A few days in southern Minnesota

[Indianscout]

A few weeks ago I found myself with a couple of days off with good weather in the forecast. No other choice but to take my old bike out for a spin and enjoy a little bit of country. Since this is my first report here I will introduce myself again. My name is Tim and I ride a 1940 Indian Sport Scout motorcycle that I restored about 5 years ago. Her name is Peaches and has 45 ci (about a 750 cc) engine to haul me around on. Not fast but a steady 55 mph will get us about 300-350 miles in a day without too much trouble. Since Peaches is a smaller bike I can not pack much......but then I don't need much ether.

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Since I live in the mid-western part of the state I decided to head west to the South Dakota border and then south to circumnavigate the lower portion of Minnesota. I have done the north eastern part and plan on completing the entire circle some time this summer. This may be simple for most people but then how many of you are doing this on a 70 year old bike??

First stop; Madison MN

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Anyone from the upper mid-west will enjoy this photo......

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This part of the state is full of small towns built around the grain elevators. Without them most towns would shrivel up and disappear.

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Found this neat little was side rest in Pipestone MN and had to stop for a picture.

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Drove south making good time and then turned east when I hit I-90. I don't like taking the slab but sometimes there not much of a choice. Stopped for gas in Blue Earth and asked around for a cheap place to camp for the night. Was told the camping was free at the fair grounds and the facilities where included. I found this on the way over and again needed to take a picture of Peaches and the Green Giant.

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The place was clean and well kept and knew I couldn't do much better than this for the night. Two RV's where taking advantage of the grounds but there was plenty of room for all. I found a spot in the shade and set up for the night.

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The evening meal consisted of a few cereal bars and a bottle of water. Gnats made it difficult to do much cooking and I wasn't very hungry any way. I needed to walk around and stretch my legs so decided to check out the place. On one end of the grounds they had a ball game going on wile at the other end they had some kids and parents working their horses for 4-H in preparation for the fair.

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When I got back to camp I noticed all of the sguashed gnats on my headlight.

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Spent the evening reading a book and called it a night shortly after sun-down.

End of day one; 330 miles.

[Indianscout]

Day two found me back heading east on I-90 with intentions of making La Cross WI before noon. Lot's of these things popping up around here.

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Again I was making good time and decided to grab a gut-bomb for an early lunch.

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Ya, it didn't settle right and I regretted it later but what the hey, it's an adventure right? The Mississippi River valley is a site to behold and I am never dissapointed in seeing it.

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Here I turned north and followed the river. Murphy had to rear his ugly face about now as the setting on my camera was changed to video and I missed a number of great shots until I discovered this. Guess I'll just have to go back later and take them again.

As I entered Stillwater MN about mid afternoon I was meet by heavy traffic. Didn't anticipate this kind of traffic but since it was the Thursday before Memorial Day everyone must have the same idea as I did.

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Hot and tired and not really up to doing the tourist thing I opted to just try to make it out of town to some place a bit more quiet. But I did see something of interest and now I know I have to come back and check it out.....

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Check out the link.... http://www.lunarossawinebar.com/cavetour.html

It didn't take much to get through the traffic and soon the roads opened up again.

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Ah, the St. Croix river at last. Just on the other side is another great state to ride in, Wisconsin.

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It was getting hot and I had been on the bike too long and needed a break. What better place to take one than an ol' fashion drive in?

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Parked Peaches in the shade and gave her a half a quart of oil. Then I needed a half a quart of something for myself. This'll have to do.....

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After both of us had cooled off it was back on the road again. Now I was behind schedule as I hadn't anticipated the holiday traffic. Things looked like I would be camping another night.......like that is a bad thing? One last look of the St. Croix river before I go.

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Hinkley MN. Site of the Great Hinkley Fire of 1899.


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Peaches paying her respects.

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I thought I had shaken off Murphy earlier in the day with the camera thing, but apparently not. Late afternoon on a holiday weekend is not a good time to try to find a place to camp in a tourist area. The few camp grounds I found where ether full or wanted me to pay high dollar for an RV space. They must have thought they had a live one, but I passed and turned back west anticipating a very long evening ahead of me. I was only 3 hours away from home but after a long day in the saddle proved it was not going to be enjoyable. I took highway 23 and stopped at every small town looking for a place for the night. The results where all the same, ether no place to camp or if so, full or very expensive.

At least the country side was nice to see.

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With my mind made up that I was going to have to make it home yet this evening I stopped in to get some caffeine in me. By chance I asked the young girl behind the counter if she knew of a place. I was surprised by her answer when she said yes! She said there was a new camp ground right next to the new race track just north of town. I said I had just come from that way and didn't see any signs. No signs but just take the gravel road on the north side of the track and you'll see it. Even as tired as I was I moved rather quickly and raced back the way I came. I found the gravel road OK but thought I heard banjos playing off in the distance.......... Then over the hill I came across this.

