6 Days, 3 States, 1,800+ Miles Together Two-Up

1,953 miles. Six days. Three states. One hell of a ride. The planned route was approximately 1,781 miles. By the time we finished, the odometer showed 1,953 miles. Apparently, we found a few extra miles along the way.

The Passenger Princess and I just completed a 6-day, 3-state, 1,953-mile trip, and we didn't kill each other. Honestly, we didn't even fight the entire trip.

We took this trip instead of going to Sturgis this year. If you read my last post about why I think Sturgis has become more of a tourist attraction than a motorcycle destination, you already know why.

So, where did we go, you ask? You didn't ask, but I'm gonna tell you anyways. We rode through North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The goal? To see the headwaters of the Mississippi, giant statues, a lift bridge, and stops at Harley dealerships to collect poker chips.

That was the mission.

Day 1: Getting Out of North Dakota

The first day wasn't exactly the exciting start to a big motorcycle adventure. We both had to work, so after work we jumped on the bike and headed for Grand Forks. We have family there, which meant a free place to stay and, more importantly, a chance to knock out the first 336 miles before the real trip even started.

The route from Williston to Grand Forks is one we've ridden hundreds of times, so there wasn't much excitement to report. It was an evening ride on a familiar road, and honestly, that's exactly what we wanted it to be.

We did make our planned stop in Rugby for gas and something to eat. If you're traveling through the area, the geographical center of North America is directly across the street from the gas station, so it's an easy stop if you want to say you've been there.

In typical North Dakota fashion, the honeybees and dragonflies were having a convention in the road, and our motorcycle was the unwanted guest. By the time we made it to Grand Forks, my pant legs had turned yellow and the bike was a mess. But we’re not worried about that.

Day 2: The Trip Finally Starts

We started the morning of Day 2 with coffee and goodbyes at a Starbucks. From there, we went into downtown Grand Forks and made our way across the Red River into Minnesota.

Today was going to be mostly Highway 2, with the exception of a few turnoffs to see some sights. We didn't get very far before we had to make a quick stop on the side of the road because I had a tire with too much air in it. We stopped, let some air out, no big deal, and we were back on the road in nothing flat.

Headwaters of the Mississippi, here we come.

We passed a town in Minnesota called Climax, and I joked to the Passenger Princess that we should stop and climax in Climax. 😂But she declined the offer.

We turned off on Highway 92 at Bagley and headed south until we reached Highway 200, where we headed east toward the entrance to Itasca State Park.

Getting a Minnesota state park day pass is done entirely online, and the website wasn't exactly what I'd call user friendly. It took us longer than it should have to get that figured out, but eventually we had our pass and were on our way.

Once we got into Itasca State Park, the ride itself became part of the experience. Eventually we made our way to the headwaters of the Mississippi.

The headwaters are kind of cool because you can actually walk across the Mississippi River. Yes, you read that right. You can walk across it.

We chose not to walk through the water because neither of us was interested in getting wet, and apparently the rocks they recommend using can be pretty slick. Instead, we took the wooden plank across. I'm perfectly happy with that decision. I came here to see the Mississippi, not take a bath in it.

The park was busy, but it wasn't shoulder-to-shoulder packed. There were plenty of people walking around, taking pictures and doing the same thing we were there to do.

They also have a really nice gift shop, so we spent a little time walking around before heading back out.

We also picked up our traditional Christmas ornament while we were there. Anytime we travel somewhere that offers one, we're getting it. That's just what we do.

From here, we had about a 30-minute ride into Bemidji. Next stop: Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.

They sit right in the middle of Bemidji on the water, and it's a busy area traffic-wise. We found a parking spot and headed over. It wasn't busy at the statues, but there were people there taking pictures. The Passenger Princess offered to take a family's picture while we stood there waiting, and in return, they took ours.

After we got all the necessary pics, we headed into the gift shop that was right there. It was small, with only a couple of items to choose from, but they did have the Christmas ornament, so you know we left with that.

Then it was time to find some lunch. We left the bike parked where it was and walked across the street into what kind of looked like a downtown area and found a place to eat called Keg & Cork.

