Thursday we spent with Marcia, once we got our laundry done. She took us to Red Wing for lunch and then to Stillwater for ice cream. Both towns are full of beautiful old houses and their downtowns are as they were in the beginning, with the addition of electric lights and traffic signals. Chock full of interesting architecture. Stillwater is on the St. Croix River, and the river valley and the river itself are gorgeous. Such a blue blue river, sparkling in the sun. This area of Minnesota is hilly and boasts many trees. It is a pretty part of the country. There are lots of big old oaks and maples.
The remains of Stillwater Prison have been converted into lovely waterfront condos! Stunning views. I guess they built a modern Stillwater somewhere else. The Warden's house is still standing and has been turned into a museum. I can't imagine why anyone would park a prison in such a beautiful place, but they did!
We ate way too much ice cream at Nelson's, a place which make enormous cones. We had baby sized cones and they were still enormous. I am sure we ate a pint of ice cream each. And maybe more.
Marcia, Kelly, Christian, Ray and I went to a place out in the country for supper. It was sort of a retro place, like we used to go to with our folks when we were kids. We all enjoyed our dinners and the company. It was fun to spend time with them, and we both wished we'd had more time to spend there. I hope Marta doesn't get fired for calling in sick on Thursday!
We hit the bed like bricks when we got back to our motel and slept like logs until time to get up and hit the road once more. It's surprising how quickly you get out into the country in the Twin Cities area. Ray planned our route on country and state roads, avoiding big cities, so we saw lots of little towns and villages, populations from 112 to 600 or so. We passed some outstanding old courthouses and didn't stop to take one picture. Shame on on! The domes on those old places are astounding sometimes. Dinky little town of 435 and the most incredible courthouse you ever did see. Those old ones put modern courthouses to shame, they are so beautiful. For part of the day, we traveled along The Great River Road, which follows the Mississippi. Very lush, very beautiful, very fishy smelling, lots of bugs. There were pretty rest areas, with old fashioned pumps to draw water and smelly ol' pit potties. They always had a nice view of the river. The Mississippi is very broad.
Shortly after we left the Mississipi we stopped in Mount Sterling to visit the Mount Sterling Cheese Factory. They make goat cheeses. We bought about 5 kinds to bring to Lynn's house for tasting. The road from Mt. Sterling went up to a plateau where we took some pictures. This is the resulting Panorama.
At one point, we missed Wisconsin country road E and in the middle of turning around, Ray's bike decided to nap. I had already turned around and was at road E when I heard thunk! Crap! *&%$@*%!!! in my earphones. I looked back and there was a heap in the road. Ray was fine and didn't even hurt the next day and the only damage the bike suffered was a broken clutch lever. No scratches anywhere even.
There we are in the middle of Wisconsin nowhere and a broken clutch lever. Ray got out his tool kit and jury rigged a fix with a zip tie. It worked sort of and we limped in to Lancaster, Wisconsin (the correct Lancaster!) a bit later than we'd thought we'd arrive. Dan and Audre were already there and Lynn & Jeff arrived about an hour later. Perfect timing, as it was time for supper. We walked a couple of blocks to a place recommended by the desk clerk. It was across the street from another astounding old courthouse. The food was good and we all ate way too much. It being Friday, they had Fish Fry and Ray, Dan, Audre and I indulged in that....Friday Fish Fry is an unknown thing in the Seattle area. We miss that, among other food things. Jeff and Lynn ate burgers. The place had amazing french fries. Wish I could remember the name. Something with a D...
We do not miss the weather. It is hot and it is humid. But it was not 103 and so we endured to the end. I have decided I will not willingly ride in 103 degree weather again, dry heat or not. Hot is hot, wet or dry.
Ray made a trip to the local hardware store on my scoot and got some liquid welding stuff for the clutch lever. He applied it properly, let it set overnight and it lasted 3 pulls of the clutch. But if he held the clutch lever in place, it would work. So he came the whole way from Lancaster to here holding the clutch lever pressed in place. His left hand was tired!!! We all had to pull over several times when the clutch lever slipped out of place. But we got here.
I needed gas near Freeport, IL and we all wanted to pull into an empty business parking lot on the left side of the two lane road to discuss where the nearest gas was. (nothing in sight but corn and soybeans, soybeans and corn) Ray was into his left turn and I was just starting my left turn when a speeding car passed the bunch of us and jetted between Ray and I. Talk about startled! I nearly went into the ditch! Ray missed seeing anything and the family behind us was sure I would end up dead or a hood ornament. But the Guardian Angels were on duty and all escaped unscathed except that driver, whose ears were surely blistered. We had to come within 50 miles of home to have a close call.
Ray and Jeff talked to my brother, who went about trying to find a Moto-Guzzi left hand clutch lever. He has declared Ray's bike to be "obscure". No clutch levers in the midwest, except for a place in Madison, Wisconsin, and they are shipping the clutch here. Ray says he's going to carry extras from now on. More load for the poor sidecar.
The verdict on my rig is that it is not little and that the scoot really scoots. Told 'em so.
Gratefully getting off the bikes at the end of a 2230 mile adventure, we are here at Sister Lynn's for 2 weeks. Last night we ordered in pizza, our brother and his wife came over from Wheaton, Dan and Audre stayed on and we had a great big gab fest. It was so good to have so many of our sibs together.
Today Kim and Terri are bringing food for dinner, he's slow cooking stuff on the grill. Lynn has already been to the grocery store, I'm connected and Ray and Jeff are gabbing. Muzzie is still asleep, at least I have not heard her downstairs.
We are ready for some off-bike resting time. We are tired. We're rethinking the route home and how long it might take. But we made it all the way on our bikes and some guys in the Microsoft office pool have surely lost their bets. And we have to find time for new tires.
Especially for my brother: we went 500 miles on the last 2 days, but I don't know how far on each day.
