T.W.A.T. [Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail]

[Lapchik]

Friday [Aug 25th] at noon I am heading out for the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail. It's sort of like the TSDAT that Sleddog made, G.R.E.A.T. that I made, or BDR routes where someone went and did all the scouting and pre-running of a route and then put the files out there so anyone can ride it. T.W.A.T. runs from Point Detour, WI to Galena, IL running through many of the state's forests and natural preservation areas. It even hops over into Iowa for a few miles, because, really, who could resist Iowa.

The plan [lol yeah, lets see how that goes] . . .

---Day 0.5 [250 mi] I am going from Douglas County, MN to Herbster, WI and camping near Lake Superior.
---Day 1 [280 mi] is up to Point Detour, then backtrack a bit before heading south to Chippewa campground in the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest.
---Day 2 [300 mi] is CNNF to Soldier's Grove where I am staying in a hotel.
---Day 3 [680 mi] is SG to Galena, IL. After that I'm looping back around to Cassville to take the ferry across to Iowa and then heading home.

http://transwisconsintrail.com/wordpress/

My SPOT will start tracking at departure time Friday.

https://maps.findmespot.com/s/3F6H?fbcli...ory/assets

[DownUnder]

I have enjoyed following your "findmespot' track from approx. 15,000 kms away, combined with the use of Google Street View to see just what kind of roads you were traveling on.

I look forward to your detailed written ride report . . . .

[Lapchik]

Started out 85° with a blue sky. Ran into a little bit of rain, just enough to make the road wet. Didn't stop to put on rain gear, because only my shins were getting damp. For a while it was raining out of the clear blue sky just enough for me to have to keep the visor shut, again not enough for actual rain gear. I've seen temperatures as low as 75 and up to 90. Camping in Herbster WI tonight (yesterday)















Went down to the shore of Lake Superior, then went over to cornucopia and got a few camp essentials.







I have tons of footage to go through, but I don't have any of my editing software with me. Videos will have to wait until I get home and get some time.

Today started out okay other than being pretty tired. I am not asleep on the ground type of person, which you'll see more of later. Started off 50° and heavy mist. Went up to point detour, then backtracked a bit and headed south. All the sand and rough trail is at the north end of this route, and I'm glad I got it out of the way first. If I had to do that when I was tired that would have really sucked. It helped that it had rained on Friday, and was misting today, because it keeps the dust down and it keeps the sand manageable. Dry powdery sand is way more difficult to ride through.

I've been hearing my motorcycle friends talk about the Delta diner for almost a decade now, and I finally got to go myself. It's a little crowded in there, both with people and because it's packed in there tight. I got to sit right behind the flat top and watch them cook. I didn't get anything fancy, just scrambled eggs bacon and toast with hash browns on the side, but the fact that they can take something that simple and make it taste really good shows why they're so popular. The bread is some sort of sourdough whole wheat mix, and I really hope I can find something like it back home.

There was a bridge out, and I mean actually out not ADV rider out. Not too bad to route around, only added about 5 mi or so. Hit an ATV trail for part of the way, because I wasn't going to let that Wisconsin trail pass go to waste. I can ride the bike harder/faster than it likes to go off-road, so I may need to get a rally raid kit on this thing. At first it was unnerving when I would bottom it out front and rear, or feel the suspension drop all the way out while I was airborne, but I'm used to it now.





















I was going to camp in the national Forest over by perkinstown, but I'm writing this from the comfort of an actual bed in Medora. When I got to the campsite, it seemed like a nice quiet place, and it was certainly clean and well cared for. As soon as I stopped I was swarmed by mosquitoes. I walked about 300 ft to the restrooms, and found the showers only work with tokens. Tokens? That wasn't on the information board. Camp host site was right next to the restrooms, but it was empty. I walked back to the bike and contemplated setting up the tent. I was at the campsite an hour and 45 minutes before I had planned to be there. As I was thinking about where to get firewood to kill a few hours, a couple dogs started barking at each other. I thought about the food in my saddlebags, garlic pickles, cashews, half a mountain dew and some whiskey. I decided that since I have an entire day of gravel and trails to do tomorrow and I'm already sore from sleeping on the ground last night and riding all day today, I should just go get a hotel room. And some real food. I got the last hotel room in town apparently, because the other two places I went to were full up. Went across the parking lot to the mendora Cafe, which makes a decent Ruben. They just didn't use the right bread, but they were also very fast which is a plus. I can't resist trying a Reuben. Some people go around on rides looking for the best fried chicken or the best pork tenderloin sandwich, I look for Reubens. Bonus about the hotel room is the last room available was a handicap accessible, so my shower has a seat. Not that I want to sit down anymore today, but I am pretty tired. I forgot to look at the mileage on the bike, but it's something like 345 mi today.









Slept in, had my free breakfast, then headed out to the forest. Hit some trails, and I'm very glad that I have a skid plate.

After leaving the trails, it's been high speed gravel so far and it's up to 65°. Stopped at this old church, not sure if it's still used or not. Looks a little worse for wear but it's obviously maintained. Note the bell tower is stainless steel, not a very cheap building material.











Tried a landjeager at the local everything store. Turns out it's just a beef stick with no flavor and a bad to chew casing. Also found a danger turtle.













76°. Went flying through all the curvy roads from Sparta to Ontario over the Kickapoo River, through wildcat mountain. Just have to be careful for Amish buggy exhaust. The paved roads are like a racetrack around here, definitely getting to feel the sporty side of this bike. I'm glad it's not any more powerful because it would get me in trouble both on and off-road. I'm also glad it doesn't have any more suspension than it does, because that would allow me to get into more off-road trouble. Staying in soldiers grove for the night. Filled up on salad bar and all you can eat fried fish.











Beautiful start to the day, 65° and partly cloudy. Ran the rest of the way from soldiers Grove down to Illinois. One brief hop over into Iowa for the fire tower road which was one of the highlights of the trip. After I hit the Illinois border, I took a couple curvy roads in that state before heading back up to cassville where I had been earlier in the day. Took the ferry across to Iowa, then headed back home. Stopped at a scenic overlook and bought some honey from cedar Creek apiaries. Carol let me taste test the three kinds they have and I ended up taking the basswood honey home. It's really good.

[DownUnder]

Thank you for sharing.

Is there a story behind all the chainsaws embedded in the poles ??

[Lapchik]

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/23790

But they aren't sawed into the poles like the site says. They are just stuck into the pole. Probably cut with a good saw, then the bar of a broken one slid in. Very few of them actually have chains still on the bar.

[Lapchik]

[Lapchik]

[Lapchik]

[Lapchik]

I finished going through all my video files, and everything is up on my YouTube channel now for the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail ride.

Here is the playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...JcNDenNeYY

And the last two videos:

[theemightyorbit]

Ha!

I passed by the 'Food Motel' Saturday afternoon early.

And I rode over the Lansing Bridge, going east, mid-Friday afternoon!

Cool videos.

Thanks for sharing!