The Piano Man in Woodstock, IL

Our last trip for the 2017 season was to see The Piano Man at the Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock, IL.

The Piano Man is a tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John. I had seen the two touring together several times and was looking forward to see how this tribute could provide a similar experience. We were not disappointed! Hitting all the favorites, the band performed with obvious appreciation of the original performers and provided commentary on these legends.

Our original plan was to keep it cheap and stay at the Crystal Lake Motel. However, poor planning on my part and the assumption we would find a room without a reservation, resulted in a last minute search for alternative accommodations.

We were glad it worked out this way! A call to Sherry at the Victorian Rose Garden Bed and Breakfast in Algonquin, IL was greeted with a very pleasant reception and an assurance she could work something out at the last minute. This does not normally happen at a B&B! Especially when we would only be staying one night.

Expecting the place to be only marginal, since they were so flexible, we were very surprised to find the house was exactly as shown on their webpage. Our room was very nice and breakfast was even better. This is now our favorite Bed and Breakfast and we plan to use it as a first night stay when leaving work late on a Friday for a weekend trip to Wisconsin or Northern Illinois.

After settling in to our room, we rode to Woodstock and had dinner at BBQ King. Great food and service and very close to the opera house.

Following the show, we rode back to the B&B. It was a little cool and my new AGV Veloce Soleluna was fogging. I did not expect this with a pinlock insert and had to compensate by riding with the visor unlocked. This helmet does not have detents like a typical model. The options were locked down tight, open with a slight crack of about one eighth of an inch, or unlocked. The cracked position was not letting in enough air while still in town and moving slow. Out on highway the cracked position was fine and the helmet has great ventilation. I will need to investigate the fogging issue and also the weak Sprint headlights, mentioned previously.

New Lid

My old Norton N-102 helmet had been peeling its outer coat and the liner was now sagging. I casually mentioned this to Chris and that I should buy a new helmet before next season. She decided I needed it NOW and it should be for my birthday. Not one to argue, I agreed and we took a ride over to Dainese Chicago to check out AGV helmets. Chris's AGV K-5 has worked out well and I like the possibility of some Valentino Rossi graphics.

The store was having MotoGP viewing party with free food so after some helmet shopping, we picked up some pizza and Coke and found a seat for the race. Nice race, but Rossi did not make podium.

So back to the helmets I went tried the K-5 S and the Veloce. The Veloce was much lighter with carbon fiber shell. In the end we went for the Veloce Soleluna. So now I am rocking the Rossi style. Any chance it will make me ride better?

20th Annual Midwest Triumph Ride-In

This annual event is hosted by Team Power Center, Janesville, WI and held at the Chalet Landhaus Inn in New Glarus, WI. It has attracted a growing tribe of loyal supporters.

To not miss the first night activities of beer and pizza, our plan was to leave early and stay on the road until arriving in New Glarus. However, things did not work out as planned and we had several hours of riding in the dark. While there were no near misses, it did cause some anxiety. This pointed out the inadequacy of the Sprint headlights as discussed on the TriumphRat.net forum and will need to be addressed in the future.

We did arrive before all the pizza and New Glarus Brewing beer was consumed. People were very friendly and we discussed options for the next day. Definitely wanted to take a ride somewhere, but left that decision for the next day.

Frank Lloyd Wright House -  Taliesin

After the amazing Landhaus breakfast buffet we joined others outside to check out our opportunities for the day. Team Power Center was offering test rides on all their bikes, but we just wanted to get going on one of the many trips they had mapped. With our interest in architechture, we decided to check out the Frank Lloyd Wright House, Taliesin in Spring Green, WI. Our route was loaded in Google Maps and house tour tickets purchased online prior to departure. As with our previous trip to Albany, WI, we had saved a map of the area when we had internet connection. This has been an effective work around to missing AT&T coverage in Wisconsin.

The scenery was relaxing and so was the absence of traffic as we made our way to Spring Green.

Chris has visited several Frank Lloyd Houses, but I had only seen the Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, NY previously. Besides its unique design, Taliesin was the location of Wright's architecture school. It might be best known to those with a morbid curiosity as the place where his mistress and her children were murdered. The facts surrounding this event are muddy, but many opinions regarding motive exist.

Following our tour of the house, we eagerly returned to Landhaus for the evening banquet, as we had heard it should not be missed.

