[Springer]

OK folks. Riding season is globally upon us, and most people are out with their knees in the breeze rather than poring over an indoor forum. So...

When you get home with your good (or otherwise) experiences and pix from the day, post them here with a short narrative so we can all share. And if you didn't ride today, but have some experience/pix from a past ride you'd like to brag about (or forget about) this is the place to author a memory, a safety experience, or just reminisce.

What say? Bevo promised to stick it so that it will be cumulative if we can gin up some ongoing interest.

 

[Springer]

Prairie Winds

I did what's become an annual tradition last October (weather hasn't been real wonderful yet this year for anything but work commuting): strolled along the Niobrara River that hemstitches South Dakota and Nebraska. Granted it's not as visually stunning as Yellowstone or the Beartooth, but it's really easy on the mind and no traffic. Lots of folks underrate the beauty of the Great Plains; maybe the beauty is simply the peace such quiet panoramas provide. At any rate, a few pix:

 

[Springer]

Went for a ride today with every intention of making it 300 miles and grabbing some Missouri River flood pix but the howling SSW gale finally got to me after only 120. Traffic was being blown into my lane (of course it would help if they weren't texting or phoning) and the wind was picking up all the soil from the guys doing field work. Felt like Lawrence of Arabia.

But it WAS 70 degrees and partly sunny, so who could resist?

 

[taboo365]

Felt like Lawrence of Arabia.

Sounds real (sheik).

Great pics by the way.

Weather here is crummy. Drove the truck to work this morning, drove the truck home this afternoon.
Went out to the garage after dinner to look at the bike and as I did it started to rain.

 

[Tex5]

Washington bike blessing

Olympia bike blessing!! Got my vstar blessed

 

[Sugar Bear]

Finally had a day with no rain, took a little run to the next town to check on a new exaust for my truck(he was closed) A bit chilly but really good to be in the wind again, or maybe "Against the Wind" . Good pics , everyone ride safe.

 

[bevo1981]

A bit chilly but really good to be in the wind again, or maybe "Against the Wind"

sure you weren't Blowin' In The Wind? just don't become Dust In The Wind

 

[Springer]

Olympia bike blessing!! Got my vstar blessed

Nifty!

Is that an annual event like blessing the fishing fleets, etc?

 

[Tex5]

Yes this was #7

 

[Springer]

Yes this was #7

I have it done more frequently at home. My wife oftentimes tells me to "get that blessed thing outta here!!!"

Probably not the same thing...

 

[taboo365]

Rode to the dealer today, about 20 miles and got the yearly state inspection done. I was surprized it was only $6.00, not bad. Then I rode another 50 miles, first through the park then down by the Niagara river. Temp was a cool 60, but moments of sunshine here and there. I'll take it!

 

[DonDar]

Disappointing day

April 16th was supposed to be our first run for the year, the annual spring Flood Run, which runs along the Mississippi on either the Wisconsin side or the Minnesota side (or both, if you want). We were looking forward to it for weeks, until we woke up that morning to this...

Needless to say our ride was cancelled for the day. Our next "planned" run is a 3-day ride over Memorial Day weekend, up north to Duluth and east along Lake Superior. I'll make sure to get some pics, maybe even some I can post on here.

 

[Springer]

up north to Duluth and east along Lake Superior.

Are you guys going up to the Arrowhead/N. Shore or east on US2?

Pretty ride in any case. Used to love that run across northern WI from Ironwood to Superior, especially in the Fall.

Don't see why the ride was canceled; the snow seems to have melted off the road...

PS-

The tiki lamp is a nice touch. Souvenir from your "Survivor" days?

 

[DonDar]

Are you guys going up to the Arrowhead/N. Shore or east on US2?

Pretty ride in any case. Used to love that run across northern WI from Ironwood to Superior, especially in the Fall.

Don't see why the ride was canceled; the snow seems to have melted off the road...

PS-

The tiki lamp is a nice touch. Souvenir from your "Survivor" days?

East on 2, over to Hurley (I'm told there's some type of Gentlemen's club there ). We haven't been on that route yet but the other couple we're going with has, and they love it. Looking forward to it.

Pic was taken around 8am, it didn't stop snowing until around noon. I was all for going, but for some reason my wife wasn't real keen on the idea of riding when it's snowing and 34 degrees.

Oh, and the tiki torches are a nice little way to give us SOME thought of summer over the 7-month long winter we had. Although seeing them covered in snow kinda kills that thought.

 

[Springer]

We haven't been on that route yet but the other couple we're going with has, and they love it. Looking forward to it.

Make sure you stop in Poplar (or Superior) and visit the Bong Memorial and his gravesite.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2375

Most people don't know his history or decorations yet to this day he remains America's "Ace of Aces". It was just in 2003 that his wife passed away:

http://articles.latimes.com/2003/oct/10/local/me-drucker10

Very pretty stroll across northern WI, especially if you can take the time to make a side trip up to Bayfield. If you go in the Fall, pick a few apples and sit down to a fresh baked hot apple dumpling.

http://www.superiortrails.com/bayfield-applefest.html


PS-

Do watch your throttle east of Ashland. The Bad River Reservation (Chippewa/Cree) starts just east of Ashland and goes quite a way east. WISP and tribal love to work the area, and there's a reduced speed zone as you approach the Bad River Casino turnoff and tribal HQ.

 

[taboo365]

I took a 75 mile ride today. It was completely sunny, but still a bit nippy. This time I took a couple pics of the Niagara River. The towers off in the distance in the second pic are in Niagara Falls.

 

[Springer]

I took a 75 mile ride today. It was completely sunny, but still a bit nippy. This time I took a couple pics of the Niagara River. The towers off in the distance in the second pic are in Niagara Falls.

Nice!

Presumably you cropped the photos so that nobody could see the barrel you were going to use?

I'm sure it was a bit nippy, after all, around there it's always Fall...

 

[taboo365]

Presumably you cropped the photos so that nobody could see the barrel you were going to use?

I was standing on a fishing pier.

 

[Springer]

Along the trail: blood and brickwork

If you go too fast, sometimes you miss the most important things...

 

[Springer]

Along the trail: A tough old boot

Look for the small things as you ride