Editor's note: Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has agreed to chronicle his experience during the fourth annual Executive's Ride, which began this weekend at the House of Harley-Davidson on Layton Ave.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

7:30 a.m. -- Before we take off, our road guards go through all of the rules for a safe ride. Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas is riding with us. So is Milwaukee County Treasurer Dan Diliberti. Walworth County Administrator David Bretl stopped in, too. State Senator Mary Lazich and her husband are each riding motorcycles with us.

8 a.m. -- We are taking off for our 4th annual Executive's Ride from the House of Harley Davidson on Layton in Greenfield. John Schaller and his staff do a great job every year getting us ready for the great tour.

"Turkey," who usually rides in a yellow cheesehead Harley-Davidson with a sidecar, has a bad back and is riding on a two-wheeler this year. Still, there is a great mix of interesting riders.

This year, we are doing something new and stopping in all seven counties in the Milwaukee 7 region. Our next stop will be at Suburban Harley-Davidson in Ozaukee County.

8:45 a.m. -- We arrive in Thiensville and get a nice escort from the local law enforcement. Thiensville Administrator Dianne Robertson is a rider and she rode in with us and will stay through West Bend. Village President Karl Hertz rode his bike over too (bicycle that is).

10:15 am -- West Bend Harley-Davidson is our next stop. They are the host for a special MS ride today and the riders waited to depart until we came into the dealership. Washington County Administrator Doug Johnson gave us a nice welcome into the county. Roger Krist from the convention and visitors bureau was there too - along with a number of leaders of other key organizations in town. We did an interview with the local newspaper and they took some photos of the crowd.

11:45 am -- We are pulling into Wisconsin Harley-Davidson in Oconomowoc. Dan Vrakas and I were nearby here a few weeks ago as we lead a ride from the VA grounds in Milwaukee to Holy Hill and then back to Waukesha County. The ride was for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games - which runs through today.

We spoke with the publisher of the Oconomowoc newspaper and got some cool water. Then, Waukesha County Sheriff's Deputies got us on the road again.

1 p.m. -- Since there is no dealership in Walworth County, we are pulling into Gus's Drive-In in East Troy for lunch. Gus's has a massive classic car show each Saturday night.