Banquet and Next Morning

Well the banquet was amazing with the manager throwing in complementary dessert! Then Team Power Center jumped into action with prizes for various categories and a door prize drawing that would not quit. By the time they were done, everyone had "won" at least two and in some cases three prizes. These folks know how to hold a rally!

The next morning we had our last Landhaus breakfast buffet and quickly found our spot in the group photo. Folks were really nice and we look forward to getting together next year.

The weekend was over too quick and we needed to get back to Chicago. With that in mind, we wanted to stop in Woodstock, IL for lunch having visited there previously.

Woodstock, IL

First order of business was coffee at Ethereal Confections.

Having not checked for events, we made a surprise landing into HarvestFest 2017, a bluegrass festival! The music was fun and check out the tractors. I remember some of these from when I was a kid on my grandfather's farm in Southern Illinois.

After a short ride, we were back in the garage. Up went a sticker to remember our new best buds at Team Power Center.

Albany, WI

After consideration of various destinations in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, we chose Albany, WI for a Labor Day weekend trip with the Triumph Sprint ST. Albany is an out of the way place, but close to other interesting towns like New Glarus, WI. Our route quickly entered Wisconsin from Chicago and crossed the Southern part of the state.

To avoid the problems we had encountered previously with AT&T service in Wisconsin, we downloaded a Google Map of the area we planned to see. That way if we lost cell service, Google Maps would still function. At least according to the instructions provided by Google.

Leaving Chicago after work, we rode until loosing daylight and decided to overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Hoffman Estates, IL.Rather than going out again for dinner, we had delivery from Sweet Caroline's Barbecue. Was an excellent choice! Our route mostly avoided expressways, truckers, and Labor Day traffic.

So the next day we headed out, weather great, not much traffic, and farmlands. Then the unexpected happened, in the Wisconsin countryside, we saw the sign for a Triumph dealership, Team Power Center, Janesville, WI. As unexpected as the location was the fact it was only a Triumph dealership, no other multi-model manufacturer. Motus does not count. It was like the shrine to Triumph. After making our purchases of Triumph wear, we learned the dealership sponsored an annual rally, the Annual Midwest Triumph Ride-In in New Glarus, WI. Taking a flyer, we considered attending the event IN TWO WEEKS!

Our accommodations for the remainder of the trip were at the Albany House Bed & Breakfast. The house has great architecture with stone walls and almost all original interior. Breakfast was tasty and the innkeeper was very friendly without being intrusive. Overall, the house is a value with a very reasonable rate and close proximity to other sites. The only downside might be the limited dining in walking distance as compared to a place like Galena.

We did have a nice prime rib meal at Gabriella's Restaurant, which was in walking distance of the house. The next day we rode to New Glarus and sampled the Swiss cuisine having Rosti at the New Glarus Hotel Restaurant. Rosti is like cheesy hash browns.

After checking out the Chalet Landhaus Inn, we decided to return for the Triumph Ride-In in two weeks and made a reservation at the Chalet. While at Landhaus I hooked up with a local hottie and Chris was none too happy.

The traffic was not that bad for Labor Day as we returned to Chicago. Our iPhone/Google Maps navigation did cause some concern as the iPhone power connection seemed to be faulty. That will require further investigation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Milwaukee Visit

This was our first trip on our new-to-us bike, a 2006 Triumph Sprint ST.  After the experience in Galena, IL our first priority was to identify a motorcycle that fit our requirements.

We left Chicago after work on a Friday, taking a route that avoided the expressway, at least until entering Milwaukee. However, as darkness fell we wanted to pick up the pace and not arrive late to meet our friends in the city. So we jumped over to Interstate 94. While this avoided the stop signs and lights of all the towns along the routes, we now had the truckers to be attentive to. Many truckers running 80 MPH or more.

It was Chris's birthday and we looked forward to spending it with friends. While there we visited Colectivo Coffee along the lakefront, the Milwaukee Art Museum, a microbrew, Yokohama ramen shop, and a local pizza restaurant.

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We tried to entertain ourselves part of the time as our hosts have very busy days, her a Chemistry Doctoral student and he an engineer and semi-pro golfer.

Milwaukee had a lot going on that weekend and we were fortunate to visit during their Easttown Bastille Days. Free entertainment and not-free beer!

This was our first longer trip on the Sprint and it was much better than the Ninja. No sensitivity to crosswinds and more room for two-up. Looking forward to the next time.

