A November Day On The Elroy-Sparta State Trail - 2025/11/04

Ever since my MN Guzzi Rally weekend in Grand Marais where I took my e-bike rather than one of the motorcycles I've been anxious to do one of the Rail-Trails.  Summers are short, the weekends fly by with other plans and/or responsibilities.  I'd hoped to make any more bike rides overnight if not weekend events but with that, I knew that more likely to happen would be day trips.

Knowing that a long weekend was coming up due to a teacher training day, an overnight camping trip to ride the trail was in the serious planning stages.  The weather forecast was looking ideal....temps in my 'zone' for comfortable exercise efforts.  But with the short days/long nights in November and campsites in city parks rather than in the northwoods, the day trip seemed a much more realistic choice.  I'd have camped in the pickup truck, a day trip meant I could take my more fuel efficient van....the receiver hitch bike rack works just as well on either one, flexibility that was part of my Master Plan involving both vehicles.

Starting out early in the newly Central Standard Time, I stopped for breakfast in Wabasha, then a stop for a sandwich and chips to carry along on the bike for lunch.

My trip to Sparta... 

 

 

The Sparta-Elroy trail head, the trail heads SE from here.  This point is also the eastern terminus of the La Crosse River State Trail....(maybe next time?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The section of trail I'd hoped to do down and back.  It meant going through the longest tunnel on the trail (#3 the longest at 3,810 ft) to Norwalk, turn around and ride back.  I guess I knew, if you'd have asked, that the tunnels are closed in the winter.  I'd forgotten AND wasn't thinking we were 'winter' yet.

 

 

 

Over Interstate I-90.....

 

 

 

Crossing Janus Ave.....Do you know how many times that I've ridden my motorcycle through this crossing?

 

Many.

 

I know the area SO well from riding through every road with my motorcycle exploring.  It was great fun to see the area from a very different perspective.  As Eric says when he gets the chance to snowmobile the area....."we think we know it so well..."

 

 

Looking SE toward Norwalk....you're looking at the exact path that the tunnel takes, under this hill's crown.  I've accessed the east portal of the tunnel using the road against the woods. 

 

 

Same spot looking SW, perpendicular to the tunnel's path. 

 

 

Looking NW toward Sparta and Hwy 71.... 

 

 

The western portal in the dark woods... 

 

 

Again, NW view, Hwy 71 and the tunnel on the trail. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Due to the closed tunnel, I turned back toward Sparta.  My plan to load the bike back onto the van and pick up the trail beyond the tunnel to the SE.

 

So again, from Sparta to the tunnel and back....the battery was at 83% if I remember correctly.  As is my custom, the e-bike's boost setting for the entire ride was at 1 out of a possible 5.

 

 

 

On the way back to Sparta ..... 

 

 

 

 

 

In Sparta, almost back to the trail head.  Riding past the corn dryers I was treated to chaff in the air and the wonderful aroma of corn being dried.

 

 

 

I started out heading west, a short 2 miles to the next tunnel. 

 

 

 

This is Tunnel #2, west of Wilton just over 2 miles. 

 

 

Tunnel #2's eastern portal is just beyond that curve heading up hill....cutting through the top of the hill 

 

 

New home being built just above #71... 

 

 

Wilton a little over a mile to the SE...... 

Through Wilton and further east toward Kendal...

 

 

 

Another overpass for the trail east of Wilton... 

And back to Wilton...

My ride both west and east of Wilton was roughly another 15 miles, so roughly 32 miles for the day.  Getting back for another section of the trail this fall is unlikely but between the rest of the Elroy-Sparta, the 400 and the La Crosse River section, lots of good riding to be had.  Plus there's the Root River and Cannon Valley Trail, both much closer to home.  

I can't wait.

Finally Sold Something - 2025/10/26

After 16 1/2 years and more than 20k miles my TW200 is gone.  There were some great adventures in some really fun places.  Other than a carburetion issue and my foolishly ignoring fuel consumption it never left me stranded.

The Flint Hills, Kansas.....

Falling Leaf BMW Rally, Potosi, Missouri.....

The day I brought it home...

The last time I camped at Siskiwit Campground....15 years ago.

Of course on that trip I stopped in front of the Twin Sisters and as I came out of the Green Shed Museum in Cornucopia, I saw this group of people milling about in front of Peg's Grampa's boat.  Didn't recognize anyone but still I wondered if they were possibly extended family on Peg's side that I hadn't met.  Turns out they visit the South Shore often.....twin sisters in the family.

Iowa Moto Guzzi Rally bound....

With the BMW's at the Hiawatha Rally....

Sunday afternoon at Road America....tearing down after a weekend of AHRMA racing and camping in the Carousel.

 Monday I made my way over to Point Beach State Forest for a few days.

And so on.....it and I have done some great trips.

Last weekend's last time in the driveway.....

Have fun with it Chris, sounds like some exciting changes for it in the near future!

MEA Weekend 2025 - 2025/10/16

Lots of photos, not many words.  Even though it may seem impossible, there are quite a few images and video footage that don't make this finished product.  Use your discretion, no refunds. 

M(innesota) E(ducator's) A(ssociation)....the Minnesota Teacher's Union hosts the weekend event for training and has, in one for or another, since 1861.  Wisconsin, North Dakota and New Jersey the only other States that have something equivalent.

