Coop's Corner: 2016 AHRMA Road America Prequel (Thursday)

Thursday, June 9, 2016

2016 AHRMA Road America Prequel (Thursday)

Home from work Wednesday right on time, I was out the driveway, trailer and Morphous in tow right at 5PM. Other than way too many deer in the ditches, it was an easy trip over. No music on the way over, I left the radio off until all politics was done being reported on and then found the strongest station and listened to an interview they were doing with Melinda Roberts, proprietor of the Wisconsin Historical Marker Blog. She's been photographing and cataloging every marker in the state and it was her blog that I spent time at before last year's trip over here to discover the various stops I made then on my Thursday Ride. Interesting timing for me to be hearing her and about her on this trip over.

I was checking in to my motel right at 9:30, left the scooter on the trailer and grabbed only the essential overnight items from the van. A restful sleep, awake and up at 5. One small cup of Continental coffee, the scooter off the trailer and I was on the road shortly after 6, headed NW. There were 2nd thoughts last night about falling back into my rut of going the tried and true opposite direction, out to Lake Michigan but I stuck with the original plan.

Exploring and photos of things that strike me the goal, it was a rewarding day and that was before the pleasurable afternoon with friends in Fond du Lac. There were many aromas today that the interweb can be thankful we lack the technology to share but I would certainly like to equally distribute the many hayfield scents that I came upon today.

Architectural additions I don't remember ever seeing on pole buildings before.....

It's been some time since I paid much attention to any Rustic Roads (did 2 today, neither part of my plans) but taking this one just seemed like the thing to do. Approaching, it seem possible that I'd missed it in previous searching but it wasn't looking familiar .....until I got here, then I remembered that TranZalp had been here.

These large trees bordering quiet roads are actually relatively common in this area, not unique to officially designated Rustic Roads.

I thought this sculpture garden very cool and the area and examples were many more than photographed here. I smiled when I saw the post hole digger mounted what must be permanently on the small utility tractor in the yard. This grassy field was acres in size and just west of the homestead, there were many more in the woods being overtaken by growth.

I've seen some huge dairy facilities in my time but the Rosendale Dairy that I saw today was ginormous. From a distance it looked like a military installation. Speaking of dairy, it is June Dairy month and I came upon dozens of signs today advertising various local Farm Breakfasts. Held in many small communities on local farms, it's a chance to give the non-farming neighbors access to farm life.

Stopped for breakfast in Berlin and sat at the window overlooking the Fox River flowing through downtown.

Naturally I had to climb Mountain Morris. There weren't any T-shirts for sale but that's OK, I've got more than enough already.

Stopped at Little Hope to make a phone call, walked across the little bridge to enjoy the picnic table between two rushing flows of water. That is until I heard the ladies hopping in their kayaks.......

A few years ago, I posted about an earlier trip to Road America....On the Way to Poy Sippi. Today I was actually right downtown.

Stopped for a rest along the river in Omro......

Speaking of Historical Markers......

Back to Days Inn mid-afternoon, I gave Jim a call, then soon met Jim and Barb for their gracious and delicious offer of dinner. A fine discussion and great meal, thanks so much to you both!!

A great day, fine riding, many new discoveries, wildlife a plenty (too many on or near the road) and time with friends.

Roughly a 230 mile day. Tomorrow, out to the track early to be at the gate in time for opening.

8 comments:

Scott SeidlJune 10, 2016 at 6:12 AM
Your route took you within 10 miles of my house. It's funny how ones own backyard looks so different through someone elses camera.
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JasonJune 10, 2016 at 10:26 AM
Looks like you had an excellent day to wander. West of Winnie is a part of Wisconsin I haven't explored much. High Cliff State Park on the north east side of Winnebago is one of my favorite parks. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/highcliff/ Also, Terry Andre (which is now Kohler Andre?) is another good one. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/kohlerandrae/
Thanks for the link to Melinda Robert's blog
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TrobairitzJune 10, 2016 at 12:24 PM
Looks like you had perfect weather for the ride too. I really like the picture of the little walking bridge with the Morphous in the background.
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SonjaMJune 11, 2016 at 1:59 AM
Your two wheeled Batmobil looks rather foreign in this farmland scenery. I side with Brandy. The walking bridge pic is my favourite, too.
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Others say....

