So... I'll be up in the Northwoods again this year doing the Scout Camp thing, and since the Gear Up is running properly and I'm more comfortable with it, as opposed to last year when I was a completely newbie to mo'sickles and nervous and unsure of the beasty. I decided to take it on a long (for me) ride. I'm trailering up with my other gear, then leaving truck and trailer in camp at Pearson and taking the rig and a weeks worth of supplies and me out for a jaunt to Camp School on the other side of the state just north of Rice Lake in Haugen.

I know there's quite a few foilheads up there, so what's the concensus on best hack-friendly roads to get across the state? Looks like Route 8 would take me where I want to go, but is there a better route? Maybe a side-trip to meet up for coffee? Cows that need waved at? or suggest any dealers or service on the way just in case?

Unfortunately I'm on a schedule so will probably make the ride Friday to arrive Haugen around 6 or 7pm on June 1, then plan on leaving Haugen the following Firday, when I have until Sunday to get back to Pearson.

Suggestions and reccomendations welcome... especially for nice places to stop for pie along the way.

thanks in advance,

Boy it sure is funny seeing a FIB using the term FIB! especially since most of them dont know what it stands for! But you must be one of the better ones since you ride a Ural :)

HWY 8 Is good road. You only have to slow down for a few small towns before you hit 53 south of Rice lake. I traveled it a few years ago pulling a heavy trailer from I39 and no complaints even tho there was heavy traffic in the area due to a man hunt.

I cant help you with any other e-w road other than 29, and I think I would steer clear of that as its a 4 lane 65 road I know most of the n-s roads it seems. Guess thats what happens when one grows up in the south central part of the state and transplants much farther north in MN.

Good luck!

In keeping with my never-ending quest for information, I'll bite...


WTF is a "FIB"?

its a *uckin Illinois *asterd.

Not sure who started it, but where I grew up, our populations doubled and then some because of them!
Now where I live.. we call folks from down south Cidiots!

Once in a while we do find a few that are OK and better than those that have earned the nic

Synonym = "Flatlander"




GAVNO

BTW, I just remembered...

There used to be a Wisconsin folk singer who specialized in picking on Illinois folks.

One of his best numbers was a takeoff on the old cowboy song GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY; his version was DUCK RIDERS IN THE DELLS!!!

He wouldn't exactly get the approval of the state tourism people; he did one that said essentially "Welcome, Flatlanders! Enjoy our state parks, the Dells, our great fishing, and everything else we have to offer. Just be sure to LEAVE when you're through!"

I discovered that when you get further north the names for them change; in the touristy areas around Minocqua, Eagle River, etc. Chicagoans are known as "Berry Pickers"; you can see them all over the place, trespassing on private land usually, armed with shiny tin buckets in search of wild berries.


GAVNO
(A Reformed Chicagoan who saw the error of his ways back in 1971!)

Now THAT is one I understand. I come from the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, smack dab in the middle of Gold Country (the Rush of '48-'49 started in my area). There was a time bumperstickers could be purchased locally that said "FLATLANDER OUT!" and "STAMP OUT FLATLANDERS"

The stickers didn't work, though. They came anyway

No... there is no way of keeping them from coming I used to live just out side the Dells, and it sure was hell trying to get to work at any time other that really early in the morning and really late at nite. Heaven forbid that the city makes it easier on us locals that wish to drive thru town

But now I live in the area of lots of resorts and its the same thing. grocery stores, gas prices, you name it are higher because of it. I was just talking with a worker at the gs yesterday (after I wrote a check for surgar, creamer, 28 gals of diesel, and 5.5 gals gas UGH) and she said that it seems that those Cidiots that come up... they dont even bat an eye when they pay their bill!

But then they come next door to where I work and BITCH about the price of a bigmac meal!

Thats why I like coming home at the end of the day. Someone ticks me off.... I got stuff to shoot at at home

AKA: FIP (f*ckin' Illinois people).

