"Stairway to Heaven" Reaches a Milestone Birthday.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin's magnum opus, "Stairway to Heaven". The song, which is nearly ten minutes long, is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time. Composed in late 1970 by band members Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, it was released on the album Led Zeppelin IV in November 1971. 

The song contains a variety of guitar parts and techniques. The first part, soft sounding arpeggiated chords, is played finger style on an acoustic guitar. These chords are played throughout the song when the verses are sung and are the most recognizable sounds for most people. The remaining parts are played on electric guitars, both six string and twelve string. Jimmy Page would usually use a double necked guitar when playing the song live so he did not have to switch guitars in the middle. As the song progresses, it becomes more of a hard rock tune. Page's guitar playing and Plant's singing become more and more rock, or even metal sounding, as they drive the song through the thought-provoking lyrics.

The verse chords are not that uncommon, but later in the song Page employs variations of these more familiar chords. For someone still learning to play the guitar, like me, this is a great song to spend time on. The chord shapes for the verses are pretty simple although playing bar chords is always good practice. Playing arpeggiated chords is always a challenge for me, but when this song is played well the sound is magical. Learning the chord variations and where they go in the song is a great way to practice moving my left hand around on the fretboard.

The solo, considered by many to be the best rock solo ever, is beyond my skill level. It is still fun to just play the chords while Jimmy is wailing away. One interesting tidbit about the solo is that Page has said that he played is using a Fender Telecaster. He is usually identified as a Gibson Les Paul played so it is interesting that he used a Fender on one of Led Zeppelin's most iconic songs. 

When I began learning to play guitar, my teacher showed me the opening chords to this song pretty early in my lessons. So, I have known the shapes for a long time. Every once in a while, I will get the urge to try and get a little better at playing this masterpiece of rock music. The fact that I pulled it out again so close to the 50th anniversary of its release seems to have a little bit of karma to it. 

Covid Deadly for the Elderly

The New York Times reported yesterday that 1 in 100 Americans over the age of 65 has died from Covid 19 or its variants since the pandemic began early last year. For all other age groups, the ratio is in 1 in 1400. The Times also reported that 75 percent of the Covid 19 deaths in the United States have been people over the age of 65. 

As a person over 65, I found these statistics pretty alarming. Although I have done a lot of reading about the virus since it began infecting Americans almost two years ago, I was not conscience of just how much more deadly the virus has been for the elderly. It's important to note that the vast majority of the people over 65 who died from the virus were unvaccinated. That would include those who died prior to the vaccine being available and since that time. The elderly population continues to have the highest vaccination rate.

I have had all three of the shots available, but still wear a mask in certain situations. There is always at least one in my pocket so if I am in a place that goes from feeling safe to unsafe, I can quickly put one on. Sometimes it is a store or restaurant becoming more crowded or encountering someone who is coughing or sneezing. At the YMCA someone doing a lot of heavy breathing causes me to mask up. 

A couple of weeks ago I was eating with a group of co-workers, some of whom I did not know well. After the meal I had not put my mask back on. During the conversation the woman next to me was telling how she suffered some type of sprain during a fall. When someone asked if she saw a physician, she replied that she does not go to the doctor. This was enough for me know to immediately put my mask on. 

It is frustrating to feel this way after being fully vaccinated, but the New York Times article reinforced my belief that it is still better to wear a mask when out in a group of people I don't know. I am confident that the vaccine works to level the experts say it does, but even they admit that it is not perfect. I am not going to take any unnecessary risks that could land me in the breakthrough case category, or worse, be one of the 1 in 100 people over 65 who have died from the virus already.

The Weather Gods are Messing with Us

The calendar says December, but the weather forecast says something else. Northeast Wisconsin is nearing mid-December and the ground is barely frozen. There is a thin sheet of ice on the Fox River, which developed during the last 48 hours when the temperatures dropped to a little below normal. But even this brief cold snap did not drop temperatures to the bitter cold level. The forecast for next week indicates that we will experience temperatures in the high forties.

For many people, particularly those who do not participate in any outdoor winter activities, this type of weather is welcome. There is no snow to remove from driveways and sidewalks, parking lots are not so icy, and the chances of getting in a car accident due to poor winter driving conditions are much less. But for those of us who enjoy getting out in the winter, this is a disappointing start to the season.

After putting away my motorcycle and road bicycle for the winter I was hoping to be able to get my Trek Farley 5 fat bike out on the snow bike trails before Christmas. The trails need a good base of snow to be packed down by the groomers before they are ridable. We have gotten a few inches of snow, but not nearly enough to open up the local trails. 

A more important issue is what this type of weather will do to the local environment. The flora and fauna in this area thrive on normal winters, with a hard frost in the ground and a thick sheet of ice on the water. In their absence, the water levels fluctuate more than normal, and plants suffer in a variety of ways. Especially problematic for plants is a warm spell in January or February that "tricks" the plants into budding. A subsequent drop in temperatures can have a traumatic effect on the new buds. In addition, a hard frost kills off the bugs and insects that become a nuisance in the summer. 

