Modern Vespa

Finally set the date for Wisconscoot this year. I tried to hit the best dates for the most people. Apologies for those I've failed.

As per previous years, we will meet at noon on Friday for lunch and orientation, ride Friday afternoon Saturday. Optional ride on Sunday for the stalwarts. Should have plenty of twistys, back roads, scenery and well, hopefully not much gravel.

Base town will be Viroqua. About 4K people, good local foods vibe. Still working on routes.

Hotel will be Vernon Inn and Suites, 1325 N Main St, Phone: (608) 637-3100
I've reserved a block of rooms under Wisconscoot at $80 per room single occupancy, $85 double. Camping is also an option at Side Hollow Lake County park about 3 miles out of town. There are other lodging options including bed and breakfasts in the area.


I like to have a good feel of who's coming for planning purposes, so if you haven't ridden with us before and plan on coming, please PM me with your contact information.

I'm in!

Thanks, Dave!

We're in! (duh...)

Awesome! My ever faithful tailgunner! 8)

Dave,

I am sorry, I thought I already posted you. Werner Kohler and I are
coming in the day before and have reservation in the block of rooms
at the Vernon Inn & Suites in Viroqua.

I must have been so excited setting up reservations that I forgot to
post you. This will be my fourth Wisconscoot - wouldn't miss it.

Bob Copeland
Dragon Red Vespa GTS300 Super
Werner will be astride his new Piaggo MP3 500 Gray

Not would I want to miss you two dapper gents.

If you include some dirt roads this year we could have even more fun like these riders <https>

What do you mean IF?


PS: no website linked.

I'm not talking gravel. I'm talking dirt (and mud)! I'll try again on the link: <https>.

Not sure why the link doesn't come through. It shows up correctly when I preview but disappears on the post. Maybe: https://jalopnik.com/i-have-a-new-favorite-two-wheel-motorsport-vespacross-1826139509

Joe, you're baiting me here, aren't you?

As you should well know by now, all Wisconscoot (TM) rides are thoroughly planned, mapped out and pre-ridden several times before the date. In addition, the routes are thoroughly cleaned of sand, gravel, leaves, sticks, horse apples and snakes to ensure the highest quality riding experience to the participants.

Don't believe ANY of the stories you may have heard to the contrary.

Yup, and the roads are all open and freshly paved, too.

Hardly any traffic either, gas stations whenever you look for one, temperatures in everyone's comfort zone, and no one ever, ever breaks down, drops, or gets bitten by a squirrel.

And nary a U-turn.

Prompted by MadisonSully, sharing the semi-final routes. Saturday's route is somewhat shorter than previous years. If it's too short for the hardcore riders, there's always a pick-up option later....

Friday:
https://goo.gl/maps/cv2JjVne3RT2 84 miles

Saturday:
Viroqua-LaCrosse-Mindoro https://goo.gl/maps/yF6yFAFLypF2

Viroqua is 240 miles from Chicago. Too far!!!!

Could you take a couple more days for travel time? It would be great if you could come! 8)

Just rechecked the Spain itinerary.

The last day in Barcelona is September 22.

We won't be home until at least the 24th.

So no Wisconscoot for me this year.

Bill

Bill L,

Your smiling face will be missed. If you are scooting in Spain, please
post pictures.

Bullwinkle J Moose
Frost Bite Falls Minnesota

In case you missed it, you can hear Dave and Warren tell their scooter stories at https://www.vespaclubofamerica.com/single-post/2018/06/18/Whats-Your-Scooter-Story

Dave,

Our riding group just finished four days in Richland Center. The area is
amazing as you well know. Two major routes were closed due to bridge
replacement. I know there is software to check on road closures, but we
just boldly road and routed around.

Specifics:

Highway 27 is closed (Between Viroqua and Prairie du Chien) is
closed below Eastman at Irish Ridge Road. This one put us an hour
out of the way. We were traveling from Prairie du Chien for lunch
in Viroqua. We had to take Hwy 35 up the Mississippi to finally turn
back East.

Highway 80 has two bridges out at Buck Creek, and Rockridge.
Buck Creek had an easy route around (HWY BR), and Hwy D
is open to Hwy 80.

These roads may not impact your routes.

Bob Copeland
Minn-Max Ride Coordinator

Thanks, Bob. Hopefully no impact (nothing comes to mind), but should have a look. One advantage to scheduling late in the summer is you're at the tail end of construction season...

As most of you upper Midwesterners already know, it's been a bit humid in Wisconsin the past week or so. Unfortunately, Vernon County, where most of the Wisconscoot rides are planned this year was among the hardest hit areas by flooding. Hopefully for them it's all over. I'm hoping (praying....which may increase the closer we get to the date) that things look close to normal when we arrive.

Barring a continuation of monsoon-like conditions, we should be able to go ahead with plans. If I have word of things being in bad shape flooding-wise, we have the alternative of changing routes to less-affected areas.

https://madison.com/photos-floodwaters-cause-massive-damage-in-la-crosse-area/collection_944d39d7-7827-51f4-99f0-f01d8df417d2.html#20

Thanks for the update.


