August 13, 2025 (Wed.) - Otis' Day Out.
Lynn kicked off the day with coffee in the gazebo at 6:45 AM. It was a little dewy, but the gazebo kept things dry. She also woke up with a mouth so dry it felt like she’d eaten chalk—likely a side effect of all the Benadryl she’s been taking to fight off allergies.
We skipped the group ride again, which was the First Responder & Military Ride, and instead took Otis to Sather Nature Center for a walk around the lake. He’d been cooped up for a few days, so it was time. The trail was short but scenic, though the “loop” ended abruptly. We found another way back, but it involved climbing over downed trees—a bit of an adventure! Otis loved it.
Next, we checked out the New Richmond Dog Park, a big open field where Otis made a few new friends. We met some lovely people there, including a couple with ties to California and a judge from Alaska. One of them thought Lynn was 35 and couldn’t possibly be retired—which absolutely made her day! 
We also made a Walmart run to buy a suitcase since Lynn is traveling soon for a funeral. We’d given away all our old ones before leaving California, thinking we wouldn’t need them. Turns out, we did.
Lunch was at Not Justa Café, where Lynn ordered a sloppy joe for nostalgia’s sake (first one in decades!). It was good—not quite homemade—but satisfying. Kirk’s broaster chicken was excellent. The best part? The whole meal, including desserts to-go, was just $30 total. A rare budget win!
We spent the evening relaxing outside, skipped the Bike Week events, and had leftover burgers for dinner. A peaceful end to a mellow day.
Weather – High 78*, Low 57*. Winds 3-13 mph. Slightly humid but not too bad.
Traffic – None.
Food – Not Justa Cafe – Chicken was excellent.
Notable – Chicken at Not Justa Cafe.
August 14, 2025 (Thu.) - Lynn's Travel Prep.
With it being Lynn’s last full day in New Richmond, WI, we decided to hop on the bike and soak up the sunshine while it lasted. The forecast called for several days of rain ahead, so we made the most of the clear skies. First stop: Kennedy’s Café for breakfast—same meals as last time, but oddly, not quite as good this round. Seems to be a theme lately!
We swung by Target for a few last-minute travel items Lynn needed for her trip tomorrow, then spent the morning riding through parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, enjoying the open roads and crisp air.
Back at the RV, Lynn focused on getting ready for her trip to Idaho Falls. She squeezed in a quick workout in the new gazebo, updated the blog, and tackled a growing issue: spam comments. With 30 spam posts in one day, she adjusted the blog’s settings to require approval for all comments. Most friends and family connect via Facebook or text, so it shouldn’t be too disruptive.
Meanwhile, Kirk handled RV chores and maintenance, including another visit from the honey wagon. Just as he fired up the grill for dinner, the rain rolled in, but he powered through and served up some delicious BBQ chicken.
We opted out of the Indian Bike Week Poker Run and other unofficial rides today—between travel prep and chores, it was a stay-close kind of day. Most riders were doing their own thing anyway.
Not many photos today, just a quiet day of wrapping things up and getting ready for what’s next.
The day ended on a high note with a beautiful sunset, a fitting farewell to Lynn’s time in New Richmond.
Weather – High 80*, Low 62*. Wind 9-13 mph with gusts up to 23 mph. Humidity not too bad. Rain in the evening.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing notable.
Notable – Nothing to report.
