Beautiful ride-on bike on display at the Porsche museum in Hamburg. Pillion seat include so two-for-one possible! The maker is Lenaerts in Belgium and these Indian lookalikes were manufactured in the fifties. Rather than a rocking motion of typical fairground kiddie rides this had rollers that sped the wheels around. “Sehr viel spaß” as they say in Germany.
More road-trip sightings are the buildings and structures that are ridden past and stopped by. From the ecumenical to the agricultural, the retail to the residential. The bridge in the Duluth Harbor is one highlight for sure. A celebration of the mining and logging industry that created the Upper Midwest.
Eye-Spy
One of the great things when traveling around on the miles and miles of county routes, backroads, tracks, and byways is to see things along the way. I could stop every mile but then wouldn’t get anywhere! So many things are a fleeting vision as you speed past at between 30 and 60 mikes per hour. Neon restaurant lights in Galena; barns in Door County; a Red-spotted Blue in Duluth; breakfast cafe in Black River Falls; Muffler Man in Spooner; vintage Weiner cooker on Washington Island; goats (also W.I.); Dickeyville Grotto; Fresnel Lens, Split Rock. So many things to accessorize the adventure.
A marvelous jaunt
A Week on the road: 1560 miles, 35 hours in the saddle, two Great Lakes, many adventurous memories. And I’m tired!
Washington Island
We took the small car ferry over to Washington Island at the top end of the peninsula beyond Green Bay. 25 square miles of woodland, farming, vineyards, cabins. A harbor to the farther Rock Island, itself a nature reserve.
Interesting real variety of farm buildings, tools and cabin of the day. Bleating goats gave noise to the location.
No need to go fast. Perfectly paced for the go-slow feel of the place. Relax.
National Forest
We had a full day riding from Duluth MN to Green Bay WI. Lake Superior to Lake Michigan. Along Highway 70, the old logging road that cuts across the top of Wisconsin. Lakes open up occasionally and the mixed woodland provides a verdant backdrop to the perfect roads.
Gitche Gumee
Got to the campsite right on the waters edge. Splendid sunset and campfire as the stars lit up. Super riding through the National Forests that speckle the area.
There were signs warning road users of Elk crossing, beautiful trout streams cross-crossing the way and the occasional bald Eagle soaring overhead.
Via Wisconsin
We’re on a multi-day trip through the Dairlyland of America. From the historic lead mining center of Galena IL we headed north along the Mississippi through wooded dales and along barn scattered ridges. Back roads, gravel trails, reedbed carpeted bottomlands, and sprouting cornfield amidst oak woodland. A splendid part of the State.
Satchel strapped down
Stirruped leggings, winged spectacles, and a puddin’ bowl helmet. She’s dressed for riding success aboard the bathtubbed Thunderbird.
Kitchen Sink?
If you want to put mikes under your wheels, and carry a few odds and ends, what better way than aboard a 1400cc Ninja rocket. Make sure your bags are well strapped down for the ton plus speeds you’ll be encountering.
City of Angels
Parked on a side street in the historical district of Los Angeles. Motorcycles are certainly a much used type of transportation here on the west coast. In the typical SoCal traffic they are the best thing to get about on!
Roadtrip brother?
In 1913, 14 year old Louis Abernathy and his 10 year old brother Temple rode their motorcycle from Oklahoma to New York City.
Horse & Buggy
– being in deepest Indiana we pass through an Amish community. At the local food store the parking lot has the alternative transport tied up. We spoke to the driver who told us the name and age (6) of her horse. Blanket for chilly weather whilst groceries are purchased.
Big Cat
– top of the line explorer from Triumph. 2023 model 1200cc Tiger Rally. RTW tool.
More back country shenanigans
More travels through hidden corners. This time a Scrambler owner is exploring the relic town and gravel single track road in Montana. Adventure awaits for this willing to head onto the road less ridden.