EICMA 2021: An Alternative to Turkey and Football

As we in the United States stuff ourselves with turkey and overdose on football, the 78th edition of the biggest and most important motorcycle trade fair in the world is happening in Milan, Italy. The first EICMA event was held in 1914 and this year runs from Thursday, 25 November through Sunday, 28 November. Showrunners claim that it is the most visited event in the world based on exhibitors and attendees.

After having to cancel the event in 2020, organizers went ahead with it for 2021. Strict Covid protocols are in place to ensure the safety of everyone. Vaccinations and masking are required for all participants and visitors. 

It is unfortunate that some of the big manufacturers, BMW, KTM and Ducati, for example, decided not to send any of their motorcycles or representatives. Ducati will be particularly missed due to its being an iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer. All three of these bike builders have decided to market their new wares through online presentations. Ducati, for one, has released a series of videos, several weeks apart, introducing their latest models. I have seen them all and they are very informative and even entertaining. 

As for the manufacturers who are there, many of the newest items are e bikes. Based on what I see on my local bicycle trails, e bikes have a future with all age groups. At first they were seen as bikes to keep people from aging out of the sport. But now I am seeing younger riders who may want to ride more challenging routes or using them to allow less hearty riders to keep up with stronger bikers. 

Harley Davidson, the biggest American motorcycle maker, showed up with its electric motorcycle, the Livewire. At one time it was seen as the future of the marque, but new leadership returned the focus to Harley's bread and butter, the big touring bikes. Harley has put its Revolution Max motor in a model called the Sportster S, while still making the traditional air cooled Sportster lineup. 

Adventure bikes continue to draw interest and even MV Agusta has come out with their version of an off road motorcycle. The Big Four Japanese manufacturers are there and the Suzuki Hayabusa's return is a highlight from the Land of the Rising Sun. All of the other major Italian bike builders appeared and are showing off their latest editions. Moto Guzzi will celebrate its 100th anniversary with introduction of its V100 Mandello, a new entry into the sport touring market. 

Much more information can be found at the EICMA website, www.eicma.it. The motorcycle press is covering the show in great detail of course, so your favorite cycle website can help to keep you up to date.

Day Two in Northwest Wisconsin 2021

We were fortunate to avoid any rain in Wisconsin yesterday and our luck held today. Parts of the state were foggy and wet, but the area around Hudson and east to Eau Claire were warm and dry. After a Covid- style breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express in Hudson we rode north on US 35, the Great River Road, in search of our first Rustic Road of the day. There was a lot of poorly marked road construction in Hudson and I missed the turnoff. We ended up north of the road and turned back south. Once we found Rustic Road 13 we rode it both south and north to get back on track. It is a paved county road through farm an residential areas. 

Rustic Road 13 north of Hudson

The next target was Rustic Road 116 in Boardman and again I had mapping issues. After sorting them out we got that one in the hopper and rode east on County G to Glenwood City. This little town is fortunate enough to have both Rustic Roads 3 and 4 nearby. Rustic Road 4 included some gravel, but no stream crossings such as we experienced yesterday. After we finished riding them we stopped for refreshment at a local establishment in Downing. 

Rustic Road 116 in Boardman

My brother has a college friend living in Knapp, so we stopped in to visit while on our way to the next Rustic Road. We had a great visit and they fortified us with Girl Scout cookies and delicious coffee. After bidding our goodbyes, we rode east into Menomonie. Rustic Road 89 is south and west of Menomonie. It is an enjoyable ride along the Chippewa River and through the quaint little town of Irvington. We had plans to go east to Rustic Road 45 after 89, but there is not a good route so we ended up riding 89 both ways. US 29 led us to US Highway 12 and a route east to our last goal for the day. US 12 has been replaced by Interstate 94 for through traffic, but it is still a busy highway. We stopped at a Kwik Trip for a road lunch on our way through the Eau Claire area. 

Bon Appetit!

As rain clouds gathered overhead we rode south and east toward our last goal of the day. Highway 12 east leads out of Eau Claire into some pleasant farmland and good habitat for birds. We saw a ratty looking bald eagle in the ditch along the road and numerous mating sandhill cranes. Rustic Road 45 is just southeast of Augusta and is a gravel track near a state park. The skies continued to threaten to open up, but we went ahead and enjoyed the ride. Rustic Road 45 ends on County Road H and we rode that back to County Road M and US Highway 12. Our ride back to our accommodations was uneventful and we were happy to have had two days which resulted in riding nine of Wisconsin's beautiful Rustic Roads.

Rustic Road 45 near Augusta

On the last day of our trip we had a bit of a post Covid family reunion. Our sisters came from the west and north to spend a night in Eau Claire catching up on the past year. We met them for lunch at the Acoustic Cafe in beautiful downtown Eau Claire before riding home. 

Acoustic Cafe in Eau Claire

Northern Sights

 The pandemic of 2020 has sent many people in search of a safe place to enjoy the summer in Wisconsin. For many, that place has been the area north of US Highway 29. The resorts, boat landings and campgrounds have been full of visitors from all over the country seeking out the perceived safety of Wisconsin's north woods. I kept this in mind as I planned my trip to acquire the last Harley Davidson dealer stamp I needed to complete my Wisconsin Harley Davidson Dealers Association Passport Tour. 

