Having a wonderful time, wish you were here ....

[Lannis]

Our room marked with an "X".

Five days into a who-knows-how-long tour of the USA.    Starting each day about 0800, spending about 8 hours in the saddle a day, the rest of the time seeing the sights, stopping at interesting places, touring little downtowns, taking pictures .....

On the back roads, averaging about 43 MPH over 1700 miles so far.    Running 70 on the curvy two-lanes doesn't make up for running 20 around the courthouse square or waiting for the flagman to release you!    But we've got no schedule to keep.   

Amazing amount of beautiful countryside.   "High Wind Warning" on the Mackinaw Bridge this morning, but it didn't look too bad so we went over anyway, had to ride in a "lean" but the big Triumph doesn't mind steel grates, went about 40 MPH and it was fine, no sightseeing on the bridge for the pilot though!.

In the middle of Wisconsin at the moment, amazed that the motels were mostly full, it's because of a &*$*#( PACKERS GAME 3 hours away from here!    Every motel within 90 miles of Green Bay is booked solid.   These people are fanatics.

The PacSafe does like it says on the tin.   I'm in love with my new 'Stich outfit, Fay likes her Rukka except for the first couple days when it was 92+ degF and humid ...

The Black Hills in a couple days, looks like, then who knows .....  !

Lannis

[groundhog105]

That is the way to tour.

[Daniel Kalal]

...taking pictures

I'm not convinced...

[Aaron D.]

And "Big Triumph"-what do you mean, a Trident or you won the lottery?

Seriously, sounds like my kind of trip.

[rjamesohio]

Sounds like fun Lannis. Safe travels and Leo those pics coming!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Lannis]

I'm not convinced...

Minimal technology on this trip, pics are in the Sony camera, the battery in the nikon coolpix failed and we don't have a replacement because we didn't follow someone's checklist and bring a spare... 

[Lannis]

And "Big Triumph"-what do you mean, a Trident or you won the lottery?

Seriously, sounds like my kind of trip.

Our '14 Trophy SE 1215 triple that we bought when we thought the Stelvio was hosed (tappets) so we have two big touring bikes now. The Stelvio got the nod for the Nova Scotia and Alabama trips so the Trophy is having an outing this time....

[Shorty]

If you happen to be nearby, this town offers great Swiss food, cheese, and some of the best beer in North America:  https://www.swisstown.com/

[PJPR01]

If you happen to be nearby, this town offers great Swiss food, cheese, and some of the best beer in North America:  https://www.swisstown.com/

Good call on this one...just went thru there a month ago on the way home from the Wisconsin rally.  Well worth a nice stop for food and drink!

[Sheepdog]

Safe travels, Lannis...

[nc43bsa]

Minimal technology on this trip, pics are in the Sony camera, the battery in the nikon coolpix failed and we don't have a replacement because we didn't follow someone's checklist and bring a spare... 

When I bought my CoolPix, one of the features was that it uses AA batteries, not a hard-to-find proprietary battery that inevitably goes dead at the most inconvenient time.

I also carry 2 pairs of backup rechargeable AA batteries in the camera case.

[Mr Pootle]

For those to whom the names mean nothing, a map please. And the photos. Don't forget the golden rule, if there are no photos, it's not happening..

[tazio]

Livin' the dream.
And a dream wife to boot!? YES! Go, Lannis GO!!

[Nic in Western NYS]

Sounds pretty ideal, enjoy!

[Texas Turnip]

Good to hear from you. "Just do it" You are instead of being way too many "gonna do".

Tex

[Aaron D.]

Photo hint #1-camera with USB charging
Photo hint #2-decent Android phone with decent camera + Google Photos.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Photo hint #1-camera with USB charging
Photo hint #2-decent Android phone with decent camera + Google Photos.

Yep, I don't even carry a camera any more. Phone cameras are perfectly fine for web posting. Of course Lannis is using a landline with a really long wire..

[Lannis]

Photo hint #1-camera with USB charging
Photo hint #2-decent Android phone with decent camera + Google Photos.

