Trans Wisconsin Trail, Porcupine Poo and Lake Superior

[ajayhawkfan]

My brother-in-law, Pete and I were talking about getting together and riding somewhere. It is not that easy because he lives north of St. Paul, MN and I’m in Kansas City, MO. About that same time we were discussing getting together, I read about rokklym’s Trans Wisconsin Trail. I sent Pete the link to rokklym’s RR and asked if he was interested. He was! We agreed to meet in Dubuque, Iowa on August 13 to start our adventure.
The night of August 12 I was so excited I could not sleep. I left early, in the fog to ride to Dubuque to meet.

I rode gravel most of the way.



In Dubuque we were going to stay at the Hotel Canfield at $40 a night including tax.
I arrived first and checked the place out. It would not be worth $40 if they cleaned the sheets. It was a flop house. However, if you are ever looking for a $3.00 hooker I believe you could find one there. I went down the street to the Holiday Inn and booked a room. Pete took one look at the Hotel Canfield and knew to look for me elsewhere. For dinner we went to the Brickhouse Brewery for some good food and better beer and a lot of excited talk about the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail (TWAT) and more beer.

[Rasbutan]

[ajayhawkfan]

Before I go any further here are pictures of our bikes.
First mine all loaded and ready to go.



Pete's, notice how clean his is. It had less the 3000 miles and was over 10 years old.

[joenuclear]

Lets get this straight......For $30 you coulda rode the TWAT? And you went to a Holiday Inn instead? And your friend knew ya would?

This RR is starting out Great!

[ajayhawkfan]

Originally Posted by joenuclear

Lets get this straight......For $30 you coulda rode the TWAT? And you went to a Holiday Inn instead? And your friend knew ya would?

This RR is starting out Great!

For $30 you could have gotten one with a tooth.

[Klay]

Originally Posted by ajayhawkfan

I arrived first and checked the place out. If would not be worth $40 if they cleaned the sheets. It was a flop house.

That used to be an okay place, but I guess that was 15 years ago or so...


Great picture of the fog.

[katbeanz]

Originally Posted by ajayhawkfan

if you are ever looking for a $3.00 hooker talk about the TWAT and more beer.

[ajayhawkfan]

I rode a little of the first part of the TWAT last year when I did the Great River Road from St. Louis to the headwaters of the Mississippi. I stopped at the Dickeyville Grotto then and stopped to show Pete. The Grotto is one of those places you need to see to believe. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2242



From the beginning the trail was scenic and the roads showed some the best of SW WI. Pete thought the first 100 miles were the most scenic of the trip. I can’t disagree.

Does it look like I am going fast?



The mandatory TWAT picture from SW WI. This area is along the Mississippi and beautiful.



We had to do a little re-routing and came acorss the restored Dutch Ridge School built in 1887.



I though this was one neat place! It was built in 1903.

If anyone know the exact location of this old farm house please let me know.

Towards the end of the first day we started hitting sand. That was my first taste of sand on my heavy loaded PIG and the last time Pete was on sand he had a “get off” that cracked a rib. Needless to say we were both quite tentative.



Pete on sand.



While in the sand I kept telling myself, “speed up, stay on my pegs, lean back, power through it, you will be OK”. At the same time I kept hearing “speed kills”. I made it though and with every mile built up more confidence, something I would need later in the trip. Pete also made it though without incident except I had to pry his hands off the grips when we finally hit gravel.


That night we stayed in Black River Falls. At dinner the restaurant had a delicious ale brewed just for them. We had plenty. (Are you noticing a pattern?)

[ajayhawkfan]

Originally Posted by Klay

Great picture of the fog.

Thank you. This is my first RR. I'm not much of a writer but I took a lot of pictures.

[GB]

Lookin' good

[joenuclear]

You're showing a side of Wisconsin I haven't seen. The lake shore South of Green Bay is straight and almost flat.

You have found some Great scenery!

[codys]

Rock Chalk!!

[Saltydog86]

is there a site that shows this route?

ready to see more...

[Claybuster]

Originally Posted by Saltydog86

is there a site that shows this route?

ready to see more...

Why, yes there is.

http://www.lonewolfexpeditions.com/twat.html

[ajayhawkfan]

Originally Posted by Saltydog86

is there a site that shows this route?

ready to see more...

Chad Berger (rokklym) created this increadible route. You can get all the information here: http://www.lonewolfexpeditions.com/twat.html