Northwoods Harley Davidson is located in a park-like setting just north of the busy resort town of Minocqua on US Highway 51. In any other year I would have made this a two day ride and enjoyed some of that clean north woods air and visited a few local restaurants. But due to the pandemic this was going to be 370 mile day. With that in mind, I planned to ride the four lane US 29 and US 51 on the way to the dealership.

I also realized that I could ride two of Wisconsin's Rustic Roads, located just west of Minocqua. My brother and I got off to an early start from Green Bay and by late morning we were on Blue Lake Road, or Rustic Road 58. The number signs at either end are gone, maybe in someone's cottage, so I took the picture midway through at the junction with Rustic Road 59. Number 59 is dirt and sand for a few miles, so I only rode the paved portion on the north end on my Harley Lowrider S. I plan to get back there on my BMW R1250 GSA and ride the unpaved section on the southern end.

My sister, brother and me

Rustic Road 59's northern entrance is on State Highway 70 and that led us back to US 51 on the north side of Minocqua. One of Minocqua's summer attractions is the Min-Aqua Bats, the longest continually running amateur water ski club in the country. They began the season in June, but in August canceled the rest of the shows due to COVID 19 concerns. 

Turning north at US 51, we were soon pulling into Northwoods Harley Davidson. In all of my stops at dealerships this season I had not purchased anything, so I picked out a long sleeved t-shirt to commemorate my completion of the Passport Tour. The young lady at the checkout said that they had been quite busy all summer and were expecting it to continue through September. 

Big Arbor Vitae Lake

The sun was shining brightly and it was a perfect day to be in the pine scented north woods. My sister and her husband live a few miles north, and they came down to meet us. They led us to an idyllic park on the shore of Big Arbor Vitae Lake. We spent an hour or so enjoying our lunch and catching up the family news. We watched a fisherman in a passing boat reel in a northern pike while an otter cruised into the shoreline weeds. 

Saying our socially distanced goodbyes, we got back on highway 70 and rode east toward Eagle River. I chose two lane roads for most of the ride home and it was some great riding. We rode highways 32 and 55 south through Crandon and the reservation town of Mole Lake. 

My brother-in-law, sister and Honda

The Sakaogon Chippewa Community operate the Mole Lake Casino and Lodge and normally it is a busy little town. But the Community has closed the Casino and Lodge due to the pandemic. There is a portable sign on the north side of town reminding those arriving to wear masks and practice social distancing. It is apparent that the Community leaders are serious about protecting their people. 

The next stop was the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Station in Langlade. It is situated on the Wolf river at the junction of highway 64 and 55. I have stopped there often in the last few years and it has never been staffed. I have been unable to determine if it is closed permanently or not.

The route south on 55 is a satisfying curvy ride through the Menominee Indian Reservation. On this summer weekday the traffic was light and we cruised sublimely out of the north woods and back into fields of nearly ripened corn and soybeans. There is road construction just north of Shawano, so we got back on 32 near Gillett and made our last stop at the Kwik Trip in Pulaski.

A few days after returning from Northwoods Harley Davidson I dropped off my completed Passport Tour at my local shop, Vandervest Harley. They will mail it in for me and I will find out if I am a prize winner in November. The Passport Tour gave focus to my riding this summer and I know I would not have ridden my Lowrider S as far as I did without its impetus. The weather is great as the calendar indicates it is fall and I am planning more rides over the coming weeks. 

Harley Davidson Western Wisconsin Swing

The area around La Crosse, in southwestern Wisconsin, is often referred to by the locals as "God's Country". If you spend enough time there it is evident that God took some special interest in its creation. The river valleys, hilltop vistas and snaky roads make the Coulee Region heaven on Earth for motorcyclists.

I woke up to a cool morning at Fort McCoy. The hotel was offering breakfast to order as long as it could be placed in a paper bag. I chose a blueberry muffin, yogurt and some fruit to get my day started. My Lowrider S has only a swingarm bag for luggage, so everything I had with me had to go in the backpack, and it did not take long to load up. My brother was along with me on this trip and our first stop was 30 miles west. The shop we were going to did not open until 1000 and by 0830 we were anxious to get on the road

La Crosse Area Harley Davidson is located 8 miles east of La Crosse in Onalaska. The dealership began as a Yamaha shop in Waukon, Iowa, and took on Harley Davidson in 1989. They expanded into the La Crosse area in 1996. We arrived just as the dealership opened at 1000, but the shopworkers were already busy moving bikes around the lot. One happy customer was exuberantly celebrating the new, louder sound coming from his Sportster.  The friendly staff members were welcoming and helped out with some directions to get us back on the highway. 

