What a beautiful day to be a Wisconsin biker!

[Black Dog]

As some of you may know, I live in an area of SE Wisconsin known as the 'Kettle Moraine'.  One of the many reasons I love living here are the seasons...  Summer has been quite warm, with a few days just north of 100 degrees.  The fall season has always been my favorite, with the cooler temperatures making it so much easier for this fat boy to enjoy being out doors   

Today, I was up at 7:00, and sipping a cup of coffee while reading the paper on the deck.  It was a bit 'boo-boo', with the thermometer still below 50.  As the sun rose the temps did too.  I did some laundry, started the 'grub' for the Packer game later in the day, and finally got my shower about 11:00 or so.

The thermometer read 64, as I backed the big black beast out of the garage about noon.  The only destination I had was a quick stop at my dad's place, to get some measurements for a project I'm doing for him.  I rolled on the throttle, and headed north. 

What struck me today was the sudden burst of colors in the trees, in just a few days.  Last weekend was nice enough, but the colors could be best described as 'muted'...  Yellow, various shades of green, some browns, but nothing eye popping. 

Today everything was bright, and awe inspiring... Oranges bordering on 'neon', reds so deep, there should be a shade of lip-stick in that color, and yellows in too many shades to count.  The sky was ice blue with a few high, wispy clouds, following the wind currents.  I took the long way to my dad's place.  Twisties, around lakes, through small towns and villages...  A few cars and bikes parked outside of Ma & Pa taverns, probably getting ready to cheer for the Packers, with the game kicking off at 3:30. Lotsa bikes out enjoying the day, and most were quick with 'the motorcycle wave' 

I got to dads, had a soda while we took our measurements, and talked.  He will be 85 next month, so I enjoy any time I can spend with him, as I know he won't be around forever.  He had plans to watch the game with a neighbor, so we said our good byes and I headed home. 

This route was more direct, but no less beautiful.  There is a calm that comes with rides like these (despite the throng of 'city folk' out enjoying the same countryside I call home)...  I've called it 'mental floss' in the past, but today surpassed that.  I've been all wadded up with work issues and the financial part of being a single dad of two adult sons, trying to keep a roof over our heads...  Maybe someone up there is trying to let me know 'everything is gonna be OK'   

I pulled in to the garage at 3:20.  The boys, and one friend, were waiting for me to start the chicken wings (a weekly ritual during the football season), to hunker down and root for the guys in Green n' Gold (we almost got jobbed again ), and to have some 'guy time'...

Yep, things are gonna be just fine 

Black Dog

[Jess from VA]

With a bit higher temps, same experience in VA.  My favorite time of year for riding. 

[~ Timbrwolf]

. ..Sounds like you had a great Sunday Steve. ...got some sweet wind and munch some

hot wings and watch the game with the boys...

                                                                    ....Bodacious  

[cookiedough]

Noticed the same thing here in southern WI with maple trees at peak and others at or near peak already.  It seems like a switch was just turned on the past few days or so since a week or so ago nothing was changing colors.  Glad you got some much needed wind in your face and enjoyed a few hours with your Dad. 

The Pack almost blew it or should I say the refs causing the loss yet again.  The Saints being 0-4 is hard to believe but glad they lost again. 

[flamingobabe #44]

I need to see the color...down here in the south...it's green, brown and on the ground...please pictures needed

[saddlesore]

Black Dog, By your description it sounds like you went around Long Lake. I know the route well.
I headed north to Crivitz and took a long way home. The colors were spectacular!!
I use polarized sun glasses, it makes the colors even more saturated.
A nice ride, a visit with your dad, and the Packers won.. GREAT DAY!!   

[98 T]

Steve,

I almost headed up  around Long Lake and Dundee myself yesterday. I headed out around 11:30 yesterday and headed west and southwest... rode around the Kettle Moraine area around North Prairie,  Eagle, Palmyra, Condord, headed up through Watertown, Ixonia... no particular place to be... nice weather. Found back roads and just enjoyed life. 

Great colors, nice weather, life is good!

