Midwest Trip Report (Possible plan for another join us!)

DEPO · 05-03-2008, 11:23 PM

Dan, Eric, and I are finishing our three day Midwest trip. What an awesome trip! Everything has happened. Cold, downpours, curvy roads, and more to come. Tomorrow is the last leg.I will write a complete write up soon. I am on my pocket pc and just wanted to tell all of you report coming soon.

Hammer · 05-03-2008, 11:27 PM

Speed safely

DrHall · 05-03-2008, 11:39 PM

Glad you are having fun, guys! Live it up

DEPO · 05-04-2008, 12:00 AM

Just came back from Eddie's Irish Pub in Prairie Du Chien, WI. Great bar and awesome food. Right next to the Mississippi just a nice place to be.

SheepOfBlue · 05-04-2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEPO

Dan, Eric, and I are finishing our three day Midwest trip. What an awesome trip! Everything has happened. Cold, downpours, curvy roads, and more to come. Tomorrow is the last leg.I will write a complete write up soon. I am on my pocket pc and just wanted to tell all of you report coming soon.

Cool ride safe and hope you get fabulous weather

RedRider · 05-04-2008, 07:18 AM

Be safe and enjoy the ride!

DEPO · 05-04-2008, 07:44 PM

Day #1

The night before the midwest trip was set for a huge storm. This is the one that brought tornadoes to Kansas and was going to be an issue for us. So I looked for a pocket of time to get to Dan's house, gambled and left at 10:00 AM hoping to meet at 11:00 AM.

Fifteen minutes in to the ride on 80/94 (for all of you that know that hell-hole stretch of interstate) the clouds opened up and just poured. Being that I have ridden in some pretty bad rain storms and that within 10 minutes my suit was soaked (I was dry though inside) I decided to finish the ride. The Buell Ulysses dual sport and the Dunlop D616s are great in the rain. I motored along at 80 mph without a single squirm in heavy rain and was going quick enough that the rain was blowing off my face-shield.
Funny thing is as I was going, people I would pass would be talking on their cell-phones and quickly turn their heads in shock to see me riding along in the rain.

I arrived to Dan's and met up with Eric his brother and set out for this little adventure (they are my easy-up mates at .org days). All great bikes Dan on his 5th generation VFR, me on my Uly, and Eric on a 76' KZ1000. It was a great bike had a little carb issue, so sometimes it sputtered over 5500 RPM and he had to fidget with it along the way, but it was awesome. Now I knew Eric and his fun personality that we would be turning around and sure enough we had to head back to Dan's, Eric forgot his wallet while drying his jeans due to the rain.

So we really set out this time and motored along North Avenue (64) towards Rockford and just got a light mist along the way. We stop for lunch at a little local eating establishment and have some tasty food. All done right there in front of you by a short-order cook. So good, infact, Dan has to pick his teeth clean.

DEPO · 05-04-2008, 07:57 PM

After lunch we enjoyed a wonderful ride along the Rock River in northern Illinois. We viewed the beautiful Blackhawk statue that overlooks the river and the Byron Nuclear Power Plant, which I had the pleasure in college having a full tour of (now they ban that due to national security). Found some nice winding roads towards Baraboo (our rest stop for the evening) when we decide to head for highway due to the incoming storm. Sure enough it strikes and along the way we find this little bar right along highway 14 going up to Baraboo. The Missouri Tavern, a local bar for the very local ... as we walked in someone shouted out "Hey Easy Rider," with all of us in our riding suits we were perplexed. We had some local beer New Glarus in pint jars, when this tall all tatted female bartender offers me some beef jerky. I take her up on the offer and with her bare hand she reaches in to what looks like a pickle jar and takes out this soaked, bright red, hotdog looking thing and says "I love these things." So all of us break a piece off and had a taste, if you remember the little meat sticks you gave your child by gerber, they looked and tasted the same, but really spicy.