With apologies to those who are reveling in anticipation of forty-degree days in December, I for one am looking forward to some big snow and some normal December temperatures.

Incoming: Electric Cars and Trucks

If you have read this blog for any amount of time you know that my first purpose in writing is to describe my motorcycling experiences. The thrill of riding and seeing things from the back of a bike never gets old for me. But two wheeled machines do not represent the limit of my interest in motorized transportation. While I did not grow up in a motorhead family nor develop an interest in cars at a young age, it did not take long for my interest to grow once I learned to drive.

The first car I owned was a 1972 Pontiac Le Mans. My dad had to co-sign on the loan, but it was my very own car and represented freedom. Within a month of owning it, I was on my way to New York City for my sister's wedding. At the age of nineteen I drove that shiny copper colored car through Chicago, the mountains of western Pennsylvania, the wilds of New Jersey and into the Big Apple. 

Over the next fifty years I have owned many cars and a few trucks. They have all been gas powered internal combustion engines. No diesels made it into my garage, and I have not ventured into the electric car market. But it appears that, if I live long enough, that may have to change.

Two of the big American manufacturers, Ford and General Motors, are investing heavily in car battery research. These companies have been around for over a century, and they know their business. They would not be spending the sums that they are if they did not see electric cars as the future of personal transportation. 

I have the opportunity to be around people who have been interested in cars their whole lives. Some have made living dealing with all things automotive and for some it has been a hobby. For the vast majority internal combustion engines, gas or diesel, have been the only engines they have encountered. It is understandable that they have a fondness for them, but I am puzzled when some discount the approach of electric vehicles. I have heard the phrase "smoke and mirrors" used to describe battery-powered cars as if there is no science behind the technology at all. 

It may be that the buggy whip manufacturers thought the same thing about horseless carriages. The difference now is that we all have access to the latest scientific information regarding electric car battery technology through the internet. In battery technology, as well as other aspects of 21st century life in America, science is often scoffed at or ignored. My money is on the car companies and their investors to know what the automotive future holds for all of us.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

The time has come to choose a Christmas tree for 2021. This has been a yearly event for my wife and I since 1974. We were married in June that year and lived on the second floor of a two-family house on Green Bay's east side. Up until then neither one of us had much experience with fresh Christmas trees other than helping to decorate them when we were kids and hoping there would be presents with our names on them underneath them each year.

That first year we wanted to cut our own and drove thirty miles north of the city to a tree farm. We pulled up to the tree barn in our 1972 Pontiac LeMans and my first thought revolved around whether or not I would be able to get out of the so-called parking lot. There was at least a foot of snow on the ground and the plowing effort had been rather half-hearted. But we were there, so it was time to find our first tree.

The first ornament on the first tree

The owner came out in a deer hunting getup and looked unappreciatively at my car and citified clothing. After describing what kind of tree we were looking for, he handed me an old saw and, with his stub of a cigar, pointed in a general direction into the forest of would-be Christmas trees. We set off into the snow, wishing we had brought along some breadcrumbs.

After about a half hour of slogging past hundreds of unsuitable specimens, we came upon one that seemed like it would meet our needs. We circled it warily, shaking the accumulated snow off its wildly asymmetrical branches. A little trimming here, a little there, and it would look fine we agreed. I got down and, finding the thick trunk, began sawing away. Either the saw had never been sharpened or it had gotten a lot of use already that year because it turned out to be quite a chore to fell Christmas tree number one. But eventually it succumbed to my efforts and we dragged it back to the car.

I knocked on the barn door and the owner came out, this time with a huge dog. At the time I had no experience with dogs, so I quickly paid him the eight bucks for the tree and gave him his saw. He remained outside, and he and the big hound seemed disappointed when we were able to get the tree in the trunk and made it out of the lot without getting stuck.

All decorated and all smiles in 1974

Over the years these tree hunting experiences became a great trove of stories to be told over the Christmas seasons. One tree we got at the local lot and carried it home. One tree fell off the roof of our 1990 Chevy S10 Blazer several times on the way home. In recent years we bought one that was obviously too small when we got it home and it went immediately to a local shelter. The young fellows at the tree farm were surprised to see us back so soon for another tree.

We still go to a tree farm, but we pick out a precut tree instead of cutting our own. They are all perfectly shaped and we have it trimmed to the correct height. It will be shaken and wrapped before it is placed in the back of the truck for an uneventful ride home. This year we will host our 48th Christmas tree and, like every one of its predecessors, it will be the best one ever.

2018 Tree

Into December

The calendar has turned over to December and there is still no measurable snow in northeast Wisconsin. Today there have been a few flurries but with the temperature hovering several degrees above freezing there is no chance for any accumulation. Looking into the forecast for the next seven to ten days indicates that we will be near mid-December before there is a chance of any real snow in the area.