I did have a Valk sighting in North Prairie at 12:15 while I was eating a snack at  Bill's Gas Station... a purple and cream standard when by on Hwy E heading south.

Gotta get them rides in. Soon it's gonna be snowing around here!

Loth

[BigChris99]

I envy you all living in that part of the country. It sounds beautiful. I second that this thread would be 

much better with pictures though. I live in southern California, we get two seasons, summer, that lasts

from March until the middle of November. It is October right? It was 108 here today!!!!. Then we get

"winter", which means it might rain for a couple of days, but probably not. Then back to summer! So,

anyone living in that part of the country that actually gets the season called "fall", throw a dog a bone

and take some pictures of fall for us here in sunny southern Cal. Please.

[saddlesore]

I have pictures from past years but I haven't taken the time to figure out how to post any pics here.
I'll look into it.

[WNGD]

As some of you may know, I live in an area of SE Wisconsin known as the 'Kettle Moraine'.  One of the many reasons I love living here are the seasons...  Summer has been quite warm, with a few days just north of 100 degrees.  The fall season has always been my favorite, with the cooler temperatures making it so much easier for this fat boy to enjoy being out doors   

Today, I was up at 7:00, and sipping a cup of coffee while reading the paper on the deck.  It was a bit 'boo-boo', with the thermometer still below 50.  As the sun rose the temps did too.  I did some laundry, started the 'grub' for the Packer game later in the day, and finally got my shower about 11:00 or so.

The thermometer read 64, as I backed the big black beast out of the garage about noon.  The only destination I had was a quick stop at my dad's place, to get some measurements for a project I'm doing for him.  I rolled on the throttle, and headed north. 

What struck me today was the sudden burst of colors in the trees, in just a few days.  Last weekend was nice enough, but the colors could be best described as 'muted'...  Yellow, various shades of green, some browns, but nothing eye popping. 

Today everything was bright, and awe inspiring... Oranges bordering on 'neon', reds so deep, there should be a shade of lip-stick in that color, and yellows in too many shades to count.  The sky was ice blue with a few high, wispy clouds, following the wind currents.  I took the long way to my dad's place.  Twisties, around lakes, through small towns and villages...  A few cars and bikes parked outside of Ma & Pa taverns, probably getting ready to cheer for the Packers, with the game kicking off at 3:30. Lotsa bikes out enjoying the day, and most were quick with 'the motorcycle wave' 

I got to dads, had a soda while we took our measurements, and talked.  He will be 85 next month, so I enjoy any time I can spend with him, as I know he won't be around forever.  He had plans to watch the game with a neighbor, so we said our good byes and I headed home. 

This route was more direct, but no less beautiful.  There is a calm that comes with rides like these (despite the throng of 'city folk' out enjoying the same countryside I call home)...  I've called it 'mental floss' in the past, but today surpassed that.  I've been all wadded up with work issues and the financial part of being a single dad of two adult sons, trying to keep a roof over our heads...  Maybe someone up there is trying to let me know 'everything is gonna be OK'   

I pulled in to the garage at 3:20.  The boys, and one friend, were waiting for me to start the chicken wings (a weekly ritual during the football season), to hunker down and root for the guys in Green n' Gold (we almost got jobbed again ), and to have some 'guy time'...

Yep, things are gonna be just fine 

Black Dog

Best post I've read in awhile 

The fall colors are in full form up here in Southern Ontario Canada and our Thanksgiving is this weekend. My parents in their 80's, my Mom's sister the same with her daughter coming up from NY, my wife and our 3 kids, two sister and assorted kids all up at our lake cottage for the big turkey, a ham and all the stuffing, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, tons of vegetables and of course, pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream.....every year I think it might be my Father's last or maybe the last time my Aunt can travel the 7 hours up here.

But for this year once again, I'll just appreciate we're all here, all healthy and my mc is waiting for a few weeks of great riding still left in the fall color, maybe a few months left in total.....

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

We all need days like that to keep us going. Great post with or without pics. Glad you had a refreshing day 

[Disco]

Great post!