Day Six, Worthington, MN to Milwaukee, WI - 508 Miles

Thursday, August 12, 2010.

Our merry band of Southern California bikers awoke this morning to clear Minnesota skies, temperatures in the mid-seventies and 94% humidity. The bikes were covered in moisture which made the bugs come off easily, but the dew reappeared as fast as you could wipe it off. We retired to the continental breakfast room and awaited the morning sun to assist with drying the bikes.

We were on the road by 7:30 headed for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, some 500 miles away. No more had reached cruising speed, about 75 MPH, when we ran headlong into what they refer to as Thule Fog in the San Joaquin Valley of California, a low hanging thick fog which reduced visibility to less than 1/4 mile. The advantage was that it prolonged the inevitable increase in temperature, forecast to reach into the mid-nineties. We motored on in the fog at a significantly reduced speed until reaching Austin, MN, some 75 miles away. It was not a good start to an otherwise long hot day. I'm sure everyone knows what Austin, MN is famous for. Of course you do. Hormel Meat's world famous Spam Museum. We had to stop and take the tour. It was actually pretty interesting and worth the stop. Hormel shipped over 100 millions pounds of Spam to our boys overseas during WWII, and put Mr. Hormel on the map. They had a personal letter to Mr. Hormel from Five Star General Dwight D. Eisenhower thanking him for his contribution to the war effort. Before we left, Steve bought us all temporary Spam tattoos, serious bikers that we are.

We departed the interstate highway, where you can make good time while not seeing anything of the country, and opted for a minor two-lane highway through every little town and hamlet in south eastern Minnesota en route to our lunch destination, La Crosse, WI. Although much slower than the Interstate, the route was much more rewarding as it loosely followed a meandering river with canoes and kayaks through thick forested areas, past magnificent green farms of corn and soy bean fields, and homes, some with lawns bigger than most golf courses.

Entering La Cross, we crossed the mighty Mississippi River bustling with recreational boaters and hard working river tugs pushing long barges upstream against a steady current through a series of dams and locks. We lunched at A & W Root Beer, a throwback drive-in with actual car hop service. Departing La Cross, the temperature climbed to the mid-nineties, as predicted. Sixty minutes later the post-lunch slump combined with the heat and humidity took its toll and we all had to stop to rest and hydrate. Red Bull, Monster drinks and Gator Aid abounded, along with something called "Cheese Curd," provided by the convenience store clerk. I personally didn't try it, but I'm told it squeaks when you chew it. What do you expect from Cheeseheads?

We arrived in Milwaukee, WS at 7:30 bedraggled but in good spirits and checked into the new Crown Plaza Airport Hotel, the nicest thus far on our journey. While unloading our bags we diagnosed a slight oil leak on Bill's bike. Jack and I will attempt a field repair in the morning. Then, we're off to the Harley-Davidson museum, no Spam there, but a lot of "Hogs," pun intended.

All of us want to send a special shout out today to Bill's brother Joe. Happy 50th birthday Joe, and here's to the next 50!

Until tomorrow, or whenever I get around to it, I bid you all a good day, and thanks for tuning in.