Attn: WI riders

[Lee B.]

Something kinda fun if you head south from Gays Mills would be to hit up cassville and ride the ferry (Click Here) across the river to iowa, that puts you on Great River Road Iowa just south of where it gets real fun heading towards Balltown.

tell me about the ferry. Any need to tie down the bike?

 

[DaJuice]

Something kinda fun if you head south from Gays Mills would be to hit up cassville and ride the ferry (Click Here) across the river to iowa, that puts you on Great River Road Iowa just south of where it gets real fun heading towards Balltown.

tell me about the ferry. Any need to tie down the bike?

I've never actually done the Ferry, I've just been meaning to for several years. It has been a bonus on a few rallies I've done but it never made it onto my route. I emailed a friend that has done in a few times, this is what he said:

"I put it on the stand and it was fine. No way to tie it down. The ferry holds about a dozen cars. The Cassville side has a bit of a steep ramp. The turkey river side is dirt for a mile or so but a good road and ramp."

He has a K1200LT, so if he made it on that no worries with the FJR.

 

[Gramps]

Lee, not sure if your plans are still on for St. Paul but I'm going to have to take that ride with you another time.

Have a safe journey.

 

[Lee B.]

Lee, not sure if your plans are still on for St. Paul but I'm going to have to take that ride with you another time. Have a safe journey.

Gramps,

My plans were so up in the air I didn't finalize until late 6/30. On 7/1 took off for Anamosa, IA with a buddy. He rode with me that day and the next and then we parted company. Day two was Anamosa to Winona, MN via some interesting roads in IA, WI, MN. Day three was on my own E from Winona to the Mindoro Cut, Wildcat Mt State Park, Prairie Du Chien, etc. then on down to Monticello, IA just N of Anamosa. Day four consisted of 2 hours in the rain, 1.5 hours waiting for less rain, then a good run from Grinnell, IA to home in KC.

Never made it closer to the cities than Winona.

Lee

 

[Lee B.]

What I'm tempted to do is to go west from Gays Mill then North again on 35 to LaCrosse then back over to MN to check out that interesting looking little loop in the SE corner of the state that is made up of highways 16 and 44 then head down the river road to Dubuque on the IA side.Of course maps can be deceiving so if you have knowledge of that section of MN or 35 between Gays Mill and LCrosse let me know.

I'd say that would be a good plan. 16 is a Byway - Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway. Lanesboro on 16 is a really cool town, there is a lot of canoeing, rafting and peddle biking going on. You won't be disappointed with that road. I've never been on 44 but thought the same thing you did from the map, even if it isn't that great it still looks like the best way back from when 16 straitens out.

The section of 35 south of La Crosse is Blah, Consider this route back up to La Crosse.

Let me know what you think of 44 if you end up going that way.

Can't report on 44. I'll have to do that another time. That was going to be an alternative loop to take before heading into Winona, MN but we cut that loop off to get to Winona sooner. Our departure from the motorcycle museum at Anamosa was a bit later than we had planned on.

Lee