Day 7.
Saturday July 26th, 2014.

I was up early after a very good nights sleep. The hotel was very clean, comfortable and reasonably priced. I made particular note of that because it was a high-end hotel (by my standards). Much less expensive than several motels I have stayed in during my journeys to date.
Wanting to be on the road early with a good start on the day, I opted for a fruit and yogurt breakfast which the staff kindly permitted me to have access to, well ahead of normal breakfast serve time.
I brought the ST to life with a jab of the starter button. Being fuel injected, needing no choke, the characteristic whine of the V4 power plant instantly broke the silence of the early morning in the parking lot. I smiled in anticipation of the miles ahead of me today.
I double-checked my luggage to make sure everything was securely fastened and pulled out of the parking lot before the sun rose for that day.
I was homeward bound. I continued via I 90 eastbound through remaining part of South Dakota. I was only 18 miles from the Minnesota state line.
I stayed on the interstate highway for the best part of the morning. The ST as usual, continued to munch the miles without a fuss.
It was lovely scenery and as I gauged my time, I could afford to slow down and “take in my surroundings.”
I had crossed into Minnesota and would be turning due south at a yet to be determined point. I was all business now. I was leaving the vast openness of the west and was fast approaching Wisconsin.
Another hour and a half went by. It was getting more humid and I began to feel small drops of drizzling rain. Good chance to take a break to rehydrate and another photo-op. I breathed in a lot of the fresh country air. So different from being in the inner cities! It wouldn’t be too long from now and I would be breathing in the foul smog and pollution of the inner city air! Ugh!
I took a slight detour off the highway and dumped myself onto a country highway. I wanted to enjoy the countryside for as long as I could. I love the green. I love the fresh air. I love the peace and quiet. I love the fact that there is not much road traffic.
I blasted my way from the Wisconsin state line into Minnesota. It was a short jaunt that went by in a blip.
The well-manicured farms off in the distance were a very pleasing sight. They caught my attention and admiration. I had to stop.
No doubt, a lot of hard work and resources must have gone into maintaining a farm in this condition. I respect that. I respect hard working people and the efforts they (myself included) put into what they do. Good results always speak for themselves.
Finding my way back to the highway, continuing with my journey, I soon arrived at the state line to Wisconsin. It was marked by a bridge that fords both the west and east branches of the majestic Mississippi River at this point.
I pulled over at the foot of the bridge and dispensed with my customary state line snap shots.
I began to try and recall how many times I have had the opportunity to cross the Mississippi River in all my tours to date. This one I think put me at 3.
Each crossing has been an exciting event for me. Don’t ask why, I don’t know the answer to that …… yet! But suffice to say: “Great rivers make for great crossings”.
So I pushed on. Time was becoming limited. I needed to make good time and cover as much ground as I could today, if I was to make it home late tonight or at the latest, in the wee hours of the morn. At this rate, I estimated somewhere in the vicinity of 2 a.m. would be pretty darned good.
It was mid afternoon now and as I glanced at my cluster of gauges on the bike, they relayed a plethora of information back to me. A little after 3 in the afternoon, mid 70’s for temperature and a sharp reminder that I would need to stop pretty soon for fuel.
Oh well, good chance for a sugar break. Almost instantly I felt the pangs of wanting sweet, very sweet in my mouth and on my taste buds.
I pulled into the first gas station/convenience store I came to just on the far side of Prairie Du Chien, on US Highway 18.
The chance to take a potty break as well could not have come soon enough.
So with the important stuff out of the way I got back on the road with renewed vigor and determination and settled in for the next long haul.
The 7.7gal. fuel tank capacity of the ST allowed me to comfortably ride non-stop for the rest of the afternoon.
I made it into Illinois effortlessly. A couple of cars kept me company and occupied on the highway. I think they were entertained and excited by the antics of my stuffed animals riding pillion on the bike, with arms, feet and ears flapping and flailing in the wind as we cruised. They seemed to be waving at cars and people going by.
Sundown found me right at the start of the Illinois Toll road system. It was a beautiful sunset. One I could not miss.
After dispensing with the formalities/legalities at the tollbooth, I promptly pulled over and snapped the following shot. It was now 9:17 p.m.
I would not have much time to try and get the shot before the sun dipped below the horizon.
I had to get my camera gear out very quickly. I particularly did not want a “cellphone-photo”
Sundown at these northern latitudes lasts for just over a minute and a half or so, compared to 3 minutes or more in lower latitudes like in South Texas.
Don’t dilly-dally here, or you will miss it!