Fourth of July 2017 Galena, IL

St. Charles, IL

On June 30 on our Kawasaki Ninja EX500, we left for Galena, Il from Chicago, a trip of some 170 miles avoiding the expressways. This was our first  opportunity to try out our new SENA 10S helmet communicators.

Since we were leaving Chicago late after work, it seemed a good idea to stay over at the Super 8 in St. Charles to avoid night riding. The hotel is nothing special, but the price is right. St. Charles has some nice dining options. We chose The Office for the outdoor seating.

State Route 64 was typical Northern Illinois farmland, with mostly straight roads. It did give refuge from the onrush of truckers found on the highways. However, in some parts of the trip, gusty crosswinds slowed our pace. Turning onto State Route 52, we arrived in Savannah, IL on the Mississippi River. The river is narrower here than we were accustomed to in St. Louis and parts South. From Savannah, State Routes 64/20 took us to Galena, IL. Along the way, we made a stop at the Three Sisters Sweet Shop in Elizabeth, IL. The ice cream was very tasty, but seemed to make us shrink like Alice in Wonderland.

During our time in Galena we stayed at 305 North, a bed and breakfast. This was formerly a storefront along the main street. It was converted to accommodations, but kept the high tin ceilings of its former  purpose. The innkeeper was very bike friendly, suggesting I park under the rear deck. Our room was country modern with a whirlpool tub and a comfy bed. While it did not have the typical Victorian charm we found in another B&B from a previous trip, it certainly was a pleasant stay, and the rates were less than our other experience in Galena.

One of the best features of Galena is the proximity of most of the restaurants and attractions, being in walking distance of the bed & breakfast options.

On our first night we simply crossed the street to find the unexpected sushi restaurant, Little Tokyo. The Love Boat for Two is amazing! It is hard to fill up on sushi, but with the boat, it can be done.

Another notable dinning experience of the trip was Vinny Vanucchi's 'Little Italy.' Great pasta and entries with an extensive wine list.

One of our reasons for visiting Galena on the 4th of July was to watch their fireworks display. Being the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, we expected an appropriate celebration. Taking a seat on one of the many hillside steps found there, we had a great view of the display.

A side trip to Mineral Point, WI resulted in an encounter reminiscent to the movie Deliverance. Maybe I am exaggerating. Gusty crosswinds kept our speeds in the neighborhood of 45 MPH. The road was empty with the exception of a white Chevy pickup on my tail. I would have pulled over to let him around, but the absence of a shoulder made that option not possible. Eventually the double line went away and our new "friend" disappeared in a roar and cloud of diesel smoke. With that over, I could focus on keeping in our lane and proceeded to our destination. Rolling into town, we circled the streets to make a decision on a lunch spot. Pulling up to the curb and before I was off the bike, a large gentleman crossed the streets speaking loudly about what I thought was my excessive speed in his town. However, after seeing his white truck I realized he was complaining about my not driving the speed limit.This went on for some time as I attempted to explain my concern about the crosswinds. Eventually, he gave up and returned to his truck to drive off. I began to ponder where he could be going with such urgency on a Sunday morning! Within the moment a group of bikers parked across the street and I could hear "thats not a Harley" and thought how could this happen twice in the same day. However, he quickly followed with "thats not one either" and pointed at his Victory cruiser. With that the locals were redeemed and I can blame the earlier encounter on a  unhappy childhood.

However, there was a message in all of this, that we needed a bigger bike that was not susceptible to gusting crosswinds. Also discovered was that AT&T service in Wisconsin is almost nonexistent and dependency on Google Maps by way of my iPhone C was not a good idea. Time to explore other navigation options.

A different return route put us on Wisconsin State Route 11 through Monroe and Beloit. Reentry to Illinois followed with State Route 14 and our first visit to Woodstock, IL. The location for the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day. The town has many dining options, but we chose The Double Yoke Cafe for a generous and delicious lunch. To avoid an imminent downpour we entered the chocolate fog that is called Ethereal Confections. A raspberry white chocolate latte gave ample time for the storm to dissipate. Another lesson learned, do not place helmets on surfaces that could flood with rain. Those helmet bags do little to stop rising water. Fortunately those soggy linings had only a short time to be endured before we returned to Chicago and home.

Honeymoon

On July 11, 2016 we took our blue Kawasaki EX500 Ninja on a honeymoon trip from Chicago, IL to Washington Island, WI. The trip spanned seven days and 300 miles. Before our wedding we asked family and friends to support our honeymoon through a Go Fund Me campaign rather than wedding gifts.

