Author Archives: scottluria

Manchester to Oelwein, Iowa Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Everybody knows the Winkie March, where the armed guards are marching into the wicked witch’s castle in the Wizard of Oz, chanting “oh-we-oh, oh-WE-oh”, but few know it by that name. Winkie just seems like such a cute little name for those fearsome guards. Oelwein (sounds aContinue reading “The Wussy March”

Dyersville to Manchester, Iowa Monday, July 5, 2021 Today I got an unmitigated taste of what a hot summer headwind can be like on the open plains. Followers of this blog know I have dealt with headwinds before, but this was something new. Something new, but nothing I didn’t expect. I knew the wind wouldContinue reading “Reset”

Galena, Illinois to Dyersville, Iowa. Sunday, July 4, 2021 I’m not really that much of a baseball fan. I blame it on my hometown team, the Washington Senators, not the once-good Senators that were sold to Minnesota in 1960, but the expansion Senators that stayed with us for only 11 years, and only once hadContinue reading “If you bike there, it will come”

Apple River to Galena, Illinois. Saturday July 3, 2021 This is one of the candidates for the overall title of my blog. My father, Carlos Luria, died last year under dramatic circumstances, which I will be expanding on in a future post, one of the “elephant in the room” posts that I keep talking about,Continue reading “Travels with Carlos”

Monroe, Wisconsin to Apple River, Illinois. Friday, July 2, 2021 OK, I get it. Enough with the badgers. Last day, I promise. Today, after a total of 23 days, I’m finally leaving Wisconsin for good, if only to cross back into Illinois to do the highpoint. A bike trail was available, but the reviews wereContinue reading “Badger bye bye”

Madison to Monroe, Wisconsin Thursday, July 1, 2021 Another low-key day to follow a busy one. The next destination is Charles Mound in Illinois, but as mentioned above I can’t get there until Saturday, and it’s only about 70 miles, so I can afford to take my time. Which was fine, spending a lazy ThursdayContinue reading “From the 4th to the 5th president”

Madison, Wisconsin. Wednesday, June 30, 2021 The last day of June, and the 75th day of the trip. Something of a milestone, it called for a momentous day, and Madison did not disappoint. My friend and former resident Darren Knox, who had hosted me in La Crosse, did most of his schooling in Madison andContinue reading “Madison scavenger hunt”

Verona to Madison, Wisconsin Tuesday, June 29, 2021 Today was a big deal for me, a marriage of my past life and my present trip. Just approaching that logo along the entrance walkway brought it all back. All my colleagues have a love-hate relationship with Epic, but we go way back. Back in 2002, IContinue reading “Epic thoughts, Epic dreams”

Spring Green to Verona, Wisconsin. Monday, June 28, 2021 Frank Lloyd Wright died in 1959, Paul Simon wrote the tune in 1961, our guide was unaware if they had ever met. Bridge Over Troubled Water wasn’t released until 1970, which is where I first heard of the great architect. But no, I had been toContinue reading “I never laughed so long. So long, so long.”

Prairie du Chien to Spring Green, Wisconsin. Sunday, June 27, 2021 I know I’ve already explained it, but the direction of today’s ride seemed just wrong. I rode 67 miles due East, and will continue in this direction over the next couple of days for a total of 100 miles. To see some great sights,Continue reading “Uh, doc? West would be THAT way.”