The La Crosse shop is near US Highway 35, part of the Great River Road. The Great River Road is a series of roads that roughly follow the Mississippi River for over 2000 miles through ten states. We were able to ride 35 for several miles north before turning north on to US Highway 53 toward Chippewa Falls. Before leaving on Monday I had checked the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website and noted the road construction on our route. There was a detour on 53 that I wanted to avoid and it led to one of the best motorcycle roads I have been on. 

After turning east on Wisconsin 95 at Blair., we turned left on County Road W. County W is a marvelous road for motorcyclists. The curves and hills are sublime and that day it was lightly traveled. We did encounter a few excitable deer, but otherwise it was a great experience. Its northern end dropped us back on 53 in Pigeon Falls.

Several miles up the road we pulled off at a scenic overlook. There was an old stone marker there memorializing Nicholas Bourlier de la Chavelle. The story goes that he forsook a life of easy living to live in a local cave in order to better enjoy the beauty of the area. The view is spectacular, but I do not think I could enjoy it enough to live in a cave.

Beautiful two lane blacktop continued for another thirty miles before the four lane began in Eau Claire. Chippewa Falls Harley Davidson is on Business 53 and it did not look like they were in business when we pulled into the parking lot. It struck me that the dealerships that park bikes, either new or used, in front of their shops are more appealing to anyone driving past. Putting a few, or a lot, of shiny examples of American Iron out in front of your place of business and can only help.

Bikes out front or not, they were open and the sales guy was quick to offer a bottle of water or some coffee. We took him up on a cup of joe and talked about his dealership. They were originally located in downtown Eau Claire and moved to their current location in Chippewa Falls in the 1990's. After getting my Passport stamped we mounted up and went to the local Culver's for lunch.

The state of Wisconsin went under a mask mandate on 1 August and our two days on the road showed a great variety in how businesses and individuals are complying. All of the workers in the Kwik Trip convenience stores wear masks and a good percentage of their patrons do also. Harley Davidson's corporate office must be taking a hands off approach as some of their dealership employees are wearing masks and some are not. 

We had two great days to ride and I am happy we could take advantage of the weather. I now have Passport Tour stamps from 14 of the 15 Wisconsin Harley Davidson dealers. The lone wolf is Northern Lights Harley Davidson in Arbor Vitae and I am looking forward to a great ride into Wisconsin's north woods.

Reel Brothers Harley Davidson and Rustic Road 121

It has been a few weeks since my last ride to a site participating in the Wisconsin Harley Davidson Dealers Association Passport Tour. I had a trip planned a couple of weeks ago but the weather went south and I canceled. My other bike is a 2020 BMW R1250 GSA and if I would have been riding it I would not have canceled, but I try my best to avoid riding my 2016 Lowrider in any kind of rain. It would not be harmful to the bike, I just like to keep it as clean as possible. It is nearing 14,000 miles and it still looks almost like new.

Today and tomorrow promised excellent riding weather and the trip was back on. My brother, on his 2016 BMW R1200 GSA,  and I left Green Bay under cloudy skies enjoying a tailwind out of the north. Our route took us south on I 41 and then west on US 21. These highways are thick with Kwik Trips and even though I limited myself to two cups of coffee, I had masked up and visited more than one Kwik Trip before getting fuel at the one in Necedah. 

The clouds and cool weather continued as we turned south on Wisconsin Highway 80. A few miles south of Necedah we took the left fork onto Wisconsin Highway 58 and into Mauston. Reel Brothers Harley Davidson is on the northern edge of Mauston and all was quiet as we pulled our bikes into two of the many empty parking spots.

This dealership was like most I have visited across the state getting my Passport Tour sheet stamped. There was only one other patron and most of the remaining bikes were of the touring variety. There were two attractively painted Softail Sport Glides on offer also.

This is the first of a planned two day assault on four Harley Davidson dealerships participating in the Passport Tour in 2020. I am also riding as many of Wisconsin's Rustic Roads as I can, so after visiting Reel Brothers we went south on Wisconsin Highway 82 and then north on Wisconsin Highway 80. Wisconsin Rustic Road 121 winds northwest off of 80 and returns via County Road S. It has some nice hills, curves, and little farms for scenery along the way.

Once back on Highway 80 we rode through the little town of New Lisbon. North of town, on County M, is Kennedy County Park. I had found it on the map and it looked like a good place to stop and eat our lunch. The gravel road led to a campground and picnic area. There were a few campers, but no one else was around. The picnic area is next to the  Lemonweir River and we enjoyed the quiet of the woods while we ate.

Leaving the park on M, we turned west on County C. This took us to the main gate of Volk Field in Camp Douglas. This is a Wisconsin National Guard hotbed and serves both Army and Air Guard units. It was the home of the Wisconsin Military Academy before the new one was built at Fort McCoy in the latter part of the 20th century.

From there we went north on County H to US Highway 21. Thirty miles west is Fort McCoy. The post was established in 1909 on land between the towns of Sparta and Tomah. It became an important location for training and preparing troops for World War II and many of its buildings date to that time period.

A number of buildings were taken down by the Amish, who then repurposed the lumber. Those that are still in use have been extensively renovated. The post has a nice outdoor museum of buildings and vehicles that brought back many fond memories of Annual Training periods spent at the fort. We were able to secure lodging on post for the night and after a trip to the Post Exchange we settled in.

