First Long Trip - Spearfish to Lomira Wisconsin - Slabbin' it over

[bigjohnsd]

My first long trip starts Thursday. Spearfish to Rochester MN then on to Lomira WI on Friday. Most I've done till now is 300 miles, this will be the real test of the stock seat which has been OK so far.

 

[snackbauer]

Have a save trip John. Look forward to your impressions (pun intended) on the stock seat.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Have a save trip John. Look forward to your impressions (pun intended) on the stock seat.

Spearfish to Rochester Mn, with a short side trip near Owatonna mn a total of 689 miles today in a shade less than 11 hours total elapsed time. Left Spearfish at 0540 MDT, arrived midway between Owatonna and Rochester at 1730 CDT.

Stock seat impression, I have two, but far from the worst stock seat I've ever experienced.

The crown of the seat seems to make two distinct contact points on my hip bones.

I think if the crown is removed so that my bigger than #150 Japanese *** sits more evenly on the seat she will be just fine.

The trip was uneventful save the 30mph North wind I rode in from Rapid City to Rochester. The most sustained wind I've experienced on a bike I believe. I'm beat from fighting the wind.

Highway pegs on canyon cages helped a lot.

I have no desire to do the long distance thing butt could easily get back on the stock seat and ride another 311 miles to get an Iron Butt license plate frame.

 

[Powershouse]

It sure was a a windy day to be riding on the wide open prairie. Good luck with the rest of the trip. Hwy 33 parallels the interstate and is much more scenic if you're interested. If you go that way watch out for Amish buggies (road apples mean buggy ahead) and enjoy the turns through Wildcat Mt.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Rochester to Lomira via TomTom's Curvy Roads direction.

I knew I had a little over 250 miles to travel and 7 hours to do it in so I decided to test my new TomTom's Curvey Road directions. What a hoot, I rode through some of the prettiest country while traversing the Mississippi River Valley then into Wisconsin just South of LaCrosse, across Wisconsin on 90% County Highways, mostly just wonderful curvy roads and great pavement for the most part.

I declare the TomTom a winner! Easily got me back on track when there where detours, deviations from the planned route were easily accommodated. Good tool at 1/2 the price of the Garmin.

 

[Bugnatr]

Nice John, you will be ready to do the Saddle Sore on your way out here next month for the Riders Roundup. Plenty of us IB guys to sign off on your paperwork when you get here.

From what I hear the wind is always blowing between Rapid City and Rochester.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Festar and I will approach Sparks from the West after a tour of Glacier NP, the Pacific Coast, San Francisco and a stop in Yuba City to see my 99 and 3/4 year old Father for a day or so.

 

[bigjohnsd]

In Sioux Falls SD tonight after a near 500 mile day.

Did more scenic stuff in Wisconsin before jumping on I-90 at LaCrosse and slogging West through a line of Storms then heavy South Westerly winds.

The thunderstorm happened at the ideal moment, there was an exit and a Perkins at hand and it was time for lunch. Never even had to put on the rain gear and the mesh jacket hardly got damp before I stopped. The storm did clean lots of bugs off the bike.

The rest of the way home tomorrow, probably via SD 34 or US 14 to avoid 5 boring slab hours.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Wish I would have known your travel plans ahead of time. I live in Rochester, and could have shown you some fun roads (for this part of the world). My buddies and I put 430 miles on Friday, down to where you probably were......Mindoro Cut Road (WI 108), county P, highway 33 through Wildcat Mountain State Park (a couple runs at it), and back to Wabasha. What a beautiful day Friday was. We were probably within a few miles of you sometime during our little playtime. Have a safe last day.

 

[Bugnatr]

Yuba City? How long has your pop lived there? I'm married to a Yuba City girl, most of her family is still there so we drop down the hill quite often to visit.

I read in my hometown (Willmar) paper they had 4 inches over the weekend, sounds a bit moist.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Home in 6 hours after an almost uneventful trip the breadth of SD. There were Thunder Storms predicted for today and when I checked the Weather Channel at 0530 this morning it looked like I could encounter some severe weather out in the middle of the State.

Sure enough after filling my tank in Chamberlain, just west of the Missouri River I checked the radar on my phone and saw a big line of storms right. On the interstate just west of me. The clouds were black and ominous. The projection showed the weather moving NNE so I started West, got about 15 miles and hit some rain, so I stopped in the big town of Reliance and had some coffee. 30 minutes was enough and I was not bothered again. Love the cruise control, set it on 80 and forget about it, cops don't bother with me, they would much rather write the Californian doing 85 . Glad to be home. Bike now has 3300 miles and will need another oil change before Festar and I tour the PNW in July for certain.

Bugnatr, We moved to Marysville in 1965, crossed the river in 1970. He is in a nursing home there now. My brother, Ted, has never left.

Dad, Joseph K. Langdell, is the last surviving officer from the USS Arizona, Google him and you'll learn all kinds of stuff

 

[petey]

My first long trip starts Thursday. Spearfish to Rochester MN then on to Lomira WI on Friday. Most I've done till now is 300 miles, this will be the real test of the stock seat which has been OK so far.

John, you're going to little Lamira,WI, I lived about 25m east of there for over 30 years, have fun on your first long trip....