July 16 Kewaunee Trout Fest

We spent the morning cleaning up the bike in preparation of the day’s events. By late morning we were at the waterfront park enjoying the sights and sounds of a number of events.

I thought of daughter Cindy when I saw they were having a “duathlon”. It was a 5K run and a 30K bike, followed by another 5K run. Cindy would have been impressed; they even had ankle chips and free T-shirts.

There were craft booths set up with on site demonstrations of their art plus of course items for sale.
The most interesting were the two old men doing wood carvings of animals. It was very intricate, detailed work with beautiful results. I was glad to see they were charging appropriately, although there were not many buyers.
I was fascinated to see “Alpacas” for the first time. They are strange little animals and the clothing made out of their “wool” was beautiful but not selling very well in the over 90 degree temperatures.
Large pieces of cut glass were marketed as garden ornaments with the caution to handle them with gloves on due to their sharpness. With my current level of clumsiness (running my head into overhangs on the motor home) that could be disastrous. I would probably fall and cut myself on a piece in our garden…no thanks.
One group of ladies had spent many hours making the standard crocheted refrigerator towels (you know the kind) and other homey items. Lots of lookers getting ideas of things they could make at home but not many buyers.
Stained glass interested me until I saw they were kits for making Christmas ornaments and night light covers.
Willow basket weaving was interesting to watch but not a hobby that I plan on taking up.
Etc, etc. about 15 craft booths in all and I succeeding in making the rounds and still coming away with my pocketbook in tact.

Wisconsin food concessions featured the familiar standards plus fresh squeezed lemonade, roasted corn on the cob and a “trout boil” dinner. We passed on that for the time being although we have since had several locals tell us that we cannot make our visit complete until we have partaken in a “trout boil”.

Soon it was time to seek out the start of the “Trout Fest Motorcycle Run” which was a tavern across the bridge. Scheduled to start check in at 11 AM, we rode by at 10:45 and no one was there. Finally about 11:15 they started check in but informed us that it was not a “run” with route check-ins along the way but a group run which would feature a lead bike starting at 1PM. We ended up having lunch in the bar which was a new experience for us. The food was good but the cigarette smoke soon drove us outside to the shade of a nearby tree.

At 10 minutes to 1 they announced “Start your engines” and at precisely 1 PM we left the parking lot. There were about 40 bikes in all and only three were Hondas. There was one three wheeler and one side car rig (ours). We were impressed with the involvement and cooperation of the local police force as they were present at each intersection (both of them) to hold the traffic as our group proceeded north out of town. Our route took us on a number of country roads which were new to us but obviously very familiar to the Harley riders. They immediately took out at 70 mph which is at least 15 mph over our normal sane motorcycle highway speed not to mention 25 mph over our county road speed.

We flew on through the back country not seeing much of the sights due to our breakneck speed and trying to just keep up. Soon we entered another town and noticed the lead bikes parking along the road across the street from a local tavern. We followed them in to use the bathroom facilities and purchase a can of pop. They all proceeded to cool their throats with cold beer in preparation for the next “leg” of the ride. Again, as we left this small community, the local police were there to hold back any oncoming traffic and facilitate our speedy departure (55 in a 25MPH zone). How could they miss the fact that we had all just come from the local tavern? Perhaps they just look the other way around here…not quite sure.

As the rode proceeded the tavern stops became more frequent and the speed faster and faster. We had wondered how they would “stretch” this local country ride into 4 hours and now we know the secret…lots of tavern stops! Finally their riding speed exceeded our ability or willingness to keep up and we departed company to return to Kewaunee on our own.

Upon our return to the festival site, we spent a couple hours in our favorite sport of “people watching” and listening to the local rock band (named “Free Beer”) play “music (??)” in the bandstand.

All in all it was a very interesting and entertaining day…a day full of contrasts and adventure that is for sure.