I was holding off on putting my BMW R 1250 GSA away for the winter, but finally did so a couple of days ago. It always feels like a bigger deal than it really is. After I take the big BMW aluminum panniers off I put the correct amount of Sta Bil in the tank. Then I run the motor for five minutes as the product directs.  Next I wheel it into the back corner of the garage and hoist it up on the center stand. Once the charger is hooked up and the cover put on, the job is complete. So it's more of a psychological event than a a physical one. In reality I could have the bike out next week again without a lot of effort.

October 2021

But psychologically I am facing three or four months without riding and finding other things to look forward to each day. The lack of snow and ice allows me to get out and walk, but a few nice snowfalls would give me the opportunity to get my Trek Farley 5 fat bike out on the trails. It that doesn't happen, it will be a pretty dreary winter. 

January 2021

The library has been a good source of entertainment lately. I have found some good books, both fiction and nonfiction, that have helped ease the extra hours of darkness. The weeks before Christmas are always pretty busy too, so I won't miss the snow as much this month. But come January 1st I will be looking for some snow and beautifully groomed snow bike trails.

Wisconsin: Another Ten Years of a Gerrymandered Legislature

 The Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is supposed to be non-partisan, sided with the Republican members of the state legislature in a ruling yesterday. The court decided, on a strict partisan vote, not to order the Republicans to work with their Democratic legislative colleagues to develop new and more fair legislative and congressional voting districts. 

In 2011, when the state had a Republican governor and Republican controlled legislature, the Republicans enlisted help from the likes of the Koch brothers to establish new districts throughout the state. The methods used were so devious that the maps were drawn behind closed doors. They effectively ensured that the Republicans would win enough seats in the senate and the assembly to hold a voting majority and leadership in both houses. The maps are so well gerrymandered that Republicans can do whatever they want in the legislature with no fear of losing control of either house. The only check on their power has been that wielded by Democratic Governor Tony Evers since his election in 2018. But even his ability to check the Republican empire was limited by laws rammed through the legislature and signed by the outgoing Republican governor in late 2018.

Due to the court's ruling yesterday it appears that the state will continue to be under the thumb of legislators who govern with no fear of losing their seats. This is the opposite of what the phrase, "We the people", is supposed to stand for. While the Republican party wraps itself in the American flag and blabbers on about "true patriots", they trample the right of citizens to have a fair voice in who leads the state of Wisconsin.

The Dairy State was once known as a progressive state and the Wisconsin Idea was something that was emulated by other states. Now the state ranks mid-pack in areas such as the economy, infrastructure and crime and corrections according to a US News and World Report study. It also ranks behind neighboring Minnesota in the overall rankings. It should be noted that these rankings have improved since Evers became governor. 

It will be an interesting year as the Republicans will do all they can to regain the governor's office in the 2022 election and have absolute power once again. After yesterday's court decision we know for sure that they will continue to control the legislature. 

The Winter of my Changing Neighborhood

I live near the Fox River and am just across the street from the houses and businesses that line the riverside. The view from my house to the west provides an uninterrupted view over the river and the sunsets can be breathtaking. Over the course of living here for thirty years the view has not changed much, but winds of development are blowing. 

There is a walking and bicycling trail, the Fox River Trail, along the river that bisects the properties facing the river. It is a rails-to-trails path and has been there for about 20 years. I use the trail several days a week, so I am aware of what homeowners are doing with their riverfront property. Lately, they are doing a lot.

One reason for all of the activity is that the water level in the river has risen in recent years. This has caused docks to be flooded and rendered useless in addition to the erosion of the riverbank. Another is the pandemic. Last summer people were home and either in their yards or on their decks and realized what was happening to their properties. The result was a wave of new docks and an a tsunami of landscapers installing all sorts of measures to deal with high water.  Once the other neighbors saw what was happening they jumped in and the work continued this summer.

In addition to docks and landscape improvements, the boom in housing has had an effect. Houses that have been there for decades, if not longer, have been demolished so new and bigger ones can be built. Empty lots, some seemingly too small for a house, have been filled with new structures. In the coming days a riverfront house not 100 yards from me will be picked up and moved three blocks east to be placed on a lot that has been empty for as long as I can remember. I am keeping a close eye on this as I don't want to miss seeing the house being transported.

In addition to all of this, the Village of Allouez  is considering giving a contractor a variance to build a condominium several stories higher than the current ordinance allows. This building will be a bit north of my view of the sunset, but will still be an imposing presence in the neighborhood. I spoke against it at the public hearing a few weeks ago and the business owners adjacent to the property spoke in favor of it. I believe the variance will be approved as the village leaders are looking to add more housing stock and increase the tax base. It has not been decided as of yet.

As I write this I can see the workers taking down the chimney on the house about to be moved. It won't be long now as I have already noted that the foundation for its new location has been poured. It is inevitable that change will occur, but I am holding onto hope that most of it is for the better.

Dr. Fauci and Canadian Fishing

The last time I was in Canada was in May of 2019. My fishing partners and I were returning from what had recently become a highly enjoyable week of catching fish, eating fish, and telling fish stories. We had left a deposit with our host and planned to return in May of 2020 for more of the same.

