Inzane 13 Trip Report
I told myself I was NOT going to ride in the heat on Friday afternoon like I did last year! I got so hot last year, I was dead tired Saturday morning and really dragging.
I decided that I would leave after 7 p.m. And travel to Denton to stay in a LaQuinta. I met ValkPilot,
BuzzKill, Liz, JC, and Tom at the Old West Cafe for breakfast. We ate good and met Disco over at Cyclecenter in Denton. Disco and I left from there.
The first picture I took was up in Kansas City of a cool bridge. We stayed the night just north of Kansas City and left from there Sunday.
This was one of our gas and water stops.... catchy name huh?
The Minnesota border....
Just for 5_19, we have to have lunch at least once per trip at Subway...
When we stopped for gas, I noticed that my new Metzler front tire still had the little teets on the left side of the tire, but the ones on the right side were worn off already. I talked to a few people and none of us could figure out how that would happen. It seems that the left side would wear off due to the crown of the road. What do you think?
While eating dinner with the early birds on Sunday evening, I got to hang with my favorite buddy Jimmy Studebaker. We were playing “hat” and “cup” while mom and dad ate. I had a blast, because he is such a good kid.... but look at his parents and brothers and sisters.
Tuesday morning JoeValkIS and I took a spirited ride around the country side and came upon this little dairy. We stopped in and bought some cheese curds, jelly, and other cheeses.
Pics from the country side.....
When T-bird arrived, he had granny panties all over his room. He must have been delighted, because he came out to the front of the hotel to model them.... the DIVA that he is... hehe
One evening we went down the road to eat at a restaurant on the river. We parked on an incline across from the place.
Wednesday was time for the Valkyrie Rodeo. When it came time for the “couples” to ride and compete, Stude31 rode pillion for JoeValkIS. When you get 2 Joes together, they are affectionately known as the “Josey Twins”. The worst part is.....they were actually pretty good and even won an event!!
One evening we went into downtown LaCrosse to have a block party and eat dinner.... We asked a local bicyclist where a good place to eat was and he said..... Buzzard Billys!!
It was a cajun sort of place and the food was really good!
Paparazzi were everywhere...
After Inzane was over and people were heading home, my buddy TP took a few of us on a sigtseeing trip North and East of La Crosse.
We first stopped in Diluth for lunch at Grandma's. We all had the Walleye Sandwich! Boy was it good and filling.
We also stopped just after passing through a tunnel to walk up a hill and take pictures overlooking Lake Superior. It was beautiful up there.
The next stop was at a bridge where the run off water from the recent rains was raging in its path to Lake Superior.
Later in the day, we went to ride the Alpine Slide up on Lutsen Mountain. What a blast... good thing “some” of us were still wearing our riding armored jackets... right Joe?
Here is Joe with his sled, ready to “race” to the bottom...
Notice the rules specifically say “no racing”!
We then went to Grand Marais to visit an overlook for the lake and for dinner at a local pizza joint. The bartender/waiter was a hoot.
We met a local female Sheriff up at the overlook. She was probably talking to her boyfriend up in the secluded overlook. There was a huge hill to climb and lots of curves... After the overlook, we had seen an on ground water tank that we thought would make a cool picture.... Well, guess who was running radar right under that water tank? Yep, our “buddy” the Sheriff. Hey, she actually moved and offered to take a couple of pictures of us standing next to our bikes. I believe Disco has those pics, but here is what it looked like without the bikers...
Here is the picture I took of the bikes at the overlook.....
I don't remember what night is was, but we ate at a Mexican restaurant on the Mississippi river. Just before leaving, there was a mostly full moon and the lighting was perfect from the building.
While out on the road, we went to the Soudan Mine. This was an iron ore mine operated up until 1962 when it was no longer profitable. In 1964 it was gifted to the state of Minnesota so the mine owners could get out of paying taxes on the iron ore that was still in the ground....
This picture was taken after riding MN Hwy 1 to Ely. What a fun road to ride with my buddies!!
We also went to Lake Itaska which is known for the Headwaters of the great Mississippi River. The lake spills over into a small stream that some 2500 miles later dumps into the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans, LA. People were swimming in the water, but some were just wading in with their shoes and socks off. It has been said that something dropped into these headwaters will reach the Gulf of Mexico in approximately 90 days.
3,924 Miles o Smiles. I had a blast and I hope y'all did too!
Sorry for the long winded report, and yes, I am a picture ho.
Hay
Jimmyt