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Drove up to a guy who was working on the lawn and asked if he had a spot for a small tent for the night. "No problem!!!! We have plenty of room!!!!" Now the big question, "how much" I asked. He scratched his chin and I just knew it wasn't going to be pretty. "How's about ten bucks sound to you?" I about broke my arm reaching for my wallet. He said they normally charge twenty but since it was a new camp ground they wanted to get people to start coming. Sundowner Camp grounds was built by two good ol boys who financed everything themselves. Hell, he offered me free firewood and even offered to go to town and get a case of beer and join me for a few. I thanked him but told him how tired I was and just needed to set up camp before it got too late. New showers, toilets and laundry room sat there virtually unused so far. Hook-ups for RV's stood patiently waiting for future campers. I found a spot and set up for the evening.

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I awoke to the sound of birds chirping, not a bad way to start the day. After the tent was dry enough to break camp, I packed up Peaches and knew it was going to be a short day.

Minnesota in the morning is a good thing.

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By mid morning I was home and Peaches was none worse for wear with another 828 miles on her clock.

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[nimrod]

Great report! Love your bike! Thanks. P^

[gdawg]

cool man.......you left me wanting to read more....you mind going back out on the road so i can continue reading? i love old drive-ins, the hinkley fire i will have to google, the green giant looks awesome, finding that last camping spot was a good find...
your indian is awesome, out doing it like it should be done.... A+

i don't understand how you solo guys do it. My last trip (7 days 3800 miles, actually 9 days but i didn't ride for two of them, so the 7) i was lonely... being at a campground by yourself, seemed silly. I was at a loss of what to do. I meant to take a book to read, but didn't find the time to pick one up before i left, i'm not much of a reader anyway tho. I had my Iphone loaded with movies, music, and games, but not one time did i pull it out to keep me occupied. I wish i could have embraced my adventure and been able to enjoy the time alone. all i could think about was, i wish someone was along with me. i for once in my adventures, was depressed.

[SidecarMike]

The Green Giant would be LeSeuer, MN. The gnats are there all summer long. And the Stillwater traffic is a 365 day thing anymore. I have a friend across the river. Every time I see him, he wants to take me to his favorite watering hole. It takes us 20 minutes to find a place to park two bikes.
You brought back memories.

[Indianscout]

Great report! Love your bike! Thanks. P^

Thank you nimrod.


cool man.......you left me wanting to read more....you mind going back out on the road so i can continue reading? i love old drive-ins, the hinkley fire i will have to google, the green giant looks awesome, finding that last camping spot was a good find...
your indian is awesome, out doing it like it should be done.... A+

i don't understand how you solo guys do it. My last trip (7 days 3800 miles, actually 9 days but i didn't ride for two of them, so the 7) i was lonely... being at a campground by yourself, seemed silly. I was at a loss of what to do. I meant to take a book to read, but didn't find the time to pick one up before i left, i'm not much of a reader anyway tho. I had my Iphone loaded with movies, music, and games, but not one time did i pull it out to keep me occupied. I wish i could have embraced my adventure and been able to enjoy the time alone. all i could think about was, i wish someone was along with me. i for once in my adventures, was depressed.


I am planning on doing the north west corner of the state soon but right now the rain is preventing me from this. You can rest assure that I will right something up for you to read.

Going it alone is not so bad gdawg. I do most of my trips by myself and I find it very relaxing. Sometimes I meet people at a campgound and we have a wonderful evening together and then go our own ways the next morning. Riding by myself I find that people are less intimidated and will approch me and ask about the bike. I meet alot of good people and find alot of cool places to ride that way. Riding alone does not mean you have to be lonely.



The Green Giant would be LeSeuer, MN. The gnats are there all summer long. And the Stillwater traffic is a 365 day thing anymore. I have a friend across the river. Every time I see him, he wants to take me to his favorite watering hole. It takes us 20 minutes to find a place to park two bikes.
You brought back memories.


There may also be a Green Giant statue in LeSeur too but this one was just outside the fairgrounds in Blue Earth. This area of MN is "big" into farming and supplys alot of produce to the company so I am sure there would be more than one statue. As far as Stillwater goes, I think I will have to plan to spend a day or two in the area. Beautiful but then isn't that why everyone goes there?

[Trekker]

Great ride report. P^

Regarding solo traveling.... I never did much adventuring on my own until I got back into motorcycling a few years back. Like Scout says, there are always folks around that are willing to chat with ya. I meet the nicest people in campgrounds. And every now and then ya meet someone that becomes a life long friend!

[SidecarMike]

Thank you nimrod.