The weather cleared and we enjoyed the ride to baraboo found a little motel where we parked our bikes under the awning and rested for the night after some grub at the Thunderbird lanes bar and lounge.

Pictures:
#1 Eric giving the thumbs up on a gas stop, we are dry.... for now.
#2 Missouri Tavern
#3 The calm after the storm
#4 Our nighttime get-away (sorry for the blur)

slickwill · 05-04-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Funny thing is as I was going people I would pass would be talking on their cell-phones and quickly turned their heads in shock to see me riding along in the rain.

That's great.

Do you feel completely invisible riding in the rain? I've never tried it.

Quote:

she reaches in to what looks like a pickle jar and takes out this soaked, bright red, hotdog looking thing and say "I love these things

I really do love those things. Terribly, terribly bad for you, but still yummy, yes I said yummy.

DEPO · 05-04-2008, 08:12 PM

Two words: Cold and Damp

It started off at 33 degrees and the morning news stated that pretty much along our route received a mix of snow and rain. So we did not look forward to what was in store. I of course being over prepared me had a ton of clothes and an extra set of rain gear. I loaned out half of my clothes to Eric who was of the minimalist movement and we got ready. We had a great breakfast in Baraboo just down the block from our motel with great deals. I had the country-fried steak and eggs, it was primo.

We got on the road along what was one of the best roads I have ever ridden (33) and it was cold for the other guys, I was not too bad, because I brought winter gloves which kept my hands warm and the liner in my jacket did the job. Eric decides we need to pull over so we stop in a small town in front of this bakery. Great idea baked goods and coffee. We walk in, place has not been remodeled since the 70's and it smells of warm goodies. We each buy a donut and a beverage, Eric was first. Eric asks if we can hang around for a little while, place had no tables or chairs and the lady looks at us and says, "the only time I kick people out is if they ask me if my baked good are F##king fresh." We knew we were going to have a good time. Dan gets to the counter and says what are those cool looking square donuts? The lady says, "you mean the one with the yellow s#it in the middle? That is bavarian cream." We must have hung around for an hour and talked to her and just had a good time. She was an older lady in her 60's with her husband in the back baking away.

We took a picture with her. Fun was had by all. (Dan has the photo, I will share later).

We rode on and the weather got a little nicer, the roads got quite twisty and was fun, except for some of the water that was streaming across the road, sometimes mid-corner. We get to Wildcat Mountain State Park and ride to the top, look at the views and take a couple of pictures.

Pic#1 Bakery Place
Pic#2 Stop at Wildcat Mountain State Park, Turkey Vulture
Pic#3 The guys done on the timer, with using the old pinic bench as a tripod

DEPO · 05-04-2008, 09:09 PM

So after we get through the state park the roads still were the most beautiful winding roads I have seen all the way up in to LaCrosse. I decide the trip will ride on the West side of the river and that was a very wise choice. In to Minnesota we go and down along the Mississippi we go, some of the most picture moments along the way. Got so wrapped up in riding that many times we did not stop, because we were too interested in what was around the corner. We crossed in to Iowa and stopped in this tiny town with its Band Gazebo in the middle of the town square. Went to the local town bar and had a beer and a chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich which was a fried chicken breast with a seared piece of ham and swiss cheese on top. All for 2.25 it was awesome. Warning Iowa sucks when it comes to finding premium gas every one has regular and 89.5 with ethanol (go figure its IOWA). The road all the way south to Prairie Du Chien was awesome. Some of the most fun I have had on a motorcycle. We found a very nice motel in Prairie Du Chien and went to this great Irish Pub called Eddies, had some food and went back to the motel. Two great days and one more to come.

