Coffee Quest - Fat Cat Coffee Works

Need a ride destination? Some folks seek out bars, but I find Coffee is somewhat better suited to spending time on a motorcycle. Today Gene & I got a late start on a cool July morning and meandered through the country side on a route that misses just about all population centers. And he still got home in time to cut the grass. It's a flat but picturesque ride from Eagle.

The Fat Cat Coffee Works in New Glarus is close enough to feel like a ride but still be a morning activity. And sometimes a stop at the Duluth Trading Post in Belleville will uncover a deal.

In addition to good pastries and coffee, they make a good lunch. And PIE! There's a little second floor alcove room that has comfy chairs with a view of the counter (for people watching). They have a sign that forbids talking on cell phones in the shop. Works just fine with me.

Store front

Counter area - more room above and behind

The alcove is the best secret

Counter view from the alcove

Pie & coffee

Nice & quiet

And a front view of the bikes

Novel way to support the table

Coffee pot lamps?

Nice mug, but the nose gets in the way

And the Wisconsin corn is doing great this year

Riding Wisconsin - Ledge Park

Another favorite short ride spot for coffee and a picnics is Ledge Park in Dodge county. I'm always surprised at how close it is when it seems so far away. The high cliff in the middle of the flatland (not really flat around there) is unusual. Gene decided to ride his 1963 BSA Star in preparation for his entry in the Tour de Elegance at the lakefront. 

I've known this bike for almost as long as I've known Gene. It has Personality. It presented this during the day with gushing pools of gasoline, intermittent starting, and abrupt shutoffs. To be fair, it's usually pretty well behaved.

Although we made it to Ledge and started back, we cashed in our chips when passing Dodge County Cycle. They kept an eye on it while Gene hopped on the back of my bike to go for the van. I haven't had a passenger for a long time and Gene hasn't been one for a long time. Guess that equals out in a wobbly way.

The view from Ledge Park

Another view at Ledge Park

The view at Dodge County Cycle

BSA Secured for an air conditioned ride home

Riding Wisconsin - Northern Kettle Moraine

Most of the June rides have been within 150 mile radius. Although the days have ended up being more warm and humid, the mornings have been wonderfully cool. The overnight rain-soaked roads would clear and the early overcast would melt as each morning ride wore on. There are so many favorite spots I haven't visited for a while. They're being checked off the  list one at a time.

One morning I headed to Parnell lookout tower near Dundee via the Holy Hill basilica . Gene met me at the tower, one of our favorite haunts.

Hay fields near Aztlan

Old gas station near West Bend (but not West Bend - I never remember the town

A stop at Pike lake state park

Entrance to Holy Hill basilica

Lots of steps to the tower. Glad it was a cool breezy morning.

Yeah. Lots of stairs.

Tower view

Tower view. Clouds melting.

Tower view

Cool model of the basilica

Taking the Scenic Drive. It's the long way to anywhere.

At Parnell Tower

At Parnell Tower

Riding Wisconsin - Duluth/Aerostich

I've had a pleasant couple of weeks just riding around the state. One longer trip was to the Aerostich plant/store in Duluth with Gary & Shawn.

Selfie at Aerostich

With pure self control and will power, I only spend $9.50.

The rest of the crew - not so cheap! 

We had the place to ourselves.

Gary ALWAYS finds the best food in any town.

. . . And usually knows someone there.

NC Bike Trip

A highlight of this summer so far was a two week trip to the North Carolina cottage. We didn't fool around on our way as we had planned because the weather in the mid-west was HOT. Once in the NC mountains, however, things cooled down nicely. We spent plenty of time on the Parkway, stopping to see sights such as Doughton Park, the Blue Ridge Music Center, and Mount Mitchell, but mostly just enjoying the ride. Tropical storm Cindy decided to make landfall at the end of our adventure just as we arrived in Maggie Valley to visit the Wheels Through Time museum. We beat a hasty retreat home outrunning the storm as far as central Indiana; after that it was just wet.

Some photo & video highlights:

At the Cascades waterfall

Cascades Wayside

More Cascades

At the Mount Mitchell restaurant for pie!

Boy, that pie was good!

At the top

Somewhere along the Parkway

Along the Parkway

Enjoying the beautiful riding

Parkway rest stop

Lost again?

A few moments of Parkway riding bliss

Cummins State park in Tennessee where Gary impressed us with his telescopic vision.

A bit of rain & fog at Doughton park

John making Gary feel tall

The rain & fog was not friendly to an unsealed accessory horn relay

No garage at the cottage

But the sunsets were spectacular

Hamming it up at Kerr Scott lake

Being serious at Kerr Scott lake (?)

Sometimes Gary's extraordinary vision needed help

Even the wildlife cooperated