Memory lanes - Spring Ride 2024

May 2024. A meet up in Viroqua, a little camping, and a croissant.  

Day 1.

Meandering down to Viroqua to meet up with my dad around 4:00. I like to start these weekends with an all day, solo ramble with just a loose idea of where I'm going. Today's goal was to drift around on some Zen roads, and to make it to the meetup spot roughly on time.

River road, following the Tremealeau west out of Arcadia.

Stringing Zen roads together, bringing me closer to La Crosse.

E out of Alma bypassing Cream on Bank Hill Road.

95 to River Road south to P.

Bambenek Rd/ Dodge Hill Rd, out of Dodge of all places.

G to 93 to Norway Valley Rd.

T to 53 to Galesville for a snack.

A stop at Buena Vista Park first.

A Zen road. A perfect Guzzi road.

I just want hours of this.

Checking in on The Cut.

All geared up for camping, brought a warmer sleeping bag this year.

West Fork of the Kickapoo.

Best camp sites around, lots of room in May.

Day 2.

Lunch at the Saint Francis Hermitage. It was a cold wet morning. We were a little out of place in our rain gear and boots but, the nuns welcomed us into the main dining room anyway. The whole experience was up lifting and set the tone for the rest of the day. 

Rain.

Some riding. Lunch! Some more riding.

Followed by sunset around the campfire.

With a little scotch. 

What a treat!

Day 3.

Heading home after spending some quality time in the outdoors with my dad.

I forget exactly where this picture was taken. 

I think I went down to De Soto before heading back north.

The road north.

Mississippi River backwaters.

Lake Pepin, the Chippewa, and the Mississippi river valley.

I stopped at the Eagle Center in Wabasha. 

I learned that they are all juvenile bald eagles. 

There is a population of golden eagles that visit Wisconsin but, 

it's very small and they only stop by in February. 

What do you know, an eagle!

Another great spring ride in the books. Looking forward to next year! (Lord willing and the creek don't rise.)

- Ride North

May 31st - June 2nd | 70s and rain | 575 mi. | 13.5h moving time

A Wabasha overnight

It's Friday afternoon. My work is done and the bike is loaded up for a short overnight camping trip. As 4:30 quickly becomes 5:30, the rain goes from bad to worse. It would pass eventually but waiting would mean getting into camp after dark. It was time to suit up and go. I do love the challenge of riding in the rain and the reward of chasing the remnants of those big July thunderheads. There was never a question about going and I'm glad I did.

Lake Pepin

My destination was a state forest campground just west of Wabasha. Getting there Friday night would give me all day Saturday to putt around the western Wisconsin countryside, and I had a new tent that needed a test drive. I've been working on my camping kit since having so much fun out west this past spring and in northern Wisconsin last year. 

The campground has pit toilets and a shallow well with a hand pump, not much else. The sites are reasonably spread out and were about 10% occupied. First come, first served. A handful of trails along the wooded bluff would provide some entertainment on a cool fall day but the steamy summer night brought out the bugs. I opted to hang out at the canoe landing for a bit and then retreat to my tent for a book and a scotch. 

Storms move out as the sun sets behind me. 

a campsite on the bluff

After breaking camp in the morning, I crossed back over the river bottoms and found some fun roads to explore just east of the Chippewa River valley. I loved being out there in the morning with all the roads to myself. Linstrom Valley road was particularly beautiful, hugging the western valley wall with the sun up high in the eastern sky.

Arkansaw, WI

It was a productive 24 hours spent out and about in the world with just myself to talk to. These small county roads are heaven on the  little Guzzi. Both Zen and art were nearby at times. 

- Ride North

Friday July 28th - 29th | afternoon storms followed by sunshine