Pic #1 Overlooking the mighty Mississippi
Pic #2 The two brothers have a moment of life together
Pic #3 Old man river pushing goods up north
Pic #4 Little Iowa town with great Chicken Sandwich
Pic #5 Time for a little relaxation

DEPO · 05-04-2008, 09:30 PM

We wake up to blue skies and not the fear of being cold through our ride. This ride was going to be our longest especially for me who had the additional length back to Indiana. We load the bikes eat the free and crappy continental breakfast (all the hot food was gone, because the fishing tournament guys ate it all). We hop on the bikes and ride out of Prairie Du Chien on the East side of the river. I wish we would have went back over to the West side, but we were trying to shave a few miles. The ride was still wonderful from Prairie Du Chien to Galena, IL. Traffic became a little more heavier at times and Eric had a problem with the bike where he believed he only had three cylinders under power so passing was a little bit of an issue. This building in Lancaster Wisconsin was too wonderful to not stop and take a picture so we did and found a civil war memorial from 1867 where the original inscription was starting to fade. We stopped at Ulysses S. Grant's home in Galena so the Ulysses could see the Ulysses. It was a nice tour. We stayed on 20 and stopped in Freeport, IL... weird little town. Monster lunch at the local place. For under six bucks we got a bowl of soup, a salad, roast pork and dressing, baked potato, vegetables, roll, and dessert... including a drink. We were quite stuffed.

I made it home after we left ways in the suburbs.

Overall 789 miles for me had some MPG averages at times of over 50 miles a gallon. Bike ran great no problems..... I do need a new rear tire... 1200 V-twin and ham fist equals toasted rear tire. It did get 3600 miles on it, so not too bad.

Five states for me, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, it was great

Pic #1 County Building in Lacaster Wisconsin
Pic #2 Civil War memorial
Pic #3 Grant's Home
Pic #4 Picture of Galena from Grant's Home
Pic #5 Interesting and cheap restaurant for lunch

slickwill · 05-04-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Overall 789 miles for me

Round trip or that day?

SheepOfBlue · 05-04-2008, 10:26 PM

Fun sounding trip DEPO I bet you guys loved it. Now the 33 and rain

DEPO · 05-05-2008, 11:32 AM

We left off on the first day at 1PM and returned about 6PM on the third day.

I like riding, but I am not in to stuffing 800 miles in one day.

Thanks sheep it was a great trip. 33 is awesome... some of the best road in all of Middle America.

slickwill · 05-05-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEPO

We left off on the first day at 1PM and returned about 6PM on the third day.

I like riding, but I am not in to stuffing 800 miles in one day.

Thanks sheep it was a great trip. 33 is awesome... some of the best road in all of Middle America.

33 isn't to far from me coming from the other direction. I might have to check it out some time.

phobe · 05-05-2008, 12:14 PM

A real Pirsig-like existential trip huh? Complete with crusty old carburetted bike to fiddle with.

DEPO · 05-05-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwill

33 isn't to far from me coming from the other direction. I might have to check it out some time.

Get in to Dubuque and ride the great river road north in to Lacrosse Wisconsin then 33 all the way to Baraboo Wisconsin. Great Riding.

I am planning a scheduled tour for a few friends with me leading this summer if anyone is interested. We will be leaving from The Chicago Suburbs..... and you could leave for home from Dubuque when we arrive on the third day, the rest of us will be stopping in the burbs.

Cost should be reasonable ....

I have had some older guys ask me to pull a tour together for them. Something I want to get in to as a summer job.

So shoot me a PM if any of you are interested.

slickwill · 05-05-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Get in to Dubuque and ride the great river road north in to Lacrosse Wisconsin then 33 all the way to Baraboo Wisconsin. Great Riding

That's what I picked out based on what you wrote and looking at the map. I have a few free weeks in July so I might do it then.

DEPO · 05-05-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

A real Pirsig-like existential trip huh? Complete with crusty old carburetted bike to fiddle with.

It was great.... people watching was fun. Riding and just enjoying the outdoors and experiencing a little bit of life was fun.