Rustic Road 62 and Timm's Hill

The pandemic has altered my assault on Wisconsin's Rustic Roads. In past years I have gone off on one or two strategically planned rides to various locations. These rides enable me to ride a dozen or so Rusties in a couple of days. But this year I have not felt comfortable booking a night in a hotel and have only gone on day rides. So this meant that riding Rustic Road 62 in Price County would be the centerpiece in a long day of riding.

I have been studying the map this spring and summer looking for Rustic Roads that are accessible on a one day ride from my home. Number 62 is west of Tomahawk and about 160 miles away. The quickest route would follow the four lanes on US Highways 29 and 51, but I did not want to ride all the way on the slabs. 

Several years ago I picked up a copy of "Motorcycling Across Wisconsin" (2009), authored by William Murphy. The book has maps of rides, many of them loop style, in the state and each has a particular theme. One of the rides was titled To the Top of Wisconsin and was perfect for my trip. The route was on excellent county roads on the east and west sides of US 51 between Wausau and Tomahawk. As there were a number of different roads involved, I made few notes about the route to back up the information I entered into my BMW NAV VI GPS.

The day before the ride I invited my brother to come along, telling him it would be a 320 mile day. He was up for it and we decided to bring our lunches along rather than try to find a safe place to eat. We met at the Kwik Trip, filled up on fuel, completed our lunch packing, and headed northwest on US 29.

It was a perfect day to ride and soon we were just east of Wausau, turning north. We immediately noticed that the county roads in the area have a red tint from the granite used in their construction. We followed various county roads north and eventually a westerly direction into Tomahawk. Stopping for a break the Amoco on the edge of town, I told my brother that Harley Davidson owns a factory in Tomahawk. 

Willie G. Davidson, grandson of one of the founders, used to vacation in the area. He took an interest in the Tomahawk Boat Factory and in 1961 Harley Davidson bought it. By 1963 the factory was turning out fiberglass fairings, saddlebags and sidecars for the company's motorcycles. We were not far from the factory and saw a couple of Harley semi trucks on their way in and out. After mounting up and riding west through town we spotted another Harley building. Being a Harley owner I could not pass up this photo op. After carefully parking our BMW motorcycles in the lot we asked someone entering the building what its purpose is. She said that the products made east of town were shipped there for finishing. 

It was getting near lunch time and the Rustic Road was 25 miles west, so we got on our way. The NAV VI took us the rest of the way to County RR, Rustic Road 62. It is a paved road that goes south into Timm's Hill County Park. Timm's Hill, at 1951 feet, is the highest point in Wisconsin. The park, which also contains 160 acre Bass Lake, encloses the hill. We stopped at a spot on the lake that had a picnic table and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the surrounding woods. Across the small lake, which the Rustic Road guidebook claims is "teeming with northern pike", was a restaurant and bar. Soon after we arrived the quiet was interrupted by the arrival of an squad of ATV riders at the restaurant. If that many riders think it is worth a stop I will be back once I feel safe in a restaurant.

After lunch we rode just a few hundred feet to a parking area near the observation tower. It was a quarter mile hike up and it was quite warm on top of the hill. We plodded up the old wooden tower and took in the view. It was an almost cloudless day and it was possible to see for miles. The old metal fire tower still stands next to the observation tower. After catching our breath and taking a few pictures, we made our way back to the bikes. There were a few other people around, but it does not seem to be a popular spot for visitors. 

Our route home was on county roads paralleling US 51 on the west side. The first few miles on County C were a mix of curves and hills as we made our way south. Eventually the road straightened out as it entered healthy looking corn and soybean fields. We crossed over US 29 and turned east on County N. We planned to ride this into Wausau before hopping onto US 29 for the 90 mile blast home, but we ran into a "road closed" sign. So at Edgar, home multiple high school football championship teams, we got back on the big highway and road east and home.

It was an outstanding day on the bike and one more reminder that life can be grand even under the burdens of the pandemic.

Riding Some Brand New Rustic Roads in NE Wisconsin

My attack on Wisconsin's Rustic Roads is continuing through this abnormal riding season. In other years a ride to a Rustic Road would include a stop at a local restaurant for breakfast or lunch. The search for just the right place was as much a part of the planning as working out the route to my destination. Early in the season I was disappointed by the fact that I would not be able to enjoy the local cuisine on my rides. But over the past few weeks I have discovered the joy of bringing my sustenance and finding a lake, river, or county park to enjoy with my meal.

Wisconsin adds to the list Rustic Roads on an intermittent basis. The only way to know if there are new designations is to check the website. Two of them were recently added in northeast Wisconsin. I rode the first after finding it by accident and the other one involved planned day trip. As of now I have ridden almost 90 of the state's Rustic Roads. I have plans to make it to 100 by the end of the year but since March I have learned to not count on plans. So I am taking pleasure in the rides that I am able to complete and not thinking too far ahead.