Plymouth, WI

The route to the island featured two nights in Plymouth, WI at 52 Stafford, an Irish Hotel. Occasionally we deviate from traditional B&B's to stay at a "boutique" hotel. Chicago traffic and leaving mid-afternoon resulting in a late arrival.

Plymouth has great lunch options including Chester's Drive Inn.

No events were scheduled during our two days in Plymouth, but the track at Road America hosts many motorcycle events and we certainly plan to return soon.

Washington Island, WI

Leaving early from Plymouth we made our way North to Manitowoc, WI.

As State Highway 42 took us from farmland to the coast of Lake Michigan, the temperatures dropped and fog set in, breaking as we approached the lighthouse at Algoma. Across from the beach is St. Agnes' Episcopal Church.

As we traverse Door County, the opportunity to visit cherry orchards and to try their produce could not be ignored.

As the peninsula narrows, we approached the ferry terminal at Northport, WI. Following a 30 minute ride to the island, we had a lunch of fish chowder at K.K. Fiske Restaurant.

After lunch, a local gentleman remarked he was surprised we could ride from Chicago to the island on a 500cc motorcycle. Actually, the EX500 did very well two up with the exception of crosswinds.

Our base of operations on Washington Island was Valerie's Tipping Bucket Farm. Again, this was not a bed and breakfast, but it was also not a standard hotel. A real farm with Valerie's many children tending the animals.

After dropping our gear at Tipping Bucket, we made a short ride from the farm to check out the StavkirkeIs, a Norwegian Lutheran church built on the style of their wooden sailing ships.

Sunset on Green Bay brought an end to a perfect day.

The next day we explored a sandy beach, but all the while considering what it must be like in February with ice and snow.

For dinner we headed to Fiddler's Green, a bar/bistro featuring live entertainment.

Following dinner and a rain shower, we headed back to Tipping Bucket. On the way we were greeted by a close relative to the buck on the wall at Fiddler's. This encounter was the beginning of our realization that helmet communicators would be a prudent purchase. My new wife was pounding on my back seeing the large deer in our path. I interpreted this signal to mean "hurry up" because a gentleman in a pickup was tailgating. Fortunately, I soon realized the deer in the road was a bigger hazard than an impatient driver.

Our last morning on the island, we rose early to visit Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm. The farm offers many lavender-containing products and provides a colorful photo opportunity.

A quick breakfast at the Danish Mill, it was back to the ferry, and a return to the peninsula.

Fish Creek, WI

Following State Highway 42, we skirt Green Bay, shortly arriving at our new destination, The White Gull Inn, in Fish Creek, WI. The White Gull is not a B&B, but more a luxury accommodation with a home-like feel.

Fish Boil

Probably the most popular attraction of Fish Creek and Pelletier's Restaurant, is their version of a fish boil. Lake white fish are cooked, along with potatoes, in a large pot over a wood fire. At the proper moment, a healthy amount of kerosene is thrown on the fire resulting in the water rapidly expelled from the pot along with, according to the locals,  any fat from the fish. Whether the cooking technique or the ample amount of salt, I cannot say, results in very tasty fish and potatoes. The meal is capped with a generous portion of Door County tart cherry pie.

The night ended with another impressive Green Bay sunset.

As if the fish boil was not enough to leave us satiated, the next morning was another culinary assault with a White Gull breakfast. Note the bacon falling off the plate.

Oconomowoc, WI 

Could have stayed longer in Fish Creek, but back on State Route 42 to our last stop in Oconomowoc, WI .

Following Green Bay, the route changes to State Route 57, and then State Route 55/151 to Lake Winnebago. State Route becomes 175 and later P, as the landscape becomes farmland.

Just before turning to our day's destination, we grab an early dinner at the bike friendly (with separate bike parking)  Tommy's & Di's Rustic Inn. 

The last stop of our trip is a "real" B&B, The Inn at Pine Terrace. The rooms are very comfortable in the usual Victorian decor. We stayed in the Captain Parker room, at the top floor of the house.

With an early dinner, we walked to the downtown for ice cream, following the shore of Lac La Belle.

The next morning we made return to Chicago with gusty crosswinds challenging the small EX500. Considering the severity of the winds, it might have been wiser to remain a second night at the inn. 

With reduced speeds and careful attention, we returned home ready for another trip.

It was great how many people honked at us when they saw the sign, sharing a little of our adventure.