Had a chance to ride and just reflect on:

Me as a person
Me as a husband
Me as a father
Me as a person of faith
Me as a teacher/professional
Me as a friend

It was awesome, there was even moments where I rode and I thought about nothing, just the flow of the ride.

RedRider · 05-05-2008, 05:12 PM

Did you think about cold tires?

DEPO · 05-05-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRider

Did you think about cold tires?

No, I thought of how friends mock you when you lose the bike.

Enjoy watching the whales swim in the water and if you look over the side of the boat you may see wildlife too.

Hammer · 05-05-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEPO

Me as a /professional

Bet that did not take long

05-04-2008, 07:44 PM	#7
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 705	Day #1 Report Day #1 The night before the midwest trip was set for a huge storm. This is the one that brought tornadoes to Kansas and was going to be an issue for us. So I looked for a pocket of time to get to Dan's house, gambled and left at 10:00 AM hoping to meet at 11:00 AM. Fifteen minutes in to the ride on 80/94 (for all of you that know that hell-hole stretch of interstate) the clouds opened up and just poured. Being that I have ridden in some pretty bad rain storms and that within 10 minutes my suit was soaked (I was dry though inside) I decided to finish the ride. The Buell Ulysses dual sport and the Dunlop D616s are great in the rain. I motored along at 80 mph without a single squirm in heavy rain and was going quick enough that the rain was blowing off my face-shield. Funny thing is as I was going, people I would pass would be talking on their cell-phones and quickly turn their heads in shock to see me riding along in the rain. I arrived to Dan's and met up with Eric his brother and set out for this little adventure (they are my easy-up mates at .org days). All great bikes Dan on his 5th generation VFR, me on my Uly, and Eric on a 76' KZ1000. It was a great bike had a little carb issue, so sometimes it sputtered over 5500 RPM and he had to fidget with it along the way, but it was awesome. Now I knew Eric and his fun personality that we would be turning around and sure enough we had to head back to Dan's, Eric forgot his wallet while drying his jeans due to the rain. So we really set out this time and motored along North Avenue (64) towards Rockford and just got a light mist along the way. We stop for lunch at a little local eating establishment and have some tasty food. All done right there in front of you by a short-order cook. So good, infact, Dan has to pick his teeth clean. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Welcome to the Dance! Last edited by DEPO; 05-04-2008 at 09:34 PM.

05-04-2008, 07:57 PM	#8
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 705	Day #1 Continue After lunch we enjoyed a wonderful ride along the Rock River in northern Illinois. We viewed the beautiful Blackhawk statue that overlooks the river and the Byron Nuclear Power Plant, which I had the pleasure in college having a full tour of (now they ban that due to national security). Found some nice winding roads towards Baraboo (our rest stop for the evening) when we decide to head for highway due to the incoming storm. Sure enough it strikes and along the way we find this little bar right along highway 14 going up to Baraboo. The Missouri Tavern, a local bar for the very local ... as we walked in someone shouted out "Hey Easy Rider," with all of us in our riding suits we were perplexed. We had some local beer New Glarus in pint jars, when this tall all tatted female bartender offers me some beef jerky. I take her up on the offer and with her bare hand she reaches in to what looks like a pickle jar and takes out this soaked, bright red, hotdog looking thing and says "I love these things." So all of us break a piece off and had a taste, if you remember the little meat sticks you gave your child by gerber, they looked and tasted the same, but really spicy. The weather cleared and we enjoyed the ride to baraboo found a little motel where we parked our bikes under the awning and rested for the night after some grub at the Thunderbird lanes bar and lounge. Pictures: #1 Eric giving the thumbs up on a gas stop, we are dry.... for now. #2 Missouri Tavern #3 The calm after the storm #4 Our nighttime get-away (sorry for the blur) Attached Thumbnails __________________ Welcome to the Dance! Last edited by DEPO; 05-04-2008 at 09:37 PM.

