Road Trip!

What do you get when you take two middle aged guys, two good bikes and a few warm days in June? A recipe for adventure.

Born to be wild?

Eric and I took off from home on Friday June 16th and headed for breakfast at a little dive in Monticello.  An elderly couple sitting near us were very excited about our trip and wanted to know the route.  I think the husband wanted to come along.

After breakfast, we jumped on the bikes and headed to Cub for some cash.  Then off on Hwy 37 on our way to French Lake Auto Parts!!  If you're into junk yards, you need to put this place on your bucket list.  After a few hours in the 95ºF heat, we decided to continue the trip.  FLAP definitely needs a followup visit.  Check out their website.  http://www.frenchlakeautoparts.com/  We headed southbound on Hwy 15 en-route to Hwy 12 west.  Our first stop on Hwy 12 was the Twine Ball in Darwin.

Sure hope God has junk cars in heaven

Twine Ball

Farmer Francis A. Johnson started to wind spare twine found laying around his farm.  39 years later the twine ball became his obsession and eventually the largest twine ball in the world!  Leave it to farmers to revolutionize the world!  The gal who ran the interpretive center was totally fired up about the twine ball and knew everything about the ball.  I asked her is the Weird Al's song about the twine ball was offensive.  "Oh no young man, that song was a large help".  Behind the Yamaha Seca you'll see the Twine Ball enclosed in a glass gazebo. The place was locked even with an attendant in the building.  Guess they're afraid of the large cats hanging around the ball.

'81 Yamaha Seca by the Twine Ball

After twine ball overload, we hopped back on our bikes and headed towards Wilmar.  Barney Fife was waiting for us when we arrived, but we were following the speed limit and entered the D.Q. parking lot guilt free.  I slurped down a medium chocolate malt and Eric a strawberry malt.  Passing through Wilmar we drove through Murdock, Benson, Danvers and finally Ortonville and Big Stone Lake. 

Big Stone Lake

Western MN

Northbound along Hwy 7 was wonderful ride with great views of Big Stone Lake. We stopped at a rest stop and enjoyed a view of Big Stone Lake, Minnesota and South Dakota. Pontoon boats cruised along the lake and we talked to a guy with an Electra Glide.  A short nap we took off to Brown's Valley - a quiet little boarder town reminiscent of small towns in the deep south.  Then  north on Hwy 27 along Lake Traverse to Wheaton where we hopped on Hwy 75 north to Breckenridge and finally Morehead where we checked out Eric's college hangouts and dorm before Paradeso in Fargo for a Mexican Dinner and siesta. I was beat but we still had to ride 70 miles to Reynolds ND.  We jumped on Hwy 29 north, cranked the bikes up to 75-80 mph and headed to Reynolds where we were greeted by Eric's folks at midnight.

Deere Eater!

Olson North Dakota

Mrs. Olson prepared a wonderful breakfast as Mr. Olson showed me where the Red River crested during the large flood a few years ago. It's amazing how that small river had risen over 20 ft and nearly flooded their house. 

After breakfast we checked the farm which Daniel now operates.  Sugar beets being his main crop on the 1800 acre farm.  Daniel has a nice mix of farm machinery from a 1480 I.H. combine to a huge four week drive 12 wheeled I.H. tractor, large sprayer and other large tractors and a tractor/trailer for hauling the crops. Gotta trust a guys who drives red machinery.  Nice place Olson's!  After most of the rain passed, we climbed on the bikes and crossed the Red into East Grand Forks MN. 

Red River

We felt pretty tough with 450 miles of the trip complete. Pride comes before a fall and we fell hard after meeting two older gentlemen returning from a 7,000 mile bike trip to Alaska! These guys were decked out with tons of tools, camping equipment, food, rain gear, etc.  Probably had a few large caliber revolvers for bears needed an attitude adjustment.  They took off towards their home in Grand Rapids while we headed north on Hwy 220 to Hwy 11 east and Donaldson MN!

Olson Family Reynolds ND

 Head East Old Man

Donaldson was the official eastbound start on Hwy 11. 

Donaldson MN!

This area of Minnesota is wide open like North Dakota but the topography faded from flat fields to fields interspersed with swamps and scrub brush which eventually gave way to forest near Karlstad MN home of Mattracks (www.mattracks.com). These tracks can be retrofitted to your 4X4 pickup, Suburban, Hummer or 4 wheeler.  If I'm not mistaken, Mattracks was started by a father and son team and named after the son - Matt?

