MC Road Trip to AZ and Beyond

[Wolskis]

The original date to head south was April 7th but here in N WI the temps were in the 20's. As the week progressed temps increased to the 50's so I fired up the bike late this morning and headed south.
Rolled thru Ladysmith WI. Its rise to fame was as a lumbermill town back in the mid 1800's to early 1920'ish it sits on the Flambeau River.

Big rail road town for lumber as well.

Rolled thru Chippawa Falls where Leinenkugel's has been brewed for the las 100 years until closed back in January.

Down the road in La Crosse, WI is this, the largest 6-pack. My go to brew.

Tonight in Dubuque IA.

 

[Wolskis]

Build it and they will come.

 

[Wolskis]

Started out at 55 degrees this morning at 10am with strong winds gusting to 25mph. Field of Dreams is 16 miles from the west side of Dubuque. Two other cars in the lot at 1030, cold. So access is free to the field but a $20 donation is available. If so you get these:

 

[Wolskis]

More pics

MLB is expanding their diamond which is maybe 200 yards past center field expected completion is next year.

 

[Wolskis]

Here I'm sitting in the same spot Karen the daughter fell from.

 

[Wolskis]

Love small town architecture.

 

[Wolskis]

Next stop scheduled was the crash site of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper but the wind changed that. OK, who portrayed Buddy Holly in the movie? Same for Ritchie Valens.

 

[Wolskis]

So I went to plan B. Heading to Gladbrook IA.

 

[Wolskis]

A $5 donation. I took lots of pics but these video's are better.

 

[Wolskis]

Ok the sun is finally out and temps improve. Heading to the west side of Des Moines IA. Time constraints put me on I-80 for an hour which sucks donkey _____. So I end up here in Winterset IA.

 

[Wolskis]

Speaking with Carla in the museum shop this place is busy. Three bus loads showed up yesterday.
All his movies are along the front side walk in tiles.

 

[Wolskis]

Today's milage is 245 with a two day total of 546. Tomorrow temps expected in the 60s again and we bridge a gap and later in the day a five star experience.

 

[Wolskis]

 

[Andy B.]

Thanks for sharing your road trip with us!

 

[rivermobster]

Thanks for sharing your road trip with us!

Yep. What he said!! ^^^

 

[DLC]

This is really cool !

Keep it going & thank you for bringing us along w/ you !

 

[Wolskis]

No riding today. Wind advisory in central IA with sustained winds of 25-30 and gusts to 40.

 

[sintax]

No riding today. Wind advisory in central IA with sustained winds of 25-30 and gusts to 40.

Wind and rain make for some pretty miserable riding conditions, that’s for sure!

Glad to see someone’s out there winning and having a good time.

Enjoying the pics!

 

[Wolskis]

Winds have died down to 15 mph so heading south around 0900.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Next stop scheduled was the crash site of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper but the wind changed that. OK, who portrayed Buddy Holly in the movie? Same for Ritchie Valens.

Gary Busey played BH in the first biopic. Not sure about Ritchie Valens or if the character was even in the movie, been a while since I've seen it.

In La Bamba, Valens was played by Lou Diamond Phillips.

 

[Wolskis]

Gary Busey played BH in the first biopic. Not sure about Ritchie Valens or if the character was even in the movie, been a while since I've seen it.

In La Bamba, Valens was played by Lou Diamond Phillips.

I did goof the question but you answered correctly. One brownie point for you.

 

[Wolskis]

It was a bit chilly this morning at 44 and a wind chill of 36. Anyways a heated jacket, seat and grips and I survived.
I dig these old theaters. This one was recently refurbished.

I happened to be in Madison County Iowa and that means covered bridges.

 

[Wolskis]

The drive south greatly improved weather wise early afternoon. All roads were 2 lane and from 1300 to 1530 it was motorcycle bliss. Curvy, hilly, beautiful scenery and temps reached 70.

