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The
winding roads to Mindoro Gap Aug 5th 2006 RC: TonyO
Destination:
Mindoro Gap, Mindoro, WI - sign-in: Urne, WI.
August 5th, 2006 was another great Saturday ride day. There were a
good number of riders present for the 10am leave; considering that a number of members were in
Sturgis having fun in the warmth (90-100+), rain, thunderstorms and Hail!!.
After a fast ‘get out of town’ run east on 94 we started another great (or
typical) ‘TonyO’ ride at Wisconsin exit 4. East on County N starts us into the alphabet roads. Next
comes W & SS and before we know it we are over Hwy 65 and we are finding our rhythm thru the corners.
The scenery is as good as it has ever been and the riding is easy – no traffic to speak of and
everyone is keeping up. These back farm roads are a pleasure to ride.
It’s already been a good day when we hit Z and X but the thought of Hy 10 makes
one want to turn around and run the previous roads again.
But wait – there is more fun to be had after Urne… We make a stop in Durand so
everyone had a chance to gas up for the next 4 mile stretch into Urne for the ‘official’
sign-in where we down burgers and gulp some pop before we are off again for some of the twistiest
and most interesting roads of this adventure. Here is where the better roads (for the ones that do
not like going in straight lines) begin.
Tony was keeping a “spirited” pace down F, N and T; thru Cream and on to EE
and the twisted County Road C into Arcadia. A nice little stopping place which sees our presence
during the Flood Runs. But today we slide thru town because the twistest of all awaits us. We are
slithering around the corners like the pro’s we all are - V-Stroms, BMW’s and of course the Honda
and a couple of others (sorry, limited memory – had I known I was to write something I would have
taken notes).
This brings to mind that in Minnesota the farms are usually linked by dirt
roads. Wisconsin has mostly paved roads in the back country. And if there is dirt it is usually hard
packed and only lasts for a mile or two before again being replaced by paving. Many of the roads
have pot holes with patching thrown in making for some ‘fun’ bumps. Other areas have asphalt where
the grass is growing in the cracks (indicating very little traffic) and then all of a sudden there
is concrete for a couple of miles and then it again changes back to the rough, little traveled
surface. But with the tight turns both up hill and down, where there are ear-popping elevation
changes all is forgotten but the swinging side to side so as to stay in between the white lines –
OK; I know your thinking ‘What white lines’; There were no stinking white lines. – I guess we’ll say
“to stay on the hard stuff.”
Anyway; we are now doing some really sweet twisting and grooving around the
corners, under the overhanging trees and then we come to the last turn south on 108 - a road not to
be bypassed if you are ever down in that area.
We Run a couple of miles down 108 and there is the hand-cut rock pass known as
Mindoro Gap. There is a pull off for a bit of refreshment while marveling at what it must have taken
to cut through the rock with only hand tools and a slug of whiskey every now and again. Didn’t take
long before there was talk of heading back towards civilization.
Looking back on the ride I’d have to say it was probably; No not probably – I
was the best ride of the year. And with what happened on the way back it was most definitely the
best ride of the year – OK; Here’s a hint; Ask Paul how a V-Strom, (going downhill, tight turns,
fairly fast), handles spots of hot, slick asphalt.. Of course you could also ask Kevin what he was
thinking; him being just a bit behind Paul. Then there is me (Harald) coming on fast in the number 3
spot – I believe I said “Oh my, was that a wobble I just saw? Possibly a little slower may be the
order of the day.”]
Ya gotta head south on 108 to make the day complete and then buzz north for some more twists, turns, zig’s and zag’s. You know why – because before your know it you are back in Arcadia. Now there is the
decision as to going up the hill and having some more twisted fun or heading straight up 35 to make
the required stop at the Pilot House in Prescott for the half-dozen jumbo shrimp and a brew…
Decisions; decisions. Ah, what the heck, stop in Arcadia; think about it for a bit – and then it
was on to the Pilot house to bring the day to a fitting end – with the King Size Shrimps with butter of course.
Tony - Thanks again for planning and leading a great ride. Now next time let's
be thinking about extending it a bit and go for Route 33 through the Wildcat Mountains…
Ramblings by harald on the
R100RT
Approved by TonyO. 8/23/06
And here is an extra for those that could not make this run:
If you have a good internet
connection (or are patient) you can get a feel for what this ‘TonyO’ ride to Mindoro Gap was all
about by jumping on to “http://www.alphacorse.com/photos.htm” (or directly to
http://www.hstatwistar.info/Mindoro-cut.mpg) where you
can watch the video "Mindoro
Gap 180, Route 108 Northbound". The run through the
'Gap' is at 1:31 on the video.
Alphabet road map --> http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_1As.html
"< http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_1As.html
>"
The TonyO map to
Mindoro Gap is available in electronic form by request… Ask me…
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