Two Grandsons, 42 Miles, and One Flat Tire
- Richard Webster
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 5
At 65 degrees, with a long ribbon of crushed gravel waiting ahead, Ken chose a training ride that would test more than his legs.
The Wild Goose State Trail runs north toward Fond du Lac through the Horicon Marsh. Its gravel, grass, and uneven stretches create more resistance than pavement, which made it a useful rehearsal for similar terrain Ken expects to encounter during his nearly 600-mile ride around Lake Michigan.
But this time, Ken was not training alone.
Ken’s grandsons, Jon and Matt, joined him for the day. Their company turned a demanding training ride into a family adventure, complete with trail dust, deer flies, teamwork, a long ride home, and one unexpected ending.
Ken, Jon, and Matt at the Wild Goose State Trail before the day’s ride.
The Long Gravel Road
The early miles settled into a steady rhythm. The Wild Goose State Trail offered long, straight stretches of crushed gravel, with the Horicon Marsh waiting farther north.
Ken knew the scenery could become repetitive, but having his grandsons along gave him two riding partners and plenty of company.
Five miles into the ride, they reached Juneau. It was a good beginning, but most of the day was still ahead of them.
Around the 20-mile mark, they reached the Horicon Marsh. Ken briefly introduced two new “wild animals” on the trail: Jon and Matt.
When the Trail Got Rough
Not every section felt like a finished bike trail. One stretch looked and felt more like riding across a lawn. The softer surface added resistance and demanded more control, making it exactly the kind of practice Ken wanted before leaving for Lake Michigan.
The boys also became part of the support team. At intersections, they watched for traffic and let Ken know when the way was clear. That kept the group moving while still putting safety first.
By the time they reached Oakfield, the group had covered about 30 miles in two hours and 45 minutes. Fond du Lac was still about 10 miles away.
They continued to Fond du Lac, crossed over Highway 41, and stopped for lunch before turning back toward Oakfield.
A quick stop together before beginning the return ride.
The Ride Home Changed Quickly
With lunch finished, the three riders turned south and started back.
Then, at roughly 41 miles, Jon’s e-bike tire went flat. They were still about two miles from Oakfield, and the heavy e-bike was not going to make the walk easy.
The flat tire shortened the return ride, but it did not spoil the day. Ken finished with approximately 41 to 42 miles, including about 35 miles to Fond du Lac and several more miles back toward Oakfield.
In their end-of-ride recap, Jon and Matt agreed the distance was good. They liked the canopy of trees that kept them out of the sun, though the deer flies were less welcome. Jon also discovered that an e-bike without power becomes a very heavy regular bike.
The day delivered exactly what a training ride should: distance, rough terrain, teamwork, an equipment problem, and a chance to keep moving when the original plan changed.
More importantly, it gave Ken a day on the trail with two of his grandsons. Years from now, the flat tire may become a smaller part of the story. The miles they shared will remain.
The Fundraiser Right Now
Ken’s ride begins soon, and the purpose behind every training mile remains the same: helping cover shipping and handling for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.
The fundraiser currently stands at $1,342 raised toward the first $6,000 milestone, which is about 22% funded. That leaves $4,658 to reach the goal of helping ship 600 shoebox gifts.
If you have been planning to donate, now is the time. The $6,000 goal is the first milestone, not the ceiling. Every additional $10 raised can help cover shipping and handling for another shoebox gift headed to a child.
Your encouragement matters, too. Please leave Ken a comment on this post, like and comment on his Facebook updates, and let him know you are following along. Those small messages can provide a real lift when the training is hard and the miles get long.
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