After lunch, we got back on the bike and headed east on Highway 2. This was probably my favorite kind of riding on the entire trip. Two-lane roads, trees lining the road, curves and not a ton of traffic. It was just a peaceful ride, the kind where you can settle into the bike and enjoy the miles without worrying about how quickly you're getting somewhere.

Somewhere along the way, we spotted a bald eagle perched at the top of a tall pine tree right next to the road. We weren't looking for it, and that's what made it even better. Just one of those things you get to see because you're on a motorcycle instead of flying down the interstate in a car.

From there, we continued east toward Duluth.

As we came into Duluth, the traffic picked up. It was around 4 p.m. and people were getting off work, so suddenly our peaceful ride on Highway 2 turned into dealing with city traffic.

We navigated through Duluth and then we saw the John A. Blatnik Bridge, which would take us into Superior, Wisconsin. We had one more thing to deal with before we could get to the hotel: crossing that damn bridge.

We needed to cross it to get to our hotel in Superior, and the first time we saw it, it was one of those moments where you look at something and think, "Holy shit, that's a big bridge."

It was crazy tall and honestly a little intimidating at first. And because our hotel was in Superior, we ended up riding across it several times during our stay. After the first crossing, it wasn't quite as intimidating, but it was still one hell of a bridge.

Once we were settled, we headed back out for Canal Park.

We parked in Canal Park and headed out on foot to see what we could find. The whole area was easy enough to walk around, and we weren't in any particular hurry.

Of course, the main attraction for us was the lift bridge. We got lucky and actually got to see it in action for a tall boat coming through. It wasn't a freighter, but we're counting it as a win anyway.

We also came across a lighthouse that was built in 1901. We hadn't specifically gone looking for it, but there it was, so obviously we stopped to take a look.

After walking around Canal Park for about an hour, we decided it was time to find some dinner. We walked over to Grandma's Saloon & Grill, and the food was delicious. Definitely a place we'd recommend if you're in the area.

All in all, it was a great day of riding. We put a little over 300 miles on the bike, and with all the stops and walking around, we were on the go for about 8.5 hours.

Not a bad way to officially start the trip.

Day 3: Poker Chips, Wisconsin Roads and a Questionable Stop

We started Day 3 with Dunkin coffee, which was conveniently located next to our hotel. I don't get the hype.

The hotel breakfast wasn't much better, so after choking that down, we packed up and got ready to hit the road.

Before we left, though, I have to give the Hampton Inn Superior some credit. I judge hotels by their showers, and this one had one of, if not the best, hotel showers I've ever had. The water pressure was fantastic, and after a long day on the bike, that's exactly what you want.

We made a quick stop for gas and then we were off and running.

Our first stop was Rice Lake Harley-Davidson, about an hour and a half away via Highway 53.

We were there for one reason: poker chips. The sales manager was super cool, and after we bought a couple of chips, he hooked us up with a poker chip from the northernmost Harley-Davidson in Alaska.

I thought that was pretty damn cool.

Then I noticed his office looked like an old jail cell. Turns out, it actually was. The dealership owner had bought the old jail cell when a local jail was demolished and turned it into an office at the dealership.

How cool is that?

We got our chips, checked out the jail-cell office, and headed back out.

From Rice Lake, we headed to Chippewa Falls Harley-Davidson. Once again, everyone was super nice. We grabbed a couple more poker chips, and one of the sales guys told us about some of the riding in the area.

We didn't have time to check it out on this trip, but he gave us a few ideas that we may have to come back and explore in the future.

Another stop down, another couple of poker chips added to the collection, and we were back on the road.

From Chippewa Falls, we headed to Osseo, Wisconsin, to check out the original Norske Nook restaurant and bakery. It's supposedly known for its pie, so naturally we figured we'd give it a shot.

Our first impression wasn't exactly great. The place was busy and chaotic, and we weren't sure what we'd gotten ourselves into. We got seated in about five minutes, which wasn't bad, but then we waited another five to ten minutes before a server came by.

We ordered a grilled chicken wrap to split. It had grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato and grilled onions, all wrapped in lefse.

