Today I suggested we try to leave a little earlier, not only to beat some of the heat, but also because I would have another hour to get home after we split up by Fondy. And, we were successful by leaving near 8 a.m. after grabbing some breakfast at the hotel.
We left La Crosse taking Hwy 16 to West Salem where we took Hwy 108 or Cty C (I can never remember since they swapped them several years ago) to get to Mindoro Cut from the south. Which usually I’d take it from the north on my way home from Winona MN. So, this was a bit of a change for me. I maybe have only taken it from the south since my first time ever going there by myself on my way to Winona with the Hyosung.
Nobody else was there when we arrived, and shamefully, I have to admit that I asked Kevin to maneuver my bike after getting on to the gravel. Although it was packed very good, it was very bumpy and I am still not comfortable on that stuff with my taller bike. I need to improve!
When we pulled out there was one car coming, but plenty of room and we pretty much lost them in the curves heading north. From there Kevin took, I think Cty T, to Cty C heading east, and then Hwy 27 south to Sparta. Low and behold, after leaving Mindoro we ran in to quite a few deer crossing or near the road as we approached, besides ones way off in fields. Good thing it was within plenty of time and Kevin has a freight-train horn!
We made a stop in Sparta for me to use the bathroom and get a good stretch and then onto Hwy 71 south, and east out of Sparta. Somewhere after Kendall, Kevin took us on some really cool country roads through the bluffs, and Cty FF into Hillsboro and eventually 58 into LaValle. We would have loved to have gone through Wildcat too, but it was going to be a 200+ day without that for both of us and again, really wanted to get home. Eventually we ended up on Hwy 136 into Baraboo. When we stopped to turn off onto Hwy 113 just north of Devil’s Lake, the Tumbled Rock Micro Brew & Restaurant was right across the road, and we decided to stop there for a light lunch, since it was around that time and we love their food.
We continued south on Hwy 113 to the Merrimac Ferry, arriving close to noon and it wasn’t busy at all. In fact, I think there were only 6-7 vehicles besides us, and no other bikes.
From there we continued on 113 to Lodi, and maybe 60 or some other back roads eventually making it to Poynette and Wyocena, and then taking Cty Q east to Hwy 22 north, and then Cty G east in and out of Pardeeville, and to Fox Lake where we took Hwy 68 to Waupun. I was thinking of stopping at Guth’s for ice-cream, but instead opted for fuel and some water at the Kwik Trip, as I was oh so looking forward to getting home a bit early. Due to wanting to get home earlier and not wanting to go through Horicon Marsh because of the southeast winds had picked up significantly throughout the day, we took Hwy 151 to Fondy. Where we split up, and although I wanted to get home soon, I still took some of my favorite roads… Cty T all the way to Greenbush, then Cty A through Glenbeulah and Elkhart back to Grove. I think it was around 3:30 when I arrived home.
I can’t believe how quickly the weekend went by, but it was a glorious adventure and we had really great weather to boot! I totaled up Kevin’s maps, and then added 80 miles since I usually do ~44 one-way to Fondy, and come up with 652 miles of adventures for myself for the whole weekend. And, I am so glad that Kevin had a weekend available, and was willing to give this trip another shot with me. Absolutley thankful and grateful!
