Leg 23 - Friendship, WI to Saint Cloud, MN

Left Castle Rock Campground, Friendship, WI at 6:10 am. I set my alarm for 5:00 am and woke up just before the alarm went off. It took just over an hour to break camp and repack the bike even without making a cup of tea.

AT&T cell service is hit and miss in the remote areas of Wisconsin so Google Maps was not available. Luckily I had purchased a satellite GPS app for my iPhone, NAVGON, a couple of years ago. It doesn't require an internet connection to provide turn-by-turn directions.

I set the options on NAVGON to 'scenic route' to Minneapolis, MN from Friendship, WI. It also had an option for vehicle, 'motorcycle'. I must admit, I got what I asked for. I rode through some spectacular scenery. The app took me through some rural farmlands, two lane roads less than well maintained and on US Hwy 61 along the Mississippi River. The following photo is a glimpse of the scenery, Lake Pepin a huge bulge in the Mississippi River.

Lake Pepin, MN

The route also took me through Red Wing, MN, home of the well known Red Wing Shoes. However, as I got close to Minneapolis the app got a little absurd. I found myself meandering through side streets and looping around the Interstate 94. I decided I could navigate using Google Maps through the city and beyond to Saint Cloud. I will use NAVGON again, just not around major metropolitan areas.

I did get to chat with a fellow in Minneapolis while riding a side street that was traffic congested. He pulled up next to me on his Suzuki Boulevard, a cruiser style motorcycle. He asked where I was going and when I told him I was touring the Four Corners of the US, he showed his enthusiasm. Motorcycle riders all over the US have the same affliction, they love to ride.

I must have lost a bit of my riding stamina during my extended stay in Illinois. I felt myself getting tired around 1pm and starting thinking of where I was going to stay the night. Maybe it was the camping the night before or more likely the naps I got used to taking in the mid afternoon while at Rick and Linda's. :-)

My original plan to ride to Fargo, ND went by the wayside and I pushed on to Saint Cloud, MN and checked into a Holiday Inn Express just off the freeway at 2:30 pm.

Overall, 332 miles and 8 1/2 hours.

Leg 23 - Friendship, WI to Saint Cloud, MN

My plan is to get to Calgary in the next three days and then take a layover day visiting the Royal Tyrell Museum suggested by a friend.