Day’s distance: 438 miles Total trip distance so far: 7,622 miles Temperatures ranged from the low 40s to the mid 70s. The day started out with clear skies and light winds but ended with showers and steady light to moderate winds. The owner of the BMW dealership in Sioux City, Dave Bak, suggested Hwy 12 and Hwy 20 would be good alternatives to I-90 if I … Continue reading Northern States Tour – Day 34

Day’s distance: 9 miles Total trip distance: 7,184 miles I rode the bike back to the BAK BMW dealer because I decided to go ahead and replace the back tire. It was a little early but a new tire would ensure the maximum safety factor for the rest of the trip, especially in the rain. While I normally run 180/55ZR17 tire in the rear, the shop … Continue reading Northern States Tour – Day 33

    Day’s distance: 226 miles Total trip distance so far: 7,175 miles Today’s goal was getting to Sioux City to meet my friend Charles and to get a replacement part for the motorcycle installed. To avoid most interstates, I chose to take Hwy 44, or the Western Skies Scenic Byway. For the most part, it parallels I-80 but is two lanes and carries much less … Continue reading Northern States Tour – Day 32

Day’s distance: 278 miles Total trip distance so far: 6,957 miles The weather was nice with temperatures in the 70’s and the sun out all day. There was some wind to contend with but much of the time I was headed into it, which was better than having cross winds. I crossed the Mississippi River into Burlington, Iowa today at about 10:35am. That means I … Continue reading Northern States Tour – Day 31

Day’s distance: 235 miles Total trip distance so far: 6,679 miles When I woke up in Bloomington, it was raining outside. I was surprised but pleased that it would stop before I left the hotel. Temperatures cooled off quite a bit today. Starting in the high 50s, temperatures never exceeded the mid 70s. Eventually all the clouds disappeared. Now that I’m back in the plains … Continue reading Northern States Tour – Day 30

  Day’s distance: 202 miles Total trip distance so far: 6,444 miles The weather was warm again, reaching into the low 90’s. Clouds built up in the afternoon, but there was no thundershower and they disappeared again. The route was inspired by two separate reviews on motorcycles.com. And, both roads were quite fun. In the morning, after stopping for a latte at a Starbucks in Georgetown, … Continue reading Northern States Tour – Day 29

Day’s distance: 247 miles Total trip distance so far: 6,242 miles The temperatures ranged from the low 70’s to the low 90’s. Skies were sunny and there were some mild winds. I shortened today’s route, eliminating the initial portion through Crown City Wildlife Area. This gave me an opportunity to have more time for photos and arrive at my destination earlier. With the days getting shorter, the … Continue reading Northern States Tour – Day 28