Wisconsin Rustic Roads

[bryzx2]

question

Pain, what were your favorite roads near milwaukee? The longest trip I have taken with the MNS is to Lake Geneva and wanted to go somewhere a little more in the country with hills and turns, not to mention rivers and hopefully paved roads.

[Pain]

The best roads near by are in the Holy Hill area. Go north on 41/45 into Washington County, and take hwy 167 west.

The northern and southern units of the Kettle Moraines are also good, if you get off the main route and ride on the county roads.

Despite my report so far, most of the roads are paved here. I am deliberately riding older roads.

[Pain]

Dirt, Rocks and Rain

So it has been a while since I was out on a rustic road, and since I had Wednesday off and the weather during the day was looking okay I thought it was time to head out again.

My time not riding was not idle, I replaced the throttle cable (The new Ural proving to me that the current cable was actually sticking, like my wrench has been tell me for years), and adding a 6.5 gallon tank so I can do more than take a spin around the block without needing to refuel.


I like the new look. Took the back rest off, since I don't think I was using it, really, and am thinking there is a long camping trip in my future.


RR82 was the first road on today’s list, which included 6 roads in the NW section of the SE WI quadrant. On of those road was listed as "unpaved" I was a little curious about what that meant. That was for later, though.


Little bit of Wisconsin flat. See how nice and sunny it is now?


I finally got some horses to sit still while I took a pic.


RR72 was the first road with gravel portions for today.


See how the grass is blowing around? No clouds, though, so I figure I am good.


Gratuitous gravel shot. I actually took a wrong turn on this road, since it looked like a driveway, and had to double back.


Glad I went back, since it is very pretty road.


I just included this so you would know where the next picture was taken.


This spot was great, the water was clear to the bottom, but I couldn't see any fish. I just sat here for about 40 minutes, listening to the ringing in my ears. I noticed it was cloudy now, but I was a long way from home, and it didn't look like rain yet, so I decided to stay on my route.

It did start to rain on the way to the next road, the one listed as "unpaved" (RR50). It was near I-39, so I had a way to run home if I felt the need. I was feeling okay.


This is RR50. You will note the lack of a RR sign, and the curvy road post.


That would be dirt, slowly turning into mud.

Still, I am pretty stupid, and figured I was here; why not give it a try. Go slow, take my time, everything would be fine.


looks like some driveways I have been on. This is supposed to be one of the oldest roads in Wisconsin. You would think they could've paved it at some point.


I tried to put the sidestand down, and it instantly sunk into the dirt. Off the bike pics would have to wait a little.


See the little runt of a deer?


Zoomed all the way in. The little guy ran up the road in front of my for a while, before darting into the woods. He/She was less than a foot at the shoulders.


Finally found a patch of hard enough dirt to get off for a minute, but I was a little nervous about it. Good shot, though, huh? Dual sport xs11s.


I was excited to see the gravel, funny if you think about it, but it was there because of a slight hill. Without the gravel I don't think the bike would've made it up. There were actually several such hills, with a gravel coating.


Lucky for me, there was a sign on the other end of the road, so all that was not for naught. I would've been annoyed.

The rain got harder, and the batteries on my camera died, but I still headed for the next road on my list, RR14. Adams County, where Rr50 and Rr14 are located, isn't real big on paved roads, and I was on gravel more often than not. I flatter myself into thinking I am getting rather good at it. Didn't fall over once.


This is from my cell phone. No signal, but it will still take pictures. I was pretty wet, and getting a little cold. I had on my Kilimanjaro and HT pants, but over a t-shirt and my middle weight gloves. My warmer stuff was supposed to come with, but I left it at home next to the printer where I got my maps. oops.


RR14 is listed as gravel, but it was really dirt, with some rocks in it. There is supposed to be a natural spring along it, but I didn't see it, and was a little miserable.

After this I found a gas station with hot cocoa and phone signal to ponder where I was going next. I was out of the rain, but it had moved to the east, where I wanted to go for the last road. The radar showed yellow and red over there, so I decided to just head home. The next road had wood planks, and I decided I didn't want to try those in the rain.

