*COMPLETED* - Oct 11 - MNmazda Fall Beer Cruise
- Thread starter dmention7
- Start date
YSOSLO
is the word, beotch
Sounds good Jay. I was going to mention it to you guys the day of the event but might as well throw it out there now in case any of you want to see it on the map. Jess and I aren't going to be caravanning back to the Cities with the group, however we ARE making an extra stop on the way home and it's something you all might want to consider checking out too. In Elk Mound Wisconsin which is straight West out of Chippewa Falls on Hwy 29 and then South about 3 or 4 miles on H (I'll link a map pic too below) there is an awesome watch tower type of thing at the top of the tallest hill around. The road up to the tower is called E Elk Mound Dr and it's a road I've both walked up and driven up. The trees hang over the road and when you get to the top there's a nice loop to park and turn around in, and if you get out and walk up the 3 flights of stairs to the top of the tower the view is incredible, especially when the leaves are turning. It used to be an annual trip for me when I lived in Eau Claire and since moving to the Cities I've still taken the trip down there a few times. If you want to check it out, then after you leave you could take Hwy 12/40 northwest out of town and stay right on it all the way up to Colfax, which is one of the towns you were going to be going through anyway on the way home so it would shorten the trip back a little bit, but I think you all might think it's totally worth it. Plus Hwy 40 up to Colfax is a lot nicer drive than Hwy 53 to Bloomer and the roads from Bloomer to Colfax aren't anything too amazing. It's totally up to you guys though, since as I said before, Jess and I are doing our own thing after the brewery tour. We're probably going to check out Irvine Park which is a block away from the brewery and has a little zoo and some great spots for photo shoots, since I'd like to get some new pics of my car before Winter and maybe check out Olson's ice cream shop for some old fashioned ice cream cones before we head over to the tower and then bomb back home on I-94. Here are the maps in case you're interested. The first is a farther out view and the second one is closer in so you can see the road up to the tower.
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Workdawg
NARWHAL
This is interesting... I'd be down for that... the new route wouldn't take any longer and we could still get all the good looking roads.
I went ahead and added it to the route... there are a couple options. The last chunk of the way back will probably be pretty lame just cruising on 64, so I propose we take some fun roads back down to 94... it'll only add 15 mins according to google, but I imagine the speed limit is a bit more lax on 94, so probably end up the same if not faster.
Route taking 64 home...
Route taking more fun roads back to 94
I went ahead and added it to the route... there are a couple options. The last chunk of the way back will probably be pretty lame just cruising on 64, so I propose we take some fun roads back down to 94... it'll only add 15 mins according to google, but I imagine the speed limit is a bit more lax on 94, so probably end up the same if not faster.
Route taking 64 home...
Route taking more fun roads back to 94
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YSOSLO
is the word, beotch
Boy I like the look of the fun route that goes through Knapp and back to 94. I used to go deer hunting in the Knapp area and for those of you familiar with I-94 the "Knapp Hill" is the big long winding hill about 5 miles west of Menomonie. It's a great area and the road from Elk Mound to Colfax is a nice one with plenty of sweeping curves. The Fall color is going to be awesome!! And the weather forecast couldn't be much better.
I might have to talk Jess into skipping the ice cream and the zoo. Ella's level of sleepiness is going to control our car's schedule, so that's why I figured we'd be on our own. If it works out with Ella, we'll tag along. We'll have to just play it by ear. Can't wait!! Not looking forward to the 45-1hr trip down to Cottage Grove bright and early though...lol It's going to be a fun day though. Fortunately we don't have any Cosmic Blue cars along that might flip into the ditch at any moment, right?
I might have to talk Jess into skipping the ice cream and the zoo. Ella's level of sleepiness is going to control our car's schedule, so that's why I figured we'd be on our own. If it works out with Ella, we'll tag along. We'll have to just play it by ear. Can't wait!! Not looking forward to the 45-1hr trip down to Cottage Grove bright and early though...lol It's going to be a fun day though. Fortunately we don't have any Cosmic Blue cars along that might flip into the ditch at any moment, right?
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Picklz
SUDO Make me a SAMCH
My Dad's Grandpa had a farm in Elk Mound and some of his other family members grew up there, I can vouch that the watch tower and the park around it is really pretty cool and a pretty place to walk around, I'm not sure that I'll be stopping, depends on what time the tour is done (I gots to be back for a concert) but I do recommend checkin it out.
Workdawg
NARWHAL
I made a little tweak to the route... just one part, between state rd 79 and state rd 170...optional of course... but it'll be more fun for a couple mins I'm sure...
I know it messes up the maps Jay printed off probably, so we can take whichever. The new route is what's in my phone.
Change linky
I know it messes up the maps Jay printed off probably, so we can take whichever. The new route is what's in my phone.
Change linky
dmention7
Hater
Wow, this trip turned out awesome! With the fall colors and the fantastic weather, I couldn't have asked for a better day. Those backroads on the way down there were pretty sweet too. Even when we weren't bombing twisties, the scenery was gorgeous.
Special thanks to Pete for being a bit of a tour guide in the eau claire area
EDIT: Jeff, did you see me get attacked by a black trash bag on 94? lol
EDIT #2: Johnny, I hope you just decided not to come at the last minute... we waited around till about 9am, but nobody had your number so we eventually had to head out.
Special thanks to Pete for being a bit of a tour guide in the eau claire area
EDIT: Jeff, did you see me get attacked by a black trash bag on 94? lol
EDIT #2: Johnny, I hope you just decided not to come at the last minute... we waited around till about 9am, but nobody had your number so we eventually had to head out.
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YSOSLO
is the word, beotch
Yeah this was a truly memorable day for sure. Absolutely perfect weather, timeline didn't feel rushed or dragged out and as others have already said, some amazing roads bombing around the twisties and the views the whole time were incredible. As I mentioned via radio to Dan as we were each taking a different direction on the 494/694 split 'We definitely need to make this an annual event.' Not necessarily the brewery tour every year, but an event like this in the Fall with great roads and an interesting destination. Thanks to Dan for leading the pack through the backroad rollercoasters and Jay for excellent maps, and thanks to all for being so understanding and cool about me having the family along. Jess said the day ended up being a LOT better than she was expecting and I think we all realized that Ella had a great time (since she wasn't very shy about her excitement...lol). I'll get some pics up shortly.