Christmas present mom?

Keeping our eyes peeled for moose we made to Greenbush without an problems.  While gassing up, we were given the thumbs up by guys who also wanted to ride.  In fact, we saw this everywhere we rode.  Only guys though. 

Greenbush!

Greenbush led to Warroad and Subway for lunch.  Wow, Christian brothers hockey sticks used to be made here (might still be unless the Chinese are making them for C.B.).  I drove through town thinking of all the High School Hockey tournament winners who came from this little town on the shores of Lake of The Woods.  Polaris in the background cranking out new sleds and four-wheelers.


We drove to the park/boat launch on L.O.W and relaxed as I tightened my overly stretched chain and worn out sprockets.  I had about two threads left on my chain adjusters. Too bad, no more burnouts or racing Eric  and his Star. Once everything was in order, we saddled up the bikes and headed for Baudette and more Lake of the Woods.

Chain tightening - shaft drive on next bike.

Baudette

Mr. Walleye in Baudette MN

We fueled up in Baudette in hopes of running along the Rainy River to International Falls.  Before we headed out we drove up to the Canadian border and thought we shoot over and see Canada, but the boarder patrol guys didn't appear to be in the mood to deal with a couple of screw offs so we backed down and took a few photos with Mr. Walleye, prior to shaking the dust of Baudette off our tires.

Canada over that bridge

Since it is Road Construction season in Minnesota, we took the required detour and ended up at Red Lake - there are no roads going east/west from Hwy 72.  We whined and complained to the kind lady at the gas station who told us many people were ticked due to the crazy detour without any signs.  We finally accepted the detour and headed through Kellihar and picked up Hwy 1 east. 

East Shore of Red Lake

It was a beautiful night as we zipped through Northome en route to Ely (still a long way off). Next stop for gas was in Effie.  Apparently Effie is home to Minnesota's longest running Rodeo.  Didn't seem like a rodeo town, but the guy working the gas station was very friendly and happy to jaw with us.  Man you could sure tell he wanted to get a bike and come with us.  FREEDOM!

Yahoo in Effie!

East of Effie we encountered some excellent riding on a very curvy section of Hwy 1. The guy at Effie told us to watch out for deer.  We did see a few but not close enough to plow into. 

More Effie

We were moving along fast enough that we wouldn't have known even if we hit one.  Soon we were filling up the bikes in Cook were I called home and found out everyone was in the basement as my town was under a tornado watch or warning or whatever Dave Dahl calls them now.


The police office in Cook gave us a short cut to Hwy 169 which ran near the casino on Vermilion.  We agreed if there were two hotel rooms for dirt cheap we were staying.  However no hotel rooms or cheap buffet so we forged ahead to Tower and got ripped off at the Tower Ripoff Restaurant. We wanted to eat at Sir. G's in Ely but knew it would be closed when we rolled in. After dinner, we took off the 30 miles to the cabin on Burntside Lake. We rolled in Russ and Loren's cabin at about midnight.  Both dead tired.

Sid and his Star Custom at the cabin

Sunday morning came quick after a night of rain. Off to Ely for breakfast at Britton's Cafe where we met Ragnar's dad who told us about Dragon's Tail in North Carolina.  He said that Dragon's Tail is a biker's paradise with mountain switchbacks and great riding.  Maybe someday we'll make the trip.  After breakfast we fueled up at Holiday in Ely and tore off down Hwy 1 on the way to Hwy 61 and Tettegouche State Park on Lake Superior.   

Lake Superior

Hwy 1 is a fantastic road that winds its way from Ely to Lake Superior at Illgen City. Never understood why it is called Illgen city as there is no city to be found.  Leaving Ely you pass the Ely Airport and ride the bridge over the Kawishiwi River.  A beautiful river that flows into Birch lake north of Babbit.  Heading southeast past the river you enter a section of forest with huge White and Red Pines. 




Kawishiwi River


Eventually the pines thin and you enter moose country near Isabella and Finland.  No moose spotted on this trip, but I have seen them before in this section.  Soon we crossed the Baptism River which flows through Tettegouche and into Lake Superior.  There's a restaurant along the Baptism River that has a neat hunting lodge look to it.  We've got it on the bucket list for another trip.  Eric, how about Hwy 61 northbound to Hwy 1 and backtrack to International Falls?

