Friday, August 22
I have been attempting to find someone to go with me to MN to visit Dad and Candy’s resting places at Preston Vet’s Cemetery with not much luck, but Kevin was going to be available this weekend. So I took a half day off of work Friday to meet up with him in Fondy around 3:15.
We spent the past few days working up a route through the driftless region, into Iowa to Pikes Peak and then up to Preston and Winona MN, with plans to hit Mindoro Cut and Wildcat mountain on Sunday for our way home.
We drove to Richland Center Friday afternoon with a reservation at the Whitehouse Inn, which we’ve stayed at previously, and with plans to meet his friend Kevin E. for dinner since he lives there. We arrived around 6:30 and Kevin E. picked us up promptly for dinner at a family restaurant in town. While the guys ordered cod fish fry, I ordered fish taco’s which I believe were cod also. It was very good and I cannot even remember the last time I had fried fish.
Saturday, August 23
We woke up around 6:30 and after a cup of coffee I hit the shower, and it was around 8 a.m. when we were packed back up and ready to head for Pike’s Peak and MN. It was still pretty sticky but much cooler and especially nice through the bluffs. Kevin planned a route out of Richland Center which eventually got us onto Hwy 171 that clearly had been resurfaced within the past couple of years. Very nice, smooth and curvy.
When all of a sudden, I heard Kevin say “oh shit” and I thought I saw a plume of dust or dirt near the front right side of his bike, only to realize it was a deer being tossed laterally and his right side fairing panel was flying in the air too. I proceeded to slow way down not knowing if there may be another one while realizing Kevin was able to maintain the bike upright but leaking fluids and then he said “I’m done for the day”. He found a driveway for us to pull off into and then we analyzed the damage to his bike. It appeared both radiators were leaking and extensive front end damage on both side of his fairing. Luckily Kevin E. lives so close and was around since he has a trailer, and he was going to gather everything to head out. Then Kevin also called the sheriff, mostly for insurance purposes, but it was very clear then too I was going to need to figure out what I was going to do. He suggested I go on by myself, and although we weren’t too far off from southeastern MN, I really didn’t know Kevin’s route completely since he had it locked in his GPS, and I certainly didn’t want to go to Pikes Peak or a stay in MN alone. So, I decided to check out what roads I could take from there (Akan) to just get home without any interstates.
While we waited for Kevin E., we reflected on all of the good things about this scenario. Such as, thankfully it wasn’t me as it probably would have taken my smaller bike out and me along with it, he never lost control, we were so close to Kevin E. yet who also has a trailer, we had a nice spot in the shade, etc. For me, I am mostly thankful he was not hurt! As much as I know he loves that bike, and this will probably be the end of his riding season with it, he is okay, and he still has his Magna to ride! Hahaha
When Kevin E. arrived, I went down the road to turn around and stay at the crest of the top of the hill leading up to where they were going to load Kevin’s bike, with my flashers on to forewarn oncoming traffic since there really wasn’t any shoulders to the road either. As a matter of fact, the spot the doe appeared had a very steep embankment, so she must have been running pretty good to get up it.
For my way home, I took 171 north to 14 east and then 58 north, and then 154 east, but where it connects with 23 was still closed so I was detoured onto 130 for what seemed like way too far south, so got off by taking county road B east with a stop in Plain to refuel. From there I took 23 north with hopes to connect to 33 in Reedsburg. However, that is where it is still closed near 154, but luckily I came up on Cty W which I know goes to and through Baraboo, so I took that. When I got to Baraboo I went through town to connect with 33 east and took that to Portage, but downtown Portage was closed for some event we seen they were preparing for the night before. I then took 51 south to P east into and out of Pardeeville all the way to Fox Lake. From there I took 68 and as I was giving a fellow biker a two down as we passed each other, I realized it said State Trooper on his front fairing. He gave me a two down as well and good look, which is when I realized… oops, I was going around 65 mph.
After Waupun, I took the back roads north of Horicon Marsh because it had gotten extremely windy out of the north, and ended up going through Oak Center, which is where the ambulance and sheriff in Waupun apparently were heading to. Seems like more than just an ambulance call though, as there were four sheriff vehicles on the scene as well. I was just glad it wasn’t blocked off. Eventually I connected onto B east through Eden and Armstrong, and then the usual roads home from Glen, arriving home around 3:00.
I was pooped, and although Kevin called me while I was on the road, I still gave him a shout after I got home too.
Again, thankfully he is okay! Also, I can probably plan to make the trip to Preston next weekend. Just maybe not with the bike. In total, almost 400 miles for me between both days.