I had made light of the flooding situation before I looked at the pictures. For that, my sincere apologies. It's an awful situation.

It looks pretty bad. I can't imagine they will have all the roads repaired by the time we visit. The back roads that we prefer will probably take even longer to repair. Have they set up a website to track road conditions?

Found this: "Residents continue the clean up and many roads remain closed. In Vernon County there are more than twenty roads closed and officials there are concerned without federal help thy won't be able to repair the damage. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation toured Vernon and Crawford counties this afternoon accessing the damage but just how long it will take to repair all the roads is unknown. More than 100 roads were closed in Vernon County last week because of high waters or mudslides. This week about a 1/4 are still closed. Lots of those are bridges or roadways close to the Kickapoo River. Emergency Management officials say more roads have been damaged this year than last because lots of the roads were still in need of repairs. With already soft infrastructure the roads crumbled. Officials are estimating more than 8 million dollars in road damage. The county is still waiting to hear from FEMA to see what kind of federal aid they might receive. The damage estimate for private property alone in Vernon County is 4-million dollars. Crop damage is estimated at more than 5 and a half million."

And this: http://vernonsheriff.com/roadReport/RoadReport.pdf

Dave,

I have a detailed map of SW Wisconsin. Many of the wash outs are
on some minor roads. We have 16 days to dry up. It will ultimately be your call. I would not cancel the ride. The area is spectacular with many more
State Highways that have elevated drainage.

If something worse happens, Werner and I are still going and staying at the
hotel. We will smoke cigars and sip good brandy. Then adventure out on any roads that missed the "Global Warming Disaster".

Yee Haw

Bob Copeland

Ah, what an intrepid group! 8)

Would take a lot to stop me.....I guess if everyone else stayed home, but with you lot I HAVE to show up.

I think it might be even more inspiring with you and Werner wearing hip waders.

I'm counting on drier weather at any rate.

See ya in a couple!

Aha! Many thanks. I was starting to look for information like that. Could at least compare it to my proposed route.

Worried about the gravel roads this year. Actually thinking we should carry one of my trailer ramps for herding everyone over the washouts. It'll be good preparation for riding in the Himalayas.

Worst case scenario we raid Bob's cigar stash and hang out in the hotel.

There also happens to be a huge used bookstore in an old tobacco warehouse......

Down to the last two weeks. I've emailed everyone who's affirmed previously, so if you haven't heard from me, let me know.

Looks like the group will be smaller (and more manageable) this year. The Leuthold team and wmak will be missing this year.

We'll make the best of the flooding situation. I think there should be enough time to get things sorted with the roads.....not ideal, for sure, but that's part of the adventure.

If anyone's lurking and wants to join us, now's the time to chime in....there's still room!

I'll be sorry to miss Bill, Sam, and wmak. Looking forward to seeing everybody else!

I sent a reply to all in your email but for anyone who didn't get it, as of today I'm still planning to come. I think I could take a drive down there some weekday to check out the roads if that would help. And I haven't decided yet but I may tow a trailer down from the Cities this time. If anybody else is interested, let me know.

See all y'all in a couple weeks! 8)

KJ

I was going to trailer down also. If you do that are you driving down Friday morning?

Yes, Friday morning whether I ride or drive. I'll send you a PM.

I wish I could come.

We are picking up scooters in Barcelona today.

Sarah and I had a wonderful week in Switzerland.

Now the adventure begins.

Bill

You're going to be missed, too. OTOH, you're off on an adventure the rest of us dream about, so I guess it's not all that bad.

There's next year....

Have a great time and keep us drooling!

Got an updated list of road closures...thankfully it's smaller as flood waters recede, but almost certainly going to have to change some routes. Bit of a PITA to find out a section is closed. OTOH, it's always fun to create a route in the first place, so I can consider it doubling my pleasure.

One of my patients that I saw today is from Vernon County and has family there. Some areas sound pretty badly hit. It's going to be a long slow recovery. '

So, I put in my vacation request for next Friday. I'm planning on coming, and I'll likely camp again, unless someone's desperately in need of a roommate...

Now I just have to decide which bike to ride, though that decision might be made for me if I can't find the piece and fix my Vista Cruise on the MP3 this weekend...

Mark

Great! Means my head count is right on for Saturday night.

Minn-Max is riding to Arcadia today. All roads look good!

Great day for it the way it looks here! 8)

Might have to bring your long johns for next week though...and leave your mesh at home.... then again I should be smarter than believe a long-range forecast.


BTW, Mr. Smart Planner decided to call the Vernon County Sheriff's office (who issued the road closure list) about a road or two. After a rather unproductive conversation, I hung up and realized the county road I was concerned about was in another county....and the one he thought I was asking about was only about a mile long and dead-ends.