"it was auspicious to approach any situation from a deferential, inquisitive place. Conceding that there is much to learn is the best blueprint for discovering something new." ----B. Fuller

The Man straightened stiffly above the block of salt fixed to the stake and looked at the young cattle ringed about him. The pasture was holding out well and the stock was looking good. This bunch would be ready to sell in another month, maybe sooner if the market was right.

A stir among the cattle down near the river brought him round to face the swinging bridge he'd built years before. Someone was coming toward him from the bridge. Someone in breeches, but it didn't look like a man, somehow. What was a woman doing in his pasture this time of night?

He bent over the salt again; maybe if he paid her no heed she'd go on past and let him mind his own business. He heard her footsteps come nearer and stop. "Good evening," she said.

Her voice was smooth with book learning but friendlier than most, and somehow almost shy. When he made no answer she went on, "I've been sitting on your swinging bridge....I thought I'd like to say thank-you...." Her voice stumbled a little, then she tried once more.

"You are Mr. ____". His name sounded strange in her voice, but she went on to tell her own.

"That's what they've called me the last sixty-eight years," he said, looking past her face to the hills fast darkening under a single star. "I reckon the woods are free for those that like to walk there."

The unfamiliar voice laughed a little. "That's what Emerson said: the grove belongs to the man who walks in it with an open heart....On that basis I guess I've owned part of your woods for a good many years.....". She made a final effort. "I've always wanted to thank you....."

Something deeply hidden stirred in him. "There's a stump up there, in the notch of the woods", he said slowly, "that before the timber grew so tall you could stand on it and see all over this country."

He kept still a minute, remembering, then, "I used to stand up there an' look at things, an' wonder how they come to be like they was, an' how the hills was created, an' all the things in Nature.... I told my wife I guessed all the religion I ever had I got standin' on that old stump, a-wonderin'..." He turned his face away from her.

She helped him out. "I know about that, a little. This afternoon I saw......." Her account of a thing she had really taken time to look at eased him, and he answered with telling of the badger den at the foot of the swinging bridge.

When she had gone, he turned to watch her. After a moment she stood clear and unmoving against the sky. You could hear the sounds of the river where she stood. She was one that could stand still long enough, he thought, really to hear what a body was saying, or a river.

Then she walked down the farther side of the slope and was gone. ------Margaret Snyder from A Chosen Valley

Fall was the end of harvest, end of the growing season, a burst of color and sun-warmth before killing frost turned the land gray and cold. Fall was a moody time, full of both life and death, a time when we were reminded of the power outside of us, reminded that the seasons happen to us. We do not invite the change to come.-------Ben Logan, from The Land Remembers

When you get those rare moments of clarity, those flashes when the universe makes sense, you try desperately to hold onto them. They are the lifeboats for the darker times, when the vastness of it all, the incomprehensible nature of life is completely elusive. So the question becomes or should have been all along, what would you do if you knew you only had one day, or one week, or one month to live. What lifeboat would you grab onto? What secret would you tell? What band would you see? What person would you declare your love to? What wish would you fulfill? What exotic locale would you fly to for coffee? What book would you write? ------- Ben Tyler

We were also cautioned about journeying far from home. As an example of the dangers, the town had a badly crippled lady named Lucy, who as a girl had traveled to New York City. As she traveled along a sidewalk, sightseeing, she was struck by the outstretched hand of a suicide who had leapt from high above. Her spine had been shattered and for the rest of her life, she was to walk bent forward at the waist, tapping the sidewalk with two black canes. Whenever the subject of travel to a big city was raised, someone would say, "Just remember what happened to Miss Tripp." ---- Ted Kooser, from Local Wonders

"Steamboats are like wedding cakes without the complications...." ----Mark Twain

"It's not about having lots of money, it's about having lots of options......." -----Chris Rock

As the very proud father of three former ponytail wearers, hopefully I can get away with this....."For the past few years it's been fashionable for young women to wear ball caps and to snap the strap on the back under their ponytails. I like the looks of that, their shiny ponytails jauntily swinging, but it's hard not to think of the rear ends of horses. There's a piece of harness called the crupper that goes just under a horse's tail to keep its nose down. If the horse lifts its head to look for a way out of whatever predicament it's in, the crupper tightens and hurts the horse. But it's foolish for parents to think that a ball cap might keep a young woman from running away. Anybody can see they're made for running." ------Ted Kooser, Local Wonders

"I tell the guy's girlfriend that the only difference between the book's main character Phaedrus and myself is that I am neither brilliant, tortured or insane, she looks at my bike and there is an uncomfortable silence." --------ahendepe (a.k.a. Vermin)