Wisconsin 2nd visit

Capital: Madison

Population: 5.560,000 (ranked 20th of 50 states)

Area: 170,000 km² (ranked 23rd of 50 states)

Projected Route

Below is my theoretical route. The map will be overlaid with my actual route once completed.

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Ride Report

Scroll down below the route map for this state's ride report and photos

Ride Report

My apologies to Wisconsin. I haven't really done it justice - just skimmed the very north and now the very south of this state. 

The bike received its first of two 10,000km services this morning, at Milwaukee Suzuki. Thanks to Dan, Mike & Tim for their interest and enthusiasm. 

I set the GPS to take me to Madison and then several backroads to lead to Illinois. I set the GPS to do "shortest rouet" as opposed to "fastest time". Thus it directed me right into downtown Madison and literally to the steps of the Capitol building. Had I ridden 5 metres further I'd have been going through the corridors and out the other side. Lesson learned - you want the shortest route? You'll get it.

Finally after slogging through rush hour commuters out of Madison it was a couple of hours of serene riding through the English-like countryside of southern Wisconsin with steeples, cows, hedges, cornfields, farmers wives with scarves.. you get the picture. 

I'm camped here just over the state line at a place called Lena, ready for the endurance test through Iowa, Nebraska & Kansas. Heading west again now. Gotta go, the laundry's about to close.

Entering Wisconsin for the second time

The crack team at Milwaukee Suzuki attending to the bike's first of two US services - new tyres, oil changed, oil filter, pivot points lubed, brake pads checked, chain tightened.

This is Mike at Milwaukee Suzuki who is about to embark oin a seriously long ride to Alberquerque & back on his Goldwing.

This is the best I can do to show what the Milwaukee - Madison ride was like. Sometimes you've just got to do the miles on the interstates.

Thanks to a difference of opinion between the GPS and me, instead of bypassing Madison, state capital of Wisconsin, the GPS took me literally up to the door of the Capitol building.

In the Wisconsin backblocks the scenery is quite European

I didn't get time to try the Spotted Cow but I understand it is a delicacy in New Glarus

Typical riding in the rural hinterland of Wisconsin

Camped for the night - note the beautiful new tread on the rear tyre - yes that's a Metzeler EXP you're looking at.