Day 6 – July 3, 2003

Ride through da Cheese State

Today we got started a little late. Not too late, around 9:15, but then had to stop and check out the local Honda Dealership to see what was different. Then getting gas put us back on the road around 10:15 am. Considering today’s ride was about 450 miles, we probably should have left a little earlier. Still, if we had we wouldn’t have been able to help out that young couple that were broke down on the side of the road. I still remember what it was like when it happened to me so many years ago and no one would stop.

As we left the dealership and hit the road, I noticed that about every two or three miles, there was another park alongside the freeway. I don’t think I ever saw a city do that before. If you look at the right time in the right direction as you are leaving town, you can see the capitol downtown. At least I think that is what it was. As we caught the 90 and headed east again, it was back to the fields, the silos, and the occasional lake. We crossed into Minnesota without much fanfare except having to stop on the highway to get the pictures. We didn’t see near as much road work in this state, but it was still there. I think this state must grow enough corn for the entire world. These fields go on and on for hundreds of miles and as far back off the road in all directions as you can see. I wonder if they grow anything else.

We stopped at the Country Kitchen for a late breakfast, it was almost noon and they were getting ready for lunch, but still they treated us as if it was early. Great food and a great place to eat! Back on the road again we noticed a truck with a scene painted on the back door indicating you should relax and enjoy the view. I guess they don’t want you to think about passing.

It was a few miles before Jackson that we passed this van with a girl behind it wearing one of those looks that says, “We need help.” So we turned around and sure enough the van had stopped and they could not get it started. As luck would have it I was able to diagnose a clogged fuel filter and after removing it and borrowing a cheep ink pen, she was not about to give up her good one even if it meant being there for hours, I was able to bypass the filter and get it to run. I strongly suggested they get it replaced at the next stop and we wished them better luck and hit the road again.

I got so into the repetition of the scenery that I actually missed the right turn we intended to make that would take us south into Iowa, and didn’t realize it till we unexpectedly came upon the Mississippi River. That was a little disconcerting to say the least. Well we weren’t about to backtrack 75 miles when we are planning to pass through the state on the return trip. So we crossed the river into Wisconsin and continued on towards Madison.

The road we picked had so many sights to see and windy roads, that we again got behind and before we knew it darkness had descended on us. Now darkness out here is not the same as some places. At 9:30 pm you can still see a half mile with almost no moon. But it did finally get very dark and we were glad we had installed the Night Lights before we left. The good part about those lights is that you can see every bump in the road you are going to hit. I guess that is the bad news as well.

We finally arrived in Madison and got a room. There is apparently some kind of biker thing going on around here because there are bikes in every hotel we passed and there were a lot of them. “I guess we will get a chance to find out what it is because we plan to spend the day tomorrow checking out the city.

Well, till next time, I’ll see you on the byways…