Riding with Todd - Hard work deserves some play time.

Last Friday and Saturday, my wife LoriAnn and I busted our butts to prep the garden beds and to lay down new mulch.  Every 3 years we do a major overlay of much and this was that year. The weekend weather forecast was ideal for motorcycle riding, also for yard work.

After receiving 8 yards of bulk mulch, I could tell it wouldn't be enough. So I ordered another 4 yards.  Thankfully, my son-in-law, Tom McLeod, came to our cries for help.  

If Tom hadn't helped us I knew that there would be no motorcycle riding for us.  In fact, I wanted to get this job done so much that I was willing to pay anyone to help.   If Tom hadn't stepped us I was going to offer the neighborhood kids money to help. Maybe the stipend that I offered Tom influenced his decision or maybe he loves us enough he wanted to help with the work.  Regardless of the case, he earned that stipend.  The garden beds look great!

Finishing up on Saturday left Sunday free for a ride.   With our bodies aching from Saturdays work, I thought I would do the ride in stages, with way points built in to turn back towards home in case the pains were much.  

The first way point was St Croix Falls, Wisconsin where we filled up for gas.  The ride there is very common for us, taking roads we continually cruise down.  Getting the 'Lets Go', from the ever willing LoriAnn we headed north up HWY 87, through the small town of Trade River and took a right on HWY Z.  I had seen Z on the map numerous times, and had wanted to ride it, and I am glad I did.  East on Z to HWY 46 into Fredrick, and then North on HWY 35 into Siren.  Siren was the next way point. Making the town of Siren would have satisfied my riding day if our body pains said stop.  Surprisingly, both LoriAnn and I felt we could keep going.

From Siren, we picked up HWY B that took us into Shell Lake.  We had ridden that road going East to West before.  Going the opposite direction was just as much fun. In Shell Lake we headed North on HWY 63 into Spooner.  In Spooner we decided to stop for lunch.  Now stopping to eat in a new location is always interesting.  When neither of you are particularly hungry it becomes a hunt for that treasure of a place to eat.   Sometimes you search for the ambiance, and sometimes you seek a particular food.  This day we were seeking both.  So we drove through the town, North to South, the East to West, then back North and South.  Passing restaurant after restaurant, any of them fully capable of filling our needs.   

Finally we decided to stop at Sam Hicks, just so that we could sit outside while we ate.  Both of us decided on the Taco Salad, mine was typical with ground beef.  LoriAnn's was will roasted turkey.  Both were excellent choices.  We were not disappointed with Sam Hicks and will eat there again if passing through town.

After lunch, we headed North into the town of Trego.  There is an infamous river, whose name will not be said, runs through this town.  In Trego we turned West towards home on HWY E, around Lake McKenzie we picked up HWY A to HWY 35.  Heading South on 35 to HWY D, were we turned West again to HWY M.  We turned onto M knowing that it crossed HWY 70, very close to the Burnett Dairy Cooperative.  This dairy sells there own cheeses, and other sundry.   But it also has some very scrumptious ice cream.   It was a great place to stretch and have a treat.  

From the dairy we heading back down HWY M, to HWY O back to HWY 87.  Another sweet ride that we have travelled before.   South on HWY 87 and again into St Croix Falls.   Taking HWY 8 West back into Minnesota, we cruised into Chisago, Forest Lake and then into home.  

It was a great 250 mile ride.  Bringing my mileage total close to 100 for the year, and LoriAnn's to 500.