ms T's Grand Adventure 2010

[dzlfitr]

Makes it kinda like we was there.

[Boop]

Great write-up. I almost feel like I'm there with you.

[MegaGlide]

I'm waiting for the part where we were.
She'll probably describe my hug in great detail.

[DaSkip]

Great story and pics. I admire you very much, Tonya.

[Thorns]

Great story Ms. T!

Thorns

[BigSwede]

Awesome story!!

[noodles]

Originally Posted by ms_tapestry

More tomorrow!

Is it tomorrow yet?

[Sonic]

Impressive Ms. T! Great Pics!

[ms_tapestry]

The internet connection was important. I'd been without cell signal since I'd left Sturgis and my arrangements with huckinfog and Kathy were kind of up in the air. I connected with Kathy on DC and she passed on Todd's message. Redfield at 9:00am! Redfield was only 41 miles away so I had scads of time. It was 53 degrees this morning in Faulkton. I put on all my leathers and warm stuff, wiped the bugs off the windshield, fueled up with 91 octane and hit the road.

Man it was a beautiful morning to ride! I was feeling good, Tawanda was running like a dream and I knew I'd be off the 212 in a very short time! Six miles out of Redfield I was stopped for road construction. One of those one lane at a time kind of things and it wasn't my turn yet. I turned off the bike and must have finally picked up cell signal because my phone was chiming like a pachinko machine! I chatted with the lady holding the stop sign about my ride and the beautiful morning. At last it's my turn! Just before I started Tawanda the stop sign lady came running over and said, "You really need to slow down for that bump before the bridge. Its a big one!" What a sweetie!

Got to the bridge and she was right, it was a big one! As soon as I crossed the bridge I spotted huckinfog sitting in the hotel parking lot. I pulled up beside him and we introduced ourselves. Todd is one of those people you are instantly at ease with. We chatted a bit before Mr. Don Welks pulled up in his battered old pickup truck. Todd posted a picture of him in another thread and told his story. He was a sweetie and gave us the name of the local breakfast hot spot, made sure I was armed and sent us on our way. Off to Leo's we went for my favorite on the road breakfast of 2 over easy with bacon and a pancake. The coffee was divine! The service was a bit indifferent. . .no way in heck are you gonna rush that waitress! Ha!

Todd is easy to follow and it was nice not to have to worry about pulling out a map every 5 miles like Colorado. We stopped in Watertown for fuel and coffee and enjoyed a nice chat before moving on to Wisconsin. Note to self: Tawanda needs a bath. She's drawing swarms of flies!

I have a confession to make here. I did not seek out 43 or 7 signs on this journey. I know, I know, but it just didn't seem important. I don't know exactly what I had in mind for this ride but it took on a life of it's own and became about the people I encountered along the way. Having said that the 7 signs just seemed to fall into my lap! :Pirate_cheers: Todd and I found two 7 signs along the way. After a very nice ride Todd handed me off to Kathy in Morris, Minnesota. Finally I get to meet Kathy! What a pleasure. I took a few pics and then a very nice young man pulled up and asked if we wanted him to take a pic of all three of us. A total random act of kindness! Kathy and I said our goodbyes to Todd and she lead us toward Battle Lake. Todd, thank you for taking the day off to ride with me! I can't tell you what a pleasure it was to meet you and ride with you! I sure hope I get that pleasure again soon!

First impressions. . . green grass, corn fields, a lake of some different size around every corner and these huge Christmas tree pines everywhere! Minnesota is absolutely gorgeous! I was somewhat startled to see a Viking Trail sign along the road and then those history lessons from elementary school started coming back. I hoped to meet a viking or two along the way, but alas it was not to be. As we rode past a corn field I could see something bouncing on the side of the road. At first I thought it was a dog. I realized it was two white tail deer running towards us. Kathy was shutting it down and I did the same. The deer bounced around on the side of the road, not sure which direction to choose. They finally chose to dive back into the corn like actors exiting a stage through a curtain. You'll have to ask Kathy to do her impression of white tail deer! We stop for fuel in Battle Lake and I encounter my first hard Minnesota accent. I'm not quite sure what he said, but he sure seemed sincere.

Kathy's house is a fantasy land of bird feeders, trees, green grass, dogs, horses, and chipmunks. Just amazing really. Beautiful big windows bring the outside in. Hubby Michael is charming. They treated me to "genuine" Texas barbque at a place called Elmers. Back to the house to a fire in the firepit and a smidge of peach brandy for a night cap. Michael, Kathy and I had great discussions in that backyard. It was pretty darn close to a perfect day!

[Heidi]

Keep going. Keep going. It's like a great TV show, and now we are having the commercials...


Anyway, great stories. I am sooo happy for you to have made that trip. I'll be waiting for more. Hope to do a trip with you some day. Can you imagine???....Oiweh!!!(what Larry would say now).

