The 4th of July, 2005. With excellent weather all weekend and several extended trips planned for later on this month I was not about to squander a golden opportunity to go driving, and so with my family in tow we undertook yet another Quixotic journey through the Bluff Country of Southeastern Minnesota. This time, however, I probed further afield, into Western Wisconsin, where the roads around the tiny hamlet of Modena looked promising on the topographic maps.
On a narrow road covered with a dense canopy and dappled sunlight. Lots of 2nd and 3rd gear corners. We saw a fawn-baby deer feeding by the roadside, and followed it as it galloped somewhat leisurely 50 feet or so up the road before it darted off into a small clearing. It paused, turned around to observe us with curiosity before diappearing into the trees.
Yet another gem of a road. An occasional short burst into 4th gear on the straights followed by tight, off camber and occasional hairpin corners.
Wabasha, Minnesota. A quaint and historic town on the Mississippi River. Antiques shop for the Mrs., located within the old City Hall building, erected in 1894. We then had a nice lunch in the Ante-Bellum, Historic Anderson House a few steps down the street, while watching the Mississippi meander by from our table.
After lunch, we crossed the Mississippi on this bridge and headed over to Western Wisconsin. Pleasure craft heading up-river against a fairly strong current here.
A wonderful, open stretch amongst the cornfields and gently rolling hills of Modena Township, Wisconsin.
Not a single Prancing Horse of the automotive variety in sight around Modena, but plenty of equine beasts grazing the pastures showing a passing interest in our beast from Dingolfing.
Bayerische Motoren Werke im Modena...there is something quite poetic about it all.
We turned off onto another small road which rose out of the valley and into the heavily wooded coulee. Note relection of an old barn adjacent to the road.
View of the straight, initial section of this road leading up to a sharp left hander in the distance.
The same road, panned out. A serene pasture below and to the right.
A nice hairpin curve about half a mile up the road.
View up the road from the hairpin curve.
Beautiful and fairly rare Octagonal Barn built in 1917(Note date over door-frame and cistern atop barn for watering the livestock). Picture taken just prior to heading back across the Mississippi to Minnesota.
Back in Wabasha, Minnesota, we stopped for great home-made ice cream and a last pic by the Mississippi before heading back home.
A fitting conclusion to our July 4th adventure...only a few miles from our home. The paint looks old and weathered, and I have driven by this farm many times before, but strangely I had never noticed the paint scheme until today. Home before dark to prepare our fireworks
Thanks for reading.
__________________
Al
2003 M5 CB/Silverstone (all options except spoiler deletion), HOME AT LAST!
2008 X5 4.8i Sport Space Gray/Tobacco/Bamboo
2002 540ia Sapphire Black
2004 FX35
1999 MB ML430 (3rd row seats)
1992 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1981 320i 5-speed Henna Red
Last edited by schnelleM5; 6th July 2005 at 09:13.
Modena, Wisconsin USA, that is
yet another Quixotic journey through the Bluff Country of Southeastern Minnesota.
Al
Great photos and an even a better story to go with it.
Yes, putting Modena in the subject had me looking, but I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, after your great story I just had to search my map programs to find your neighborhood and Modena. Living in Germany the last 10 years, I have lost my perspective of the US.
As an after thought, I had visions of doing the German thing and putting your warning triangle out each time you stopped to make those detailed pictures of your M approaching and/or departing those great curves.
Ken
__________________
03 BMW M5 ein gut fahrt
02 Volvo V70 XC der Frauto
Life may not be always be the party
I thought it would be, but while I am
here I'm going to DANCE
Your photo reports are always excellent Al - thanks for posting and long may they continue. You are lucky to have such quiet country roads to enjoy
__________________
Ashok
2002 E39 Carbonblack/Caramel M5 (best car I ever owned)
2005 E60 Blue Onyx/Caramel/Light Figured Ash M5 (worst car I ever owned)
2007 E90 Montego Blue/Black Alpina D3 (sublime) Let me tell you what SMG stands for...
Ken: Danke. While we are certainly blessed with some great driving roads Stateside, I envy your access to the Autobahn. When are you planning to return to the States?
Ashok: Thanks. I actually think you have access to some of the most wonderful roads in England, those small B roads that are featured in EVO, Top Gear, CAR, Motorsport, ClassicCar, etc., as well as productions such as the Victory By Design series with Alain de Cadenet are very similar in their inspiration, I think.
David: Thanks for your effusive compliments! It was indeed a great drive. We have unfortunately not been to Italy, but my wife has been clamoring to visit Tuscany and the Venetto, so I think we will be making a trip to Italy in the not too distant future.
Gustav: Thanks. My apologies regarding the title of the thread, but I could not think of a more meaningful title
Tony: Thanks for your kind words. Are you planning on keeping your e39 M5 when your e60 arrives?
__________________
Al
2003 M5 CB/Silverstone (all options except spoiler deletion), HOME AT LAST!
2008 X5 4.8i Sport Space Gray/Tobacco/Bamboo
2002 540ia Sapphire Black
2004 FX35
1999 MB ML430 (3rd row seats)
1992 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1981 320i 5-speed Henna Red
Ken:When are you planning to return to the States?
David: But my wife has been clamoring to visit Tuscany and the Venetto, so I think we will be making a trip to Italy in the not too distant future.
Al
while I would be happy to stay longer, wife is starting to make plans for our return in a year or two
Regarding Tuscany and Italy, keep me in the loop, got experience there too.
Ken
__________________
03 BMW M5 ein gut fahrt
02 Volvo V70 XC der Frauto
Life may not be always be the party
I thought it would be, but while I am
here I'm going to DANCE
An M5 in Modena...........makes me want to go drive a Ferrari!!
Beautiful day, great scenery, great road. One question: Did you actually get a chance to attack that road, because it looks like you stopped every 1/4 mi to take pictures?
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Ciao..Dino
BMW M5 (sold)
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M5 In Modena...(17 pics, 56k warning)
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