Saturday, September 6, 2014

Perfect Riding Weather --> Perfect Ride(s)

It's dawning on me that just about the only riding I did this summer was to/from/during the numerous rallies that I attended.  It's been mentioned here by some blog readers as well as by myself that these days quality is fully capable of offsetting quantity and I still stand by that assessment.  Still, as summer has all but slidden away, this guy just has a natural tendency to improve the situation.

Yesterday was rain-free but cool (very cool) and the blustery was almost too much of a good thing.  Our weather folks have been announcing that we only had a record 2 days of >= 90 degrees this year.  It almost sounds like they are complaining about that fact.  I will not complain.  It seemed like a glorious summer once it quit raining and finally did warm up.....warm up to just the perfect range.

So, yesterday was cool but I was out and put 98 miles on.  This morning we had high 40's when I got up and long before it turned 60, I was off for a breakfast ride that quickly turned into 165 miles.  A "ride to dinner" promise was made to son Ben, so I was home early afternoon and the two of us went out for another 120 miles or so.  An almost cloudless sky with temps in the lowest 70's....absolutely perfect riding weather.

Today's two trips......


Does this 'summery' scene look familiar??



Earlier this summer I stopped for a break in Arcadia and had the good fortune to meet Eric and his wife, our meeting a very good thing.  We've now ridden some miles together and communicate often, each sharing explorations with the other.  Today I stopped at the same location and met John, recently back from Sturgis.  John's HD has 115K miles....."still has the original clutch...bike's been a good one".  I didn't ask but feel confident in saying that John's got a substantial bit more 'experience' than I.


 I stopped at this Century Farm, the place belongs to a family that have been friends with my parents for many years.  A magical farm in a magical setting.



From there I went home, took care of two quick chores and then had Ben join me.  I started out on the Ascot, Ben took the Guzzi.  Here we stopped for an afternoon ice cream in Bay City.  The caboose used to belong to the Soo Line Railroad (connected MN/IA/WI to Sault Ste. Marie) but as you can see, an "M" has been substituted for the "S", not surprising in a Dairy State.


Showing Ben some of my favorite roads, slow ones as well as some that were faster, we arrived here in Plum City for a rest stop and a chance to watch the very calming and peaceful trout swim in their pond.


When we left Arkansaw (Wisconsin's version) and crossed the Chippewa River into Durand, I almost couldn't believe my eyes.  MORE heavy rain in the area had the poor river flooding once again.  We stopped downtown to take a closer look.


August flooding.......seems almost impossible.




We stopped for dinner while still in the neighboring state, crossed the river back into Minnesota and took the back way, one more time, to our home valley.  Ben was a bit awestruck both at the roads I "knew" and how much fun they were to ride on today.  We swapped bikes for a few miles, he preferring the Italian one to my old beat up Honda.  The Guzzi was his favorite until we got home.  I sent him out on the Hyosung, his first ride on that and he came back with a huge smile.  I may not be able to keep him off from the little V-twin from here on out and I think I know how he feels.

There's a fighting chance something will get ridden tomorrow, same lovely weather predicted only slightly warmer.

13 comments:

  1. Coop - I recognize that silo!
    August high water ... wow. It's been raining here too, but no flooding. Tomorrow looks like the sun will shine again. Can't complain about the temperatures though.

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    1. You found it! Stopping there hadn't been part of my plan but as I was approaching, remembered that I'd stopped previously for the view. It wasn't framed quite the same but it was centered almost the same.

      It seems that this year we've had unusually large and localized rainfalls. Many places not all that far away are too dry.

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  2. Nice ride! I have often wondered about Hyosungs and what kind of quality they were. How many cc's? Can you post a pic - pretty please?! Gloriously sunny day on a bike nothing beats it!

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    1. Dar, I would say the fit and finish on the Hyo's isn't quite Japanese but close enough for me. More popular in AUS than on this continent, these 250's especially popular where there is tiered licensing......this one is serving me well. As I tell everyone else, it feels like a less powerful version of my Ducati and I really enjoy the sound/feel of the little V-twin.

      It was featured here on a wet spring weekend....
      http://tinyurl.com/dyy4u4e

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  3. Flooding in August, who would have thunk it. We also had our share of bad weather this year, not only was it very wet but also unusually cold.
    I can certainly appreciate the blue skies. A random sight for me this summer.

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    1. Sonja, that's exactly what seems so odd. Normally our August is a time of minimal rain, bluer (hotter) skies with lawns that are looking forward to cooler temps and Sept. rains for re-greening. Our lawn looked that way in August and recently has gone back to Lush Mode. There have been way too many 3-4-5" rainfalls in the region this year.

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  4. So Ben discovered the love of a v-twin. Been there, love my Gladius, lol.

    I can't believe you only had 2 days above 90. Yesterday was day 31 above 90 for us. Luckily it has been cooling down at night. Woke to 48 this morning.

    Loving the blue sky and green fields in the pictures.

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    1. I know I heard but don't remember what our 'average' number of 90 degree days is, though even I know that 2 is not very many.

      We are truly green around here right now, most of us anyway. Another lovely day today, got some miles in and did everything possible to enjoy being outside. These days will not and can not last.

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  5. On the first of this month, we set a new record for rainfall. This is in addition to new records being set for June, July and the Summer. The August record is still standing as that was the year when the whole town flooded and the stairs to the University was being used as a boat ramp...

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  6. So many records this year, seems most everywhere is having outlier weather. The weather gods must think our Averages need some tweaking.

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  7. My work schedule has really sucked.I might have to bail on the Tenderloin Ride.I'm not sure at this point.I work for the most part 4-12 hour shifts in a row with 24 hours off and start it all over again.Scotty is not happy at all.I just don't get enough time off to get anything done at all.I'll let everyone know.I feel like shit thinking I'm going to bail on my own called Ride To Eat.

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    1. Scott, we're all hoping to go and will miss you but do understand. You and Putt started something good; it will be there when you can return. I might even eat half a sandwich for you!

      The event will be documented. :)

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    2. I'll try and work it out Doug.But it's not looking good.My daughter and her soon to be husband have taken up my call off time.I'll let everyone know how it goes.Believe me,I'm trying to figure out how I can attend the T ride.I planned this way before my company decided to ramp up steel production.Without giving me anymore time off.I am really upset about this.I don't usually say one thing and then talk out my ass.I have integrity and to some people,it will be I'm some sort of blowhard.It comes down to I have to be at work and that is the end of that convo.

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