What it means to MN families with school-aged children is a long October weekend...many of them travel locally or fly to destinations far.  What it meant for this school bus driver was another long weekend on Lake Superior's South Shore.  Not only were the local schools closed Thursday-Friday, but Wednesday was our monthly 2 hour early release.  That meant that I could begin my 4 1/2 hour drive north starting at 2:30 instead of 4:30.

It was dark when I arrived at camp, after a quick scan of the campground's 10 sites, I just backed into #8 which when morning arrived, seemed the perfect spot to stay.  The pop-up canopy was raised and placed with just a bit of overlap over the truck's topper. 

   

The Siskiwit Lake Campground.... 

 

 

Breakfast coffee Thursday morning.... 

 

 

Siskiwit Lake.... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Thought about a Pastie but didn't take one. 

Back to camp Thursday afternoon, started a campfire and started getting dinner ready.

 

 

Friday morning's first cup.... 

 The location of the 3 waterfalls....Morgan Falls southwest of Marengo, Houghton Falls just north of Washburn and finally Big Rock Falls up above Washburn

 

I decided that Friday was going to be Waterfall Day and to that end, I visited 3, two of them repeats.  I started out by heading east and south for Morgan Falls.  On the way it only made sense to stop in Washburn at Coco - Artesian Bakery and Good Eats.

And (not so) incredibly, the baker's well-put-together Himalayan parked out front.  I'd have stopped...AND enjoyed even without his mode of transport there anchoring the establishment.

 

 

Had to stop in the Harness Dept at Tractor Supply to get a leather punch....my tightest belt setting just wasn't cutting it. 

I've seen evidence before but I'm still always quite surprised at the level of large(r) agriculture going on in the area just south of Ashland.

Almost to Morgan Falls.....looking back North toward the lake.

 

Parked, paid and perambulating to the falls....

 

 

It looked like rain and teased with a few drops but it never really happened.  I drove back to Ashland and decided to stop at the Ashland Baking Company for some pastries.....I can't be expected to enjoy a vacation day without pastries, how could I??

One each of the top row and one from the lower shelf.....that makes 5 by my count.

 

 

Bagged and in there....for now.... 

So it was back into Ashland for those yummies and then back through Washburn to Houghton Falls.  An interesting and popular place.  The relatively small parking lot has a gate that closes on a timer (don't get caught inside!!) and many signs warning against parking on the road.

"If Parking Lot Is Full Come Back Later"

At any normal, touristy hour, don't be surprised if the lot is full.

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving the busy, still full, Houghton Falls parking lot, I drove a short distance up County C to the Big Rock Falls Park on the Sioux River.

 

 I backed into campsite #4 right above the falls, a perfect place to have lunch.

 

 

Looking up, peeking through the woods to the lunch-time truck.

The Big Rock....the entire width of the river runs over this broad base for a length of maybe 20', stopping fish from moving any further up the river.

I ventured west after lunch to Long Lake, always a favorite.  No swimming this trip but we've, meaning Peg and the kids, played at the beach and picnic'd numerous times, we bikers have been to both ends of the lake for photo ops as well.

 

 From the east end of the lake, always my favorite place to stop.

 

Looking west from the west end...

You can see the trail cut across the marsh....

Looking east towards the beach and picnic area....

The beach....

Headed west back to where I'm piloting...

My plan was to take the back way up to Birch Grove Campground...(north from the east end of Long Lake) and I did only to find the gate across, "Campground Closed".  No matter, I've got a drone.

Well in fact I do have a drone but one must remember to push RECORD.....there's a button to do just that.  Essentially 5 cameras along.....sometimes I struggle to make all of the hookups.

Decided to have Friday's dinner at The Fish Shed in Corny.  It and the IPA were extremely satisfying.  Whitefish Taco's and a Bent Paddle on the deck.

Back to camp on Siskiwit Lake, excited about a campfire.  But 10 minutes in, it was doused.  Way, way too much wind. 

 

 

Later the wind calmed down and burning up my wood continued. 

 

 Early Saturday coffee time in the truck....I'd not been out yet.  In the bakery bag, two remaining Delightful's. 

This one savory....

Saturday sunnier, warmer and still windy...I stopped at the artesian well in Corny to refresh my water before heading west to Port Wing and the Boreal Forest. 

 

 

Not sure what I'll do when this log is no longer on the beach.... 

 

 

Looking North from the Boreal Forest Natural Area.... 

 

 

East toward Port Wing..... 

 

 

West back to the Boreal Forest.... 

Back to the harbor at Port Wing...

Heading back toward Siskiwit Lake....the back way on Touve Road.

Stopped on Bark River Road....

Then South on Klemik Road back to Siskiwit Lake...

Back at camp ready to settle in, then remembered that I wanted to get some smoked whitefish at Halvorson's so I made another trip back into Corny.

Had fun watching this couple....strong cold wind off the lake.  Two pups, one intent on digging beach holes and filling shoes.

Saturday evening's steak and veg....

Finally a campfire without wind....
 

And to wrap up my South Shore weekend, a stop at Angie's in Iron River for a couple of Apple Fritters.  One did make it back to Red Wing and was shared.

A glorious weekend of fun, quiet time and colors that could not have been better.