When the food showed up, that's when the questionable part really started.

The chicken was super dry and tasted like it had probably been cooked the day before and then warmed back up on the grill. And instead of the grilled onions it advertised, we got raw onions.

This was not exactly going according to plan.

At this point, we were both sitting there hoping the pie would be worth it.

The pie wasn't bad, so I guess it didn't completely fail us. I had the chocolate mint, and the Passenger Princess had the banana cream. Her pie actually had real bananas in it, so bonus points for that.

But we can't sit here and tell you it was the best pie ever. It just wasn't.

At least we can say we tried it.

We got back on the bike and left Osseo, taking Highway 10 to Highway 37 through some winding roads in Wisconsin. Eventually we crossed a bridge into Minnesota, and this turned out to be one of those rides we'd recommend to anyone. Two-lane country roads, winding through the countryside, with cornfields and soybeans all around us.

This is the kind of riding everyone who rides wants to find during a trip.

We arrived in Rochester around 4 p.m., and the first thing we noticed was the traffic. It was bumper-to-bumper, and I wasn't really prepared for how big Rochester was. It was a planned stopping point, but I just didn't realize how big the city actually was.

We made it to our hotel, Home2 Suites Mayo, checked in and settled down for the evening.

For dinner, we decided to check out The Workshop Food Hall & Bar. Since I wanted to have a drink, we took an Uber there instead of riding. It's more like a mall food court than a traditional restaurant, with five different food options, sweets and a bar all under one roof.

After dinner, we called it a night and headed back to the hotel.

Day 3 ended with somewhere around 300 miles on the bike. We were still in really good shape, and more importantly, we were excited for the trip to continue.

Day 4: Harley Dealers, Giant Statues and a Candy Store

We started Day 4 in Rochester with temperatures around 67 degrees, a breeze and overcast skies. It sounded pretty comfortable until we got out on the highway. The combination of the temperature and humidity made it feel colder than expected.

Our first stop was Bergdale's Harley-Davidson, about 50 miles down the road. We stopped for a poker chip, and then we were back on the road.

About 40 miles later, we pulled into Blue Earth, Minnesota, to see the Jolly Green Giant.

Yep, he's actually that damn big.

The Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

The Green Giant was another planned stop on the trip. It was pretty cool to see in person, and of course we took plenty of pictures. We also picked up another Christmas ornament because, well, that's what we do.

From there, we headed toward Mankato and stopped at Dave's River Valley Harley-Davidson before heading to the Happy Chef for lunch.

After yesterday's lunch experience, I had pretty low expectations for the Happy Chef. I was pleasantly surprised. The food was really good and came out piping hot. The Passenger Princess had the Club Deluxe, and I had the pork tenderloin sandwich.

And, of course, we had to get a picture with another giant statue. This time it was the Happy Chef himself.

After lunch, we headed to Faribault Harley-Davidson and then it was time for the Passenger Princess's most anticipated stop of the entire day: Minnesota's Largest Candy Store.

Getting there was half the fun. We were riding two-lane country roads through Minnesota, and it was a really nice ride. This was exactly the kind of riding we enjoy—just cruising along without having to worry about interstate traffic.

Then we arrived at the candy store.

The Passenger Princess was in heaven.

We spent over an hour walking around the place, and had we been driving the truck instead of riding the bike, she probably would have walked out of there with a couple hundred dollars worth of candy.

But we were on the Harley, so space was limited. She settled for another Christmas ornament and a couple of things she likes that would actually fit on the bike.

As we were leaving the candy store, it started raining. So much for the nice dry ride.

We rode most of the way to Eden Prairie in the rain or on wet roads. It wasn't ideal, but we kept moving.

Our next stop was Wild Prairie Harley-Davidson. The building itself was huge and fancy, but the overall dealership experience was underwhelming. The selection was disappointing to say the least, so we didn't spend much time there.

At this point, the Harley dealership stops were pretty much just part of the routine. Get the poker chip, look around, and get back on the road.

Once we made it to Eden Prairie, we stopped at Asia Mall. It's a really cool Asian market with an Asian food court and lots of options to choose from. If you're into that kind of thing, it's worth a stop.

