Access to the Ahnapee

There is always access to the Ahnapee in Algoma.  Agreed?  Or is it implied acquiesence and agreement or just plain aggravating?  Are you a bit addled with all of these awesome "a" words?

Okay, time to fess up and let you know what we did for our first full day in Algoma with Roy and Char.  They are not only our daughter-in-law's parents, but also good friends and fellow bikers....as in two wheel bikes!  We rode 2 miles just to get to this trail head.  This wonderful trail is used by hikers and bikers during the summer, while snowmobilers take over in wintertime.  This morning our 13.5 mile ride took us over 2 hours since we rode slowly and stopped several times to see the scenery.

Here we are at the start of the bike ride.  Most of the trail was shaded.  Don and Roy are up ahead while Char waited for me to take a picture.  This trail was a former railroad bed.  Ships would bring in supplies from Lake Michigan and unload in Algoma, and the goods were then brought up to Sturgeon Bay and other nearby towns via the Ahnapee and Western Railroad.  The A & W was incorporated in 1890 and the last train ran in 1986.  It had a good run before being "recycled" into the trail!

I wonder what Don and Roy were looking at as they gazed over the wood railing.  I couldn't see any fish in the water or even a lonesome duck nearby.

The bridge took us over the Ahnapee River which winds its way along the countryside and finally 

winds up flowing into Lake Michigan.

We came across some beautiful Goldenrod and Queen Ann's Lace as we rode along the path.  

Our destination today was this dam, which is south of Sturgeon Bay.  This is proof that we made it!

Roy is checking out the lake behind the dam, this may become another place for him to fish, even though he has a creek right behind his house.  

The berries were beautiful, but I "Googled" them, and they are highly poisonous!  They are called Red baneberry or Snakeberry.  Good thing I only took a picture of them and left them alone!

Heading home!  We even stopped on the way back and picked apples from a tree just off the trail.  Didn't pick enough for a pie, but there may be some sweet cinnamon apples on the dinner table this week!