Birthday party for my sister today, happy 27th! I'm so proud of my little sister, she can throw a good party. The evening ended with Robot Alchemic Drive, and so much leftover cheese.
298 miles back to Madison. There's a lot of time to think when riding throughout the Midwest.
Also, a lot of bugs. Today's ride was particularly juicy.
285 miles, to Des Moines. I feel like something like this could be looped like a background in animation. Figured I'd try to get back into the rhythm of riding, and besides, when will I be in Iowa again?
My CS hosts, Monkey and Heather, are awesome! They took me to El Bait Shop, and our very enthusiastic server held an impromptu beer tasting. It was a nice cap to the day.
Looks so small, and yet still so heavy. Minimalism is appealing to me (goes hand in hand with motorcycle touring), but moving the sum of my stuff alongside my sister's household... really highlighted how far I went. I don't want to think of the day I have to move my things in storage to a new place.
I always thought I was a slow healer, but maybe this has something to do with it. Must... stay off... injuries...
107 miles. I took a scenic route back to Madison. There are a number of clock towers in the city that remind me of something that would be built in China in the 70s. Then, a block later, an enormous ornate basilica would rise from the industrial buildings, very incongruent.
But the thing that struck me most was looking out over Lake Michigan. It was like a calm ocean. I could never do it justice in a drawing.
89 miles, to Milwaukee to hang out with Mikey from the Wall of Death. He lives down the street from an industrial space shared with several motorcyclists, The Shed, and invited me to their Thirsty Thursday. What a blast, it was great to meet everyone! I'm jealous, it's like the kind of clubhouse I'd love as a kid, I can't imagine being so lucky as to have mini-rallies every week here with buddies.
A pleasant evening picnicking and having a delicious conversation around the Bruce effect in humans, while Top 40s of Classical blasted live in the background. "The king is dead, long live the king."
I just met Dan and Katie at the Couchcrash, and they're already off to Beijing for 2 years. It's a great town, explorers, enjoy!
Also, the name of the student memorial union just makes me think, "Derp Rathskeller."
Almost done with work-work. Health insurance systems in this country aren't designed to help someone like me, nor do I expect them to be for a long time.
Another airplane tour, thanks to Gary from the Couch Crash! What a thrill to see such different landscape from the last time I was in a small aircraft. I want to pilot all the things now.
I managed to grab most of the flight on GPS, including a fly-by of Sauk-Prairie Airport, some loops around Devil's Lake, lake Wisconsin, and Madison city tour. Roughly an hour of inflight awesome.
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| Start and finish at same point, B, I just forgot to turn on GPS until we were already in the air. |
Remember when this used to be a travel blog?
Actually, I was feeling unwell today. I believe hidden dairy, a boatload of booze, and over-socializing added up, so I just rested and recovered with Hotpot, Moni's cat. She loves me because I share the tuna.
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| It's probably a good thing I still have a sprained ankle holding me back. |
I decided to try something new, and joined up with the Madison Couchcrash trip to Devils Lake. It's an odd transition to give up personal freedom and explore with a group (sitting passenger in a car, even!), but in exchange I met lots of fun people. Actually, it was Stefon back in Kentucky who suggested the Couchcrash, and we all hiked around the lake.
Okay, I hiked the steep, fun, climbing half of it, and then needed to rest and elevate my not-so-healed ankle while waiting for a car pickup. I've probably delayed healing a few more days...but it's worth it.
Having a haircut has traditionally been associated with change and transition. For the same reasons, it felt a bit momentous when I realized my hair was long enough to be a nuisance in my face. I guess I hadn't noticed while I was on the road, because I'd tuck it into the helmet and the the combination of sweat and pressure held it in place. Now that I'm stationary for a while, it was time.
Someone familiar with Asian hair can be tricky to find depending on where you are. Fortunately, my sister had the intel and was also due for a trim, so we made an appointment with her hairdresser. I wouldn't be surprised if she cuts all the Asian hair within a 20 mile radius. Hairdressers are well-connected people, never mess with your hairdresser.
Ahh, that feels much better short.
I'm here for your entertainment.
Also, I can't help but hear this in my head a bit as I work...
Taking the opportunity of having easy shower access to flex what's left of overlooked muscles. For those curious, I've been favoring Neil Arey for quick workouts without equipment. More about working out (or not) on the road below.
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| The one on the right tracks the Amerivespa long ride, around 150 miles. |
Destination: New Orleans. Target: Amerivespa. I liked the gulf coast of Florida, but I was riding with a goal. The Big Apple is a familiar comfort, now I wanted to explore the neon-lit nighttime streets of the Big Easy, all new to me.
I ran out of room to write the location, but safe to assume we're in Madison, WI.
At the risk of reinforcing stereotypes, nearly every time I visit my sister we watch kungfu movies. They run the gamut of modern, classic, MST3K-worthy awful, only released in Hong Kong, or just some (questionably violent) movies our parents watched when we were kids. Tonight's pick: Police Story, the original, a classic, 80s era Jackie Chan at his best. This explains so much about our childhood.
First time canoeing! Actually, it was fun once I got used to such a small craft, and the idiot Giraffe behind me stopped deliberately messing with the boat.
Check out my fixie! Trendsetting in Old World Wisconsin.
Parents were watching their kids ride the reproduction bikes, until I hopped on one. Then, all the parents started lining up. Patient zero for Wheel Fever in adults, right here!
Had a lovely evening watching competing lakeside neighborhood's fireworks displays, over a couple pitchers of beer with my sister, Ben, and the Giraffe (flew in for the weekend).
Also, caught up with Joe, whom I met in Maggie Valley. He was working at the Klock Werks booth at Wing Ding. He had suggested checking out the show, and it was great to meet the other Klock Werks people.
On the way to the Alliant Center, I spotted a train of three baggers and a trike off to the side of the road, asking for directions. I pulled up and asked if they were going to the show, which they were. I said I was just there yesterday and know the way. The back guy honked to his buddies and waved me forward, and the little blue scoot lead the way to the convention center.
The guy in front had a fat cigar pinched between his lips as he rode. At a light, he took it out to ask, "So, ready to get you a Goldwing?" I laughed and took off at the light change. It was a nice little impromptu ride over the lake.
Had a nice time poking around Wing Ding, at the Alliant Energy Center. Those things are like livingrooms on two wheels, but actually I found quite a bit in common for touring. Also, thanks goes to Nick, for hooking me up with gear from NPmoto.com!
It's Wisconsin!
Also, my seester, the most thoughtful person in the world, had already cleared a desk space for me to work while in town (and she's at lab all day). D'aww.
Bonus drawing of Hotpot the cat:
I have to admit something up front... Maybe it was the rain, but I was more than happy to turn back north.
129 miles. Dave helped me maintain/check several things on the scoot (much thanks!), and the skies cleared for a smooth ride to Madison, WI. I'll be staying with my seester here for the next few weeks, catching up on work and resting.
