Not Done Yet!

In this part of the country, if you don't like the weather, just wait a day or two. I guess it's true. I managed to burn through half a tank of Sta-bil treated, non-oxygenated premium today! I didn't want to be gone too long on this sunny Thanksgiving Day, bit I couldn't let the day pass without a ride.
I brought out the FJR, grabbed the camera, and put on the gear. I tried to ride to places I hadn't been to in a while.

The usually lush green valleys are now drab gray-brown.

I rode to the little town of Elmwood.

Main street Elmwood..

Elmwood is the self proclaimed "UFO Capital of Wisconsin" and home to "UFO Days", held the last full weekend in July.
There's clearly evidence of alien activity....

After Elmwood, I headed further east, deeper into WI. I made another stop at a wayside rest that over looks the Chippewa River, north of Durand.

I headed back towards Elmwood, by way of county back roads. I passed through the unincorporated village of Eau Galle. Right in the middle of town is a small dam and power house.

Don't you just love small towns....

I was on the way home and spotted this. It looks like a later 70's Honda 450 2 cylinder, that's been converted to an ATV?????

Not a bad way to spend a few hours on a Thanksgiving Holiday.

I wonder if I'll be able to ride to Minneapolis for first thursday next week?

The Party's Over????

I knew it had to happen sooner or later. It started yesterday, and quit last night. This morning, it looks like this outside my front window.

All is not lost yet, the city hasn't brought out the salt/sand.....yet. The forecast for later this week includes some high 40's, even a shot at 50 by mid-week.

Maybe it's not all over?

If it is over, the oil has been changed, the Sta-bil's been added, the battery tender is plugged in. The bikes are resting.

Maybe the Last Ride of the Season?

At about 11:30 today, I was sitting around the house when John called. He asked me if I had checked the air in my tires yet. I told him, "no", and asked him if I needed to do that. Was I going somewhere today? He said we'd be leaving my place around 1:00.... Funny, I was just thinking of going for a ride.
I rolled the 2 bikes out into the driveway and gave them a quick wipe down with spray polish. I fired up the air compressor and checked the tires. I decided to ride the FJR, it was low on fuel and I could fill it on the way home.
A little after 1:00 John arrived. We took a quick look at the WI gazetteer and planned a loop.

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It's about 120 miles long through Wisconsin farmland and glacial valleys.

We stopped in Plum City and had a snack. Then again at the scenic overlook along the Mississippi River, just north of Pepin, WI.

A few barges headed south.

Johns '09 H-D Electra Glide Classic, and my '06 Yamaha FJR.

We were back in Prescott by 4:10.

Tonight, the weather man on tv said that the highs later in the week would be in the low 30's, with a chance of snow by next weekend. This might be the end of the season.

I hope not!

A Motorcycle for Every Day of the Week!

I follow a few motorcycle related blogs, and the list keeps growing. On one of the blogs the author asked a question, "If you had unlimited funds and could have one bike for every day of the week, what bikes would you choose?"
That blog was This One.

So, I searched the internet for images of bikes I'd like to own. Most of them are older bikes. Here's my list.

I'd keep my 2009 Kawasaki ZX-14.

I've always thought that the Honda CBX was an awesome bike, so it makes my list.

Next up would be a bit of nostalgia for me. I'd like to reacquire the first motorcycle I owned, a ruby red, 1971, Honda SL-70. Mine looked just like this. Well, maybe not as pretty.....

In keeping with my youth... I was a big fan of Cafe Racers, so this would bring me back...

I'm still not done with my past. This would be a tough choice. I know it's 2 bikes but I just couldn't decide which....
A modern, Evo engined, Sturgis

Or the ultra cool, old school, XLCR,

Both are the right color, and both have minimal chrome. Just the way I like it. Sorry, but I can't pick just one.

Not all the bikes I like are old. This would be a lot fun on the weekend out on my 40 acres...

My last one would be a Goldwing. I'd have another one if Nancy could ride again. I sold the one I used to have when she had to give up riding. We really enjoyed traveling!

So, there's my list of bikes. It's interesting to see other people's choices.

Dulono's Pizza First Thursday, November 2011

Unless, by some miracle, the roads are still clear and the temps are above 35 degrees, last Thursday, was the last "first Thursday" of the season for me. The weather was perfect, it had warmed to the mid 50's during the day. The turn out was light. I expected more people given the warm day.
John and I got there around 4:30,and there were maybe 15 motorcycles parked in the area.

