Upper Midwest 10 State Tour

[spyderbirds]

Day 1

Our fall trip this year started on Sept 1 leaving Kansas and traveling through Eastern Nebraska to our first nights stop in Souix City, Iowa.

Not a lot of sights, and being so close to home have seen them before, so no pictures but did piece together a short video of the days ryde.

 

[NancysToy]

I hope you don't run into snow.

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 2

Day 2

We traveled North through western Iowa into Minnesota and stopped at the Pipestone National Monument.
Pretty neat visitors center with a video that tells the story of the Pipestone and its place in American Indian culture.

The day ends in Fargo, ND. The oil and gas boom REALLY has the Fargo area growing.

A few pics of the trip are in the album http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/album.php?albumid=2360

 

[spyderbirds]

I hope you don't run into snow.

Scotty,
We saw lots of rain but no snow, back home now.

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 3

From Fargo ND, ending up in Hibbing MN.

Lots of trees for us Kansas folk

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 4

A scenic spyder ryde from Hibbbing MN to Cloquet, MN
Along the way we visited the North American Bear Center located just outside of Ely.
The trip from Ely to the North shore of Lake Superior was a bit frustrating as the hyway was under constuction and the detour took us on a 10-12 mile path of very rough sand/gravel forrest road. The spyder made it through although I was mighty nervous about debris in the belt before we got back on the pavement.
We also followed HWY 61 along Lake superior to the Canadian border. very pretty scenery.
Also rode some cool tunnels near Duluth, i just love tunnels on the spyder.

 

[flamingobabe]

Looks like a good trip...Kansas and traveling through Eastern Nebraska to me is beautiful...all the corn and the hard work from the farmers....Minnesota has so much to offer...it changes frequently....Lake Superior is also beautiful...and cold...it looks more like an ocean than a lake.....thanks for sharing...I know y'all had a good trip

 

[ARtraveler]

Thanks for sharing the videos. It was nice to see some of my old riding territory. After many years, it still looks the same.

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 5

Leaving Cloquet MN. we encountered some heavy rains for the better part of the day, we finally got a break towards the end of our days ryde to Escanaba, MI
I am a big fan of bears, not the Chicago kind but black bears. At a gas stop in driving rain in a small town in Wisconsin we observed a group of hunters lifting a medium sized black bear out of the bed of their truck at the local scale. Local police were also on site observing the "harvest"
I just couldnt even bring myself to snap a photo of the event.
Our ryde across Wisconsin showed us a huge number of wild turkey. We actually lost count of the number of groups we saw on the road and in the ditches.
Spyder handled well and the rain was more of a pain to us than to it. Did find that yes even our Frogg Toggs arent gonna keep you dry in extreme heavy rain. I think if we had been moving all the time they would have been fine but when we slowed for towns or for stops at intersections was when we got wet.

Another video of the days ryde.

 

[Paula(Butch2025)]

What a great trip...it is so cool how some of these states that are neighbors can so different and similar where their boarders meet. Sure wish we had known you were coming through Minnesota, we could've gathered a few Spyders to escort you through the state and show you our favorite spots...although you picked some of the best to visit. Have a safe trip.
--Paula

 

[CyncySpyder]

Teddy & I would like to Thank You for sharing your WonderFul Adventures

:clap::yes:Its what Spyder Ryde'n is All About:yes::clap:

:2thumbs::yes::cheers:Live'n the Dream and Share'n the Adventures:cheers::yes::2thumbs:

:bowdown::firstplace:Thanks for take'n us along for the ryde:firstplace::bowdown:​

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 6

Left Ecananba, MI bright and early due to anxiety of the days sites. two of the top sites we had looked forward to on our entire trip lie ahead today.

It was pretty chilly starting out around the north coast of Lake Michigan then curving down toward the Mackinac Bridge

Video highlights this portion of Day 6

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 6 continued...

After crossing the Mackinac Bridge we followed the Tunnel of Trees, a few weeks early for the fall colors but still a great ryde.

We visited the Old Mission Lighthouse as well before ending the day at the hotel across the road from Lake Michigan in Traverse City, MI.

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 7

We headed south along the Lake Michigan coast and had plans to see a lighthouse on our way. We encountered some rain and much more coming in over the lake so we didnt stop for the lighthouse scenery.
Day 7 ended with a toothache and our overnight stay in Fort Wayne, IN.

A short video of the day (when it wasn't raining)

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 8

Awoke with the tooth still aching. A steady dose of ibuprofren takes the edge off but does not eliminate the pain. It also takes the thrill out of continuing the trip on south and eastward.
Decided to change course and work our way back toward home instead.

Video leaving Indiana through Illinois and into Missouri.

 

[spyderbirds]

Day 9

Some very nice roads and scenery on the way from Mexico, Mo through the capital and past The Lake of the Ozarks en route into Kansas and back home.

Another video of the days sights. (Note the State trooper dragging a deer off the road around the 2:55 mark in the video)

Also an album of still pics from along the trip is on our profile page
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/album.php?albumid=2360

All considered it was a great trip, the tooth problem was a pain (literally) but we saw lots of great scenery and this was an example of the reason we bought the Spyder in the first place, to tour all of the lower 48 states.

We did cut off the end of this trip so Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky will have to wait till next year to appear on our states visited Map.
Still 9 days and just over 3600 miles caused lots of smiles over the miles.

We turned over 20,000 miles on the 2010 RT in less than 18 months since purchase. One solitary limp mode on a very rough off camber long sweeping turn. Simply pulled over, shut down, and removed the key for a minute and that was reset and we were on our way.
We have added some mods and still have some items on the wish list for the old blue girl but top of the wish list is time and finances and healthy bodies to continue to ride and see the sights that we have here in the good old USA.

Special thanks to all you Veterans for your service.

 

[Big Arm]

spyderbirds, This is the first time I've seen your post of your trip. In your first video, when you are arriving in Sioux City, and pulling into the Super 8 Motel, you were only six blocks from my house. I sure wish I would have known you were in town. I would of rode with you, part way, on your way to Minn.
Anyway, I enjoyed the films you posted here, and :congrats: on a great trip.:congrats: :clap:

 

[spyderbirds]

spyderbirds, This is the first time I've seen your post of your trip. In your first video, when you are arriving in Sioux City, and pulling into the Super 8 Motel, you were only six blocks from my house. I sure wish I would have known you were in town. I would of rode with you, part way, on your way to Minn.
Anyway, I enjoyed the films you posted here, and :congrats: on a great trip.:congrats: :clap:

Big Arm, that would have been good to have you along for a part of the ryde. That is one thing I always forget to do leading up to a trip, look or ask for spyder ryders located along the way. Seems I always think of that after I am on the road.
Need to add that to the pre trip things to do list.
Glad you enjoyed the movies. I may watch them more myself on upcoming winter days LOL
Ryde Safe,
Spyderbirds

 

[spyderbirds]

What a great trip...it is so cool how some of these states that are neighbors can so different and similar where their boarders meet. Sure wish we had known you were coming through Minnesota, we could've gathered a few Spyders to escort you through the state and show you our favorite spots...although you picked some of the best to visit. Have a safe trip.
--Paula

Hats off to Minnesota for both variety and TREES lol The forrests are awe inspiring to us flatlanders from KS.
We endeavor to throw our route out ahead of time in future so we can meet spyderlovers along the way.
Ryde safe and stay warm
Spyderbirds