Mazda CX-70 Wisconsin River canoeing adventure

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The start of any road trip begins when you open up the door of your car to get in and push the ignition button. Thanks to Mazda, my trip began luxuriously with a new Mazda CX-70 with not even 250 miles on it. Usually, you cannot wait to get to your destination, but when the mode of transpiration is so comfortable, for once in my life, I was not in any hurry to get there.

Packing up the car for the Mazda CX70 Wisconsin River adventure

Actually, the road trip begins in before with the planning and packing. Packing up the Mazda CX-70 was also a joy. The trunk space was enormous and everything fit quite nicely. Usually, I have to play Tetris with my equipment and place it in perfectly so everything fits. I could not believe my paddle fit in at an angle in the trunk. Normally, I have to place this strategically through the back over the seats through the front seats in order for it to fit.

Related: Mazda CX50 winter skiing adventure

Drive from Chicago to Muscoda, Wisconsin

On a previous trip with Mazda, I struggled to connect my phone with Apple Car Play. I did not have the right cable, and I could not figure out connecting through blue tooth. No issues this time as I was able to connect through the cable and blue tooth, and it was rather easy. I was prepared this time with an adapter to go from USB-C to my lightning cable iPhone. It was an easy three hour plus drive, and I rolled into Muscoda around 7 p.m. I loved how the Mazda CX-70 projected the speedometer in front of you, so it was easy to keep track of driving a speed limit. Speed is always a concern when visiting Wisconsin as Wisconsin state troopers love to pull over people from Illinois when necessary.

Camping in Muscoda, Wisconsin

The Muscoda campground is one of my least favorite as it is a grassy field along the riverside with a few picnic tables and a gazebo. It is not the worst campground, but definitely not the best. It is convenient though and a bargain at $10.00 a night per tent. More than half the crew was already there and brats were being cooked on the fire and tents were already up. I popped a beer and reconnected with friends.

Mazda CX-70 Wisconsin River canoe adventure began in Boscobel, Wisconsin

The next morning we drove 15 miles to Boscobel to start our trip. We parked our vehicles at the outfitters in Boscobel, and proceeded to load up our canoes and take off. It was an absolutely brilliant day. The weather forecast could not be more perfect. It is difficult to find a day, let alone two, without thunderstorms in the forecast. The iPhone forecast showed only sun and 78 degrees both days that we would be out on the river.

Related: Paddle the Wisconsin River for the best river camping experience in the Midwest

My friend Sam and I made a beeline to the first sandbar. I went for a four mile run at the campsite in the morning, and I did not have an opportunity  for a shower. I jumped in the very cool river to wash off from the run and it was incredibly refreshing. As we pulled into the sandbar, I saw a brown object on the shore. It turned out to be a fawn, so within minutes, we had our first wildlife spotting of the trip. Pun intended as the fawn was still wearing its white spots.

It is five o’clock somewhere

While it is not a good idea to get intoxicated while still on the watercraft, there is nothing wrong with a drink or two before lunch. We were on vacation, so the crack of canned margaritas soon filled the air as Sam and I both enjoyed a margarita and then a beer before lunch. We soon coasted to a beautiful sandbar for lunch and more swimming followed. I could have stayed here all day, but the campsite is the goal. The quicker we get there, the more time we have to enjoy it.

On our way to lunch, we had our second interesting wildlife sighting of the trip. A pair of beautiful white trumpeter swans flew overhead trumpeting away. A few minutes later, we caught up with the pair who had taken up residence on a sandbar. You never know what you might see on the river. One year we saw two flocks of white pelicans.

Same campsite as last year

We have been doing this trip now for over a decade, so we are quite familiar with the river. It does change year from year depending on the water lever, as high water can significantly change the sandbars. This year, we ended up camping at the same sandbar. It was perfect as it had high banks to protect from any change in water levels and a great swimming hole. Sometimes on the Wisconsin River, you will find a sandbar where shallow water extends quite far into the river, which does not make for the best swimming. On the far end of the sandbar, the river dropped off over head level, so it made for great drifting down the river and then pulling out at the far end of the sandbar to walk up and repeat.

Wonderful dinner and campfire

We had taco bowls for dinner with all sorts of tasty fixing, a side of green beans, and even desert, so we ate like kings. We topped off an incredible day with a beautiful fire while enjoying the sunset. Soon the guitar came out, and we traded songs around the campfire including covers from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, and the Beatles.

Wisconsin River eagles

The bird highlight of every trip is seeing bald eagles along the shore and flying overhead. This year was no different as we saw at least five bald eagles probably more. Other bird highlights included a ruby-throated hummingbird eagerly feeding on beautiful cardinal flowers that graced our campsites woods. We also heard and caught a brief glimpse of a yellow-billed cuckoo at our camp. A bird I have only seen four or five times. Pileated woodpeckers and red-headed woodpeckers were also seen at the first campsite and flying across the river.

Northern water snake eating a bullhead

Our trip ends at the take-out in Millville. There is a rocky shore around the corner from the boat launch. Northern water snakes love hiding in these rocks and every year we see a couple sunning themselves on the rocks and searching for food. This year, one snake was preoccupied  with a small bullhead that he was trying to swallow. You never know what you might see on the Wisconsin River.

Wisconsin River mist, fresh made to order omelette, and GoPro group photo

We pack up leisurely in the morning and enjoy three staples of a Wisconsin River Sunday morning. The Wisconsin River is always good for a thick fog to start off the day and this trip it was no different. Thanks to Dan, we enjoyed fresh made to order omelettes to soak up the Saturday evening spirts. We then gathered on the sandbar to pose for a group photo before finally breaking camp.

Another trip comes and goes but an enjoyable drive home with the Mazda CX-70

Usually, the drive home is always the least favorite part of the trip. Having a brand new Mazda CX-70 made the trip home a little less unbearable. The seats are incredibly comfortable and the interior is quite impressive. I almost wished that I could be a passenger as the back seat looked incredibly comfortable. Sailed home in light to medium traffic in a little over three hours looking forward to my next ride in a Mazda and next year’s trip on the Wisconsin River.

If this is a trip that appeals to you, check out Wisconsin River Outings for rental information.

Disclosure

Mazda reached out to me and extended a complimentary rental for this road trip, and I accepted. This fact did not impact my thoughts and opinions found in this blog post as those are strictly my own.

Adventure on!