Friday, October 5, 2012

Fall Colors on Lake Chippewa, WI.

9-25-12 to 10-2-12

When Glen, Joe and I got back to Lakeville about 10:30 they continued on to Staples and I started getting ready to head out again. By noon Sandy and I were headed to Lake Chippewa in the Hayward, WI area to spend the next week with friends, Terry and Elaine.

While Marlin, Terry and I were out fishing, Elaine, Dee and Sandy stayed in camp and played dominoes.

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This was the kind of sunrise we woke up to most mornings we were there. The weather was perfect and the colors continued to get more spectacular as the week went on.

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One night after supper we played the 18 hole miniature golf course at the campground. Terry whooped us all badly.

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While I am getting ready to take my second putt, Terry is still celebrating the first of his two hole-in-one’s.

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And then Elaine got one later. Must be a family thing.

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A heron appeared out front of our campsite just about every day we were there.

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Terry and Elaine were catching all the crappie.

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Then I caught one.

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Whoops, what did Dave find out in the lake? Good thing I always carry a spare.

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For these fall trips we usually come in on a Sunday and leave the following Sunday, which Terry and Elaine did. Because of my motorcycle trip we did not get here until Tuesday so we got to stay a couple more days.

The night before they left we had a campfire and watched this awesome full moon coming up over the lake.

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Here Terry and Elaine a hooking up the fifth wheel to their truck.

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And ours gets to stay put for a couple more days.

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This is what Terry’s setup looks like heading down the road. 69’ 11.5” of fun.

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On our last day here we woke up to a cool morning with the sunrise poking through the fog.

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When Sandy went out to catch this moment she heard a woodpecker working in the tree. What she found was this Pileated Woodpecker. They are not uncommon in our area, but they do seem to stay out of sight and are not seen very often.

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The colors were just perfect for us this year. The weather was also the best we have ever experienced there the four years we’ve come here.

What can I say about the following photo’s that Sandy took. Enjoy the---
Symphony of Fall Colors”.

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Until next time,

Dave and Sandy




 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Ozark Motorcycle Trip

9-18-12 to 9-25-12

On September 18, Glen , Joe, Dale and I are headed out for the Ozarks for an 8-day ride. Two days down, four in the Ozarks and two back.
Here we are checking everything out the night before. Notice that only the Harley rider needs to do any checking.

Inspection time before we take off. Notice that only the Harley guy is inspecting.

Here we are ready to take off and meet Dale at Castle Rock. The first one to the corner wins. The temperature was a balmy 42 degrees when we left the house.

Ready to head out. First one to the corner wins!

Our first lunch stop was in McGregor, IA. I have been here several times before on day M/C trips along the Mississippi river.

Self explanatory.

Lunch stop in McGreger, IA. Dave, Glen, Joe and Dale.

McGregor is an old river town that has a few well maintained buildings.

Some old bui;dings across from the resturant'

Our first day’s ride was 533 miles to Palmyra, MO which is just north of Hannibal, MO.

Now we are in the "Show Me State".

The next day, Sept. 19, we took a nice leisurely 362 mile drive to Mountain Home, AR. We started the day by following the Mississippi River for 32 miles on Iowa Hwy 72.

View of the Mississppi Riverfrom an overlook on IA 79. 

When we came to Louisiana, IA we picked up US 54 west until we came to MO Hwy 19 which we followed south to Mammoth Springs, AR.

We stopped for lunch on Route 66 in Cuba, MO at a dinner called Shelly’s.

Highway 66 in Cuba, MO.

Our lunch stop in Cuba, MO on US Route 66.

After lunch we stopped at a restored gas station(minus the pumps) and took some pictures with our motorcycles in front.

Mural on restored gas station in Cuba, MO on US Route 66.

A restored gas station in Cuba, MO on US Route 66.

Even though we only drove 362 mile this day with all of our stops it took us until 4:30 to get to Mammoth Springs.

After 2 days driving we made it to Arkansas.

Dale, Joe and I had all been to the Mammoth Springs State Park but since Glen hadn’t, we stopped in for a quick look. What’s amazing about this spring is the volume of water it produces. This dam is just a few hundred yards from the spring which is its sole source of water.

All of this water is coming from the Mammoth Spring just upstream from here. Mammoth Springs State Park.

Here is the spring showing the SW outlet.

This is the SW outlet of Mammoth Spring. 

Mammoth Spring flows at an average rate of 9.78 million gallons per hour with a constant water temperature of 58° Fahrenheit. Local folklore includes the tale of an Indian chief whose son died while searching for water during a drought. While digging his son’s grave, a giant stream of water gushed forth. The chief believed this spring would flow forever because his son had died searching for water.
Actually, the main source for the spring’s water comes from rainfall over the high plains of southern Missouri. The water seeps into the underground water table and flows along a vast system of interconnected cavities. Eventually, it converges into a main channel and emerges as Mammoth Spring.

