Bob's Backyard, Southwest Wisconsin.

[bluestune]

My friend Bob took me on a ride through his "Backyard" this weekend. His "Backyard" covers most of Southwest Wisconsin, the area where Bob grew up. The trip was planed as a couple of days ridding, throttle twisting and running through the gear box, that's it, no other plans.

For those of you lucky enough to live in this area you know that there's a beautiful photo waiting to happen around every bend in the road.

Here's our first water stop in Northwest Illinois.

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A few of the neighbors came over to look at Bob's '88 GS and my '76 R90

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We spent the rest of Saturday on roads like this, a few miles of gravel, but mostly narrow asphalt backroads.

[bluestune]

We left without reservations but managed to get the very last campsite at Fort Dodge State Park. We arrived just as it was getting dark and we really wanted to get our tents up with what light remained. So no photos of this really beautiful park.

We left early the next morning to have breakfast in Roxbury, WI, about 40 miles away. Here's Bob heading to breakfast.

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Breakfast and coffee soon!

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It's not hard to find the Tavern, as long as you can find Roxbury.

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This sign was right next to the door, right then I knew what I was having for breakfast. I also thought of MarkLT11 and his "pancakes" story.

[kbasa]

:lurk

[bluestune]

As we walked through the door, the waitress started to pour our coffee, they all know Bob.

[bluestune]

My coffee, I'm really ready for coffee right now.

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Here's Bob looking through the window of the Tavern at the town he grew up in. In the background, through the archway is the main dining room. A canoe hangs in the center of the ceiling, a hamock is just behind it.

[bluestune]

Breakfast arrived and it made me very happy! The pancakes used a special flour, it starts with an "a." Anyway, I had two blueberry pancakes and one apple pancake, doused with real butter and real maple syrup. I'll go back!!

[bluestune]

We hit the backroads and didn't stop till we drove into this scene.

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Here's the last shot, Bob's looking at a switchback on Wildcat Mountain. From hear we head for home, Bob to Illinois and I head to Iowa. All in all, we rode over 830 high quality miles from Saturday morning to Sunday evening almost all on two lane, backcountry roads. Thanks Bob!

[Bob_M]

Beautiful. See ya in 2007 :eat

[Crow18]

Great pictures.

I love the cinematic cropping on the road photos.

[DougGrosjean]

Beautiful.

Excellent composition. I enjoy the panoramics, too. Where you've used that format, it really fits the subject.

Doug Grosjean

[BradfordBenn]

I am hungry again

[Hodag]

for you out of towners
we have no real roads, food, or beer in WI, we'll let you in for a few days next year and then you must leave

blueberry pancakes...
ohh my,
I've been making mine with fresh hickory nuts lately (its that time of year)

[SHawn_P]

I never imagined it was that pretty up there... makes me want to load up and head that direction for a relaxing experience.

Thanks for sharing your trip...

[Hodag]

Mark, do I have to bring my own firewood for 2007 ?

WI DNR says no bringing your own fire wood. Gypsy moth issues.

I do know of an awsome county campground 20 minutes away from the rally site with hiking trails around the exposed Niagra escarpment, and a rather large supply of firewood.

[Hodag]

Hodag free ?

I might be there...

[glwestcott]

Gotta go there! Thought it was just a bunch of milk cows. Wow, great roads, scenery, eats... How's the local beer? :drink

[bluestune]

The Tavern didn't offer beer with the breakfast special, but this looked tasty.

It really is a outstanding part of the country for riding, I hope Mark11LT will let me come back sometime? Thanks all!! Hope to see all of you at the rally!

[Bob_M]

for you out of towners
we have no real roads, food, or beer in WI, we'll let you in for a few days next year and then you must leave

:ha

Sounds like you could run for office with that motto. The former Governor of Oregon, Tom McCall was very popular after welcoming Californians to visit, but not stay. The theme was even played out in a beer ad where a cop pulls over a guy with California plates, but when the LEO found the driver was driving back south with a case of Oregon brewed Henry Wienhard's beer put the ticket book down and inquired about the fellow's vacation. The driver replied that he was not on vacation, but a land developer from the Golden State. The trooper whipped out the ticket book and proceeded to fill it out with a vengence. A little bit of history..... :wave

[nhlkats]

love those roads...nice pics

[BeerTeam]

A few of the neighbors came over to look at Bob's '88 GS and my '76 R90

Love that bike.
Reading this report was different, as "Bob" '88 GS is now my "88".
The first thing I did was take off "that" windshield and raise the fender.

[bluestune]

Jim, you know, "that windshield" has seen a lot of really great ridding and collected a substantial sampling of entomologic specimens from across this country. What a shame to to replace it with something you could see through. ;-) (kidding of course!)

The photos of "your 80" look great, see you down the road somewhere. Dave