Restaurant to Eric's right. Baptism River

We stopped at Tettegouche for a rest and then on to Palisade Head which provides a fantastic view of Lake Superior and Shovel Point at Tettegouche.  A few rock climbers were ascending and descending the 300 ft shear cliffs down to the lake. 

Tettegouche Shovel Point in background

Palisade Head

We jawed with a man and his wife for awhile then headed to Silver Bay and through the two large tunnels along 61.  I remember Silver Cliff before the tunnel was build.  Back when I was 16 we took a bicycle trip from Hinckley (Camp Nathaniel!) to Judge C.R. Magney on our 10 speeds.  I can still remember riding along Silver Cliff in the rain with semi-trucks from Monson's in Duluth a few feet from our bikes.  Helmets?  You kiddin?  No bike helmets in those days and if you did wear a bike helmet you would have gotten beat up by your buddies for being a sissy.  Guess times have changed. Improved? 

Silver Cliff

Two Harbors

Of course we needed to stop and enjoy a couple of chocolate malts at the D.Q. Haven't been to a D.Q. since Wilmar.  After the D.Q. we went to the pier for a quick ore boat check. Non today. Since we didn't have our fishing poles we decided not to walk out on the breakwater.  If you haven't been to the breakwater in Two Harbors it's worth the trip.  We used to take the girls there when they were young. Wow, how time fly's. 

Hey Boo Boo

We took the scenic route along the north shore since I wanted to stop at Kendal's Fish Market. This place is the best if you like smoked fish from Lake Superior.  I usually buy the smoked Lake Trout or Whitefish.  Both excellent.  There's a small restaurant/bar attached to Kendall's. Looks good but haven't tried it. Cool Molly Hatchet poster in the men's room.

Ahh....smoked Laker

Before we arrived in Duluth we checked out the new boat launch a few miles from the Lester River. The launch/harbor is well build with a nice breakwater. Brothers, we gotta take dad's boat on Superior. Another bucket list item.

Safe harbor on Superior

We dodged some road construction in Duluth near the Lester River and cruised down London lane past all the nice mansions and of course Glensheen. If you haven't taken the Glensheen tour, you are missing out on an incredible home with breathtaking architecture and the aura of murder by the Congdon family.  The J.J. Hill mansion in St. Paul is also worth seeing. 

We took a long cut through Gary MN (low rent district compared to London Road) because I wanted to take a look at the boat launch on the St. Louis River (another bucket list item) for an eventual walleye fishing/camping trip.  Maybe this fall, but doubtful.  We got out of there fast and took Hwy 23 and split off to see Jay Cooke State Park. Another great ride through a curvy steep road. I showed Eric the suspension bridge over the St.Louis river.  We jumped on the bikes and drove through Carlton and then onto Hwy 35.

St. Louis River at Jay Cooke State Park

It didn't take us long to realize that everyone on Hwy 35 was trying to run us down. Even at 75-80 mph we were sitting ducks. We got off the highway at Mahtowa which is a bucket list item for me. Ever see the "Our Wurst is Best" signs for the grocery store in Mahtowa? I needed to check this place out. It wasn't what I had hoped for but it was still worth the stop.  These guys make fresh wurst there in a wide variety of flavors. I bough a dozen Cajun style bratwurst - forgot what Eric bought. We talked to a lady name Sam who left her henpecked husband in the car.  Another guy who wishes he was on a bike with us.

Mahtowa Wursts!

After a good meal at Mahtowa., we headed down Hwy 61 through all the small towns - Moose Lake, Willow River, Frostbite Falls, Sandstone and finally Hinckley were we eventually hit Hwy 23 westbound though Brook Park town. Then Hwy 107 to the town of Braham and finally to Cambridge and home via Hwy 65.

Back in the garage by the 200X

The trip was great and covered 1149 miles starting and ending in my garage. God gave us perfect weather, a great time together, no head on collisions with deer or moose. Only one major detour which worked out OK and tons of fun.  Sidney, Lake Superior circle route in 2011? New Road Glides????




Nice hair!  1149 miles of bugs