The little Coolpix that Fay uses to take pics from the back seat as we ride has a Li battery and USB charging, but the battery has failed, won't take a charge.   Just our luck.  Been looking for a store that might have one but none along the way.   And you know me - no Androids taking control of my life, I've seen the horror movies.  Borg, Replicators, Berserker machines, Neuromancer, Skynet, I'm not going to be the one to release them on humanity!


Yep, tazio, Fay's a pretty ideal riding partner.   We like the same things and like the same distances … we stopped at a 44,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge in Necedah, Wisconsin and hiked into the marshes and spent a couple hours watching whooping cranes, trumpeter swans, and such, then stopped a couple more hours at "Upper Mississippi Lock #4" and watched them pass a huge barge through the lock (full of lima beans and corn and soybeans) and talked to the deckhands about life on a barge (28 days on, 14 days off) and the Core of Engineers lock operator, and we still made 360 miles through the dairy and corn farms Wisconsin and Minnesota, couldn't have been a more beautiful day for a ride.   All state and county roads, not a federal highway and especially not an Interstate in sight ....


Tex, wouldn't have missed this for anything.   What a country this is .... !


Lannis (courtesy of the lobby computer in the Microtel in New Ulm, MN)

[Seventy One]

I live about 30 miles from Alma Wisconsin and Upper Mississippi Lock #4.

Be sure to hit some of the historic sites in South Dakota. Lots of battlefields. Lots of history. I just got back from the Nebraska panhandle and it was the most memorable trip I've ever taken.

Wounded Knee was incredible.  This is a must-see IMO.

Ft. Robinson Nebraska was also very cool.

Just south of Hot Springs SD is the Wild Horse sanctuary. This will require about 2 miles of gravel riding. I did it on my Versys so you shouldn't have too much trouble on the Trophy. https://www.wildmustangs.com/

South Dakota Air and Space museum is also worth a stop if you're in the area. http://www.sdairandspacemuseum.com/

[fotoguzzi]

New Ulm, lots of history there.. German WW2 POW story is very interesting.. and then there's Beer..
sorry i missed you guys as you passed just S of the cities.. I was in Red Wing today..

try to see the Pipestone monument tomorrow.. and maybe the Jeffers petroglyphs..

[Sheepdog]

Back a few years, I toured Wisconsin by bicycle with my dad. It is as you say: beautiful. And who knew that it is one of the nation’s biggest producers of cranberries?

[Lannis]

Riding the Black Hills today, weather's perfect today but was 95 yesterday and 40 mph crosswinds so we had That experience, we have 2 quarts of water in the tank bag so it makes it bearable. More anon.

[bodine99]

Riding the Black Hills today, weather's perfect today but was 95 yesterday and 40 mph crosswinds so we had That experience, we have 2 quarts of water in the tank bag so it makes it bearable. More anon.

Glad you are enjoying. you and Fay be safe!!!

[Guzzistajohn]

How are you liking the 3 banger Triumph??

[Huzo]

Good to hear from you. "Just do it" You are instead of being way too many "gonna do".

Tex

[Jukebox]

Hi Lannis
Fantastic enjoy your trip.

Harry
Australia

[Lannis]

 

How are you liking the 3 banger Triumph??

The Trophy is doing great, getting 50 mpg, great in the curves, stable in the crosswinds, all day comfortable. The 7 gallon tank is a real plus for flexibility of routes and stops. We miss our Russell seats on the Stelvio, but with a Beadrider it does OK.
Wyoming today, big sky and wide open spaces....

[Chuck in Indiana]

The Trophy is doing great, getting 50 mpg, great in the curves, stable in the crosswinds, all day comfortable. The 7 gallon tank is a real plus for flexibility of routes and stops. We miss our Russell seats on the Stelvio, but with a Beadrider it does OK.
Wyoming today, big sky and wide open spaces....

The Wyoming, Montana, Idaho border area houses some of the finest MC roads in the country..

[Lannis]

The Wyoming, Montana, Idaho border area houses some of the finest MC roads in the country..

And we found about 400 miles of them today! North out of Cody WY at dawn, see what we can find tomorrow, this is a great life...

[Chuck in Indiana]

Be sure to run Beartooth and Chief Joseph while you're near Cody.. farther north, don't forget Going to the Sun for some spectacular scenery. Going west from there.. Lolo pass. 99 miles of curvy goodness following the Lewis and Clark expedition.