A Long Ride Homeward

Start: Chamberlain, South Dakota
End: Marinette, Wisconsin
Distance: 721 miles (1154 KM)
Gas: Chamberlain, South Dakota: 3.309 gal @ 3.659 Total $12.11; Humboldt,South Dakota: 4.172 gal @ 3.319 Total $13.85;  Jackson, Minnesota: 3.465 gal @3.459 Total $11.99; Stewartville, Minnesota: 4.280 gal@ $3.359, Total $14.38; Tomah, Minnesota: 3.140 gal @ $3.599, Total $11.30

Campsite: B&B $49:  We rode for quite a while and wanted to get past Green Bay to avoid the horrendous highway construction, so when we got to Marinette, Wisconsin, we were unable to find a place to camp or stay. The only place available was a B&B that was run by an old widower. Her place was so, so busy with vases, trinkets, crystal, junk. We complmented her on how nice her home was but, with tourquoise toilet and matching sink, thick, thick grass green shag carpet, fancy wallpaper....

We decided again that the priority was to get back to the Sault asap to see Grandma Furkey. The weather had cooled down a bit and we had the wind to our backs as we headed back along Interstate 90 on the same route we took to get out here.

There was not much to mention as we retraced our steps eastward. Instead of hot, semi-desert rolling hills, we were now back in farmlands of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

I had wanted to get a photo of the Mississippi River at Onalaska, but once again, the construction on the Interstate and the bridge over the Mississippi foiled my photographic attemtpts.

When we got near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, close to where we had camped on our way westward, we decided to push more northward to get past the highway construction that was taking place between Appleton and Green Bay. On Highway 41 at Appleton, the highway was extremely bumpy causing the trailer to bounce a a lot. Once we got to Green Bay, the road construction was a chaotic-maze of traffic pilons and the gusts of wind was blowing us all-over. Coupled with the bouncy road surface, it is amazing we made it thru the maze after the sun went down.

Once past Green Bay, we had to ride north another 45 miles so as to find a place to stay. As everything was booked, we were told of a B&B operated by an older widower that had a room. We were kind of desparate for lodging, so we went to the B&B in Marinette. The home was absolutely cluttered with stuff, but the room was clean, very pink and comfortable.

We called it a night knowing we would have a relaxing trip into the Sault the next day.