Gophers and Cheese

This past Sunday (March 21st), I decided to ride somewhere new.  I had read online about Wisconsin's Rustic Roads .  They even have an award program specifically for motorcyclists (visit 10, get a patch / visit 25, get a certificate).  I decided to try three in between Taylors Falls, MN and Hudson, WI.  Specifically, I set out for Rustic Roads #101, #103, and #13. First, I stopped in Taylors Falls and walked around Interstate State Park.  The water in the St. Croix River was rushing fast as all the snow in the state has been melting. Just south of Taylors Falls in Wisconsin, I hit the first of three Rustic Roads, #101.  It was paved but full of gravel.  It has some nice scenery and curves but I had to go really slow to avoid slipping on the gravel. After #101 was #103.  This was an unpaved road.  For the most part it was fine but there were a few brief sections of slippery mud.  To my disbelief, I saw this along the way.  App...

I love riding up and down MN-47.  It's a much more enjoyable ride than taking US-169.  On March 14th, I rode up to Lake Mille Lacs .  It's the second-largest lake in Minnesota and it was still covered in a thick sheet of ice.  It felt at least 10 degrees colder near the lake.  This trip is yet another 150-mile loop from the Twin Cities that I really enjoy.  You can add 60 miles by riding all the way around the lake but I chose not to do that this day. This is Portside Beer & Liquor near Isle,MN, next to the lake.  I love "road cheese" like the two giant fish in the background and will almost always stop to take pictures. The outside of this diner had a nice feel to it.  It wasn't open and I can't tell if it is still in business.  I think it was in or just south of Isle, MN.  The sign says "Cruisin' at Pat & Kari's Diner". This is an old abandoned building (church?) that is along MN-47.  For some reason, I really lik...

On March 7th, the weather was a little warmer (upper 40s) and still had no clouds in the sky.  I rode up to Taylors Falls, MN and down to Stillwater, MN where I took this picture.  The Stillwater Lift Bridge in the background runs across the St. Croix River and connects Minnesota to Wisconsin.  The total ride was another 150-mile loop.

My first ride of the year was on March 6th, a full month later than last year due to a very cold February.  I rode down to Red Wing, MN and back (roughly a 150 mile loop).  It was a beautiful day with no clouds in the sky.  The high was right around 40.  There was a lot of snow along the sides of the roads but the roads were relatively clean with only a little salt residue left and no significant sand or gravel. This picture was taken from Point Douglas Park on the Minnesota side of the mostly-frozen St. Croix River.  Prescott, WI is in the background. This is a drive-in located in Cottage Grove, MN along US-10.  It is still in operation and is open during the warmer months.

This blog is just for fun.  I hope other people find it and like it but, in the end, I decided to start posting for my own enjoyment.  By the blog's title, you should be able to tell I don't take it too seriously.  The name "Gophers and Cheese" is intended to represent Minnesota and Wisconsin but I realize it also sounds a lot like a tasty recipe for preparing road kill. I started riding in the fall of 2006 and have done most of my riding in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Three trips to Sturgis (07-09) are notable exceptions as well as vacations where I borrowed or rented a bike in Las Vegas and Florida.  This area of the country is beautiful and, yes, the riding season lasts longer than 3 months.  I tend to ride from February or March through November and have averaged about 9,000 miles per year (and I don't use the bikes for commuting).  I have two bikes - a Sportster (04 XL1200C) and a Road King (08 FLHRC).  They are very different and they are bo...