And the WI executive order has Outdoor Activity as essential (11.c.), and not limited to the list they provided...  not that they wouldn't just enforce whatever they want if they think you shouldn't be out there, but I'd be willing to ask for forgiveness.

https://evers.wi.gov/Documents/COVID19/EMO12-SaferAtHome.pdf

a.s.

I wish more people would share their fall stories and lessons learned, so I'll share mine

Each year, the very last ride has this feeling of "don't screw up a good season" and I had it that night (Nov. 19th) when I was taking the long way round to top off my gas tank before winter.  I was taking it super-easy just enjoying being out on the next-to-last warm night (40+ degrees).  I had been cruising at or below the speed limit and not pushing it at all throughout the ride.   About 5 miles from home, accelerating out of a slow corner, I hit dark grey sand in a nearly-done construction zone (no street lights in the area), along with some gritty stuff from when they painted the lines I think.  It wasn't quite a standard right turn, slow since it was more then 90deg and recently reconfigured during construction, from southbound CR-19 / Keats Ave onto westbound Military Rd, both 55mph roads.
 
As I was speeding up after the turn, going maybe 20 or 30mph, I got into the sand and the back spun out to the left (the outside of the turn of course).  I distinctly recall starting to fall down to the right with my right foot dragging out behind me, but then the bike hooked up and flipped over onto its left side... I think I pretty much slid off the back.  I didn't have time to react in any particular way, and as I lost my balance early in the slide I unintentionally pinned the throttle so I have that zinging up to WOT sound etched into my brain.  I don't remember flying at all, which is great luck.  I had enough time to realize I was sliding down the road in my lane, mostly upright, probably 30 feet or more -- almost as far as the bike slid.  There weren't any cars around right when it happened but some passed by shortly afterwards, one slowed down but none stopped.

My Joe Rocket Ballistic pants took the brunt of it, my main coat has a little hole in it.  That coat also rode up and my windbreaker got melted.  Additionally, my backpack was torn open.  My boots and gloves didn't incur any damage, which surprises me a little, and my head never hit the ground.

I did call the cops to file a report, filed the longer form for a > $1,000 accident with the state, and I attempted to work with County about the construction debris which I spun out on but haven't made much progress.  Basically I plan to file a claim on my insurance.  I did end up riding it home in first gear, wow that was loud and slow...

My hip was sore after a few minutes, a few hours later I started feeling it more generally.  My left-hand pinky had a little burning/tingling, I think from the bars getting ripped out of my hands.  ZERO road-rash, a tiny bruise on the hip/cheek I landed on...
 
The Lesson Learned part is pretty simple -- wear your gear!  There is always the chance that something you can't even see could bring you down.
 
http://aschendel.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/2013-11-19-My-Wipeout/2013-11-19-Crash-Aftermath

Should be basically cosmetic, decent luck for a highside

Andy

I almost can't believe you think there is no peer pressure on MSTA rides.  Every ride I've ever been on had recognizable peer pressure at some level...  Do you bunch up behind the people waiting for a clear lane to pass?  Do you make sure that people have a route sheet and can really follow them?  Does everyone know all of your expectations throughout the ride and are you sure they are fully capable of meeting them?  Can you put peer pressure on yourself when riding alone?  Have you ever thought "I bet I can make that corner going 10mph faster..."?

That isn't really what I want to talk about though.  I think as people lead more and more rides they begin to appreciate the unique challenges that being the leader brings.  I've had 4 people crash "behind" me and while I wasn't on their bike making their decisions - the decisions I made and those that they made, combined with circumstances both in and out of our control, still haunt me.  You don't want to be scraping your friends (or their friends, or their father-in-law from out of town on a borrowed bike) up, and you sure don't want your friends to have to scrape you up either, so be vigilant.  Do everything that you can to ensure people you ride with really are comfortable "riding their own ride".  I think that starts with acknowledging that peer pressure shows up for every ride, sometimes it gets there late, but it's always there.

Followers, Leaders and Peers all need to play an active role; and if you chose to ignore signs of people making bad decisions, sooner or later it will catch up with them -- and you.

a.s.

i use a basic, wide tri-fold from northern tool and other than wishing i would have got the longer version it works fine.  i also use the curb / angle trick to gain the needed clearance at my house, although when loading or unloading at other places sometimes it takes a little creativity.

a.s.

I plan to get out - will no doubt be wishing I had that liner! 

yup yup...  the way out was balmy through the night, mid-70's once we were down into Iowa.  The way back, the exact opposite, cold (like 19F) in the high desert with snow from the rockies east for a couple hundred miles I think...  the southern route might have worked.  even with 4 of us it was difficult and on the bike i'd have needed more time, the better part of a day on either side I suppose.

I haven't had time to analyze all of the data collected en route, but I do know the following:
 
Total Miles: 4,033 miles
Total Fuel: 198.52 gallons
Total Fuel Cost: $751.19
Average Fuel Cost: $3.78
Average MPG: 20.3 miles per gallon
Fuel Cost per person: $187.80
 
The most expensive gas was obtained in Hesparia, CA ($4.33/gal) and the cheapest was Stuart, IA ($3.31/gal).  We stopped at, and then decided against, a place outside of Vegas with $5/gal.
 
Traffic stops: 2 - nice work, Zac (my brother).
Traffic tickets: 0 - even nicer work, Zac!
 
We made it out in 28 hours, and back in 29 hours and 15 minutes.
 
We didn't see any live animals that were larger than a fox but we did see a few dead deer, a big black pig, and some elk/deer in hunter's trucks.  I don't believe we had any "close calls" or other incidents of note.  The snow in the mountains was substantial and covered way more distance than I thought it would but the roads were cleared (a bit wet) by the time we got to that part.

I did end up with a few pictures -- many sincere thanks to Christopher (5 year old cousin) for getting great shots of the grownups.  I had to do some work to the images from the first day due to the way those were stored on the camera (and I'm sure I didn't do it exactly right as this was my first time doing it) but I didn't do any tweaking for the rest of them.  Anyways, you guys might enjoy a few of them...
 
Once you click into these links, you can click on one of the square images to bring up a fuller version, then you can use your arrow keys to flip through them.
 
The trip out:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8gydlh31yx13mn7/u_zO8tb1zE
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pm20403728y4o92/2rPeZVS2jE
 
Visiting CA:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bukubsxunrryoai/gGMTby2SaA
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9hpuzv5g1mjcbdv/nIo1BURNnR

The trip back: 
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ykscowtr3tl52ov/TxRG_oVaUs

a.s.

thank you guys for the condolances and valuable input.  the decision is probably already made for me; my dad, brother and sister all want to drive :/    so unless the schedule doesn't allow for it, we'll be doing it on 4 wheels.  from the sounds of it i should investigate chains, as we'll not have 4-wheel drive.

thanks again,

andy

Here's one:  http://www.kare11.com/news/article/994460/396/High-speed-motorcycle-chase-in-metro-ends-in-crash

I was suprised at how close the cops were at the end.

Andy