05-04-2008, 08:12 PM	#10
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 705	Day #2 Two words: Cold and Damp It started off at 33 degrees and the morning news stated that pretty much along our route received a mix of snow and rain. So we did not look forward to what was in store. I of course being over prepared me had a ton of clothes and an extra set of rain gear. I loaned out half of my clothes to Eric who was of the minimalist movement and we got ready. We had a great breakfast in Baraboo just down the block from our motel with great deals. I had the country-fried steak and eggs, it was primo. We got on the road along what was one of the best roads I have ever ridden (33) and it was cold for the other guys, I was not too bad, because I brought winter gloves which kept my hands warm and the liner in my jacket did the job. Eric decides we need to pull over so we stop in a small town in front of this bakery. Great idea baked goods and coffee. We walk in, place has not been remodeled since the 70's and it smells of warm goodies. We each buy a donut and a beverage, Eric was first. Eric asks if we can hang around for a little while, place had no tables or chairs and the lady looks at us and says, "the only time I kick people out is if they ask me if my baked good are F##king fresh." We knew we were going to have a good time. Dan gets to the counter and says what are those cool looking square donuts? The lady says, "you mean the one with the yellow s#it in the middle? That is bavarian cream." We must have hung around for an hour and talked to her and just had a good time. She was an older lady in her 60's with her husband in the back baking away. We took a picture with her. Fun was had by all. (Dan has the photo, I will share later). We rode on and the weather got a little nicer, the roads got quite twisty and was fun, except for some of the water that was streaming across the road, sometimes mid-corner. We get to Wildcat Mountain State Park and ride to the top, look at the views and take a couple of pictures. Pic#1 Bakery Place Pic#2 Stop at Wildcat Mountain State Park, Turkey Vulture Pic#3 The guys done on the timer, with using the old pinic bench as a tripod Attached Thumbnails __________________ Welcome to the Dance! Last edited by DEPO; 05-04-2008 at 10:00 PM.

05-04-2008, 09:09 PM	#11
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 705	Day Two Wrap Up So after we get through the state park the roads still were the most beautiful winding roads I have seen all the way up in to LaCrosse. I decide the trip will ride on the West side of the river and that was a very wise choice. In to Minnesota we go and down along the Mississippi we go, some of the most picture moments along the way. Got so wrapped up in riding that many times we did not stop, because we were too interested in what was around the corner. We crossed in to Iowa and stopped in this tiny town with its Band Gazebo in the middle of the town square. Went to the local town bar and had a beer and a chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich which was a fried chicken breast with a seared piece of ham and swiss cheese on top. All for 2.25 it was awesome. Warning Iowa sucks when it comes to finding premium gas every one has regular and 89.5 with ethanol (go figure its IOWA). The road all the way south to Prairie Du Chien was awesome. Some of the most fun I have had on a motorcycle. We found a very nice motel in Prairie Du Chien and went to this great Irish Pub called Eddies, had some food and went back to the motel. Two great days and one more to come. Pic #1 Overlooking the mighty Mississippi Pic #2 The two brothers have a moment of life together Pic #3 Old man river pushing goods up north Pic #4 Little Iowa town with great Chicken Sandwich Pic #5 Time for a little relaxation Attached Thumbnails __________________ Welcome to the Dance! Last edited by DEPO; 05-04-2008 at 09:42 PM.

