PCA: Milwaukee

Consider giving your Porsche a belated Holiday present it will thoroughly enjoy: early driving-season exercise on its favorite Wisconsin roads. We’re talking about the roads in the Driftless Area, the southwest part of the state that was bypassed by the glaciers. The terrain that was not bulldozed flat by glaciers is very hilly (dare we say almost mountainous?), resulting in roads that have a lot of ups and downs and twists and turns. Milwaukee Region members who have participated in a similar tour previously have suggested that the tour be repeated annually, or at least semi-annually. It has been a couple years, so it’s time to offer the tour again.

We will meet mid-morning near Madison on Friday, May 5, for the Drivers’/Navigators’ meeting before departing on the tour. Almost immediately, we’ll reach fun-to-drive roads that will take us to Merrimac and the free ferry that will convey us across the Wisconsin River. Whether you’ve taken the ferry before, or not, participants always seem to enjoy the novelty of a river crossing.

We’ll arrive in Reedsburg in time for our lunch stop at a restaurant that we’ve visited several times. The restaurant has been very accommodating to our large group and the food has always been good. The roads just keep getting better as we drive westerly. Among the roads we’ll drive after lunch is Wisconsin State Highway 33 through Wildcat Mountain State Park (no park sticker required). This road, through the park is arguably the most-twisty main highway in Wisconsin. Its hairpin turns are almost alpine-like.

After a rest stop in Ontario (the city, not the province), we’ll continue on more great backroads to our weekend venue, the Radisson Hotel on the east bank of the Mississippi River in downtown LaCrosse.

After checking in, and a little time to freshen up, we’ll gather for social time in the hotel’s bar, followed by a group dinner in the hotel’s 3 Rivers Grille. After dinner, weather permitting, many of us will likely walk a couple blocks to the Pearl Street Confectionery, our favorite ice-cream shop.

Saturday morning, after breakfast on your own at the hotel, or at another place of your choosing, we’ll head out for more fun miles on Driftless Area backroads. Along the way, we’ll make a 1-1/2-hour lunch stop in Viroqua. You can choose your preferred lunch venue from several options in town. We’ll reconvene after lunch for a drive on more winding backroads that will lead us back to the Radisson by mid-afternoon.

On Saturday evening, we’re planning a 1-hour drive north on the Great River Road to for pizza at Stone Barn Pizza in Nelson, Wis. Of course, all pizzas feature farm-fresh ingredients baked in a wood-fired oven. A range of beverages will be available to purchase to enjoy with your pizza.

You can make your own plans for Sunday morning and the return drive home. Feel free to depart early, or tarry for a while in LaCrosse before heading back home. You may drive home by yourself, or invite friends to caravan with you on the return drive.

This event reached the 20-car limit on Jan. 5. Therefore, a wait list has been started.

The hotel is no longer accepting reservations for our group due to the 20-car limit that has been reached. If you are on the wait list and a spot opens, tour leader Alan Wagner will contact you and provide instructions on how to reserve your room.

If you have questions, feel free to email Alan [alan.wagner@wi.rr.com], or call him at 262-416-8503.