Heads up! The Secrets of Jo Daviess County Tour will be held a little early this year. We’ll be enjoying those scenic and winding roads (the best without painted lines) the weekend of June 29 to July 1. This time we’ll be completing what we started last year when bad weather and some LBC reliability interfered with our planned activities and routes. The itinerary as planned is good enough that we’re going to do it again. The emphasis is on driving and we’ll log about 350 miles in the two days of the weekend. Yes, a lot of driving, but we’ll also take in some dis-tractions like wineries and cheese stores.

If you choose an early arrival, Friday afternoon we’ll have our regular open house and reception at our home on Lake Carroll followed by the popular Yellow Creek Inn fish fry. Satur-day, starting at 9am in Stockton, we wind our way north through Jo-Daviess county and on into Wisconsin. The roads traveled range from narrow downhill plunges through creek canyons to ridge runs with wide scenic views. Last year’s veterans will remember the roller coaster road where the car in front of you disap-pears down the hill! The day ends with dinner at the Jones’ Black Angus, a really nice steakhouse, walking distance from the hotel, where the food and service received rave reviews last time. Sunday we’ll start with the serene cruise along County Road C with the Wisconsin River on one side and tree covered bluffs on the other. Then stops at cheese and wine outlets and on to the official end of the tour circuit in Monroe, Wisconsin the home of Baumgartner’s tavern and cheese store. The plan is to arrive in Monroe about 3pm to get you to your home at an early hour.

Hotel information: We have reserved blocks of rooms at both hotels under the name of “MG club”. Both have an indoor pool. The expiration date for the blocks is roughly 30 days in advance of the stay. Sign up early to be sure to get a good room.

Friday night, June 29. The Country Inn and Suites in Stockton (the tour launch point on Saturday). All rooms are non-smoking and with 2 Queen size beds. The block expires June 20. The direct phone number is 815 947 6060.

Saturday night, June 30. The Bridgeport Inn, Prairie du Chien, WI. Block of 20 rooms, all with 2 Queen beds. They do have other configurations so you may want to inquire about that. All rooms are non-smoking. Phone 608 326 6082 or 800 234 6082. Take a look at the hotel on www.bridgeportinn.com

Southwest Wisconsin seems to have an endless supply of MG enthusiast roads. It’s like hunting mushrooms, the more you look the more you find. And this tour includes some dandies. This is the seventh annual running of the tour and we hope you will be able to join us.

~~Dan Herman