Editor's note: Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has agreed to chronicle his experience during the fourth annual Executive's Ride, which began this weekend at the House of Harley-Davidson on Layton Ave.
Monday, June 25
8 a.m. -- It was a bit cool and overcast when we left from La Crosse this morning. A Jackson County Sheriff's Deputy named Mike and a Vietnam veteran who just got back from Iraq named Murph came over to lead us to Black River Falls. Instead of our original route, they suggested a much better route for Harley riders.
We headed up to West Salem and then drove up Highway 108. The fog was just starting to lift as we drove up and it was an awesome appearance. These guys were not kidding. It was like riding a slalom course through the hills. We also went through the largest man-made rock cut in the state. On the way down, we went through an incredible wall of trees on either side that was like riding seeing the Red Sea parted. (Note to other riders: you want to add this to your course in the future).
9:15 a.m. - We came into the Harley-Davidson dealership in Black River
Falls and the owner, Mark Muth, greeted us all. He is a nice guy.
The local newspaper did an interview and then took a picture of Mark and me in front of a long line of the motorcycles. After that, I did a quick interview with the local radio station. Black River Falls is familiar to me, as a friend who retired from the Milwaukee Police Department is building a place up there about a mile from their airport.
On our next leg, we traveled through Pittsville, which is the exact center of the State of Wisconsin (I always thought it was 75th and Bluemound Rd. at Gille's Frozen Custard).
11:15 a.m. - Next stop is the Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Company. We watched them making thousands of cheese curds and ate (thousands of) cheese curds in their outlet store. I met the owner and took a picture with his daughter, who runs a big part of the company now. The curds were squeaky, so it means they are fresh.
12:30 p.m. - The Stevens Point Beer Brewery is our lunch spot for today. They provided us with subs and plenty of Point Root Beer, Orange Soda and Vanilla Soda. Interesting connection: the two current owners are from Milwaukee.
Portage County Executive Mark Maslowski paid us a visit. We need to help convince his wife that he should get a Harley. I told him that with Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas and me riding, he could claim that it is part of his job responsibilities. Mark's wife is from Racine County. During the first week of July, they are planning a trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo and a game at Miller Park.
A reporter from the local newspaper did an interview and took a picture of Mark and me inside the brewery. We held up our Point orange sodas (I was riding, so no beer).
2 p.m. - We took the back roads out of Stevens Point to find our way up to the Wausau Harley-Davidson dealership (actually they are outside of Wausau in Rothschild). This dealership is HUGE. They had cheese and other snacks out for us.
The local newspaper did a story based on the information we sent over.
2:45 p.m. -- We depart on our longest ride of the day and take some back roads out of town. Interestingly, we go around the south side of Rib Mountain. I have been on top, on the east and on the north, but never on the south side of the mountain. During the winter, this area is packed with ski enthusiasts.
4:45 p.m. - Along the way, we had to cut back on to Highway 29 and that took us right to Chippewa Falls at the major new intersection and got right down to the dealership. They have always been very good to us and we enjoy coming back.
Our night's stay is at a Country Inn up 124 and we then go down to Dana's (a local grill) for a wonderful buffet. Tomorrow, we will be on the NBC affiliate in Eau Claire at 6:20 a.m. Thankfully, I picked up some eye drops from Walgreens on the way to the hotel.
Scott Walker begins his 4th annual Executive's Ride on Saturday, June 23. The trip covers 1,500 miles through 39 cities in four states with stops at 22 Harley-Davidson dealerships. Some 50 riders will travel with Walker _ with more joining him at different points along the way.
The trip started after the 100th anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in 2003. Walker took the Riders Edge rider safety course at the House of Harley Davidson in Greenfield and lead the parade with then-Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist.
Borrowing the idea from former Governor Tommy Thompson, Walker decided to embark on an annual Harley ride to promote all of the great tourism attractions in Milwaukee County. In 2006, he expanded the promotions to include the seven counties in the Milwaukee 7 area.
The ride will conclude on Thursday, June 28 just before the start of Summerfest on the fest grounds. Walker rides a Harley Davidson Road King and wears a black Harley-Davidson helmet and appropriate protective gear. More details can be founds at www.countyexecutivesride.com.
Each day along the trip, County Executive Walker will blog exclusively for OnMilwaukee.com about the trip and the reaction from people across the state and surrounding states.