Of course, we did not return 2020 or 2021, and now this new Covid variant has me concerned about 2022. Its course seems to be the same as the original pandemic creator, Covid 19. A few cases here, a few cases there, and the next thing you know it dominates the news. The Delta variant, which fortunately seems to be vulnerable to the Covid 19 vaccines, started out much the same. The scientists are working furiously to figure out how to deal with the Omicron virus, as it's known, while the rest of us wait to find out how 2022 is going to begin.

One thing about the scientists that has me a bit concerned is this story about Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, getting into some type of talk show argument with Texas Senator and blowhard Ted Cruz. Dr. Fauci could win any argument with Ted Cruz with 90% of his brain tied behind his back, but the country needs 100% of his brain right now to solve this latest virus issue. I urge the good doctor, and everyone else, to ignore Senator Cruz and focus on things that are important, like getting my buddies and me back to our Canadian fishing camp in 2022. 

I have collected a few new lures that I am dying to try on the big lake trout, northern pike and walleye in northern Ontario. My Christmas list has a new St. Croix fishing rod on it. Our camp host has made some great improvements to the place that I have only enjoyed through photographs and a first hand report from someone who made it up there this fall. I will spend a good portion of the next few following the news reports of any virus activity and calculating how it will affect Canadian border crossings. At my age I cannot afford to miss another year of Canadian fishing.

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.

Riding Season Continues

I woke up in a Thanksgiving meal haze this morning to find snow on the ground and the thermometer hovering around twenty degrees. So even though I have been out riding my 2020 BMW R 1250 GSA twice in the last week I sense that the end of the riding season is near. Since my last post in September I have not gone on any epic rides but I have enjoyed some excellent fall riding experiences.

Most of my rides have been to the north of Green Bay. They usually included a few miles in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a stop to eat my lunch or snack somewhere along the way. One of my favorites stops was the roadside park on US Highway 2 just east of west of Powers, MI. One day I took a side road to see Long Slide Falls County Park just north of Pembine, WI. It was a great place to enjoy lunch and there was this cool Halloween display. 

I saw a few other interesting sights during my rides, but sometimes they happened so fast there was no opportunity for a picture. On County Road W, just west of Crivitz, I witnessed a bald eagle cross right in front of me trying achieve liftoff with what appeared to be a black cat in its talons. After dragging the creature across the road, in my mirror I saw the big bird drop its prey in opposite ditch. As there was someone right behind me I could not slow down to see if the raptor went back after it. I counted one more bald eagle in a ditch and several flying overhead during my fall rides.

The highways in northern Wisconsin the Upper Peninsula allow a rider to avoid most towns, but sometimes it's interesting to stop and take a look around. One such spot was Daggett, MI. It seems like such an iconic name for a town in the north woods, so after taking a ride through the little burg I stopped for a picture. 

On the days I did not make it all the way up to the UP, I would usually ride over to the resort towns of Mountain and Townsend. That area is well connected with ATV trails and the local towns allow them to drive on the town roads. On Saturdays there are lots of them around and when they are not out raising huge clouds of dust they are gathered at local bars, restaurants and gas stations. It looks like fun, but I would not want to be eating dust, dirt and gravel all day. 

The Broadway District in west Green Bay commissioned a few artists to paint some murals. I took this picture one morning before I headed north for the day. The artist is Beau Thomas.

The weather forecasters are not predicting much snow for the next week and I see at least one day in the forties, so I am not giving up on riding a bit more this year.

A New Outlook on Riding

The latter part of this riding season has brought about a pleasant change. After 11 years of owning two motorcycles, in late July I parted with my Harley Davidson. I don't have room in my garage to comfortably store two bikes, so one of them had to stay outside in the summer and be put in a storage location for the winter. It was a workable solution, but I was ready for the change. It had begun to feel like I did not own the Harley, it owned me.

Since I am down to one bike I have changed my riding habits. In the past I felt a certain urgency to get out and ride on nice days and even not so nice days just to get some miles on each bike. That feeling is no longer there, so I set aside one day each week for riding my BMW. The planning is part of the enjoyment and I don't feel the need to look for other opportunities to ride. 

As you can imagine, this has given me more time to do other things. One is that I have done more bicycling over the past month. I have a newer road bike and an old hybrid from the mid-nineties. I turned over 10,000 lifetime miles on the road bike last week and am nearing that on the hybrid. Riding the bikes is an enjoyable experience in this area as we have a lot of trails and quiet county roads to ride on. 

I have also gotten into the winter time habit of having a book to read all the time. Over the winter I was reading through a list of "100 Books Every Man Should Read", but it went be the wayside in the spring. Currently I am reading "Travels with Charley" by John Steinbeck and it reminds me of the joy of travel, whether by truck or motorcycle. 

Over the past month my riding has been mainly north of home. The traffic is lighter and the towns smaller. During the height of the pandemic in the 2020 I always packed a lunch instead of looking for a local restaurant. Now, being fully vaccinated, I have no fear of going in restaurants. But I found packing a lunch and looking for a roadside or county park part of the enjoyment of the trip. So I continue to do that at the risk of missing out on some tasty local cuisine. At the same time I avoid the possibility of underwhelming meals and poor service. 

