The Blessed Fig Tree

It’s 69° in here. Nice. 😎🆒 Escape the Heat!

Cold drinks. (Thank Ian!) Air conditioning. Books about refrigeration. Come cool off, grab a book, and hunker down like civilization intended. 😘

🚵‍♂️ Big news for Antigo and the Gartzke Recreation Area! (10 minutes East of Town!) 👀

The Antigo Bike and Ski club is funding a new professionally designed mountain bike trail system via donation! It is in the works at Gartzke, and this is exactly the kind of project that can make Antigo a stronger outdoor destination.❤️

The plan includes flow-style mountain bike trails, a pump track/warm-up loop, and beginner-to-intermediate options for riders of different ages and skill levels. A professional trail builder, Travis Bellman of Home and Trail, has been secured, with experience on successful Wisconsin trail systems like CAMBA, Musky Mountain, Zip Trails, Rhinelander Rec Trails, and CamRock.

This matters because trails like this do more than give people a place to ride. They:

🌲 Give kids and families a healthy outdoor outlet
🚴 Promote active lifestyles for all ages
🏕️ Build on the outdoor legacy already started at Gartzke
🏘️ Strengthen local property values and community pride
🛍️ Help attract visitors, residents, and year-round business growth

As a bookstore owner, cyclist, and someone who wants Antigo to become more of a destination, I think this is a project worth supporting. Trails bring people into town. They give families something to do. They help small businesses. And they make a community feel alive.

There is also a Pizza on the Farm fundraiser coming up to support the trails:

🍕 Friday, June 26
⏰ 4:30–9:00 PM or until sold out
📍 Glory Acres, W6003 Lost Lane, Bryant, WI
💯 100% of proceeds donated to Gartzke Mountain Bike Trails
Bring chairs — seating is limited.

This is the kind of thing that can make Antigo better for kids, families, visitors, and local businesses. I’d love to see the community get behind it. 🌲🚴‍♂️🍕

This is peak Anatidae. 🪿🥹 Much love to everyone who chipped in! More outfits to come. ❤️👀 - Goose Goose - Our waterfowl!