NorthCentral Regional Rally Route 2012

[biscuitsngravy]

I've been working on our route for the NCR Rally 2012. Consider the following:

Arrive Savanna, IL the night before the rally. (Find a place to park your trailers if you have one.)
-First Day-
Leave Savanna after breakfast
Arrive Moline, IL (visit John Deere Pavillion)
Arrive Le Claire, IA (visit store of American Pickers)
Arrive Anamosa, IA (visit Natl. Motorcycle Museum & J&P Cycles)
Arrive Dubuque, IA (ride the Fenelon Place elevator)
Arrive Balltown, IA
Arrive Guttenberg, IA
Arrive Prairie du Chien, WI (spend the night) (230 miles traveled)

-Second Day-
Leave Prairie du Chien, WI after breakfast
(travel north on Hwy 35 with side trips for "twisties)
Arrive La Crosse, WI
Travel south and arrive Coon Valley, WI
Arrive Viroqua, WI
Arrive Soldiers Grove, WI
Arrive Gays Mills, WI
Arrive Bell Center, WI
Arrive Steuben, WI
Arrive Mt. Ida, WI
Arrive Cuba City, WI
Arrive Galena, IL
Arrive Savanna, IL (End of Rally) (traveled 228 miles)

Next month (Sept), we'll need to scout out the routes to determine rest stops, gas stops, restaurants, motels, etc. We don't need to all go at the same time (due to work and family schedules). We can ride solo or with whoever wants to go.... schedule your own rides. If you scout out even one side of the river, it would be helpful. Then report on the forum what you found out and make recommendations for all to consider. (it will give us something to do this winter!)

Let's stay in touch on the forum as to when you can do the scout ride and let's make plans for next month.

[GIBBY]

Hope you can make it Cal. It will be a great time.

[biscuitsngravy]

See you tomorrow night at Super 8, 101 Valley View Drive, Savanna, IL!

[stretch]

everyone get home safely?

[glwilson]

I know Gibby and I are home. Haven't heard from Dave.

We changed our plans today. The weather was just too unpredictable for the rain, and given the cooler temp we opted to cut-out early.

Rather than riding into rain this morning up to LaCrosse, Dave and I headed south. We took a short-leg on 133 through Cassville and stopped briefly in Potosi so I could show him the brewery and restaurant. (It was closed; but wanted him to see it anyway.) Then we rolled-on to Dubuque where we split... Dave headed west to his home, and me east to mine.

Gibby headed north to LaCrosse riding in about 45 minutes of rain he said.

Glad to hear you made home safe.

It was great riding with you again, and man!!!... can you nail those corners!!!

[biscuitsngravy]

Left Prairie du Chien, WI this morning about 7:30 with Greg Wilson. We dodged rain almost all the way to Dubuque, IA. We split up at Hwy 20, Greg going east and me going west. I pulled into my driveway just about 1:30 pm. Had a good share of sunshine once I was in Iowa.

Thanks to Greg, Gibby, and Stretch, we learned a few things about where to ride and where not to ride. I'm certainly glad we did this scouting trip.

Hey, if you ever get a chance, go visit the J&P Store in Anamosa, IA. This motorcycle parts and supply store was VERY interesting with all that chrome and leather to look at.

We also had a fun time at the American Pickers store at Le Claire, IA. It's a very small place hidden behind a house. I drove by it twice and missed it both times! Gibby found it on the second pass. I drove about a quarter mile before I realized no one was following me. One of the old motorcycles on display was a 1947 Indian.

Once again, my Nomad operated without any flaw. Now I have to go wash it!

[stretch]

Great to hear everyone made it safely. I hit heavy rain and pea size hail in Dixon, IL. Stopped for about 35 minutes to let it pass.

Can't wait till next summer for the Rally.

[glwilson]

Boy... that doesn't sound like too much fun. Hope you didn't get too wet or any hail damage.

I missed most all the rain except for just small quick areas that didn't amount to much.

I am real glad we didn't to come home today. It is really wicked out up here. Cold, constant rain and high winds. Has been like that all day. I would have froze to death before making it back!

[cbutteris]

That weather forecast for sunny 70's sure fell through. Weather is running in reverse right now and coming from the East, sort of like last spring.

Only able to get out for about an hour here but will try again next weekend.

Looking forward to making the ride next summer.

[glwilson]

Hey Cal...

Yeah... we were able to get some riding in, but it all stopped Sunday morning in PDC. The weather to the north was raining. As mentioned, we (except Gibby) headed south to avoid the rain.

It was chilly riding, but not too bad. I really didn't get that cold, but didn't want to get wet... that would have been really bad.

Look forward to seeing you again next year, because I doubt I'll be making another trip up to that area this year... unless there is a "freak" weekend of great weather.

[jendesigner]

Marking this on my calendar. Would like to meet up with other Nomad riders, had the bike now for one year and still haven't met up with anyone from the site.

[glwilson]

Where's Bloomingdale, Illinois at?

I am at the far northern area of Illinois.

So far, there has not been a date set for the North Central Regional Rally... but there are people working on it. It will be posted, so stay tuned!

We'll look forward to seeing you there, if not before.

[jendesigner]

I'm about 67 miles East of you, right near 90 and before 290. I have been by Roscoe several times, Lonnie, who is a friend of mine, from GrassHopper Ltd has his shop in Beloit.

[glwilson]

Ah heck... we'll be riding together sometime next season then. You're only a hop-skip-and-a-jump from me.

This season is getting a bit "thin" for riding for me and my "blood"; but next year we'll be out and about -- although I'll be out this weekend as long as the rain stays away.

I assume you have taken routes to the northwestern-edge of Illinois and the southwestern region of Wisconsin. If not... that is where I do most of my riding. You'll have to connect with me and we'll have a blast -- and I believe you'll love those areas.

Oh yeah... occasionally we'll have to put-up with a couple other members here that will want to tag-along!!! (BiscuitsNGravy, Stretch, Rayski, Gibby, Cal, Bluekaw and some others on this board.)

It's all fun...

PS: Just checked out your website... really great looking bikes! Who did your leather-work... or am I to assume Grasshopper did it? Looks great. One other thing... I didn't realize all this time that "Grasshopper Ltd" was practically next-door to me. It is a small world. I'll have to get up there sometime to see his operation.

[jendesigner]

I've ridden a lot of your area, it really is a nice part of Illinois. I do my own leather work, it is a hobby of mine. Yeah, Lonnie is right up the road from you, nicest guy around. I'll ride until there is ice, especially with the Nomad, mine runs hot, which I know it needs to be re-jetted, my Winter project.