There may also be a Green Giant statue in LeSeur too but this one was just outside the fairgrounds in Blue Earth. This area of MN is "big" into farming and supplys alot of produce to the company so I am sure there would be more than one statue. As far as Stillwater goes, I think I will have to plan to spend a day or two in the area. Beautiful but then isn't that why everyone goes there?

I stand corrected. Le Seuer is where they have the giant billboard saying Welcome to the Valley. It's been about 20 years since we used to camp at Ripley and go through that area.

[SidecarMike]

Another plus to riding alone is that you don't have to ride to someone else's schedule or pace. Most days, I like to get where I'm going, setup camp, and then go out exploring the back roads and tourist traps. That means I prefer at least 100 miles between gas & go stops and 2 or 3 of them before a food break. I have friends who insist on stopping at every T shirt Shop and scenic outlook along the way, then they whine and cry because we end up setting camp by headlight in a driving rain.
I don't mind the sight seeing, if we plan for it. If we do that and want to cover 400 miles before dark, we can't leave home at noon and stop at the gas station, grocery store, and ATM before we get out of the county.:mad:

[Indianscout]

+ 1 on the riding alone is never lonely. Nice way to put it, Indianscout. I have done most of my long distance riding alone. I have met a ton of people on the road and all have had new and interesting experiences to share. What's nice is the new stories and new glimpses of community.

I've done rides when I have been in more of a meditative state. I've met many other solo riders who thrive on the isolation. The art of riding or camping becomes sharply focused. The rewards are learning something new or how to do something better, or to simply enjoy beauty of nature or architecture during the ride. Ride your own ride becomes a reality, even though, with the close comfort of civilization nearby, the individuality of the moment is not often very rugged.


You have clanged the bell with this one VABob and I can tell you understand the joys of a solo ride. No distractions from the others and riding at your own pace. I enjoy my company and am very comfortable by myself on my rides. No rush, no time tables, just me and the bike.

[Indianscout]

Another plus to riding alone is that you don't have to ride to someone else's schedule or pace. Most days, I like to get where I'm going, setup camp, and then go out exploring the back roads and tourist traps. That means I prefer at least 100 miles between gas & go stops and 2 or 3 of them before a food break. I have friends who insist on stopping at every T shirt Shop and scenic outlook along the way, then they whine and cry because we end up setting camp by headlight in a driving rain.
I don't mind the sight seeing, if we plan for it. If we do that and want to cover 400 miles before dark, we can't leave home at noon and stop at the gas station, grocery store, and ATM before we get out of the county.:mad:

Ya, you have that right! Times like that you know it's not going to be as good trip as it could be but you still go on ahead and make the best of it.

Ripley hu? I think I have some pictures from there from last year....... :oilleak:

[gdawg]

i did dig doing what i wanted when i wanted. And not having to stop places i had no interest in. The reason i was solo was because my buddy back out on me a week before the trip, a trip i had been planning for 6 months, mostly just tryin to pick good routes and find places to stay and redoing it many times. I guess after all that there was no way i wasnt going. I'm sure i will make other solo trips, but different planning for sure.

[Indianscout]

i did dig doing what i wanted when i wanted. And not having to stop places i had no interest in. The reason i was solo was because my buddy back out on me a week before the trip, a trip i had been planning for 6 months, mostly just tryin to pick good routes and find places to stay and redoing it many times. I guess after all that there was no way i wasnt going. I'm sure i will make other solo trips, but different planning for sure.



Bummer about your buddy backing out on you the last minute. Under conditions like that I can see how the trips attitude would change. I have had just the opposite happen to me. I plan a solo trip and then one or two others want to go along and that changes everything. I guess all that matters is that your out on your bike and enjoying the simpler things in life.

[Indianscout]

Has anyone been up to the Northernmost point of the continental US-- the so called "Northwest Angle" ?

If so, how was the road going into the Angle Inlet and Fort St. Charles area?

Any good hotels or campgrounds to stay at?


I was up there last year and loved it! I plan on going back sometime soon and spending more time checking things out. No problem finding motels, camp grounds, gas or good places to eat. Just make sure you bring along your camera as there is plenty to see!

[Ironheadziggy76]

Looks like you had a great trip! I love seeing that Indian packed up and traveling! P^

[Indianscout]

Looks like you had a great trip! I love seeing that Indian packed up and traveling! P^


Thank you. We have put on over 30K together over the last 4-5 years and plan on continuing to do so. I have several different ideas for trips in the works right now for this summer. Most of it depends on the weather. Lot's of t-storms rolling through the area right now and it looks like it could be a wet summer here in the upper midwest.

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[badger]

wow ... an excellent trip summary and a very cool bike!

That winery looks like a cool destination too.

[coopdway]

Really enjoyed the report sir, thank you!