In late June my brother and I went for a ride up into Oconto and Marinette Counties. The route took us up Highway 32 to Wabeno. By doing a map recon I discovered that just west of Wabeno is Richardson Lake County Park. There is a campground and a little picnic area near the lake and we stopped there for lunch. After enjoying the quiet of the woods and good meal we went back into Wabeno, then due east on County Road C. We had not gotten far out of Wabeno when, to my surprise, a familiar brown and gold Rustic Road sign appeared. I did not have my logbook with me, but I knew that number 118 was new and that I had not ridden it yet. By the time I stopped and took the picture my riding partner had come back to see what had held me up. It is not easy to ride with a Rustic Road hunter.

RR 118 is a beautifully paved road with some nice sweeping curves and elevation changes. We rode it across Marinette County to Wausaukee, where it meets Highway 180. This road follows the Menominee River, the border between Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, on its way into Green Bay. There are a lot of great little stops along way where travelers can enjoy the river. When we got to Marinette we were going to go up to Menominee to get some pasties at Kolonel K's, but there was an unusual amount of traffic. It was then that we remembered that the president was there that day visiting Marinette Marine. We rode back south on US 41 and on the way into Green Bay saw the president's chopper and its escort of two Boeing Ospreys on their way north.

After finding number 118 in my own backyard I thought I should get back on the Rustic Road website and see if any others had been added in northeast Wisconsin. Sure enough, there was number 117 just south of Wautoma near Saxeville. I had been in the Saxeville area several years ago riding RR 48 and this one is just outside of town,

On the day I rode down there the forecast was for afternoon thundershowers. I kept a close watch on the sky and checked the radar on my phone at stops. It looked like it would be clear long enough for me to ride the Rustic Road and then get home dry. I used the Nav VI GPS on my BMW R 1250 GSA to guide me into Saxeville and onto RR 117. One of the features of this road is a short side road that has a covered bridge and I did not want to miss that. 

When I stopped for the bridge photo I noticed a park like area to my right. There was a home and some outbuildings on the property, so I was surprised to see a sign that indicated the public was welcome. The bridge spans the Pine River and there was a young fellow trying his luck fly fishing. I watched his efforts as I ate my lunch. An old Buick pulled up and a local gentleman and his family got out. As his wife and daughters took pictures of the bridge he came over to chat. He said that an older couple had owned the property I was on and had tended the gardens as long as they could. When they could no longer maintain it the local government purchased the spot and opened it for public use. It was a beautiful and peaceful location and one I would not have enjoyed if I had been seeking a local restaurant. Soon he went back to tend to his ladies and I spent a few more minutes enjoying the river. Then I remembered the threatening weather forecast and began packing up.

Rustic Road 117 is not very long and soon I was on County K heading up toward Wautoma and home. the county was doing some road work and while there were no detours I ended up having to clean a lot of tar-like specks off my motorcycle when I got home. I chose a southerly route home on Highway 10 and that was turned out to be the wet route. But it only lasted about 20 miles and then it was sunshine and dry roads all the way home. 

The list of Rustic Roads is up to 122. I am glad that I found these two close to home and can now add them to my list of roads ridden. This riding season is different from all others, but in some ways has become better than the others.

Beaver Dam and Madison Harley Davidson Sh

The scourge of COVID 19 shows no signs of abating and I continue to be happy to have a riding goal for the summer. The Wisconsin Harley Dealers Association Passport Tour has given me the incentive to get out on the road and map out new routes across the state. Now that I have gotten Passport stamps at all of the participating dealerships in the eastern part of the state it is time to look to the west.

This week I planned an overnight trip that would have netted me six new stamps and left just one to acquire. But Mother Nature intervened in the form of a rainy forecast and that plan went by the wayside. Or it would have if the waysides in Wisconsin were open. The first part of the route was still in play though, and I made the best of it.

I was on the road after the I 41 rush hour subsided on a beautiful sunny morning. It was cool enough that I was comfortable with a long sleeve riding shirt under my Harley Davidson Killian jacket. The only luggage capacity on my 2016 Low Rider S is a swingarm bag, so I travel with a Fly backpack. There would be enough room in there

 to ditch the riding shirt as the day warmed up.

The first stop was Mischler's Harley Davidson in Beaver Dam. This is the also the home of one of two BMW dealerships in the state. The dealership was opened in Waupun by William Mischler in 1958 selling Harley Davidsons and became a BMW dealer the next year. Soon after, the shop moved to Beaver Dam. It has been in several locations since and the new owners, William's son Art and his wife Deb, moved to the current location in 2002. It is a state of the art facility with easy access off US Highway 151. I have a BMW also, so I make it a point to visit Mischler's at least once each year.

Madison is only about 40 miles southwest of Beaver Dam on 151, but it was an interesting and unsettling ride. The highway has been under some type of construction for at least two years and justt south of Beaver Dam there was a good stretch of single lane along this four lane highway. It ended near the Columbus exit and just as traffic was getting up to speed the orange barrels showed up again. In an unfortunate incident, a truck with some type of crane struck and killed a construction worker. I did not know it at the time, but saw the truck amid several law enforcement vehicles. There is also road construction on I 39 near the exit for Harley Davidson of Madison, but the dealer rep gave me some good directions to avoid it on my way in.

