Lunch in Beloit, WI

I had been on the road solo for 5 days.  On Sunday July 14, 2013 I got off the Interstate and had breakfast in Deadwood, SD.   I took some backroads south and ended up at Crazy Horse Memorial and breezed by Mt Rushmore as it wasn't worth spending time there and eventually joined back up with I-90 heading East and I was getting a bit tired but I wanted to press on and put on more miles before I called it a day.  Eventually I was dozing off a bit so I thought it best to have a good sit down dinner so I took the next exit and ended up in Murdo, SD.  A weather front was closing in and it was starting to sprinkle a bit so after dinner I found a nice motel for $39. so I stopped for the night.

Before my trip I had been exchanging emails and the plan was to meet up with Coop as he was south of me at a MotoGuzzi Rally and our paths were going to intersect but I had not heard from him.   Also as fate would have it Dom from Denver, CO was going to be right on my flight path as he was enroute to Holmen, WI for his FIL's birthday.  He said I was welcome to join him at their friends and they would make room for me.

Monday, July 15th, 2013 was a pedal to the metal kind of day

I even had time to see the Corn Palace in Mitchell and after seeing the Wall Drugs signs on the highway for 100 miles I had to go into Wall, SD to see what the fuss was about

but other than these two places and a few snack breaks all I saw all day was

miles and miles of dotted lines.   This was to be my first 500+ mile day of this trip.  I got my signals mixed up as Dom said he would wait for me on "Main Street"

So here I am at the foot of main street and the Dom familymobile was no where to be seen.   After a few text messges back and forth and myself trying to get my bearings, I find that I was supposed to end up on Main Street in Holmen, not Main Street in LaCrosse.   I  headed south into the city rather than North to Holmen.  After about 20 miles later following my GPS

I spot Dom on the side of the road waiting for me, and then a bit later we arrive at our Host's home for the night

This is the 2nd time I have seen Valencia this year.  The first time when Dom was on his way to Alaska and he passed through Vancouver on his way north

I was assigned to the lady bug room.

July 16th, 2013 Tuesday:

It was my plan to be on the road by 9am lastest so after a quick breakfast and saying our goodbyes

I headed back on the highway heading south to Beliot which was about 150 miles south where I was going to have lunch.   I allowed some extra time so I could spend some time sightseeing

I started to see familiar names on the exits and eventually I took the one into Madison, WI.   I found the traffic heavy and there was lots of construction on the main drag heading into town so I diverted onto some side streets so I could see the lake

It seems like you are able to see the Capital building from every direction

It was very hot and I was sweltering in my riding gear so I stopped across from Capital Square

My time was running out and I had to get moving towards Beloit and it was a maze to find my way out of town

I found my way along this causeway along the water.  I tried to take video but my GoPro was acting up and freezing up  (I fixed the software update in Portland ME) so while I thought I was recording it wasn't

I started blogging early 2008 and back then there were only a handful of bloggers.  This particular person actually lives in Chicago and over the years we did build up a distant friendship and I always thought that if I ever had a chance to come near Chicago that we would have a chance to actually meet.  During the past couple of years she has had some "challenges" but we have remained in touch in spite of her not posting and I was fortunate that she had the time free and she said she would ride the 2 hours East to meet me in Beloit, WI so I didn't have to mess with the Chicago traffic and deal with all the toll roads

The suspense builds in my mind as I approach our meet point and I park next to her familiar Beemer which was across the street

    "Jessie Owens"  BMW F800ST                                                       Beloit, WI    July 16, 2013

I park my Beemer next to her's and I wonder how I am going to recognize her but all is well as I noticed her helmet sitting on the table.   This was a day that I never thought would happen . . .