Well for me anyway. Two other couples and myself just returned this afternoon from a three day ride from Iowa to Minnesota and back. Total miles was around 660 or so. Ive ridden since I was 17 but started with sport bikes and such til I got my first Harley back in 2005. At that time I was married, just bought a house, and working on kid number 2. How things change. I have now been divorced for a little over a year, still single, and finally made the time to get out on my new street glide for some open road miles.
We took as much back highways as we could to get more scenery but really yeah I live in Iowa so pretty much it was look its a field, oh look another field and no not all of them had corn either.
Had a great time. Saw lots of nice areas and many bikers out. Left when it was 96 degrees with heat index of close to 110 to coming home in the low 80s and cloudy. Both ways were good. Bike ran great but can tell now I will be calling fuel moto this week for a PCV cause the XIEDS do work but need still more fuel.
We will plan a different route and destination for next year but even though this was my first long trip it will not be my last.
Just wanted to share. Thanks for reading.

 

Hi Hughie, from the UK. My wife and I shipped our Glide to that area in 2003 and travelled a similar route, so I know what you mean about the scenery! We have family not far from Minnesota and the real thrill is having passed miles of corn, then finding a field of soya. Wow!

 

hey hughey, congratulations on your first post. also i hope you're enjoying your new bike. yeah, iowa can be that way. sorta like the opposite of the famous dragon where there are 300+ curves in 11 miles, in iowa it's 11 curves in 300 miles. welcome to the forum, and be sure to ride safe.

 

Congrats on your first road trip. One thing you didn't post is where you stayed, camping or motels. Another thing is I have say, New Harley's and divorce seem to go together...LOL, Ditto with me. However, since then, I got another new Ultra and a new wife. I am very happy with both.

Be Safe JIM

 

Thanks all. We stayed in a hotel. Good thing to as the Minnesota government had shut down on Friday. I am hoping for a new wife someday as well. Bike is my baby and if all goes well I will get a woman who understands that and is more supportive of it.

Oh and we stayed in Preston, MN about 35 Southwest of Rochester.

 

I like riding the State and County highways through the heartland during the summer when it's corn and soybeans as far as the eye can see, and you just have to look for a grain elevator to find the nearest town. Keep going west and get higher and drier until you're up and over the Rockies - then scoot through the desert and the Sierras until you get the cool sea breeze off the Pacific where you can follow the coast up to Washington and back across the Great Plains. That's one of my favorite rides. Congrats OP, on your first "touring" ride.

 

Congrats! Good feeling isn't it? I remember having that feeling when I did my first 1,000 mile multiple state weekend. It changes you perspective of far away too. Now I look at places I want to go and think, "Huh, it's only a couple tanks of gas away. Let's go."

 

Congrats on finally getting that bike out doing what its suppose to do. Even taking a few small trips like that can recharge your batteries for weeks. Its all about the ride not the destination. Ride safe!

 

Next time turn a bit east, cross the river and ride the kikapoo valley in Wisconsin. The whole southwest portion of Wisconsin is an awesome ride. Draw a line from Lacrosse to madison and ride that whole corner.

 

Congrats on the trip. I love long multi day trips. Hope you had a blast and manage many more trips.