Hodgepodge Tour 20012

[Mr442]

This year I am participating in another motorcycle tour.  This one has no definite theme as in past years, hence the Hodgepodge name, but it does come with a various list of items.  I need to take pictures of: Towns, cities, or counties with "AMA" in them (i.e. Amana, IA), Towns, cities, or counties with "US President last names" in them (i.e. Washington, IN), KOA campgrounds, Wineries, Museums, Light Houses, Covered Bridges, Motorcycle Shops, National Parks, State Parks, and Mom & Pop Restaurants (non chain Restaurants). And this year instead of 30 pics, I only need 20.  If I get a pic of everything, there is an additional 30 point bonus.

As it turns out, the only real tough one it the National Park requirement, but a ride into Kentucky later this year will get me Mammoth Cave Natl. Park.  Also, Indiana has a few lighthouses along lake Michigan, but I believe I will use the one in Falls Park.

So to kick off the season, I rode to Dana the other day to do some work at our old house.  I took IN 234 west and stopped along 234 at Sugar creek in Parke County for my first Covered bridge.



Then on to Eugene IN just north of Cayuga to get a bridge that wasn't in Parke County.



A few days later I decided to get one of the AMA locations out of the way.  This is another tough one, as I have only found three places in the state with AMA in the name.  So I headed north to Winamac IN.



I was going to swing over to Grant County on my way to Madison County, and then Pendleton to the park, but I was running out of time due to a late departure, so I swung back through Clinton County for a President name.



Yesterday was a dry, sunny, but damned windy day, so the wife and I headed out.  We went southwest into the wind, in hopes of having it to our backs on the return.  The Goldwing was waving in the breeze, but I just stayed loose and it pretty much took car of the winds with little input from me.  We ended up down by Bloomington and stopped to get a photo at Oliver Winery. 



Not being fans of grape juice, fermented or otherwise, we stopped in front of the singe for the photo and headed towards home.  The wind held on all day, but it stayed dry in spite of some clouds here and there.  All in all I am off to a good start. 

I have many pics I can get in one day rides, and only one will be an over nighter, which is important right now.  I am however trying to avoid some of the closer locations, just to spice it up a bit.

More pics to follow!

[Palehorse]

http://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm

If you're going to Mammoth Cave, you might want to consider going a little further to check out this place.

[Locutus]

Nothing better than a "scavenger hunt" type of thing on a motorcycle.  I'm looking forward to the pics 442!  That's awesome!

[me]

Nice pics 442.  Thanks for sharing.  Looking forward to seeing more.   

[Henry Hawk]

 

[Mr442]

Here is my latest from a couple weeks ago.  I had a free morning, so I headed east to find a lighthouse.  I could get more up north, but I have no plans on riding into that mess around Lake Michigan, so good old Pendleton will have to do.



The next day I had some afternoon time, so went south, then east again to find Samaria Indiana in Johnson County.  Samaria has AMA in it as does Winamac, so that gives me two in that category.



I didn't get out this past week due to home projects and the weather, but I am going to try one day this week if the weather cooperates.

[The Troll]

  DAMN!!!!!!!  That's a fine ride.  Can't see one bug mark on it.  You take the Boss with you?  Sure looks like a nice co-pilot seat.   

[Mr442]

  DAMN!!!!!!!  That's a fine ride.  Can't see one bug mark on it.  You take the Boss with you?  Sure looks like a nice co-pilot seat.   

The boss works all week, so she only tags along on weekends.   The rest of the time, I've got it all to myself

[Mr442]

Fresh off the road! 

What a day today was.  I left home around 9:30 am, and got back about 6:00 pm.  What follows is what took place in that time.  You may want to pull out a State road map and follow along!

I headed south on IN 75 to North Salem, where I picked up IN 236 east.  That section is still a fun ride, in spite of the Highway Department's efforts to modernize the road.  I rode that to the end just north of Danville, where I picked up IN 39 south.  I took 39 to Danville, where I had to do some detouring to continue south on 39.  I followed 39 all the way to Martinsville.  I then connected to IN 252 on the other side of town.  Had it not been for the rolling roadblock, aka a semi, that road could have been fun, but alas I had to follow it almost all the way to Morgantown.

In Morgantown I picked up IN 135 south, and headed to Nashville.  The road was lightly traveled, so it was very pleasant riding, and enjoying the curves.  In Nashville I turned east on IN 46 towards Columbus.  Not a lot of fun, but it was the best way between the two towns.  I did take advantage of this large sign.



In Columbus I found IN 7 and followed it southeast to Madison for my second photo.



Then it was time to head east and start working my way back north, so IN 62 became my new friend.  I did take a quick detour to grab another winery photo.  Once again, since I don't like wine, this was as close as I got.



I continued on 62 all the way to IN 250, the Chief White Eye Trail.  All I can say is that Indian took one hell of a trek.  It is a challenging a road as there is in Indiana.  Hills, hollows, twists and turns going up as well as back down.  I scraped of a month's worth of rubber from the edge of my shoe soles!  Once I hit IN 129, it was north again to Versailles and another state park.



Leaving Versailles I head north on 129 to IN 350.  I had always wanted to see Milan, and today was the day.  They are still very rightfully proud of their 1954 State Basketball Championship, and the school.   I found this restaurant on the north edge of town, it has a direct tie in with the school mascot, the Warriors.



I then worked my way back up north and west.  129 connect to IN 46, which led to IN 229.  229 is another good motorcycle road.  I followed it to IN 52 where I head to Rushville.  I wasn't thrilled about going through town in the afternoon, but my choices were limited.  After surviving that town I found myself wanting to connect to IN 109, but that is a problem as it doesn't go south of US 40.  Well not officially it doesn't.  There is a flashing caution light in Arlington that protects cross traffic on a really nice county road.  Heading north I ran into the town of Carthage.  I followed the road through town and eventually wound up in Knightstown and the south end of 109.  From there it was north to 1000 south in Madison County, then west to 300 west.  I needed to do my yearly ride past the house I grew up in, and it as at the northwest corner of those two roads.  From there it was on through Pendleton, Lapel, Cicero, Sheridan, Thorntown, then back south to the house and much needed/deserved shower.

By the time I was done, 355 miles had rolled up on the trip odometer. 

[me]

I haven't been to Clifty Falls in years but we used to camp there 2 or 3 times during the summer when the kids were small.  Nice ride with some nice scenery.  Looking forward to pics of your next ride. 

[Henry Hawk]