August 9, 2025 (Sat.) - Rainy Start to Indian Bike Week
The day started early—too early—with rain and thunderstorms rolling in at 2:00 AM. Lynn considered getting up to watch the lightning show, but after so many stormy nights lately, she decided to stay tucked in bed. By 5:30 AM, though, she was up and ready to take it all in. The rain and lightning continued through the morning, so she made the most of it by catching up on the blog—and as of today, she’s officially caught up!
Kirk woke at his usual mid-morning pace, made breakfast, and we spent the rest of the morning relaxing inside while the rain kept falling steadily.
By 1:30 PM, the skies finally cleared. Kirk headed out to dry off the bike, prepping it for Indian Bike Week registration later that day and the group ride tomorrow. He also took care of logistics—booking our next stop in Wisconsin Dells and scheduling an America’s Mailbox package delivery to our current campground, River’s Edge Apple River, since we’ll be here another week and they accept shipments.
At 5:00 PM, we walked down to the registration tables, but things were way behind schedule—likely due to the weather delays. We finally got registered by 6:30 PM. The turnout was light: maybe 50 people, five vendor tents (only one open), and no open food trucks (we only saw one). A band—who looked barely out of high school—was playing, and surprisingly, they were pretty good! We chatted with a few friendly folks from Oklahoma and Arkansas, and while the event felt quiet, there’s still a week ahead for more riders to roll in. The first official group ride kicks off tomorrow, so we’re hoping for more energy and activities soon.
The evening was simple and cozy: grilled hamburgers in the RV, a walk with Otis, and some well-earned downtime.
Not many photos today, but plenty of rain and a few good conversations.
Weather – High 82*, Low 69*. Wind 5-10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Thunderstorms. Humid.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing notable.
Notable – Nothing.
Videos : lightning (with and without flash feature on).
August 10, 2025 (Sun.) - Indian Bike Week - group ride
Today marked the official start of Indian Bike Week, and our first group ride was set to roll out at 9:00 AM. Lynn was up bright and early at 6:00 AM, with Kirk following at 7:00, so we had plenty of time to get through our morning routines and take care of Otis before hitting the road.
At 8:45 AM, riders gathered for a quick meeting, and by 9:10 AM, we were off—about 65 bikes strong, cruising through scenic backroads toward Vino in the Valley in Maiden Rock, WI, nestled along the Rush River. The ride was supposed to be a smooth hour-long journey (roughly 50 miles), but the route threw us a few curveballs: two bridge closures, a road closure, dirt roads and a dead-end street. The detours added time and complexity, but the group stayed together, and the scenery made up for the hiccups.
Once we arrived, we enjoyed a lunch buffet at Vino in the Valley and even hopped on a tractor ride down to the Rush River that winds through the property. A light drizzle cooled the air, making the afternoon feel refreshing rather than damp. One especially charming surprise: the vineyard also features a Christmas tree farm, which added a whimsical and picturesque touch to the landscape. We met some great people—both on the ride and at lunch—and shared stories over plates of food and vineyard views.
The return route took us through the City of Elmwood, offering more beautiful landscapes and quirky roadside art. Lynn snapped photos from the back of the bike—some may be a little blurry, but there are plenty of gems in the mix. Too many to choose from!
We made it back to the campground by 3:00 PM, hoping for a bustling vendor scene. Unfortunately, there were only 6 or 7 vendors, and just two food trucks, neither of which had opened yet. Still, Lynn managed to score a blingy hat—a bit of a splurge at $60, but hey, it sparkles!
The rest of the day was mellow. We took Otis out for a walk, relaxed outside the RV, and Kirk grilled up some pork chops for dinner. As the sun began to set, Kirk spotted a gorgeous pink sky and rushed to get Lynn—but in the 10 seconds it took, the vibrant hues had already faded. No photo proof, sadly! Lynn managed to catch a few pink-tinged shots, but nothing like the brief burst of color Kirk had seen.
Weather – High 82*, Low 66*. Slight Rain. Hot and somewhat humid.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing notable.
Notable – Ride throughout Wisconsin. The ride through Elmwood was the most scenic.
Screen time – The Institute
