Motorcycling Iowa

Following the Mississippi is one of my favorite routes on the bike (non-pedal bike) and will grab any excuse to ride though those river towns.  I love the history along the river and usually there are great roads nearby as well.  It was a  roughly planned a four day ride-starting in Augusa, then up and down the coulees north of Alma and then down to the river.  The route followed the river on the Wisconsin side, then across in Winona, and down thru MN to Lansing, IA.  From there up to Decorah.  One of those curvy roads you just want to go down and ride again.  Day two was back to the river and then up to Buena Vista and Ballville IA.  Downtown Dubuque is no fun, so a round about route led us to Clinton, and then the longest "town" in the Midwest-Quad Cities.  Muscatine IA was the 2nd stop.  Crossing the river again and into Illinois and skirting Moline then up to Savannah and a scenic route inland-like a roller coaster in many ways.  Galena was a drive around the downtown on a tourist packed Main St. and an escape to Potosi WI for fresh brew.  Onward to Prarie Du Chien and crossing back into Iowa along the west shore to Lansing again.  The run back into Wisconsin on the final day led to drying roads and clouds overhead, but still discovering new roads to ride and reasons why we have some of the best biking anywhere.