I got my first Harley Davidson in 1998 and at the time was a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. I was drilling in Madison then and on those weekends I always found time to visit the local Harley shop. It was called Decker's then and was located on US 51 on the south side. When it was sold and moved to its current southeast side location in 2002 it became Capital City Harley Davidson. Since then it has been sold and renamed twice. The current owner closed his Sauk Prairie Harley Davidson dealership in Sauk City in 2015 and merged those operations with Harley Davidson of Madison.  

This place has an inviting showroom and an excellent selection of parts and accessories. There was a 2020 Road King Special on the floor, the first I have seen in my travels. It had a premium paint job and looked terrific. I remembered more grassy area outside from the last time I visited, but they added some square footage for storage and there was no picnic area on the property. I still managed to find a nice shady spot under a tree to enjoy my lunch. 

While eating I marveled at how perfect the day was perfect and lamented the fact that I was not going to be able to continue northwest toward the next participating dealer. It would have been a great day for it, but the looming forecast meant I was on my way home. After watching a rider or two take some shiny new bikes out for test rides I packed up the backpack, put on my helmet, jacket and gloves and got back on the highway.

I had plenty of time and chose to take some back roads home. Over the years I have been on most of them, but it is a beautiful part of the state. Highway 73 took me through the little towns of Deerfield, Marshall, Randolph, Columbus and up to Fox Lake. I thought of the many people I knew from the National Guard who lived in the little towns around the home of the State Headquarters. 

The little town of Columbus was in the news recently as they announced the removal of their Christopher Columbus statue. I went south on Highway 60 to see if it was still there, but all that was left was a cement pedestal near the empty Shopko building. On my way back to 73 I passed a statue memorializing the local Union soldiers who had died during the Civil War. The Amtrak was leaving the station and blocking the street, so I used the traffic halt to take a few pictures.

Following 73 took me to Highways 33 and 68 and I rode into Waupun ready for a break. A Kwik Trip appeared just at the right time and I enjoyed a Kona coffee and blueberry muffin. A gentleman in a Ford Harley Davidson pickup stopped to chat and ask a few questions about my Low Rider. He and his wife have Harley Ultras and he also enjoys his Sportster when bar hopping. 

The ride home was over familiar roads along the east side of Lake Winnebago. Even though my trip was cut short it was a pretty good day on the bike. I now have gotten stamps from all of the dealers in the bigger cities, so the next rides will be on much less traveled roads.

Passport Tour Stamp Quest in the Milwaukee Area

Wisconsin weather is famously unpredictable and we are experiencing an unusual heat wave. This week the temperatures have been in the high 80' and low 90's with high humidity. This all factored into my quest to get Harley Davidson Dealers Association Passport Tour stamps from the participating dealers in the Milwaukee area. Most of my ride would be near the Lake Michigan shoreline and it would be a bit cooler there.

I left Green Bay at 0830 and made my first stop at Suburban Motors in Thiensville. Thiensville is about five miles west of I 43 and, unlike most other Harley dealerships, is located in a downtown area. A village of a little more than 3000 people, Thiensville has a quaint old downtown and was rather busy on a mid week morning. There are restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries, all busy with shoppers and diners.

Suburban Motors has been in this location for 40 years and prides itself on the fact that they have sold bikes to several generations. This shop had more parts and accessories, along with clothing, than any of the shops I had been in. They also had a good selection of their inventory outside for interested buyers to examine. After a quick look around, getting my Passport stamped and hydrating, I rode back to the interstate and went south.

My next stop was Uke's Harley Davidson in Kenosha. The ride through Milwaukee went well as it was after the morning rush hour. Uke's is a dealership that I have ridden past many times on my way to Chicago and points beyond. There has not been a good reason to get off at the exit near Uke's, so I had never been there. It is not be missed by travelers, though, due to its tower showroom containing five floors of new motorcycles.

Uke's has a long history with Harley Davidson and Kenosha, going back to 1930. Their website details how this family owned business has been a major player in motorcycling in Kenosha for almost 100 years. The building they are in now was built in 2003. It is easy to pass up, but worth a stop. I took time to enjoy my lunch on their front patio, got my Passport stamped and rode off to my next dealership. 

To get to Wisconsin Harley Davidson in Oconomowoc I skirted the south and west sides of Milwaukee on Interstates 43, 41 and 94. Oconomowoc is about 30 minutes west of Milwaukee and the dealership is on the south side of the highway. The groundskeeper had finished cutting the expansive lawn and was in the process of blowing the cuttings off the parking lot. I took this into consideration as I parked my Low Rider S. 

Oconomowoc means "where waters meet" and the area is known for its lakes. The dealership originated in Watertown in 1917 and moved to Oconomowoc in 1995. The big beautiful building I entered was completed in 2005. Like the other new shops I had been in there was plenty of showroom space and a friendly staff. 