This last month of a new outlook on riding has been a blessing and I am looking forward riding far into the fall.

Ride to 2021 BMW MOA National Rally

I have not visited any more cheese factories since my trip to Kugel's, but it has been an eventful two months. In June I rode out to the BMW National Motorcycle Rally. Normally these rides are all about the good times, but one of my riding partners bounced off of a car and that changed the narrative and the emotional reaction to the trip. On 22 June I rode west with two other riders to attend the BMW rally in Great Falls, Montana. Before we had cleared Minnesota one of my riding partners had an unfortunate collision with a Toyota Venza. The rider and his bike were damaged but serviceable and we continued west. On the second day we visited the grave of Sioux Chief Sitting Bull on the west side of the Missouri River in Mobridge, South Dakota. Later in the day, the rider who had run into the Toyota experienced battery problems and left him, and us, in effect, stranded on the side of US 12 in eastern Montana. The situation was resolved in a most fortuitous manner and we made it to Great Falls on 24 June.

Sitting Bull grave in Mobridge, SD

The rally was as expected and we enjoyed our time volunteering at the pin and patch booth. It's a good way to meet a lot of rally goers and exchange information about our rides into Great Falls. My riding partner was feeling the effects of the mishap in Minnnesota, so we did not walk around the exhibits any more than was necessary. They were all pretty much as they are each year anyway. On the second day I took the opportunity to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls. Many of the cities and towns along the upper Missouri River have Lewis and Clark monuments, museums, or memorials, so it was nice to have the time to visit this one. The center's main focus was on the portages the expedition had to manage in the Great Falls area.

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls, MT

After two nights of recuperation, we left Great Falls on a Sunday morning. We rode south on US 87 through the Lewis and Clark National Forest and then rode east on US 12. One unexpected delight was being stopped behind a cattle drive down the middle of US 12. After following the herd at a respectful distance for fifteen minutes, we followed a pickup truck through the herd and were on our way again. We rode east as far as Billings, Montana, before getting on the interstate toward Crow Agency.

Cattle drive on US 12 in Montana

We arrived that day, 26 June, at the Little Bighorn National Battlefield. Like most National Parks and National Monuments, the Little Bighorn Battlefield was busy. My riding partner could not walk too well, so I took a walk up to the hill that is the site of General Custer's famous last stand. I have visited the site more than once, but it is always and emotional experience for me. We continued on our way east to Broadus, Montana, to our accommodations for the night.

Little Bighorn National Battlefield Monument

We checked in at the office and were a bit surprised to learn that our rooms were a couple of blocks away. But we found them to be clean and comfortable and soon were on our way to the pizza shop, which was the only place to eat within walking distance. Seabeck Pizza offered an excellent pizza with service to match. There are no accommodations or restaurants within 100 miles east or west of Broadus, so it is commendable that the hotel and pizza shop are as good as they are.

Our accommodations in Broadus, MT

The ride home took us through South Dakota and Minnesota on US 212 without any additional drama. The only issue was the thunderstorm we rode through in central Wisconsin that has caused me to install the Pinlock in my Shoei Hornet X2. We rode 2700 miles over the seven days and were glad to be home after the unfortunate things that had occurred during the week.

Kugel's Cheese Mart in Lena Wisconsin

 Earlier this month I completed my quest to ride 100 of Wisconsin's 122 Rustic Roads. The others are still tempting, but I am putting that pursuit on hold for this summer. They are all more than a day's ride away and I have other plans for my overnight trips in the coming months. I was looking for another way to add some purpose to my day rides and much like Little Miss Muffet's spider, an idea appeared.

My wife and were on our way into Door County and stopped at the Visitor's Center just south of Sturgeon Bay. While my wife was asking the helpful young woman at the counter about where to find cherry blossoms I was perusing the rack full of travel information. I picked up some bicycling maps and travel brochures for Door County and Wisconsin. That evening I picked up the Wisconsin book and found just what I was looking for.

There was a page or two that highlighted small cheese factories around the state. At one time I worked in a big cheese factory and cheese manufacturing still holds a lot of interest for me. Although there were only a factories noted and a lot of others have closed, I knew that there were still a good number of them in operation. A new, and tasty, plan for the summer began to form. I would research cheese factories within a day's ride and try to get to them on the days they offered tours.

Kugel's in downtown Lena

 On a bright and warm Saturday morning I started north on US Highway 141. Since I was on my Harley Davidson Lowrider S and I planned to bring home some cheese, I had an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack in it stowed in my backpack. It also served to keep my apple and water cold. My plan was to ride north toward Iron Mountain and then stop at Springside Cheese Factory near Oconto Falls on the way home. It was one of the factories featured in the travel book.

One of the joys of motorcycling alone is the opportunity to change plans at a moment's notice and that is what happened on this ride. About 30 miles north of Green Bay I saw a sign for Kugel's Cheese Mart in Lena. I took the exit and found myself alone in downtown Lena and parked in front of Kugel's. 