The majority are very nice folk. The tough ones are the arrogant Chicago people who drive their Mercedes and Lexus sedans like unsmart missiles, plug up the roads, and almost kill us innocent sidecar drivers. We live on the I43 corridor to Door County, which is where the Chicago people all go to their 7 million dollar "summer cottages." The Door County people love them coming to the little quaint villages to go crafting and purchase knick knacks (high priced junk bought at Goodwill) that has the ambiance of old. Picking fruit and wineries...Isn't it grand?!

I can't say I am familiar with any routes that sde of the state. I know it is very pretty though! Watch out for deer!

There was a time where people were wanting some sort of "Local" sticker that we could put on our car and pay less for goods and services in town but that didn't fly.

My town is on Highway 50 halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, so we get a lot of traffic through town year 'round. There's 2 main ways to get over the pass and Highway 50 is the most direct route to South Lake Tahoe. Because of that, prices for things are rediculous. Flatlanders don't bat an eye since they are just visiting.

Granted the local economy benefits from the traffic, but the real estate prices are pure friggin' insanity because they've driven the market up so much. They want to come up and get a piece of "God's country" so they buy up a huge lot, slap a giant house on it, then get into local government to lobby for the things they had in the valley.

I never thought I would see the day when Placerville had a stinkin' Starbucks; imagine my surprise the last time I went home to visit.

St Croix Harley in New Richmond WI is a Ural dealer. Highway 64 & highway 63. Near eastern border of MN and WI. South of Highway 8. Stop at the Turtle Lake Casino on Highway 8 and lose your money.

Bob in Minnesota
2006 GearUP

Bob... He said he was on a SCHEDULE! it takes extra time to loose you money at the casino AND goto the Hundred Dollar Store

I know... I used to work at a casino.

Sprint... I know what you mean... I live near Lake Vermillion and have to deal with the @$%@#!! when Im in town. they are on their way to their Million dollar Shacks! (I kid you not!) pretty much most of them that I have to deal with are stuck up snobs. Guess it doesnt help that Im a 'biker' but us bikers do a lot for the area and shouldnt be treated like we are from Mars..... Its us Locals that keep many business doors open in the slow months....

I live west of Milwaukee, and a few years ago was looking into buying a place in the Racine/Kenosha area south of Milwaukee. The little red head wanted to be closer to her FIBlandian sisters and their families. Well because so many of them are moving up here over the boarder to be in better areas, with lower taxes, housing prices and better schools, the prices of the houses have gone through the roof. I currently own and live in a duplex, renting out one unit. To buy a similar place in the Racine/Kenosha area, would cost me about $250,000 a unit. That's more than my whole place is valued at. So to have the same setup I have now I would have to pay more than twice as much, take out a 30 or 40 year mortgage (compared to the 15 year one I took out) and pay 3 times as much in taxes. All because those folks from south of the boarder don't even flinch at the prices they've caused.

It's just plain scarry what havoc they can cause.

Thanks for the love, ya cheeseheads All these years of going up there, and them telling me FIB was for "Friendly Illinois Buddy" I'm so disillusioned Looks like I'll be using route 8 to do the west-bound trip, and then a side-trip down down to St Croix on the way back to check the goodies and spend some of the copious volunteer dollars I'll be getting.

Not sure of the casino thing... I learned to only gamble with what I could afford to lose, and right now that's about $1.75, not quite enough for a high roller's night out- it's not even enough for a stop to cool off the engine. I'll have to settle for Mole Lake when I head up to the gun shop outside of Crandon.

Speaking of FIBs coming moving up... There's been a huge influx into the Pickeral/Pearson area near where the camp is- property values have gone stratospheric, as have taxes, and some of the houses being built are absolutely decadent with amenities and ruining good habitat and hunting areas. We get more than a fair share of the Lexus-driving soccermom-mobiles coming up to camp and making life miserable for the staffers when we DO get into town...

---> Hey Gavno, like I always ask my buddy (and your neighbor) Bob... do ya live north or south of the sign? 'course, his place is for sale, and I might have to look at it when/if the SSDI kicks in, but it's definately SOUTH of the sign so I won't feel too out of place.