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Okay, so I am a bit of a gamer freak, and have been going to GenCon since I was in High School. Last year I took an extra day and decided the best way to get to Indianapolis from Milwaukee was via the mississippi river. I also love to camp, but my SO won't. Since she also doesn't really like GenCon, I figured it would be a good time to camp too. All the pics are here, with selected photos below.
I targeted the Palasades state park, in Il, for my first day. My route was simple. Head on the interstate to Portage, then hwy 33 to the river road, right down to my camp site.
Seems simple enough, and the weather on the first day was simply beautiful.
No interstate pics, but here is after I exit. Note the wonder blue sky. This was my first trip with my new Kenya 2 mesh jacket. Great bit of gear.
Wisconsin has a thing for odd statues. I guess I was near Minnisota.
Wisconsin in August. Very, very green. I wanted to head into that valley, but couldn't find a way, and was on something of a schedule, since I didn't want to set up a tent in the dark.
Lot of curvy roads along the Mississippi, and for the most part I didn't stop to take pics. But, here you go. If you look close you can see there is a hard right, right after that upcoming left.
That mass is my sleeping bag and air matress. Decided it was too bulky, and if I go camping again I will do something else. Didn't affect the handling that I noticed.
Important artsy photo. I really like roads carved through rock. No idea why.
Thar she is, the mighty Mississippi. I was riding on a tuesday, so while there was some traffic, there was none of the slow weekend stuff. Everyone was moving. I like that.
My route took me away from the river for a bit, and I was surpeised that this part of Il was not totally flat. Almost, though.
My eventual campsite, choosen for it's isolation and proximity to the showers. The park was mostly deserted. I also found I had no cell phone signal away from the road, which was a problem since I knew the SO was nervous about me.
Couple of pictures from the overlooks. THe road up was awful, just as an fyi if you are in the area, but probably worth it.
I asked the park ranger where to go and eat, and he suggested an italian place nearby.
Gratutitus food pic.
The next day I wanted to sleep until 8 or so, but woke at 7 when my air mattress deflated. I would end up just throwing it away. But that was after I got home.
My route for day 2. Mostly all interstate. I wanted to be in Indy by 4, or 5 at the lastest. I was planning on meeting people for dinner.
Bike all packed. You will note the lack of sunshine. It was gray and overcast, and after I had the bike packed and I was getting out a map to see where exactly I had to go (Other than south), it started to rain. really rain. So, I was on the bike and on my way.
After about 20, or 30 minutes, it stopped raining, and I stopped for breakfest. This place was delicious. Get the pancakes. And fresh squeezed orange juice. Yum.
Notice the gray sky? The owner of the cafe (Julie), checked her computer for the weather while I was eatting (I didn't ask, just said I was headed to Indy), and came back to warn me things were bad to the west, and getting worse. I paid my bill, and got back on the road.
No pics for the rest of the day, which was wet, cold, and long. My gloves were leaking by noon, and I will have to get new ones. The coat held up great. The Kenya 2 has a waterproof shell, rather than a liner, which means when you take it off, the mesh coat is still dry.
I did get to Indy by 5, and after a warm shower, made my dinner appointment. It was on the way home from Indy that I ran into Brent in a parking lot in Kenosha around midnight on Friday. All and all, it was a good week.
I targeted the Palasades state park, in Il, for my first day. My route was simple. Head on the interstate to Portage, then hwy 33 to the river road, right down to my camp site.
Seems simple enough, and the weather on the first day was simply beautiful.
No interstate pics, but here is after I exit. Note the wonder blue sky. This was my first trip with my new Kenya 2 mesh jacket. Great bit of gear.
Wisconsin has a thing for odd statues. I guess I was near Minnisota.
Wisconsin in August. Very, very green. I wanted to head into that valley, but couldn't find a way, and was on something of a schedule, since I didn't want to set up a tent in the dark.
Lot of curvy roads along the Mississippi, and for the most part I didn't stop to take pics. But, here you go. If you look close you can see there is a hard right, right after that upcoming left.
That mass is my sleeping bag and air matress. Decided it was too bulky, and if I go camping again I will do something else. Didn't affect the handling that I noticed.
Important artsy photo. I really like roads carved through rock. No idea why.
Thar she is, the mighty Mississippi. I was riding on a tuesday, so while there was some traffic, there was none of the slow weekend stuff. Everyone was moving. I like that.
My route took me away from the river for a bit, and I was surpeised that this part of Il was not totally flat. Almost, though.
My eventual campsite, choosen for it's isolation and proximity to the showers. The park was mostly deserted. I also found I had no cell phone signal away from the road, which was a problem since I knew the SO was nervous about me.
Couple of pictures from the overlooks. THe road up was awful, just as an fyi if you are in the area, but probably worth it.
I asked the park ranger where to go and eat, and he suggested an italian place nearby.
Gratutitus food pic.
The next day I wanted to sleep until 8 or so, but woke at 7 when my air mattress deflated. I would end up just throwing it away. But that was after I got home.
My route for day 2. Mostly all interstate. I wanted to be in Indy by 4, or 5 at the lastest. I was planning on meeting people for dinner.
Bike all packed. You will note the lack of sunshine. It was gray and overcast, and after I had the bike packed and I was getting out a map to see where exactly I had to go (Other than south), it started to rain. really rain. So, I was on the bike and on my way.
After about 20, or 30 minutes, it stopped raining, and I stopped for breakfest. This place was delicious. Get the pancakes. And fresh squeezed orange juice. Yum.
Notice the gray sky? The owner of the cafe (Julie), checked her computer for the weather while I was eatting (I didn't ask, just said I was headed to Indy), and came back to warn me things were bad to the west, and getting worse. I paid my bill, and got back on the road.
No pics for the rest of the day, which was wet, cold, and long. My gloves were leaking by noon, and I will have to get new ones. The coat held up great. The Kenya 2 has a waterproof shell, rather than a liner, which means when you take it off, the mesh coat is still dry.
I did get to Indy by 5, and after a warm shower, made my dinner appointment. It was on the way home from Indy that I ran into Brent in a parking lot in Kenosha around midnight on Friday. All and all, it was a good week.
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