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Thanks for the suggestions, I'll certainly let you know how it goes.

Well the trip was supposed to happen today however a case of Benign Positional Vertigo made it impossible for me to make the trip out. Maybe it was somewhat of a blessing in disguise as I only have about 6000 miles riding experience, mostly in 300 mile or less segments and most of it in very good weather. As far as the route I had planned on taking I think you are correct in staying in the interstate. I was watching the news and saw that even a part of I-94 between Milwaukee and Madison was closed last night, probably another sign that my timing for this trip probably wasn't the best. I thank you for your offer of lodging, I have found that all the people I have "met" on the board I would someday actually like to meet. Unfortunately like many of us the demands of family and work limit how much I will ride versus how much I want to ride. I think I've read "We came for the bike and stay for the people" somewhere and it is certainly true here.

Well now I'm sitting here nearly fully "rebalanced" awaiting the bike to come to me. I am fortunate as I have a friend in Denver who is picking the bike up for me and will be trailering it back in 2 weeks when he returns for his annual fishing trip.

Thanks for all your help.

Here is an update. I ended up bringing the bike back after all this past weekend. In talking with the friend who was going to bring the bike back I started to notice that he was a little overwhelmed by how he was going to load and unload the bike and how to keep the bike protected. So I caught a flight to Denver on Friday and met my friend at the airport as he was arriving from Salt Lake City. Unfortunately he was delayed so we didn't get back to his house until near nightfall and my initial plan of doing a few maneuvers in a local parking lot before setting out on the trip was delayed. ( My fiend lives on a canyon road which I 'll show you in a few lines and I wasn't thrilled with riding the road in the dark, throw in some wildlife and no lights at the county park and the decision became very easy.) Instead we threw some burgers on the big green egg and while he was grilling I put the plates, on checked the fluids and changed the air filter.

I was very happy to see the bike having purchased it only having seen the pictures on craigslist. I had talked extensively with the previous owner and was very comfortable with how meticulous he had maintained the bike, he had kept all the original parts less the exhaust and threw in a repair manual. So I was expecting the bike to be nice, but I was surely beaming when I first saw it


After breakfast on Saturday I figured I run down to the county part only about 1/2 mile down the road and use the parking lot to get reacquainted with the feel of the bike do a couple of u-turns and hopefully not hurt myself or someone or something else.


Well I get to the park about 8:15 and the lot is full. The park features a nice pond and there are many avid fisherman on the pond and stream. My friend had warned me this might be a possibility and there was a 2nd less crowded park about 2 miles further down the road no problem.




By the time I got to the park I figured I just had my re-indoctrination did a quick uey and was on my way. Though the first 13 miles weren't the way you'd typically re-orientate yourself if you were home in Flat straight road filled Wisconsin.

Here is the route to the highway


I figured after these twisties the rest of the trip will be a breeze - How little did I know "breeze" would play an important part of the trip home.



The trip through Colorado was great smooth sailing good traffic flow.

Then just before I hit the Nebraska border the winds start kicking up, 25 to 30 MPH from the north with gusts in the 40 mph range I'm told. 2 more hours of this and I decided to stop in Kearney and make the first day a little shorter than planned. I'm a little whipped from holding the bike on the road and rather than risk a problem I figured it was time to stop for the day and get up earlier the next morning to see if i could get some cleaner air and a little less traffic to contend with.

Bright and early after a nutritious Comfort Inn breakfast I'm on the road by 6:45 and my strategy appears to be working, I'm cruising at a solid 80 on I-80 there is little traffic and very little wind. Maybe I'll be home before the 6pm the gps is estimating. Ha! 2 hours go by and the wind starts gradually picking up.
I'm fighting a head wind now as we turn north around Des Moines and as I turn west I am reminded that the wind is now a cross wind and not much lean is needed for this right hand turn. I push for another hour and the wind is still pushing me around so i stopped and a rest area to recompose myself

and just close my eyes for a couple of minutes. A quick snooze and a check of the weather and it is showing me that the wind is here to stay and if I don't beat feet in a hurry I'm going to be fighting wind and rain in Dubuque. So its off to the races


And maybe I can be home in time to tuck the kiddies into bed. So back onto the bike and now I just gotta gettter done.

Crossing Iowa was a little breezy but 151 tuned out to be a great ride though a rain storm and I were watching each other both trying to get to the Wisconsin border before the other. I won. and the ride on 151 to Madison was uneventful and got onto 194 about 8 and pulled into the driveway at just past 9, a little behind my target but still in time to put the kids to bed and more importantly I got home dry and safe. The day was a little long, my hands are still not working right it is actually a little hard to get them to straighten out but-- the smile is back. I was wondering if my wife would mind me bringing the bike in the living room it is so nice to look at.

Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.