After that, we checked into the hotel and called it a day.

For dinner, we went to TJ Hooligans in Eden Prairie. It was nothing special, and probably not somewhere we'd go back to.

That wrapped up Day 4. We put 263 miles on the bike, and after the rain and everything else we'd packed into the day, we were ready to call it a night.

Day 5: Rain, Vikings and a Giant Prairie Chicken.

We started Day 5 in the rain.

We grabbed some coffee from a preferred coffee shop and waited for a break in the rain before hitting the road. Eventually, we got our break, got on the bike and immediately started getting rained on again.

The rain wasn't heavy. It was more of a light, steady soaking rain, but riding a motorcycle through the Twin Cities in it wasn't exactly enjoyable. Between the traffic, navigating the city and the rain, it was stressful. We don't ride in the rain that often, so I'm not going to pretend I'm some highly experienced rain rider.

But we knew if we were going to get rained on during this trip, this was probably going to be the day. So we just dealt with it and kept moving.

Our first stop was Elk River Harley-Davidson. We grabbed another poker chip and got back on the road.

Next up was Viking Land Harley-Davidson, which was one of the Passenger Princess's anticipated stops. She wanted a shirt with a Viking on it, and she got exactly what she came for. Two shirts and another poker chip later, we were back on the road.

By the time we were on our way to Alexandria, the rain was finally letting up. Then the clouds broke, the sun came out, and the ride immediately felt better.

We made our final Harley-Davidson dealer stop of the trip at Apols. We grabbed another poker chip, and just like that, the dealer stops were officially done.

From here, we grabbed some lunch and then headed over to see Big Ole, the giant Viking statue in Alexandria.

As for Big Ole himself, I can't say he was worth making a special trip for. But we were there, so we took the pictures, checked it out and moved on.

Big Ole bears a shield that says "Birthplace of America," a disputed reference to the claim that Norwegian Vikings discovered the area in 1362.

At this point, we were starting to feel like we were reaching the home stretch for the day. From here on out, it was just us, the bike and the miles.

Our destination was Grand Forks, and we were making good time. Somewhere along the way, we stopped for gas in Rothsay, Minnesota.

That's when we found the giant prairie chicken.

We had no idea it was there. Had we not needed gas and gotten off that exit, we'd probably still have no idea it existed. But there it was, so obviously we had to stop and get a picture.

At that point, it felt like we were officially in the home stretch. We arrived in Grand Forks shortly after 5 p.m., and Day 5 was done.

Final Leg: Fuck It, We're Almost Home

The final leg home started with coffee and a bite to eat before we pointed the bike west. It was 65 degrees, cloudy and cold, and we had no reason to rush. We knew we were going to stop a lot today, so the plan was simple: take our time and enjoy the last miles of the trip.

Our first stop was Devils Lake. By this point, the Passenger Princess needed to warm up in a bad way, so we stopped at a Cenex we regularly stop at and got off the bike for a while.

Once we were warmed up, we were back on the road.

From Devils Lake, we headed west and made a stop in Rugby for another break and some gas. We'd already been through Rugby at the beginning of the trip, so this was just a quick stop before continuing toward home.

From there, we made our way to Minot, where we stopped for lunch. After eating, it was back on the road for the final stretch.

Our last stop was Stanley. We took another break, and while we were there, some kids asked me to rev the bike. So, of course, we did.

They were excited as hell about it, so we gave them a few Bad Attitude on 2 Wheels stickers with our TikTok and Instagram information on them before getting back on the road.

At this point, we were counting down the miles.

The temperature finally started to warm up about 50 miles from home. Normally, that would have been a good time to stop and start taking off layers.

But we weren't stopping.

Fuck it, we're almost home.

So we sucked it up and kept riding.

We finally pulled into home with 336 miles on the odometer for the day. The trip was over.

1,953 miles. Six days. Three states. Two-up the entire way.

We were glad to be home, but there was still that bittersweet feeling that comes when a good trip comes to an end. You're tired, you're ready for your own bed, and you're happy to finally pull into the driveway.

But you also hate seeing the trip end.