Cheryl, last Tuesday: "I don't really care. Maybe Monroe?"
Last Wednesday: "Has that place we like in Monroe re-opened?"
Last Thursday: "I don't care too much where we go Sunday -- Does it take too long to get to Monroe?"
Being the attentive listener and keen observer that I am, I was able to glean from her rather vague comments that perhaps we should ride to Monroe, WI for our Sunday ride and, if possible, stop at Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern for lunch. I plotted a 250 mile loop into my Scenic app, a pretty easy task since we've taken several rides to and near Monroe. We headed out at about 9:00am.
The weather was cloudy with temperatures in the 60s. There were periods of sun, but I was slightly under-dressed in my mesh Olympia jacket with only a t-shirt and a lightweight fishing shirt beneath. My heated grips, riding jeans, and wool socks kept my extremities warm and balanced out the airflow across my chest and abdomen. It was just a few degrees below "comfortably cool", but still warmer than "where's my heated jacket?" There's a long and very straight stretch of Wisconsin Hwy. 67 that is bordered mainly by large and flat farm fields. Long, usually hot and windy, with a splash of monotonous added to the mix make this one of my least favorite roads. The only advantage to being a little colder than I would prefer was that it made this the 67 leg feel just a bit shorter.
Our last ride together started cold and windy and ended hot and very windy. Bikes wobbling at stop signs...that windy. Aside from a bit cool, yesterday's ride was pretty perfect. Nice distance (about 250 miles), light traffic, and the best company a guy could ask for.
Got home a bit after 4:00. Cheryl was sacked out on the couch by 8:00, a sure sign of a great Sunday on the motorbikes.
Here's our route. You can click on the little dots to get some additional data.
Trip: Monroe For Lunch
No lanyard cam this time. I keep forgetting to charge it.
Monroe, WI is the county seat of Green County. This historic courthouse was built in 1891. Green County Cheese Days is a bi-annual event held on the square surrounding the historic courthouse. There's a cow parade, music, beer, and of course, cheese. Next one is in September, 2022. Let me know if you're going to be in the area.
Cheryl and me enjoying al fresco dining at Baumgartner's. They just re-did their kitchen which allows them to provide grilled sandwiches now. If you go, and especially if you go and don't care for cheese, try their smoked bratwurst. Their house specialty is a Limburger cheese and onion sandwich on dark rye bread. I will try this, but not on a day that has a 125 mile motorcycle ride remaining in it.
Cheryl ordered this hard salami with brick cheese on rye with dark mustard. I had the same thing only grilled. We split the sandwiches and decided the grilled salami with melted cheese was the way to go.