According to their website, Kugel's has been a family owned business since 1952. They age and package locally made cheeses and also sell a variety of imported products. As I browsed around the shop I noted that they sell Wisconsin related gifts along with a few from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The hoodie with Kugel's Cheese emblazoned on the front was inviting, but how many hoodies do I need at my age? 

Marinette County Overlook

Once I got to examining the cheese case the friendly clerk asked if I needed any assistance. I felt like I wanted to try something besides the usual cheddar, so I bought about six ounces of hot pepper brick. The clerk cut a thin slice for me to taste and it had just the right amount of heat for me. It was creamy like a brick cheese should be and I knew I had made a good choice. As the young man was wrapping it up I told him that I had worked at Pauly Cheese in Green Bay at one time. He recognized the name and said that Kugel used to buy block cheese from Pauly and repackage it for sale in Lena. 

Trillium Time in the Forest

After a little more small talk I went out and took a few pictures before getting back on the highway and riding north. At this point I decided that I would save the visit to Springside for another day. About thirty miles north there is a turnout where visitors can learn about the local logging history and take in a beautiful vista. On this day the trilliums were in full bloom. 

I continued north to the intersection with US Highway 8 near Pembine. Here I turned west until I found a wayside to stop and enjoy a road snack. The facilities at the wayside were closed, but the driveway was open and it was a nice quiet place for a break. Delicious cheese, an apple and cold water were all I needed to feel refreshed and ready for more miles.

A Perfect Road Snack

Back on the road, I turned south at Laona onto State Highway 32. One thing I noticed on my ride was the number of ATV's on the trails adjacent to the highways. There have always been some, but there seem to be many more than several years ago. Most of the restaurant and bar parking lots have a good number of them and some have more ATV's than cars and trucks. 

ATVs Are a Popular Means of Transportation

The weather was perfect, in the seventies north of US Highway 64 and into the eighties when I got back to the south. I'm glad I soaked in the heat because the temperatures were in forties five days later. My first cheese factory ride was a success and I look forward to more.

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

Rustic Roads in Northwest Wisconsin

It has been well over a year since I have taken a proper motorcycle trip, so this weekend I combined a visit to the Red Mouse for the Slimey Crud Run with a quest to ride some of Wisconsin's Rustic Roads. I left Green Bay with my brother on Saturday afternoon and spent the night on Madison's west side. We found a local establishment for a bite to eat and map out our plans for the next day. As anyone who has traveled recently knows, the hotel breakfast routine is to put it in a bag and bring it back to your room. I made a few selections, bagged them up, and enjoyed a solitary breakfast. At 0830 we mounted up and rode west to Pine Bluff. We arrived thirty minutes later and it was not too busy, but within the next hour it was way to crowded and maskless for us. But the opportunity to see the variety of bikes that show up and the willingness of their owners to talk about them is a motorcyclist's dream. Everyone seems to know that the whole purpose is to show and talk about bikes. The crowd kept me away from getting too close for pictures, but it was an enjoyable experience. 

The scene at the Red Mouse in Pine Bluff

We left Pine Bluff on County P, and had a great ride through south central Wisconsin. The area around the Wisconsin River and the Baraboo Bluffs is enchanting. Riding past the old Badger Army Ammunition Plant brought back memories of Viet Nam War protests and the furtive bombing attempt by the Armstrong brothers, Karleton and Dwight, during the height of the antiwar movement. After a few more roads and couple of more hours we were in Mondovi for a Subway lunch. We were nearing the Wisconsin Rustic Roads in the Northwest quadrant and I had plans to ride a few in the next couple of days.

Lunch in Mondovi

The first was Rustic Road 122,north of US Highway 10 and the newest Rustie, was an uneventful ride through typical Wisconsin scenery. Each of the roads is unique in its own way, but after riding over 90 of them they tend to run together in my mind. After all, they are all in Wisconsin. But the second one, Rustic Road 51, was definitely different. I knew from the state issued brochure that it was gravel and we decided that if it was too rough we would not ride all of it. Riding from the east it was a nice, well groomed gravel track. It is a four mile road and after about a mile it offered an opportunity to go straight or left. I chose the left option, labeled as a "winding trail". Another thing noted in the brochure was that the road sometimes crosses a trout stream. The omitted information was that those crossings do not include bridges. We came to the first water crossing and I assumed we would turn around. My brother, four years younger at 64, figured we could make it across. We have the same motorcycles and I invited him to go first. He made it with no problems. I was still skeptical about my ability to do it, but made it across safely. We took a few pictures and congratulated each other.

Unexpected Adventure Riding

But about a quarter mile later, here was another one. We went across that one and one more before I hesitated at number four. That morning I had no plans to be riding my motorcycle through a trout stream and I was not sure I wanted to do it again. This one was wider and appeared deeper. I was already wet from the earlier crossings, and although that was not a big concern, the apparent depth spooked me. I shut off the bike and walked up to the edge of the crossing. The left side looked better than the right. Also, there were some buildings on the other side, which indicated that this had to be the last water crossing. I got back on the big beast, started it up, and went forward. I was elated to come up on the other side, however ungraceful my riding style may have been. The end of Rustic Road 51 was not far off and we stopped to contemplate our accomplishment and clean our windshields and helmet shields. If that marks the end of my riding through streams I will not be disappointed.

