Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events Midwest Rally 09

I just took a ride on Blackjack rd. down past Chestnut Mtn. resort. Road is in pretty good shape after the somewhat harsh winter. Strangely enough i notices more "wander" in the bike going west over the Sabula bridge than i do when i'm heading east. (it's a metal deck bridge, interesting to stop in the middle and look down at the boats passing underneath).

When I was there last summer there was a lot of loose gravel on that road, as if it had recently been tarred and chipped. I was hoping the winter would wash most of the loose stuff away.

I've only been over that bridge twice and my rear end was puckered up too much to stop and look down!

Scott,

I know I have been pretty quiet on this thread. I am just trying to figure out how I am gonna do this. Like I said, I have tix for the Chicagoland Nascar race. Night races this year so the races fall on Friday and Saturday night. Part of the deal with this is it is just a good excuse to go hang out in a really big parking lot with your friends and eat some grilled animal and drink copious amounts of beer. I look forward to it every year now.

Right now I'm thinking of heading out there for the rally after work on Thursday. May be hang a little on Friday and go to the races from up there. Maybe I will blow off the Friday race and just head out for Saturday's race festivities. Don't know yet but I will at least definitely make an appearance out there. Guess I should check out the T-shirt thread too.

Keith

Whatever works best for you. I'm sure no one will try to give you sh1t for ducking out early! I used to go to multiple nascar races every year with a group of friends when I lived back east. We would camp out for the weekend, and they pretty much turned into Roman drinking festivals. Some of the most fun I've ever had. My friend even had us all go to the Daytona 500 for his bachelor party 2 years ago. Man, I miss that stuff.

83.

80. Happy 4/20 everyone.

that road is Still gravel??? jeeze I haven't been over it in 10 + years. you would think by now....

Is there a chance someone could repost the possible accomidation that are available ???
My Bros-in -laws don't want to camp.

Here you go, Elfwolf.


Timmerman Thread

Blackjack Rd. is sealcoat pavedright now the worst section is right at Chestnut Mtn Resort, some loose gravel on the hill just north. I stopped last night and looked at the decking on the sabula bridge, they changed some of the decking and it doesn't line up as well as it used to. Causing more wander in the bike while riding over it.

Hey,

First post in awhile - fasteddy called and hit me upside the head....so to speak....

Scott - thanks for doing the legwork on the Midwest Rally - It is definetely due.....please put me down for a yes....I'll do whatever I can to make it. Looking forward to riding with Keith (Airguy) again and maybe Paul (PES) will make the trip as well and of course eddy and elfwolf who reside in or around the homeland here......

Haven't read all the posts yet so I'm assuming the dates are still the 10-12th??

Very cool...........

Cool man, welcome, it's gonna be a blast!
Yes, still the weekend of July 10-12. The only change is the hotel. Switched it up to make it cheaper. There is a separate thread for it here.
Friggin page 5 I should probably bump it. Anyway, there is also a t-shirt thread if you're interested. t-shirts

If time Permits, i would suggest a ride north along the river to Prairie Du Chien WI. cross over into Marquette IA. and return to Dubuque. Approximately 150 mile round trip. Quite a few scenic viewpoints along the mississippi.

I had a trip planned out for saturday, over to Anamosa to the museum, and back towards Savanna, IL back up to Galena. Here's a map http://www.mapquest.com/mq/7-QYuYnxmYJBgka4kW. I was thinking of taking a trip up the river and back on sunday, maybe not 150 miles though, I figure a lot of people will be heading home sunday.

Where are you from?

I live in East Dubuque, that's why this ralley caught my eye,
Prairie du chien is the next bridge to the north, but there also is the ferry at Cassville WI. that will take you over to Iowa, interesting short boat ride, only drawback is theres a mile or so of gravel road on the Iowa side to get back to pavement.

Cool. Going up the great river road and back down the other side sounds like something we should do. I'm thinking sunday morning. People can always join in and drop off in which ever direction they're heading to go home if they so choose. How long do you think this ride would take, (to Prarie du chien)? Also, since you know the area, how's the riding over to Anamosa and back to Savanna? Nice trip? I've only been on the IL side, with the exception of a quick trip to Sabula.

I'll chime in...

I used to live in Anamosa & I currently live just off the Dubuque to Anamosa route. Dubuque to Anamosa is a four lane with some hills and curves. Anamosa back to the river is primarily two lane. Highway 64 heading east out of Anamosa is labeled a scenic byway. I don't know much about Maquoketa to Bellevue & Bellevue to Sabula. I've been to Bellevue many times, but I typically go a different way. I think typically... the closer you get to the Mississippi River... the better the scenery. The roads typically get curvier and hillier as well.

A little info about the museum... The building that now contains the museum used to be a Ben Franklin (dime store). I went in all the time as a kid. I went back in about 5 years ago to see the museum and I thought it was great. If you want to get a sense of what the museum is like... take the Museum Tour below. I don't have any other experiences to compare it to... but like I said - personally, I really enjoyed it. It's hard to imagine the amount of items they have by just looking at the outside of the building, but there is a lot of floor space downstairs.