And this is the other outlet of the spring on the SE corner of the pool.

This is the SE outlet of Mammoth Spring.

When we finished walking around the park we headed over to Mountain Home, AR where we met up with our cousin Thomas from SE Missouri and spent the night.
Thomas was able to come and ride with us for one day and then he had to head home for a wedding.

On Sept. 20 we rode about 260 miles meandering around the area south of Mountain Home and then over to Maple Falls, AR.

Rest stop at just below Norfork Dam. 

Here Thomas is astride his “Boss Hoss” trike. It has a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8. Needless to say, it has a little power.

Our Cousin Thomas at rest stop on top of Norfork Dam.

This is the Wolf house in Norfolk, AR. Wolf was a senator from the area.

The Wolf house in Norfork, AR.

Once we got to Maple Falls and we checked in to the Hub Motel. The Hub is a motorcycle motel that caters to the motorcyclists. It has 55 rooms plus tent camping with a very good restaurant across the parking lot.

We spent two nights here at the Hub Motel. It is a motorcycle motel with 55 rooms and also has tent camp sites.

We found out that this is located on the north edge of the old Dog Patch USA Amusement Park that closed in the late 90’s after Silver City open in Branson. It was sad to see all of the other business's that were closed because Dog Patch closed. It had been a big draw for the area.

Before Thomas headed home on the 21st Joe just had to take his trike for a ride.

Joe, trying out Thomas's Boss Hoss.

I think that grin means he likes it, watch out Barb. He did light up the tires in the parking lot a couple times.

I think he's sold. It must be the mega hoarse power.

I had to include this picture of the Hasselberg brothers, the Good the Bad and the Ugly in no particular order,because of the picture that follows this one.

We had to take this picture of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly (no particular order) because of the following picture. Dave, Glen and Joe.

Glen’s daughter, Heather, wrote this on her Facebook. Handsome devil in the middle is my daddy. Uncles Dave and Joe L & R. Hope these "mild hogs" are having fun this week riding! Joe and I had to respond to Heather asking why she thought there was only one “handsome devil” in the picture. She then responded that we were “extra handsome!”. Ha Ha.

Heather wrote this on her Facebook. Handsome devil in the middle is my daddy. Uncles Dave and Joe L & R. Hope these "mild hogs" are having fun this week riding!

Mt. Magazine is the highest point in Arkansas.

Mt. Magazine is the highest spot in Arkansas.

We were wondering how far we could see in the distance. 50-75 miles?

A view from Mt. Magazine.

I bet this is an awesome view in the middle part of October with the Fall change of color.

A view from Mt. Magazine. I bet in a month or so this will be a colorfull sight.

That’s Glen’s Harley on the end, then Dale’s Victory. Joe’s BMW and my Goldwing with a Hannigan trike kit.

Glen's Harley, Dale's Victory, Joe's BMW and Dave's Goldwing trike.

Mt. Magazine has a hang glider take of point on the south side off the mountain. Some of the Mt. Magazine hang glider records are: Paraglider-13 miles, Flex Wing-85 mile and Rigid Wing-178 miles.

From this spot a Paraglider was flown 13 miles, a Flex Wing Glider was flown 85 miles and a Rigid Wing Glider was flown 178 miles.

View from hand glider take off point.

Wait Dale, I think you need to have wings to take off from here.

Wait Dale, you forgot to put your wings on.

There were a lot of these VERY big signs telling about the VERY crooked and steep hills ahead.

They had VERY big signs warning of their VERY crooked and steep roads.

Eureka Springs, AR had this lookout where all you could see of the town was this hotel and one other building. Everything else was hidden by the trees.

The three Hasselberg's at a overlook in Eureka Springs, AR.

The only thing you could see of the town was this massive hotel.

The old historic town of Eureka Springs is built in a valley that is only a couple of streets wide. The old town seemed to be vibrant with lots of shopping, restaurants and hotels.
The following are pictures of the old downtown.

Historic downtown Eureka Springs, AR.

Historic downtown Eureka Springs, AR.

Historic downtown Eureka Springs, AR.

Historic downtown Eureka Springs, AR.

Historic downtown Eureka Springs, AR.

For our last night in the Ozarks we had supper at a Mexican restaurant on the south end of the old Eureka Springs. We had spent 4 days and about 1,100 mile enjoying the area. I do think I’ll have to go back sometime soon. I don’t think we did too badly for being on the road six days and driving 2,000 miles. Although somebody made the comment that we are getting to the age where it’s had to ride all day and play all night.

Relaxing before supper. We head home tomorrow.

The next morning, Monday the 24th, Glen, Joe and I headed back home while Dale headed to Florida to leave his motorcycle for when he goes there in the winter. I think everyone had a good time. Guys, I think I found a road for us next year by Chattanooga, TN.

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Just kidding.

Until next time,

Dave