Made it through!

After that we rode northwest to ride Rustic Road 92. It was a beautiful ride through cattle country and farmland. The residents were taking advantage of the lower wind speeds to get some needed burning done. It reminded me of the smells at my favorite fishing camp in Ontario, Canada. We finished our riding with a cruise through the streets of River Falls, which on this Sunday afternoon were full scented with the unmistakable smell of pizza. I don't know if it's because it's a college town or not, but they love their pizza. 

The last few miles to Hudson went quickly and soon we were in the Holiday Inn Express for the night. After stowing our gear we enjoyed an excellent Mexican dinner in Hudson in anticipation of more Rustic Road riding the next day.

I Did What During the Pandemic?

The world passed the one year mark of the Covid 19 pandemic in the middle of March. Each week it feels like we are getting closer to life as it was before the onset of the pandemic, but we have a ways to go. Doing what seemed normal at one time, like eating in a restaurant, feels safe but unusual. Avoiding other people in stores and even on the street is now normal feeling behavior. A friend described receiving a friendly touch on the arm from someone and reflexively pulling back. It will take some time to react to other people and circumstances in way we once did. As we completed one year of this life I began to think about what I had done with a lot of newfound free time.

Wisconsin was fortunate to have a dry and warm spring in 2020, so I was able to get outside when I felt the need. But it was still March and April in Wisconsin, so it was not all seashells and balloons. There were a few things I got around to that I may not have without the pandemic. 

Martin D1

There had been a few songs that I had been playing on my Martin D1 acoustic guitar, but I did not know all of the verses. A couple of them were Bob Dylan songs, so there were lots of verses. The first one I memorized was "Desolation Row". It seemed fitting. I would get out the guitar and set up the lyrics on a music stand in the living room. I learned one verse and memorized one verse every couple of days as I watched the neighbors walk up and down the street in a pandemic daze. There are ten verses, so it took about three weeks to learn them all. Next, I moved on to "Tangled Up in Blue" by Dylan and "This Hard Land" by Bruce Springsteen. That got me through the spring and into the early summer. I did not play as much during the summer, but got started again in the fall.

When the cold weather returned I picked up my Fender Stratocaster American Deluxe electric guitar and start learning lessons out of the "Blues You can Use" book. It has lessons on chord and scales with short musical examples of each concept. There is a CD enclosed that I could play along with. I had worked my way through some of it over the years, but I made a concerted effort to play for an hour each day. I am still playing most days, but life has gotten a little busier since I got the vaccinations in February. My playing skills improved noticeably and it is fun to play along with the CD. 

Fender DeVille 410 and Stratocaster

It was a quiet Christmas, which I did not mind too much. One of the gifts I received was a bird house kit. That allowed me to spend some quiet time in the basement and provide a new home for a local feathered friend. There was some paint left over from touching up the house and the garage in recent years, so the bird's house matches our house. Now I just need a good tenant. 

Available for Rent

Another basement project involved the basement windows. Many years ago a squirrel managed to get into the basement, through the old chimney I think, while we were gone for a few days. The squirrel, of course, wanted to get out and spent the time clawing and gnawing on the wooden window frames. Our basement is just that, a basement, so I never expended the effort to repair the windows. The pandemic presented a now or never type of situation. So on one of my last motorcycle rides in fall 2020 I picked up some wood filler at the local Lowe's. Once again I found some house paint that would suffice to paint the basement frames. Once the windows were painted I cleaned the glass and will take care of cleaning the outside once it warms up. 

Squirrel Repair Done

 Another activity that took up some pandemic time was jigsaw puzzles. We had not done puzzles since, well, ever, but finished up four of them over the winter. It takes some time to get started, but once we began the puzzle would become something of an obsession. They were puzzles that had been around here for years and their origins were unknown. We fully expected each of them to be missing a piece or two, but they were all complete. 

Jigsaw Puzzle Fun

I continued to do the things I would normally do during a Wisconsin winter. The snow fell in amounts that allowed the Reforestation Camp snow bike trails to be open all of January and February. By March the snow let up and the trails became too icy for me. In February I participated in a Snow Crown Series race at the camp. I rode in the beginner, or "fun group", category. It was a beautiful sunny winter day and it was nice to be out with other riders. We took a couple of car rides around the area and looked for eagles and owls. We were successful finding eagles, but not the elusive owls.

Snow Crown Race Finisher

We are experiencing unseasonably cold April weather, but warmer days are ahead. I have gotten in quite a few miles on my Trek road bike already and have had some good rides on my BMW motorcycle. Tomorrow I will be getting my Harley Davidson Lowrider S out of storage. It looks like we will be dealing with Covid 19 in some fashion into the summer, but the end of the pandemic is a year closer than it was last April. 