Disclaimer: For those that want to keep it a surprise... go ahead and visit the website but don't click on the Museum Tour link.

National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa

Finally, if we need a place to eat, Scooters is a newer bar/grill just 1 or 2 miles south of Anamosa on Highway 151. I've been there half a dozen times with no complaints.

Denny

I see the museum offers group discounts. I'll check on it, and report back.

Sounds good Denny. I figured some locals would be able to advise on where to eat, etc. I emailed the museum about a month ago to ask if there is anything they could do for our group, but haven't heard back from them. I did see that they offer a group discount though. You know anywhere cool to stop in or near Bellevue?

Rt. 64 is a straight shot from Anamosa across to Sabula, I don't remember how good the pavement is between Anomosa and Maquoketa. But from Maquoketa to Sabula it's pretty good. (we rode that part yesterday as part of out local RAT ride)
151 from Dubuque is all 4 lane, are you looking for good twisty backroads? or to run the snore lane down and find some twisty stuff for the return trip?

Good twisty back roads are always nice, and there are plenty on the return trip, but if you have a nice one in mind going from Dubuque to Anamosa, I'm sure no one would mind getting off the highway.(So long as it dosen't take all day) Any ideas?

I've been out nosing around the county a bit more, some great backroads, except they take you to the middle of nowhere and then turn to gravel. If you are coming out rt. 20 and have the time turn off onto stagecoach trail just before Lena, (there's an ethanol plant there at the beginning of the road) Nice scenic ride, better pavement than bouncing along on rt. 20. Stagecoach Rd. begins just before Lena, and ends in Galena.
a bit off topic here, i tried to reply to a p/m and not sure if it went thru, do i have to have a number of posts before i can do that? my homepage says i haven't sent anything.

If I can make it, I am definitely making a side trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville IA. Just looked it up and it's only 40 miles from Galena. I hope everything works out so I can make it!

There is a decent road if you go south on 61 then take D61 back over to Cascade. My favorite scene is a farm with alpacas. The farm is right next to the road and has a creek going through it so there are several bridges. The road is one of my favorites in the area... pretty good scenery as far as Iowa goes.

They do offer more than one way to get a discount... but they also say one discount per person per entry (or something like that). I'm guessing that you can't stack the discount for group, senior citizen, ABATE, etc. Still, $6 is reasonable if that's where it stays.

We'll be hitting stagecoach trail on the saturday ride, on the way back to Galena. Nice road.

I wouldn't mind getting out to see the field of dreams farm myself.

Ok, been talking to Roadworthy and Dunnspeed, Dave, is still on the fence, but looks like me and Dunnspeed(Chris) are seeing what we can do about making it. Both of us want to go, just need to get things set. Sounds like alot of fun

Would be cool if you guys made the trip up. I think that would put us around 30 people or so?

I am aiming to ride most of the way on thursday night then finish the trip friday about noon....then head out sunday morning real early

How's the 'north' trip for Sunday morning coming? Riding 20 to the east of Galena is sweet too!

I think we'll do a sunday morning ride up the great river road and back down the other side crossing over in Prarie du Chien, WI. as Darksider suggested. However, I think a lot of folks will pass on this if they have a long ride home that day, or if they're too hungover. People could always start off with us and branch off in whichever direction they're going. Either way, should be cool.

I know some people are planning on being there thursday night. I have to work thursday so I doubt I'll make it that night, but am planning to be there friday around noon. If I can get out of work early that thursday and make it over there, i will, but I'm not counting on it.

The only reason I am thinking Thursday is I really dont want to ride all day Friday and be to tired to do anything Friday night

Hey guys, I got an email from the hotel saying we only have 5 rooms booked so far. They seem a little concerned, here's what they said.

Scott,

I was looking over your group reservation today. I just wanted to make sure you know that we only have 5 reservations. I think there were supposed to be quite a bit more. Is this all that will be here? Or should we expect more to call? I am concerned because we have many events for that week and do not want anybody from your group to be left out. Let us know, thanks for you time.

Vi

I thought we had a lot more than that also, I'm guessing a lot of you are just procrastinating, like I normally do. Do me a favor, If you plan on coming, and staying at the hotel, give em a call. Even if you decide to cancel, you don't lose anything. I just don't want them to start giving our rooms away. Thx.

Hotel Info

BUMP

took a ride out tonight to the "field of dreams" site, started a little recon, to find the best roads to get from Dubuque to Dyersville without taking the four lane.
(i needed another excuse to ride didn't i?)

Cool, maybe we can stop there on the way to Anamosa.

bigtexas suggested taking 61 south to D61 over to Cascade. Says it's a nice ride, and will keep us off the 4-lane for a while. If we go that way, we will probably have to skip Dyersville, and maybe go out there another day.