05-04-2008, 09:30 PM	#12
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 705	Last Day We wake up to blue skies and not the fear of being cold through our ride. This ride was going to be our longest especially for me who had the additional length back to Indiana. We load the bikes eat the free and crappy continental breakfast (all the hot food was gone, because the fishing tournament guys ate it all). We hop on the bikes and ride out of Prairie Du Chien on the East side of the river. I wish we would have went back over to the West side, but we were trying to shave a few miles. The ride was still wonderful from Prairie Du Chien to Galena, IL. Traffic became a little more heavier at times and Eric had a problem with the bike where he believed he only had three cylinders under power so passing was a little bit of an issue. This building in Lancaster Wisconsin was too wonderful to not stop and take a picture so we did and found a civil war memorial from 1867 where the original inscription was starting to fade. We stopped at Ulysses S. Grant's home in Galena so the Ulysses could see the Ulysses. It was a nice tour. We stayed on 20 and stopped in Freeport, IL... weird little town. Monster lunch at the local place. For under six bucks we got a bowl of soup, a salad, roast pork and dressing, baked potato, vegetables, roll, and dessert... including a drink. We were quite stuffed. I made it home after we left ways in the suburbs. Overall 789 miles for me had some MPG averages at times of over 50 miles a gallon. Bike ran great no problems..... I do need a new rear tire... 1200 V-twin and ham fist equals toasted rear tire. It did get 3600 miles on it, so not too bad. Five states for me, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, it was great Pic #1 County Building in Lacaster Wisconsin Pic #2 Civil War memorial Pic #3 Grant's Home Pic #4 Picture of Galena from Grant's Home Pic #5 Interesting and cheap restaurant for lunch Attached Thumbnails __________________ Welcome to the Dance! Last edited by DEPO; 05-04-2008 at 10:08 PM.

05-03-2008, 11:23 PM	#1
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 705	Midwest Trip Report (Possible plan for another join us!) Dan, Eric, and I are finishing our three day Midwest trip. What an awesome trip! Everything has happened. Cold, downpours, curvy roads, and more to come. Tomorrow is the last leg.I will write a complete write up soon. I am on my pocket pc and just wanted to tell all of you report coming soon. __________________ Welcome to the Dance! Last edited by DEPO; 05-07-2008 at 01:48 PM.

05-03-2008, 11:27 PM	#2
Hammer For Sale Join Date: 12-17-2006 Location: Indiana Age: 39 Bike(s): 05 Suzuki 600 Posts: 4,922 Images: 1	Speed safely __________________ SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

05-03-2008, 11:39 PM	#3
DrHall A Redneck Who Has Truly Arrived Join Date: 08-21-2007 Location: SW Florida Age: 49 Bike(s): DUC MTS 1000sDS, RC51 Posts: 998	Glad you are having fun, guys! Live it up __________________ the percentage you're paying is too high priced-you're living beyond all your means, and the man in the suit has just bought a new car with the profit he's made on your dreams....

05-04-2008, 12:00 AM	#4
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 705	Just came back from Eddie's Irish Pub in Prairie Du Chien, WI. Great bar and awesome food. Right next to the Mississippi just a nice place to be. __________________ Welcome to the Dance!

05-04-2008, 07:18 AM	#6
RedRider Join Date: 12-13-2006 Age: 49 Bike(s): 929 Posts: 2,396	Be safe and enjoy the ride!

05-04-2008, 10:26 PM	#14
SheepOfBlue SRA President Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Age: 46 Bike(s): CBR1000RR, RC51, VT500FT Posts: 6,410	Fun sounding trip DEPO I bet you guys loved it. Now the 33 and rain __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

05-05-2008, 11:32 AM	#15
DEPO Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-18-2006 Age: 33 Bike(s): Track 954 and Uly Bagger Posts: 705	We left off on the first day at 1PM and returned about 6PM on the third day. I like riding, but I am not in to stuffing 800 miles in one day. Thanks sheep it was a great trip. 33 is awesome... some of the best road in all of Middle America. __________________ Welcome to the Dance!

05-05-2008, 12:14 PM	#17
phobe circa 1970 Join Date: 12-17-2006 Age: 26 Bike(s): 600RR, 125R Posts: 4,637	A real Pirsig-like existential trip huh? Complete with crusty old carburetted bike to fiddle with. __________________ Cum hoc, ergo propter hoc

05-05-2008, 05:12 PM	#21
RedRider Join Date: 12-13-2006 Age: 49 Bike(s): 929 Posts: 2,396	Did you think about cold tires?