Riding Out of the Covid Tunnel

March has rolled around once again and the motorcycling season has begun. Most years the weather in Wisconsin clears enough to allow some riding before astronomical spring arrives and this year is no different. We were blessed with a few days of fifty degree weather and, though it won't last, it is incentive enough to uncover the BMW, unplug the Battery Tender, and ride. 

It has been an interesting winter for owners and would be owners of certain BMW motorcycle models. The iconic German bike builder switched up its front brake supplier for the 2019 model year of R 1250 GS bikes. In September, 2019, I took delivery of the first 2020 R 1250 GS Adventure at my local dealer. I did not find out until January, 2020, that there were problems with the brake calipers leaking fluid.Fortunately, the mine did not leak and I have over 7000 miles of brake free trouble on the motorcycle. But over the winter the BMW mothership was forced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall the bikes and replace the brakes. They will be replaced with the brand that BMW previously sourced for the bikes. In addition, a stop sale was put on all of the affected bikes until the approved brakes could be installed. I have spoken with my dealer and my new calipers are on the way. 

But, as long as my brakes are not leaking, I can get out and ride right now. A couple of days ago I uncovered the big beast and checked the battery. It registered a robust 13.4 volts, so I got busy preparing the bike and myself to get out on the road. I brought my black aluminum Touratech panniers out of the basemnent for installation on the bike. The right side lock is still sticky, so I will have the dealer take a look at it when I bring it in for the caliper installation. I got out my trusty Olympia AST 2 riding jacket. I have been looking at a new one, but this jacket fits perfectly and does all I need it to do. It was pretty grimy after last season but a good cleaning in the fall brought it back to it hi viz self. I am still working on a little uncomfortableness with my Shoei Hornet X2 helmet, but it is getting better.

Bayshore Park

The sun was shining brightly when I left the driveway an enjoyed a tailwind up to Bayshore County Park. This about 20 miles from home on Green bay and is a tradtional first ride. There were a few more people in the park than there would have been pre-pandemic, but it was nice to see them enjoying the day. I had put a little too much air in the tires prior to leaving, so I adjusted them before heading back home for lunch. After lunch I met my brother on the west side of Green Bay and we rode out US Highway 54 to the west. We checked the Bergstrom Wildlife Area near Shiocton, but the beautiful white swans have not yet made their appearance. The Wolf River is still frozen over, so there was no point in checking the fishing spots along the wild Wolf. We stopped at the Kwik Trip in New London and, over a cup of hot coffee, discussed some summer riding plans.

Kwik Trip in New London, WI

The ride home was blissful as we rode north on curvy and scenic Highway 187 north out of Shiocton. A brisk ride east on Highway 156 brought us to a the Mobil station attached to an Oneida casino. The casino is closed due to the pandemic, but the pumps were open and we began filled up with fresh gas. The weather is going to turn colder and windier, so we said our good byes and hope to get back out sooner rather than later.

Pandemic: Year Two

We are now almost one month into 2021 and it feels a lot like 2020. The most important change is the feeling of hope, which really began in December with the first people getting the Covid 19 vaccine. As the calendar turned over on January 1st I was happy to welcome the new year and say good bye to 2020. The nine months of living under the pandemic shadow were uncomfortable and it only became worse during the holiday season. All of the frustrations of not seeing family and friends were magnified. The weather did not allow for the escapes that spring, summer and fall did. I am normally ready to move on from the holidays and get the Christmas tree out to the curb, but it felt like an exceptionally large weight was lifted this year. 

The state of Wisconsin announced on Tuesday, 19 January, that residents 65 and over would be eligible to get the vaccine beginning 25 January. My wife was able to get through to Prevea within an hour and we got appointments for the afternoon of the 25th. We will receive our second dose on 15 February. Our lives won't change dramatically, but we will be able to eat in a restaurant and perhaps visit with friends and family inside instead of the driveway or garage. I am hopeful that we will feel safe enough to travel again and stay in hotels. 

Around New Year's Day we finally got enough snow so that the snow bike trails at the Reforestation Camp could be opened. I rode three times a week until the warm weather caught up with us again and they were closed for a few days. We got four inches of snow on the day the Green Bay Packers lost another NFC Championship game and the trails are back open. They are in great shape and that will give me something to do during the long Wisconsin winter. 

Brown County Reforestation Camp

Over the past few years I have considered getting one of those tough cameras to take along on fishing and motorcycle trips. It would be another way to take pictures other than just using my phone, which I don't like to take out in a boat anyway. I have a little Nikon L3 point and shoot camera and I am using that to see if I will like using a camera instead of my phone. The pictures in this post are all from the Nikon. I have played around with the editing feature on it to make the photos a little more interesting. 

I had plans to try and learn to play a little piano and harmonica this winter but so far that has not happened. But now with some real winter weather and icy sidewalks I may be inside enough to pick give them both a try. I have also been working on whittling down a list of books titled "100 Books Every Man Should Read". More about that in my next post.