Great weather weekend for the Milwaukee Rally with all 5 of the local Harley Dealers and the Museum all having entertainment and onsite vendors.

We began our Rally exploration soon after Kelley’s flight arrived Friday morning.  The Milwaukee airport does it right when it come to airport parking.

Motorcycle only parking right in front of the terminal.  Correction should be:  “FREE motorcycle parking”.

Later in the day on Friday we were joined by our riding friends Billy and Paulette from Tennessee.  They already had plans to attend the Rally and read in this Blog that we would be attending and reached out.  Was fun hanging out together for the Rally.

Along the shore of Lake Michigan with Billy and Paulette.

Some Rally photos below:

1903 Harley Davidson serial number #1 (they think all or most the parts are from the first motorcycle they built)

Demo ride on a 2017 CVO Breakout.  Nimble and fast compared to my touring bike.

Kelley tried one of the new Trikes.

Virtual Reality exhibition of an early 1900’s bike race hosted by the Discovery Channel promoting their Harley and the Davidsons mini series that begins on Monday.

Nothing like Sturgis but the Milwaukee Rally still had some craziness.

Kelley leaves for home in the morning and the current plan is to ride North to Michigan’s upper peninsula.

 

 

 

No post yesterday as it was a 600+ mile geographical relocation day.  Traveled from Jamestown, North Dakota to Anamosa, Iowa mostly on smaller roads and it is my assessment this country will have no shortage for corn or soy beans this year.  Was nice to see an occasional sunflower or pumpkin crop.

Anamosa is the home to the National Motorcycle Museum where over 400 vintage motorcycles and bicycles are on display.  I met one of the founders of the museum while attending a motorcycle expo in Colorado Springs a few years ago and mentioned I would come by and visit when I have an opportunity.  Today I made good on that conversation.

The museum was founded in 1989 and is housed in the town’s original Walmart building made available when a Super Walmart was constructed 8 years ago.  The collection of motorcycles and related items (clothing, signs, pictures, sculptures, toys, etc.) is amazing!

A few of the many pictures a posted below  (selected a few that non motorcycle enthusiasts  might enjoy)

Evil Knievel’s 1972 Jump Bike

Peter Fonda’s ride in Easy Rider

Steve McQueen’s 1947 Indian Chief – one of his personal bikes not the one he rode in the Great Escape

1923 Cycle Car picked by Mike and Frank on American Pickers – which leads into the next destination

Le Claire, Iowa – home of Antique Archaeology made famous by the History Channel’s American Pickers

Unfortunately Mike, Frank and Danielle were all out but I did run into Frank 2 years ago in Sturgis during Bike Week as he was going into a tattoo shop

The Indian they dug up from a lady’s back yard during the “Legend of the Lost Indian” episode in 2014

Le Claire also boasts being the birthplace of Buffalo Bill Cody.  I had to wonder if the  towns that take great pride in famous people being from their town ever consider why these people never hung around?

From Le Claire it was a great ride going north along the banks of the Mississippi first on the Iowa side before crossing into Illinois and following the river on the east side.

Ended the day in Milwaukee on schedule to meet Kelley’s flight in the morning (Whew!) and then spending the Weekend here doing the Harley Museum and Rally events.

 

 

Another great day of riding in the Dakotas!  Headed North out of Sturgis towards North Dakota.

Artist rendition of me riding out of Sturgis past the Full Throttle Saloon

Soon after crossing into North Dakota rode the Enchanted Highway.  A guy concerned that his town was dying created numerous sculptures along a 30 mile stretch of rural road between his town of Regent and Gladstone.  Maybe it was like Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams and he was told “if you build them they will come”, hope it works out because it was very cool however I was all alone along this stretch of road when taking these photos.

A few are shown below but many more can be viewed on-line.

Farm Family

F

Fisherman’s Dream

World’s Largest Grasshopper.

These things light up –  might be something to see this thing lit up along this small country road alone at night?

Stopped in Jamestown to see a rare white buffalo, however he was playing unicorn and hiding somewhere in the trees.  White buffalo are said to be extremely rare only occurring in one in about every 10 million births.

Did get this shot of a 60 ton sculpture of a buffalo.

Guessing 60 ton buffalo sculptures are also not very common.

Heading a course into Minnesota in the morning getting me closer to Milwaukee for the weekend.