Of course, once I was home (I didn't get rained on again, but could see the storms to the north and east), I was a little disappointed in myself, but knowing when it is time to head home is supposed to be the mark of a good rider.

Or so I have been telling myself.

[Pain]

With Tuesday off this week, and the weather nice, I decided to try for the ride I miss last week, and one other that is actually close by, but I was saving for Heather and I to ride together. She said I could go without her, so that made it okay.

I did work overnight on Monday, so was not in the road until noon. A pretty late start, but with sunset not until 9pm, I figured it would be okay.

The first road for today was R22, which runs through some DNR woodland and wetland areas. It is another of those "Paved and gravel portions" roads, and is supposed to have 2 wood plank bridges, which are what I wanted to avoid driving over wet last week.


I am saddened by the number of RR signs that show damage, or are just missing. If I knew who to call, I very well might.


R22 is off Green Lake county D, which is twisty for no reason. I am on D for this pic, and you can see it curving through the field.

I was amazed by R22. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was a great road, quiet, calming. Not exactly paved, but I was bale to comfortable ride through at 30, (the speed limit signs said 15, but I figured that was just a recommendation, and I didn't think I would see a LEO), other riders on more appropriate bikes cold probably do faster, but they would miss out on the views


Right here I has a "Is this really a road" Moment. There was a mailbox at the end of it, and I was worried I was riding up someone's drive.

It was hard to keep riding; I wanted to stop every 10yards or so to take pictures.




I came out of the woods rather suddenly, into what must be the wetlands.


I didn't go walking in the grass.


Nice, straight. Despite the gravel I got into 4th gear, a first for me on anything but paved.


The wet portion, I guess. This bridge was not wooden.


Just some proof it is not all gravel. And me taking more pictures.

Anyway, R22. If you happen to be in the area and don't mind a little gravel, I recommend it, but you have to stop, turn off your engine, and hang out a bit. Eat a granola bar, I did.

Still, There was another road to hit before the sun set, and I headed back towards home, and R33, in Washington Cty. Oddly enough, this road, which includes St Augustine Rd, is a favorite among local riders. A nice, twisty road, paved and usually free of gravel and traffic, despite being near a Holy Hill Church, a popular tourist spot.


Those would be the church spires, in the background. You can go up some (A lot of) stairs and look out. Not sure you could make out the bike from there, though.



Just a couple pics, enough to get the idea across.




After R33, I noticed I could still make our local two wheel Tuesday, a bike night on the northwest part of town. So I swung by, and get to add some bike porn to this report.


Big crowd.


Old Beemer, which was bought for $50. I hate him.


Probably way more HP than the owner uses, or maybe needs. Most of these Hoss's are triked out, I think this is the second one I've seen still with the single rear wheel.

So, with the sun setting, I headed home. It was getting cool out, and I had to go to the grocery store.

[Pain]

sorry no updates recently, and this is not good news either.

In about 45 minutes my father is having open heart surgery, he has 5 "serious" blockages involving all three coronary arteries. He also has a prolapsed mitral valve, which is bad enough his heart is not really pumping forward anymore.

Since I will be pretty busy over the next few weeks it is very unlikely I will complete the Rustic Road project this year. Thanks for reading, and I am sure I will hit another road or two before the end of the summer.

Keep the rubber side down.

[Rubin]

Pain, my thoughts are with you and your family.

[malber]

My prayers are with you and yours, Pain.

Thanks for letting us tour Wisconsin vicariously through your posts and pictures.

[Pain]

An update, not on the trroads, but my father. He passed away on Wednesday, 8-29. He needed to have colon surgery after the bipassed, and couldn't recover.

I will attempt the rustic adventure again next year, starting over, but I think I am done with long trips before the snow flies.

[Wayne]

Pain,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. I too lost my father some years ago so I know its tough.

Peace and God Bless,