We parked in the street to avoid getting blocked in like last month.

We went inside to eat....

When we finished...

We went back outside, there were probably 40 bikes around, and the numbers kept climbing. I think it topped out at around 90-100 bikes. There were many that I hadn't seen before.

1922 H-D...

I got home about an hour and a half after sundown. The temps had really started to drop. This was the bank clock down the street from my place.

It was a fun way to spend a few hours in the evening, and get some riding time too!

A No Fall Color Ride

I was feeling a little down today after yesterday's, not so enjoyable, trip to the dentist. What better way to lift my spirits and clear my head than four hours of therapy on the big Kawasaki.

This afternoon it was a cool 50 degrees, with a partly cloudy sky. While I geared up, I started the bike in the garage and let it warm up. I skipped the liners in both the Venture pants and Cortech jacket. When it gets another few degrees colder, I'll be needing those. I stopped in town for some no ethanol premium and headed east.

I noticed that the fall colors that were so brilliant the last week of September, have really faded. Only a few Birch trees still have color, and most of the Oak trees are hanging on to dry, brown leaves. Most of the other leaves are gone. The fields around here have been harvested, and almost all the corn and beans are gone. The only green things are the evergreen trees and a few grass fields.

No color!

This would be a nicer picture if I knew what I was doing and got the depth of field right...

On the way home, I stopped at a road side plaque and checked out the back side. That was almost 10 years ago, from one of the first motorcycle rides I brought Nancy on. I love you dear....

A little more color along the Mississippi River.

I got home just as the sun was hitting the horizon. The temps were falling fast!

Last Thursday, I put the Super Sherpa on craigslist. There is someone coming over Saturday morning to look at it. He's pretty sure he'll drive it home. Update Saturday...... He came here in a car with a friend. They test drove it around the block. He drove it home for $100 less than my asking price! I'm happy.... He's happy. He called me a few hours after he rode it away. He drove it home, an hour and a half away, in 40 degree temps. He said it was cold but worth it!!! I say, enjoy!!!!

Now, do I try and sell the FJR????? It's a great bike, but since I got the Zx-14, I just don't ride it as often as I should.

100 Miles Round Trip to Ride 10 Miles of Great Road

Yesterday, John came over and we went for a ride on some of the local "alphabet roads". I put about 100 miles on my FJR on that ride. It was a nice fall day, with cool air and bright sun.
We'd been riding for a while, when we found ourselves on County Road SS. A few miles east of Lund, at the start of a nice downhill run with fast sweepers, we had to slow down. There was a grain truck and 2 H-D dressers in front of us. I never ride as if the road is my race track, but the speed of the vehicles in front of us was depressing. By the time the grain truck was at the bottom of the hill it was quite a ways ahead of the Harleys, yet they were still dragging their brakes. AARRRGGG! I got the feeling that the grain truck wasn't slowing them down, if you know what I mean. We stopped along side the road at the intersection of SS and U. We waited for the truck and bikers to move a ways ahead of us before we continued. While we were stopped John and I decided to head back to my place. We cut short one of my favorite roads, and headed west.
When we got to my place I changed oil in the FJR while John and I shot the breeze.

Today, I went out by my self. I had the supplies to change the oil in the Zx-14 and wanted to warm it up before I started that project. I took a swing through town to try and gage the "biker" activity in front of the local bars. Weekends in Prescott can find the main street and bars packed with motorcycles. Today the turn out was light. It was probably due to the rain earlier and the Packers Vs. Vikings football game that was going to be on TV in a while. It was so nice to have the roads to myself.
I headed south on WI-35 along the Mississippi River. In the little town of Maiden Rock, I turned left onto County Road S, then right on CC and down to Lund. Out of Lund, I followed SS. Unlike yesterday, there was no one on the roads. I got to ride SS from Lund, past the Porcupine Cemetery, past the junction with D, down hill, all the way to N. That's about 10 miles of really nice sweepers and right angle, 30 MPH corners. Fun!!
I rode through Arkansaw, out to Hwy 10. I went west towards home, but stopped for a pop in Plum City. The cashier told me that the Packers were ahead, 27-17?. Go Pack!! I fed the trout in the city trout pond. They look like they're between 12 and 24 inches long!

After a short break, I drove non stop to home. I pulled in the garage and changed the oil in the Zx-14. Two down, one to go.


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