Fall Ride - Scenic Byways of Northeastern Iowa

[FJ1100mjk]

Taking advantage of the great Fall weather we've been experiencing in my neck of the woods, I blew off work on Friday, and I went on a three day trip to northeastern Iowa to ride some of the state area's Scenic Byways.

Never having been there, I did some research of the area. I made a base camp at a State Forest Campground that turned out to be pretty good, and convenient for the miles that I would ride when in the area. I also was able to take advantage of a sport touring forum group's annual ride-in while down there.

I spent a couple of days down in NE IA riding the scenic byways, then headed back up home to the Twin Cities, going through one of Minnesota's Scenic Byways along the Root River in the SE corner of that state.

Total trip mileage was 786 miles.

Info:

Driftless Area and River Bluffs Scenic Byways:

https://www.iowabyways.org/driftless-area

https://www.iowabyways.org/river-bluffs


I rode down along the Mississippi River on the Great River Road, that offers great scenery and history of the River.

The Mississippi River has a slew locks and dams, I stopped to take a break at number five in Minnesota City, just north Wabasha MN on my way down...



Got down to the Iowa stateline around noonish...



I worked over a few of the scenic byways of the Driftless Area, then found the campground. It was primitive and spacious...



After setting up camp, there was still a lot of daylight left, so back on the FJ for some more exploring.
Rode north from camp, taking one of the scenic byways that went through the hills, and then descended into the town of Lansing.
I heard about a park on top of bluff, and came across it, then rode to the top to check it out.

It's a park dedicated to our veterans who have served and sacrificed.

A little history of how the bluff/mountain had gotten its name, and where the park resides...



Views of the River and WI bluffs on the other side from the top, the bridge leads to WI...





Old Glory flying in the cloudless blue sky...



Saturday was a great day, filled with more scenic byways' action. This time going to the south towards Dubuque, and stopping by the ride-in http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,94354.0.html that I mentioned earlier.

All of the scenic byways that I rode, had much to offer. Sights, the roads themselves, and the towns that they took you through. One of my favorites, was on a road that was recommended as a "must" to ride, and I found out for myself why. C9Y, started a little south of Guttenberg, and wound up and down the hills, at times riding on top of a ridge with fabulous views of the terrain below. Something like 1,100 feet above sea level, and 600 feet above the level of the Mississippi River.

Here's a shot from the rode as it went through Balltown. Nice, and I rode it three times to get my fill.



Have to throw a pic of the FJ in from on top of the ridge...



Many of the scenic byways (with some exceptions), were constructed of concrete that was in super shape, offered excellent traction, and was replete with rain grooves. The latter, that my super tire combo of a near-toasted front Sport Demon and aged Metz Lasertec refused to follow. Good.

Halfway through the day, the sport tourer's group, met for the fabled tenderloin sandwich at a tap house in a small (population 108 as of 2010) town called St. Olaf. I think there were around a dozen bikes of varying brands and types there.



I rode a bunch more after lunch, and stopped in a town called Guttenberg for some ice cream tha I had heard about at the ride-in.
Guttenberg was also the site of Lock 10 on the River. By chance, I happened to come along when a tug and an empty barge set were being put through the lock.

Not a lot of extra room on each side to put it through...



Lock shutting...



After I left the lock and dam, I rode north back towards the campground, and played around on the roads some more, but by then it was getting late, and I started to get hungry. I went past camp and went to Lansing again.

Saturday night in Lansing, the girls there do not need convertibles to cruise the streets, they just get on their horses...



Being leery of deer jumping out, I rode back to the campground in near dark with trepidation. Saw no deer. Good.

Camp was quiet for a good sleep. I packed the damp tent in the morning, then headed back into Minnesota where I had a good breakfast at a small town called Spring Grove.

I was going to high-tail it back to the Twin Cities after breakfast, but the weather was so nice, I went looking for a scenic byway called Root River. I found a nice section of twisties on highway 76, as it descends from cornfields on top to the Root River Valley below.
Couldn't get enough on just one trip down through them, so I did them three times.



It was a good, safe trip, and I recommend the NE Iowa area if you get a chance to check it out.

Marty