This makes it challenging for aspiring photographers. Many have learned to set up their equipment and be prepared well ahead of this time of day in order not to miss those golden rays of sunlight. Those magical times of the day when the sunlight washes its colors over the land.
So with my gear put away, I became the road warrior again. I was taking no prisoners.
I joined the long line of cars in the only 2 lanes that the interstate had been narrowed down to, due to ongoing construction work.
I was back into urbanization!
So I pushed on into Chicago and just after 10 p.m. I pulled into a gas station for some much needed coffee and gas.
I fueled the ST up and had coffee. I needed it. I was beginning to feel tired. I needed that boost that I hoped I would derive from the coffee.
I continued my trip. The traffic was relentless. I persevered.
As I rounded the base of Lake Michigan into Indiana, it was right around midnight. I fail to remember accurately. I do remember though having to exit the highway in search of some more coffee.
Gosh it was dark here. Not a single street light as far as one could see. The headlights on my bike pierced the dark, pitch-black of the night effortlessly.
The Honda ST1100’s headlights were no match for this ST1300s’.
The ST1100 pkg. came with a single 45/55 watt lo/hi headlight bulb, compared to dual 55/65 watt bulbs on the ST1300. The latter does a fantastic job of “lighting up the night and I have not found any justification to add supplemental driving lights/fog lights. Thanks Honda!
Besides, unless absolutely necessary, I try to be off the roads by or just after dark, purely for safety reasons.
I found a convenience store, in the process of closing down for the night and I quickly fueled up again even though I did not need to. It was late and I needed to be sure that I would not run out of fuel in any event. I planned to ride all night. Could I make it home in 2 hours from here? Not hardly. Still many miles to go.
The Asian-American store proprietor was kind enough to make me a fresh pot of coffee despite having already shut off the coffee machine for the day.
A packet of powdered sugar donuts complimented the fresh coffee nicely.
I took the opportunity and paced back and forth outside to try and raise my heart rate and improve my blood circulation. this would help to stave off cramps.
It had already been a very long day of riding. It wasn’t over yet.
So back on the road again, out of this neighborhood and homeward bound.
The fog rolled in without warning.
Almost all of a sudden I had almost no visibility. I slowed to 50 m.p.h. from 75m.p.h. but that still did not help.
I had other vehicles zooming by me.
This was not a safe place to be. When I had a safe chance, I moved into the slow lane and dropped my speed again. This I thought, was still not a good solution.
Right around the time of that thought, a sign, announcing the exit for a travel plaza came into view and I took the chance and exited.
So now that I was off the road and still in fog, I stretched out on one of the outdoor plaza benches, within close eyesight of the bike and still in my riding suit and helmet and tried to force some rest.
An hour and a half later, with still no sleep, I opted to continue the journey knowing and hoping that the fog would begin to lift after not too long. The coffee was doing its job. I was wide awake. Although fatigued, I was oblivious to that.
So I hopped aboard and got back on the highway. With each passing mile the fog only got more dense! I literally could not see my outstretched hand in front of my face. It was that thick – like pea soup!
I believe I was “rounding” the bottom of Lake Michigan.
I soldiered on. After what seemed an eternity, I decided this was becoming an exercise in futility and so not safe!
Stopping on the side of the highway was not an option by any stretch of my imagination. So I had no choice but to keep on going.
And so I did till another sign announced the exit for another travel plaza. Unrecognized to me, the plaza on the Ohio side of the stateline crossing from Indiana.
No brainer! I exited and found the parking lot.
Pulling up and putting the bike onto her center stand, I sat down on the asphalt, still in riding suit/apparel, braced myself up against the bike and promptly nodded off to sleep. I was okay in my mind with staying here till the fog lifted.
Around 6:30 a.m. I awoke. A little brighter but still very foggy. I opted to continue the journey. Visibility was noticeable better than during the pitch dark of night.
So cautiously through the fog I continued till it lifted around 9:30 a.m.
Oh yeah! I had good visibility now. I was wide awake. The ST smiled and got me home through what were these last 247 miles of my 3400 mile journey.
I arrived home safe and sound, fresh and with a big smile in my being!
I offered a prayer of thanks for the safe and enjoyable journey and proceeded to unpack and bed the bike down with a promise of a good wash and wax at the earliest opportunity in the coming days.

My visit through the Heartland of America, from Mt. Rushmore to The Crazy Horse Memorial of Native American culture along this very 68-mile scenic American Byway known as the Peter Norbeck Highway, and all other sites between, was a very memorable, historical and geographic journey for me.

Next - CS Overview.