I hear that hordes swarmed to Whole Foods on opening day, and I'm glad that Columbia-St. Mary's is connected with a store that sells organic products. I hope that means the hospital itself will go organic and stop spraying every inch of green exposed to human view. When I see their little white signs, I joke that they're looking for more customers. But really, a hospital should know better. And they do, or they wouldn't be touting Whole Foods.
Many of us are wondering how the presence of this organic giant will affect Beans and Barley, Riverwest Co-op, and the Outpost. So I thought I'd help out one smaller (by comparison) store. After years of trying to decide which was more dangerous, biking in the road or on the sidewalk along Capitol Drive, I was determined to find an alternate route to the Outpost. The result of my research was two scenic bike routes from Shorewood, no dodging drivers on cell phones nor cars that dart in and out of parking lots along Capitol, no viewing Walmarts, Office Depot, and Jewel-Osco! Instead take the Oak Leaf Trail to Estabrook Park, and go north through the park, on the road if you're alone, on the fresh-paved bike path if you have company. Then take Hampton west to Port Washington Road, turn south (if you stay on the sidewalk, you don't even cross Port Washington Rd). Then turn left on Estabrook Boulevard, and it's a coast. The Boulevard curves into Lydell which will take you right to Capitol, and there's the Outpost on your left. This will add two miles to your trip, so you'll get exercise as well as organic food, and much less carbon monoxide.
Take the southern route home with your groceries. It's just a few blocks longer than a straight line along Capitol. Cross Capitol and take First St two short blocks to Abert, turn left, take Abert till you have to turn. Go right, that's Richards, go one block to Vienna which takes you to Humboldt, left on Humboldt till you're back on Capital. Here you take the bridge over the Milwaukee River that swirls around fallen trees and blue herons (that's the scenic part of this route).
