Tuesday, November 22, 2011

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

A few weeks ago we rode in the 18th Annual Swan Ride. In keeping with last year (2010 Swan Ride), I took my R1150GS, but this time my wife came with. I was happy to be able to spend a nice fall day riding 200 miles of twisty back roads with her looking for migrating artic tundra swans.

I’m not normally a big fan of group rides, but I like the style of this one. Everyone is given a route sheet. We start together after breakfast and then meet up five hours later for lunch. Ride your own ride without the usual group ride antics. We were slow, and ended up leaving after 90% of the other bikes. This was fine as I wanted to take it slow and enjoy the scenery.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

The ride started with a quick safety talk and a reminder to take it easy.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

I think there was more bikes this year than last. The weather was warmer by at least 10 degrees.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

A few motorcycles had fun decorations

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

A goat on a GS.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

Interesting restraint system.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

So that’s how you strap in a passenger…

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

Lucky for my wife, I left the bungees at home. haha.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

I met several people along the route and the gas stops and I had fun chatting with them. I was even smart enough to bring a map pocket this time for the route sheet, so I didn’t have to duct tape it to the tank like last year. I learned my lesson. :)

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

We didn’t see any of the swans at the stop in Rieck’s Lake Park. We did see five or six a few minutes before the stop though. In a big white clump in the middle of a nearby lake.

It was overcast in the morning

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

An beautiful around lunch time. We stopped at Lake City, MN on the way home on the very scenic shores of Lake Pepin. Keith was just here a few weeks ago.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

The docks were empty.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

All the boats were wrapped up for winter

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

Lake Pepin in the background.

18th Annual Swan Ride 2011

We had a fun day of riding together. My wife is now a convert of heated gear too. I love the big alternator on the GS. Ran both of our heated coats without trouble.

More information about the Swan Ride on their new website: http://www.mnswanride.com/

Full Flickr Photo Set

8 comments:

  1. I hear that the weather is still pretty nice in MN. My wife and her son are visiting a school in St. Paul and after the -35F here at home, she said that it is wonderfully warm. That looks like a great reason for a ride. Is it actually part of a survey or project?

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  2. Does your wife ride? What was the temperature?
    Lots of bike out, it must have been really warm.

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  3. Seems like a dream our being up there. I'm glad the weather behaved for another weekend. I agree with Richard, It . . "looks like a great reason for a ride." I think I'd like the rules of this ride enough to maybe even look forward to it ;)

    Thanks for the share.

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  4. What a lovely outing, especially this time of the year. Great that the wife tagged along. I like my little solo rides but I appreciate if my hubby goes through the ordeal of gearing up and coming along.
    You seem to be lucky with the weather so far.

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  5. What a great day. Isn't it nice when it starts overcast and then turns to brilliant sunshine? Must be because you had the wife with you. I am glad she likes her heated gear. It can sure make a difference.

    The organized ride sounds neat. It is good when you can ride your own ride and then join up for lunch later. I agree, less drama.

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  6. The title of this post had me thinking something like "I know Chris rides many things, but swans?". I am looking forward to a winter of reading about your regular rides in dreadful weather, but this one seems tame by your standards.

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  7. Richard: For this ride it was very nice, then we had a week or two of 18F, and now nice again especially compared to -35F.

    George: She does ride, but not so much this year. She has two bikes a GS500 and a GZ250. The low was 40s the the high was 52.

    Keith: yes, we were so lucky with weather when you and heather came to visit. The "rules" of this ride are one of the reasons I enjoy it.

    Sonja: Having her along made the ride for me. Because of scheduling we haven't been able to spend much time riding together, so this was a treat. "ordeal of gearing up" I think my wife might agree with your husband ;)

    Trobairitz: I love days like that. cloudy to sunny is great. a nice reward for getting up early.

    Yes, I like rides like this more than the traditional group ride. gives me a chance to stop and take a photo or two.

    Gary: LOL! If they didn't bite so hard, I would try! ahah. This was a very tame ride by weather standards. The last week or so we had snow, but now it is gorgeous again. I could get used to 50F winters.

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  8. Richard: nope, not part of a survey. Just a chance to get to look at some striking migrating birds.

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