike Camping

A few of us recently took a bike camping trip from Madison to New Glaus Woods State Park.  We took the Badger State Trail to get to New Glarus.  On the way back we took a portion of the Sugar River Trail to get back to the Badger State Trail.  This route cuts out any of the hills and allows you to bike through the long cool tunnel near New Glarus.

Highlights of the trip included delicious swiss food at Glarner Stube and great coffee at Fat Cat Coffee both in New Glarus.  Also making the trip fun was catching two trout in about five minutes right off the Sugar River Trail just before dusk, coasting downhill from the campground almost the entire way into New Glarus, and finding a very small bolt and washer after it popped off the Bob Trailer on the trail riding back home.

Getting Ready to Leave Fat Cat Coffee for the Trip Home

Bob Bike Trailer on the Badger Trail.  Trailer Worked Great Except When the Right Side Lost a Bolt and Washer and Came Off.  Fortunately We Found the Hardware Back on the Trail.  Fishing Pole Was Zip Tied Near the Bob Flag.

Campsite 17 at New Glarus Woods State Park.  There are a Lot of Bike In/Walk In Sites But they Were All Full.

Dinner At the Glarner Stube In New Glarus.

Sugar River Bridge in Belleville.  We Were Looking At a Turtle About the Size of a Manhole Cover.

Tunnel On Badger Trail After W and Near New Glarus.  It's About 20 Degrees Cooler in the Tunnel.

A Nice Rainbow Trout Caught Mere Feet From the Sugar River Bike Trail in New Glarus.

Entering the Tunnel

Leaving Fat Cat Coffee.

Large Wisconsin Cheese Curds-Bike Fuel.

Huge Swiss Sausage and German Potato Salad

Badger Trail Near Bellville

One Last Stop for Ice Cream on the Way Home.