[ms_tapestry]

Kathy's house is beautiful farm house that has been added on to. My room is upstairs under the eaves. The bed is comfortable and the house talks to you at night. It is awesome! I slept like a log and wandered downstairs when it was still dark to sit outside and listen to the total quiet. There are no cicadas, the birds are still sleeping and it is so quiet that when an acorn falls from a tree onto the barn roof it sounds like a gunshot. The stars are dimmed by the light of the moon but I can still spot the big dipper. 56 degress this morning and no wind. I sit inside and watch the sun rise surrounded by windows. Hummingbirds at the feeders on the windows, coffee with Kathy and Michael, relaxed conversation and Michael is off to work. A load of laundry and a shower and I am a new person! After a homemade muffin for breakfast, Kathy and I feed the horses, or rather she feeds and I ride in the cart. After all are fed Kathy and I take off down the road. We head into town and Tawanda finally gets a bath. A quick rub down and we stop by the pharmacy to visit with one of Kathy's friends. We stop by to meet the Indian then off to Fred and Lana's house. This house is a show piece. It sits on the river and is so beatifully decorated it looks like something out of those magazines we all drool over. Fred and his friend Red have a ride planned for us. Off we go around long sweeping curves, past corn fields and soy fields, little tiny lakes and enormous lakes. Christmas tree pines, poplars and other I can't identify. Little to no traffic and all the folks we meet along the way wave when you pass. Another beautiful day! Fred is riding sleeveless, Kathy in a light jacket and me in layers! Ha!

We stop for lunch at a little biker bar/restaurant. I had a lovely roast beef sandwich then we refueld and went on down the road where I was introduced to Swartz (sp?) ice cream. Oh my it was so good I'd go all the way back to Minnesota for more!

After we leave the ice cream store Kathy and I split off and head towards home. We make a stop at a produce store in a fabulous old barn that was being restored. Back to the house and then off to Kathy's mom's house on the lake for supper. I walked into a house that smelled of cedar. Walls and ceilings were line with it. Ticking cloks of all kinds, a collection of Royal Dalton mugs lined shelves at the top of the wall. . .it is an amazing place! I sit on the deck while Michael plans my route to La Crosse. We dine on grilled chicken, sweet corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and tater tots. We polish off the Crown and have a dessert of chocolate torte with fresh strawberries and kiwi. Kitchen clean, order restored, we waddle to the car and home. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. It was a beautiful, peaceful day. Thank you Kathy. I love you madly you know!

[orbit]

Great story so far, Tonya!

Love the pics!

[MegaGlide]

Looks like the possessive of Hillbilly has befuddled the squareheads.

[ms_tapestry]

I can't tell you how much I hated leaving Minnesota! It is so relaxing, peaceful and beautiful there. I think I could live in Minnesota. . .well until it started snowing anyway! Kathy feeds the horses and she rides out with me. Some beautiful back roads to the stealership for my first shirt purchase of the trip. On to breakfast and then a beautiful view of a lake and Kathy and I hug and part ways. She to home and me on the road. Kathy I love ya girl! Thank you for sharing your home and your beautiful Minnesota with me. I'm gonna come back and find one of those vikings. I swear!

This day was a hard day of riding. My thought had been to avoid Minneapolis and so a route was planned that took me south and then east into La Crosse. On hindsight I wish I would have just slammed down the interstate for this one. The roads were rough, I fought a hard crosswind all day, there was wicked traffic and of all things I didn't fasten the front of my cargo net down after a stop and my jacket flew off the top of my bag. I stopped on the side of a busy interstate and hiked back a quarter mile to retrieve it. I only saw it run over twice!

I was so frustrated I finally just pulled over, ate some crackers and cheese with gatorade and prayed for patience coz there was this one little chickie in a white suv that I wanted to shoot! Somewhat calmer I got back on Tawanda, put my head down and just rode! I passed a 43 sign, but didn't stop. I crossed over the state line, but didn't stop. I knew I had voicemails, but I didn't listen. And then I came to the bluffs and it all seemed worth it. That ride through the bluffs on the side of the Mississippi River was absolutely gorgeous, mostly downhill with long sweepings curves. The traffic had finally thinned and then I came out of the bluffs and caught my first glimpse of the River herself. I was channeling Tina as I crossed the River! Rollin'. . .rollin' down the river. . . .y'all sing it with me!

Found the hotel with no trouble, unpacked the bike and finally listened to my voice mails. . . several from Ken worried he hadn't heard from me. Oops. And then the last one from Ken asking that I make a run to the package store. It is now 8:36 pm. I get directions from a couple of ladies sitting out in front of their room and get to the store at 8:45. Fifteen minutes to spare. I make my purchase and head back to the hotel. Order in a not very good pizza but I ate half of it anyway.

d j and mr. orbit roll in around 10:00 pm. What a pleasure it was to see their smiling faces! Hugs all around, stories from the ride in, they unpack and I hand them my last minute purchase. We sit on the parking lot drinking Jack and coke and chatting until 11:00 pm. A visit from these two and a chat via phone with Mary will absolutely turn your day around!

The only pics I have from this long hard day are the ones from the overlook Kathy took me to. As I said, I rode hard.

[MegaGlide]

More please, Auntie T!