ST 1300 ride..7 states..1957 miles

[the Ferret]

Guth...posting this even though its not my CB 1100. If you want to delete it, that's fine.

The background: Before I retired a month ago, I had decided my next long trip would be up to visit an old friend, Mark, who I hadn't seen in a few years. Mark was originally from Minneapolis, Mn. but retired a couple years ago to a cabin on a lake in northwest Wisconsin. Mark and I became good friends thru an internet primitive bowhunting and bow building forum and we ended up sharing hunts in Manitoba Canada for black bear, Arizona for Javelina, Florida for wild hogs and Wisconsin for whitetails. Great guy, architect by trade, Viet Nam vet, and the most laid back optimistic person I had ever met.

My travels on this trip would take me from my sw Ohio home thru the cornfields of Indiana, and Illinois into Iowa, along the Mississippi river up to Red Wing, Minnesota then north up to Marks place near Spooner, Wisconsin. After my visit my return trip would take me further north into the north woods to the shore of Lake Superior, then across the bottom of Michigan's U.P., across the Mackinac bridge, down thru lower Michigan and further south thru Ohio to the banks of the Ohio river to home.

Normally my wife would accompany me on a ride of this magnitude. She has been my riding partner for 42 years, ridden all over the U.S. with me, and 5 countries in Europe. At 61 she has had 2 replacement knees and is due for a replacement hip. In the last year she has been having trouble mounting and dismounting the bike, so this time it would be a solo trip. I would discover I don't like being totally alone in such desolate territory for such a long time. I missed her company and reassurance that everything would always be alright. Anyhow here are some pics from the trip I hope you enjoy them.

I ran into some strange things on this trip

Giant beavers

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0023-2_zps64fa52cf.jpg.html]

And an alien space ship

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Aliens_zpsbcb1e80b.jpg.html]
A lot of the trip, this was the view in front of me

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0063-1_zpsdbf46ea1.jpg.html]

And behind me

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0054_zpsf4e7d14d.jpg.html]

And this guy was my only traveling companion

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Shadow_zpsbf984dd2.jpg.html]

I rode thru lots of beautiful state forests and scenic byways

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0040-1_zps04348f71.jpg.html]

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0047_zps453bacff.jpg.html]
2 of the Great Lakes

Superior

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0058-1_zps7f6a0c8b.jpg.html]

And Michigan

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0083_zpse56fb25c.jpg.html]
Saw a beautiful sunrise over Mackinac Island

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0117_zps490a241c.jpg.html]

And rode across the grates on the Mackinac bridge

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0129-2_zps598581d8.jpg.html]

For a motorcycle tourer there is only the road ahead. I like this picture because in the reflection of my glasses, you can see that road ahead


[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/DSCF0062-1_zps1554c0e8.jpg.html]

I took lots of pics but these represent the flavor of the trip.

[OZZY_imp]

Hey The Ferret that looks like a great trip, and some great photos too.

How do you find the ST?

Any issues?

[oldyaler_imp]

You may have to retrace your route. You got the giant beaver and the aliens but you didn't get Elvis.

Great pics TF.

[the Ferret]

Ozzy..thanks yea, good trip

The ST has been typical Honda.. ie: swiss watch like. I have done Cincy to Bar Harbor Maine via PA, NY, NH, NJ, VT, Maine, and Mass... Cincy to Georgia via KY, Tenn, NC, and GA, Cincy to Copper Harbor in the the U.P. via lower Mich and upper Mich, Cinti to Wisc via Ind, Ill, Ia, Mn, Wi, the U. P. and lower Mich, And 5 western states Mont, Idaho, Wash, Or and Wy (I towed the bike to a buddys house in Montana)...35,000 miles so far. Nothing has broken or fallen off, the bike has never left me stranded. Ave close to 50 mpg. If its hot I put the electric windshield down, if its cold or wet I can raise it up 7 inches. On the ST forum there are many with 100, 200, even 300 thousand miles on them. They are like a Civic on 2 wheels.

It has seen Acadia Natl Park, the White Mountains, the Kancamangus Highway, the Adirondacks, Glacier Natl Park, Yellowstone Natl Park, Going to the Sun Road, Chief Joseph Pass, Beartooth Pass, Skyline Drive, The Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Dragon ( those last 3 twice in 3 weeks), Cherahola Skyway, Whitefish Point, Copper Harbor, ridden the Rattlesnake in Oregon, and much more. What a great time we've had riding that motorcycle.

[CA200_imp]

Ferret glad to see you made it through Wi. alright! Glad you came ,I spent a lot of my early years camping and fishing( I hate to
fish) in and around Spooner Wi. I grow up in Eau Claire Wi. Red Wing Mn. one of my favs. There used to be a great hill climb
just across the river on the Wi. side, the first time I went I think I was in my late 20's. It is really cool see up close!

[wildezt_imp]

mr Ferret AKA "the iron butt"..!

that alien sure looks interested at the CB.. he he...