It had become much warmer as I rode away from the lakeshore and I knew that I would be into late afternoon traffic by the time I got back to Green Bay. So after a chat with one of the representatives and getting my Passport stamped I went back out into the heat. I finished up the water I had with me before crossing the interstate and riding north on Highway 67, leaving the city of lakes behind me.

I wanted to avoid riding in the heat as much as possible and also avoid going back through Milwaukee. My route took me through part of the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine Forest and it was a nice break from the interstates. I did encounter some unexpected detours as I made my way north and east, but it made the ride more interesting. I arrived back on the lakeshore at Grafton and rode back north on I 43. After one more water stop in Sheboygan I arrived home at 1700.

These three shops are in the busiest and most traveled areas of Wisconsin and I am glad to have their stamps. The last seven are pretty well scattered around, but they are in more remote areas. Plans to visit them are already in the works.

Lakeshore Harley Davidson Shops

A few days after learning about the Wisconsin Harley Davidson Dealers Association Passport Tour I rode off on my first dedicated ride to secure stamps at participating dealers. I packed up a nice lunch and aimed my 2016 Harley Davidson Low Rider S south on Interstate 43.

My goal was to get two stamps on the ride. It was a perfect June day for riding and the traffic was light. Wisconsin is an open state as far as the corona virus goes, but many people are still staying home and staying safe. 

Harbor Town Harley Davidson is located on the I 43 west frontage road in Manitowoc. Most of the stores have been quiet during my midweek visits and this one was no different. There was not the usual picnic table outside Harbor Town, but I found a shady spot to eat before going inside.

After browsing around the new and used bikes and the discounted clothing rack I got my Passport stamped and prepared to continue south. 

Lunch at Harbor Town HD

Route 43 Harley Davidson is the dealer in Sheboygan and is about 20 miles south of Manitowoc. It has been in this location since Harley's heyday in the 1990's. I bought my first real motorcycle jacket here in about 1999. It is the Marlon Brando style and although I don't wear it much now I got a lot of use out of it. 

I parked near the picnic tables outside the store and hydrated a bit before going in. One thing I have noticed is that the Harley dealers are all doing their own thing as far as protecting themselves and their customers from the virus. There are very few masks on the employees, if any, and I have only seen one with the plexiglass shields at the service counters. 

Made in the USA

After checking out the shop and looking for another deal on a jacket I asked the representative about getting my Passport stamped. He said that the dealership "had not made the cut" this year and were not participating. He said they had sent in all of the paperwork, but were not included in the tour. He asked which ones I still needed and was very helpful in providing a good route down to Suburban Harley Davidson in Thiensville. That would be for another day.

As I prepared to leave I resolved to spend some time studying the Passport and make sure that my trips would not end up without a stamp. It was a great day to ride though, and any ride that ends in perusing shiny new bikes is a good ride. 

Four Rustic Roads in Southwest Wisconsin

My quest to ride all of Wisconsin's Rustic Roads continues this year. Even though the summer passed without a Rustic Road trip, it turns out it is not too late. Today I got out and rode four of the remaining six roads that I have not ridden in southwest Wisconsin.

I probably would have taken this ride last month, but with my new bike on the way I wanted to wait and take it on this ride. I picked up the bike on Tuesday, 24 September, and took it on a few short rides to figure out some of the new technology on this 2020 BMW R1250 GSA. This is my first bike with the BMW navigation device, the Nav VI, and so far it is worth the expense.

The weather was not what I would have wanted, but at least I was able to ride. It has been a record breaking year for rain in Wisconsin, so just being able to ride in dry weather is a plus. When I left Green Bay at about 1000 it was not raining, but there was mist off and on all the way to Necedah. A bigger issue was the temperature and the wind. The skies did not completely clear all day and the thermometer never rose above the fifties. A west wind made a compass unnecessary as it was always apparent in which direction I was riding.

My route took me south and west onto Highway 21. After a gas and snack stop at the Kwik Trip in Necedah, I rode south toward LaValle on Highway 58. I was not too confident in the Nav VI yet and was happy that I had the route memorized. Rustic Road 112 is an easy ride through pastures and farmland a bit south and west of LaValle. The end of the road led me back into LaValle and set me up for the ride to my next Rustic Road of the day.

My first Rustic Road with my new bike

It was getting near lunchtime already, due to the fact that the rain kept me in Green Bay until mid-morning. I did not find any interesting places to eat in Reedsburg, so a Kwik Trip chicken salad sandwich and a muffin served as lunch. I was glad that I brought along my military issue thermos filled with coffee to wash it all down.

Highways 23 and 154 led me to Rustic Road 21 south of North Freedom. There are a few branches off of it, so it is not point to point like most roads. This road provided me the opportunity to experience riding on gravel with my new bike. It is much more capable than I am and we both came out unscathed.

The next road, near Stitzer, was about 60 miles away via Highway 60 and 18 and I was not completely confident in my new navigation device. So I compared it with the map app on my phone before I headed south and west. I was happy with the route chosen by the Nav VI and my confidence in it grew.

