Gophers and Cheese

Once I reached Fountain City, I felt like I was back on the Flood Run .  After only a brief ride on WI-35N, I took another excursion.  I like County Road O near Red Wing so much that I decided to check out County Road O (a totally different road) near Cochrane, WI.  It's yet another fun curvy road.  These shots were taken where it meets WI-88. View Larger Map I rejoined WI-35N and followed it all the way back to Prescott.  The ride back was really nice now that the sun was out and the sky was clear. Once in Prescott, the No Name Saloon was packed. I think this is Donnie Smith's bike. I tend to prefer more classic paint but these skulls were well done. These appeared to be homemade saddlebags. I crossed back into Minnesota at Prescott and rode through the cities to get home.  Here's Minneapolis as the sun was getting close to setting. Like I said, start-to-finish was 435 miles over about 11 hours.  I didn't stop...

After returning to La Crosse, I followed WI-35N to a little town called Onalaska, WI.  As you can see, the sun finally came out as I think I spent the morning chasing the clouds out of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. I continued on to Trempeleau, WI. From there, I headed north on WI-93N towards Arcadia, WI and then took WI-95W to Fountain City.  I had just ridden WI-95 for the first time earlier this month but WI-93 was new to me and it was full of great curves and amazing views. View Larger Map One more post to go and it's up next.

After warming up with that cappuccino I mentioned, I headed south toward Winona, which is typically the southern-most point on the Flood Run .  However, I decided to press on and continue down to La Crosse, which I had never been to before. I have been reading about lots of good riding down near La Crosse and wanted to at least try one road.  I chose State Hwy 33 E and rode it to Cashton, WI, the far point of my trip. View Larger Map It's a fun curvy road and it does continue quite a ways past Cashton so maybe I'll be back.  Here are some wind turbines outside Cashton. I turned around and made my way back to La Crosse but stopped a few times to snap photos along State Hwy 33.  This cornfield was protected from zombie attacks by the Zombie Squad.  It has to be one of the best "Adopt-A-Highway" signs I've seen. Some of the farms and landscapes along the road were stunning. More photos to come and the sun finally comes out...

The 48th Annual Fall Flood Run was last Saturday and it was my 9th time on the run (5 Spring & 4 Fall).  This year I was riding completely solo with complete freedom to do what I wanted.  I decided to do things a little differently.  You might say I did an extended Flood Run and you might argue I didn't do the Flood Run at all.  That will all make sense soon.  Keep in mind the Flood Run is basically just a day of riding up and down both sides of the river (MN & WI) between Lake St Croix Beach, MN and Winona, MN.  You don't have to start in Lake St. Croix Beach (many people do) and you don't have to do the full run.  Lots of people do their own thing. I got an early start and stopped at the Beach Bar in Lake St. Croix Beach and bought a wristband.  Seriously, it's for a good cause, Gillette's Children's Hospital .  If you participate in the Flood Run and don't buy a wristband, it's like punching a sick child in the face.  Buy ...

Not sure if I'll be able to make either one of these, but they both look like fun and I haven't attended either in the past. Saturday: Scooter Trash 3 at McKracken's Pub in Burnsville, MN.  The fun starts at noon. Sunday: The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride departing from Ngon Bistro in St. Paul, MN at 11am and ending up at the Freight House in Stillwater.  Suit up!