 

[Ducksquasher]

It was a bit chilly this morning at 44 and a wind chill of 36. Anyways a heated jacket, seat and grips and I survived.
I dig these old theaters. This one was recently refurbished.
View attachment 1496653

I happened to be in Madison County Iowa and that means covered bridges.
View attachment 1496654
View attachment 1496655

That is bitchin!

 

[Wolskis]

This Pony Express museum was in Seneca KS on Hwy 36 which happens to be part of the original trail. I spotted metal sculptures of man and horse twice along 36 but couldn't stop for a pic.

The main museum is in ST Joseph MS.

 

[Wolskis]

This one's in Wamego KS, I like the movie but had no desire to go in.

 

[Wolskis]

Open M-W by appointment, open to the public F-Sun. Oh and while following GPS to the museum I'm at a stop light and look around, low and behold, I'm next too Kansas State University cool.

 

[Wolskis]

Windy conditions Thursday & Friday from Kansas into New Mexico. Looks like several days in a hotel again. I will stop at the Eisenhower museum first thing and hit the road by noon to put down some miles.

 

[Wolskis]

For you Army guys I have FT Riley just down the road. Thank goodness flight ops ended at 2300.

 

[Wolskis]

Temp was 50 when I left Junction City KS and now 91 in Dodge City KS. Winds where stron but doable. Only 240 miles today and overall 864'ish.
Hit Abilene KS to visit the Eisenhower Center.

 

[Wolskis]

First stop is the gift shop. Purchased this book and a ticket for the museum.

 

[Wolskis]

 

[Wolskis]

The Eisenhower home on the original site. It was donated to the center years ago by the family. Tours are available. A grade school once stood where the gift stands.

 

[rivermobster]

So cool.

 

[Wolskis]

Forgot these. A donut shop is to the right of the mural and guessing it was a gas station years ago. These buckets get picked up by a local pig farmer.

 

[rivermobster]

So how come you decided to do this trip now, and not during the warmer summer months?

 

[Wolskis]

Museum corner stone. These murals are on walls opposite of each other.

 

[Wolskis]

So how come you decided to do this trip now, and not during the warmer summer months?

I did a trip to Havasu on this bike back in 2022. Left WI mid September, arrived 5 days later and temps were still in lower 100's. Matter of fact Prescott was 100f and by the time I rolled into Havasu I suffered thru 112.
This is a trip to beat that heat. Yeah 90's now and tomorrow but temps drop into the 70's and 80's for the next 10 days from Amarillo to Clovis NM to my first stop near Tuscon.
My desired riding temps are between 45 and 80. The bike has heated gripes and seat along with my heated jacket so I stay comfortable when cooler.
I'm crossing my fingers for the ride from Havasu to Fresno in early May is weather friendly. The weather will dictate if it's a 1 or 2 day trip.
I'll take temps over that dam wind.

 

[Wolskis]

The museum took about 1.5 hours. First section is family, onto IKs early military days, WWII next, his presidential time and finally post presidential.

 

[Wolskis]

Pics of tour. All WWII stuff.

 

[Wolskis]

The Library. Thousands of his papers and notes. Requires prior approval to have access to these.

 

[Wolskis]

Final resting place for the President, First Lady and son who died very young.

 

[Wolskis]

For those that enjoy the dog track. Just across the street.

 

[Wolskis]

Time for some food and drinks.

 

[Wolskis]

PSA
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) operates the U.S. Presidential Library System. Specifically, the Office of Presidential Libraries within NARA manages the system. NARA is a federal agency responsible for preserving official government records, including those of past presidents.

 

[Wolskis]

Getting ahead of the wind. Leaving by 0700. Amarillo here I come

 

[Wolskis]

Just a photo op along the way today.

 

[Wolskis]

 

[Wolskis]

It was a 4 hour ride to Amarillo this morning zigging and zagging thru the 3 states on 2 lane highways with pretty much zero traffic for the first 3 hours.
Arrived here around noon'ish as the winds kicked into overtime. This pic is from the Garmin Inreach Mini2.

 

[Wolskis]

Stopped in at the Amarillo airport museum. I'm not an aviation guy at all but enjoy what an aircraft can do.