The Ahnapee Bike Trail
Starting from Forestville

Day 2:  Forestville to Casco

I was going to start in Algoma, but on the way I saw a sign for the Forestville Dam.  I thought that would be a good place to start and wouldn't add too much to the trip.  I was thinking it would only add a couple miles each way, but it actually added about 11 miles total.  I guess its true men are bad at measurements.

1996 Ford Probe GT and 1977 Fuji in front of the Forestville Dam.

I was amazed at how much stuff I could fit in the car:   bicycle, golf clubs, golf cart, luggage, and a cooler.  It's sitting a little higher at this point since it's missing its subwoofer. ;-)

Llamas in Algoma.

I had seen some signs saying to talk to horses if you see them.  I assume this calms them down.  I wondered if it was the same with llamas, so I dismounted my bike and stood in the path and started babbling at them.   "Hi Buddy, how ya doin'? Are you a   Packer fan? Hi little llama mama, that's a pretty baby you got there."  Next thing I knew, there were 4 llamas leaning over the fence staring at me.  By the time I reached for the camera, they got bored and walked away.

About a block after this, a large German Shepard charged at me.  My body surged with adrenaline and my heart was pounding a hundred miles an hour as I fumbled around looking for the can of Halt pepper spray I had recently purchased.  I assume the dog was tied up as it just stopped.  I was glad I had my pepper spray as I continued on my way.

This portion of the trail was a little more gravely and desolate.  I didn't really see anybody until a few miles from Casco.  About the only thing I saw was a couple raftors of wild turkeys.  Unlike the wild turkeys in the Peninsula State Park that would give me a dirty look and step off the path, these turkeys would hide in the brush as soon as I came into view, becoming completely invisible as I passed by.

Windmill farm

Typical view of the trail.

Around this time, some guy on a motorcycle was going around in circles and using the bike path as his personal shortcut.  I thought he was a jerk so I refused to acknowledge his presence.  A little while later as I approached a road, he tried to gain access again, but saw me and drove off, waiting for me to get further down the trail.

Friends of the Ahnapee.

This was taken a few miles out of Casco.  There were a lot more horses on this part of the trail making for a choppy ride.  There was even a guy on a cart being drawn by 2 horses.  I also got to play my favorite bicycle game, "Dodge the Dung".  I took a break at a gas station in Casco before reversing course and heading back to Forestville.

In spite of the theft and the flat tire on the 1st day, the Ahnapee Trail is a fun and interesting trail.