FLEXIBILITY!

Hello,

Finally got underway this morning around 915 AM. We rode west toward Duluth, MN. Our plan was to grab a biscuit at a Hardee's, get gas and keep riding. The key word of all that being "plan."

After about 25 miles I realized I was about out of gas and no gas station in sight. Much less a Hardee's. I will tell you this much, it's hard to enjoy the scenery when you figure out you are about to become the first participant in the "Long Push for Harley Davidson Motorcycles" at the next Olympics. Everyone's low gas light was on. Luckily we came to a town in the nick of time. For those that own a HD, you can appreciate this.....Jud put in 5.1 gallons. For those that don't own a Harley....we all have 5.0 gallon gas tanks! =-)

After tempting fate once so early, we turned around and went back to a little dinner and had a sit down breakfast. These Northerner's...they order hash browns with onions and cheese on top of perfectly good hash browns. And they DON'T have grits! I am sure Obama had something to do with that too!

After filling both tanks we finally got underway. Got to Duluth and made a short stop in a WWII museum. (Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center) :

Major Richard I. Bong
Top American Ace of World War Two
Shot down 40 Japanese Planes in the Pacific
Richard Ira Bong, who would become America's "Ace of Aces," was born on September 24, 1920, the son of a Swedish immigrant. He grew up on a farm near the small town of Poplar, Wisconsin.

In a famous story, Bong was high-hatting all over San Francisco Bay, flying under the bridges, buzzing Market Street, and blowing wash off clothes lines. One harried housewife complained. General Kenney called Bong on the carpet and told him,

"Monday morning you check this address out in Oakland and if the woman has any washing to be hung out on the line, you do it for her. Then you hang around being useful - mowing the lawn or something - and when the clothes are dry, take them off the line and bring them into the house. And don't drop any of them on the ground or you will have to wash them all over again. I want this woman to think we are good for something else besides annoying people. Now get out of here before I get mad and change my mind. That's all!"


Did the small tour and was back on the bikes. Turned north out of Duluth on Hwy 61. We took the "scenic" Hwy 61. Some of the lake front house on Lake Superior were unfathomable. You talk about "old money."

I might also add that as soon as we rode into the Lake Superior area the temperature dropped by 15 degrees due to the cold waters of Lake Superior. It was quite chilly. We followed the Lake all the way up to Silver Bay. Making two stops.

The first was Gooseberry Falls. I tried taking several pictures of the falls. Unfortunately I had a little girl in a pink shirt that keep getting in the way of my picture taking.




Our second stop was at the Split Rock Lighthouse on Hwy 61.



Having completed our Lake Superior tour we turned west onto Hwy 4. What a heck of a nice road. For my friends that live in MN...all you tax money is going "up north" for this highway. It was gorgeous and just a kick in the pants to ride. Wide sweeping turns, long stretches for miles. It was a true "two wheel therapy" road. I found myself just smiling and actually laughing on the inside, just as a child who discovers just how much fun a tree swing can be for the first time. You even catch yourself painting the Aspen trees gold and imagining the vibrant colors of a painted fall ride.

I don't have a lot in my head..but, I can safely say after that road...the hard drive was cleared and ready to be reformatted. Over 50 miles and not one other car! I am convinced if you ever need to "dump" a body. Along Hwy 4 is the perfect spot. Not one house, one car, not a billboard of any kind.

When all three of us pulled up to the stop sign at the end of the road we all said the same thing..."was that great or what?"

Started working our way closer to Bemidji, MN. As the whole saying goes in the Air Force:

The key to tactical air superiority is flexibility! Well, today we had to be flexible. We pulled up short at Grand Rapids, MN.

Motorcycle vs Severe Thunderstorm.....Thunderstorm wins 9 out of 10 times!

Tomorrow is a sad day. Brenda and Jud turn back east and head home to Appleton, WI. I told Steve I have run out of friends to ride with us. I ask where his was! Steve and I will head for the Sturgis, SD area tomorrow. I am guessing just over 700 miles. We will make it as far as we can. Our plan is to stay there for three days or so and just ride every where there is to ride. It is a week before the rally so there will be a ton of people yet, not so many you can't enjoy it.

Tomorrow's ride route:



I am going to leave you with the BUMPER STICKER OF THE DAY:

"MY KID IS AN HONOR STUDENT AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY"

Until our paths cross again,

Rick (MDD)