Rustic Road 70 began south of Stitzer. It turned out to be the most challenging as far as road conditions. There was some new gravel in places and it was quite narrow and hilly. Combine that with the setting sun and people returning from work or school and it was a memorable ride.

Fortunately, my last target was not far off. My new NAV VI took me right into Rewey and on to Rustic Road 75. This one was all pavement as it wound through some pleasant countryside. There are a lot of small herds of beef cattle and dairy cows in this part of the state.

The north end did not have number sign

Once I completed the ride I punched in my hotel address and the NAV VI soon had me in a nice warm room. It was a long day today, but I am near finishing up the southwest region. Two more to go tomorrow and next year it is on to the multitude of Rustic Roads in the great northwest.

Sometimes Things Change

My last post was over two months ago and described my plans to abandon the idea of doing more long distance touring on a motorcycle. I was planning to sell my touring bike and buy a sports car, a Ford Mustang in particular.

In the weeks after that post, I did attempt to sell the big BMW R1200 GSA and spent a lot of time surfing the Internet in search of the car I wanted. The bike was not generating any interest at my asking price and I lowered it steadily. The car was still appealing, but was becoming less so. I was beginning to think that maybe getting out on the road again would be a good idea after all.

By late July I began like I was not ready to give up the admitted excitement of riding across the country and that a Ford Mustang could wait. I'm only 67, and that seemed a little young be buying a sports car. In early August I stopped at my local BMW dealer and worked out a trade for my 2011 R1200 GSA. There were not any 2019 models left, so I have a 2020 on order. It should be here some time this month. It will be identical to the 2019 model my dealer acquired as a demo. He invited me to take it out for a ride last week and it is a wonderful machine.

The BMW R1200 GSA Exclusive in Kalameta Metallic Matte

In the meantime I am searching for a new riding jacket and gloves. The BMW National Rally is in Great Falls, Montana next June and I already have my reservations at the local Hampton Inn.

I am happy with my change of mind and am looking forward to the arrival of my new German beast. It should be on its way from Berlin soon.

The End of Touring Life

The powers that be at the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMWMOA) changed the date of the annual rally from mid July to mid June this year. It will most likely be viewed as a stroke of genius due to the fantastic weather in the Nashville area this weekend. The temperatures peaked out at about 90 degrees on Saturday with a pleasant breeze and low humidity. Thursday and Friday were a bit cooler and perfect for rally fun.

My brother and I rode in on our R 1200 GSAs at about 1:30 pm Friday afternoon. After visiting registration and dropping off our door prize tickets, we walked into the air conditioned vendor building. All of the usual suspects were present and my brother bought a new riding jacket. I was tempted by a aramid fiber enforced riding shirt to use when riding my Harley Davidson, but ultimately decided to wait on that purchase. The orange, black and white Shoei RF 1200 also drew my attention.

As you may or may not have noticed, my thoughts during the rally have been focused on my 2016 Harley Davidson Lowrider S. For those not in the Harley world, the bike is known as an FXDLS.

Visiting a northern Wisconsin Ranger Station

It is a completely different bike from my BMW and cannot come close to matching what the BMW offers. The FXDLS is the quintessential cruiser bike. I have mounted a couple of small bags to carry essentials for a day ride, but it does not have a windshield. It is not a bike that I would ride on 500 mile days, something that is a relatively easy ask on the BMW GSA.

So why have I been thinking Harley at a BMW rally? I have been thinking over the winter that my multi-day touring days are over. Since I started touring, about fourteen years ago, I have been to a lot of places. Several trips to the Black Hills, to include two Sturgis Rallies, three trips to the Dragon, and rides up Trail Ridge Road in the Rockies and the Mount Washington Auto Road in New Hampshire stand out. I have had a few different riding buddies and each trip hasH been a joy.

Hanging out in Pine Bluff prior to Slimey Crud Run

But I am beginning to feel a bit more homesick on each trip. My wife doesn't ride and I think I have seen enough of these beautiful United States without her. She has been very understanding of my wanderlust and desire to get out on the road with my bikes. I still plan to do that, but just for short overnight rides when I feel the need. Which brings me back to why I am thinking about my Harley this weekend.

The BMW, my first and only, has been a terrific bike. It has done everything I hoped it would, only better. The maintenance costs are higher than the Harley, but I knew that going in. But it is not a Harley Davidson. I had a Honda 160 Scrambler in high school and sold it when I left for US Army Basic Training. I did own a motorcycle for another 26 years. What drew me back in was the mid-nineties mystique of Harley Davidson. A 1996 Sportster Custom, which bought in 1998 was my entry back into bikes.

Since then, Harley has been the bike of my heart. It will not be possible for me to have only one bike and that bike not be a Harley Davidson. Either the FXDLS will meet my motorcycling needs or my needs will match the bike.

Taken on one of my Rustic Road riding trips

So as I ride home over the next couple of days, my thoghts will be of selling my BMW. I plan to keep my adventure riding gear for a period of time just in case I change my mind. But a muscle car made by the Blue Oval has caught my attention and may become a stablemate for the Harley in the near future.