Aug 26 Portage & Beyond

After several days of extremely high heat indexes and dew points, a front was supposed to move through overnight bringing much cooler weather. Although pretty windy, still much more comfortable for riding. Even threw on the non-vented jacket for today because of the winds and clouds.

I planned a route for us to take a bunch of back roads to The Boathouse Pub on Fox Lake for lunch and then to Portage with some back roads northwest of there which I have not been on before.

It wasn’t busy at The Boathouse when we arrived, but was pretty packed by the time we left hence the Packers pre-season game. So glad I am not tied to that sport anymore and instead out and enjoying time on the bike. Although we have stopped and drove by The Boathouse before, neither Kevin or I had ever eaten there and the food was really good with a nice view of Fox Lake.

We took Hwy 33 to Portage and then Hwy 127 north out of there, and then onto Muskrat Road and some other back roads around there before hooking up on Grouse Road heading back east towards home. 

I am so glad I planned the route in this area since there are some really nice twisty roads and county F which runs along the Fox River in that area.

After making it to Markesan, we decided to forego the rest of the route and take Hwy 44 and County E into Ripon for some ice cream at the Sweet N Saulty, and even though we went right past the one downtown, there wasn’t anywhere to park and I prefer the other one along Hwy 23. Believe it or not, hahaha, nobody was there when we arrived. Not such a good day for ice cream sales, but we’re diehards. Haha again!

From there we took Olden only to County M because beyond that was freshly pea graveled. Seems both Dodge and Fondy counties have started their fall road resurfacing by pea gravel. Dodge’s looked like slate as it was gray, not sure what Fondy’s was but it was white.

Oh and only one missed turn today. Also, I can finally post pics of Kevin’s new bike since his ST Group finally knows. Pretty sad most of the group members now own Beamers because Honda doesn’t cater to sport touring bikes anymore.

And by the way, he really likes the stock freight train horn!!!


© Tammy Ditter 2018