NOT BAD AT ALL

 Four intrepid Wednesday night riders showed up at Casey's Friday afternoon for what probably looks to be the last ride of the season.  With the temp right at 50, but sunny skies offering warmer conditions, the ride was on.  Chuckles and Jim showed up on bikes, while Terry and Bob huddled up on three-wheelers.

IF IT'S AT LEAST 50 AND NOT RAINING, I'M RIDING!

TERRY ALL BUNDLED UP

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?!

YEP, LET'S GO!

With Bob in the lead, we departed Casey's at 1 o'clock, passed through Waukon on HWY 9, and made our way up to Lansing.  So far, so good, for the sun did offer more warmth.  Checking the outside temp on the Wing showed a "balmy" 55 degrees.

After rolling through Lansing, we turned north onto HWY 26 heading to Brownsville.  Knowing that we may have to ride through some shady areas, I still wanted to take this route.  I was hoping that the migratory birds might be in the reserve on the Mississippi River south of Brownsville.  We were not disappointed.  There were hundreds of white birds resting in the calm waters of the reserve.  Making up most of the species were swans and pelicans.  If anyone wants to see this spectacle of nature, now is the time to go!

After our bird viewing, we entered Brownsville and continued our ride on CR 3 heading for Caledonia.  Most of CR 3 was in the sun, and the smooth blacktop made for a great ride into Caledonia.  There we stopped at Kwik Trip, so Jim could fill his Wing with airplane fuel and the rest of us could imbibe in warm drinks.  Chuckles snapped a couple of photos here.

ZIP UP, BOB!

TERRY PARKED IN THE SHADE!

After warming up at Kwik Trip, we took HWY 76 out of town and then stayed on HWY 44 on into Spring Grove. We turned onto Division Avenue (CR A-16) and headed south towards Dorchester.  A-16 becomes Dorchester Drive after entering Iowa.  We enjoyed a smooth, "warm" ride down the hill into Dorchester.  After rolling through the suburbs of Dorchester, we came to HWY 76 and followed it south into Waukon.  Bob had 98 miles on the Wing at home.  Was it cool? (kind of!)  Was it worth it?  (definitely!).

Unless there is a dramatic change in the weather, the next time we ride together may be the Spring of 2025.  Also, the annual PMS get-together looks to be on April 16th, so set aside the date.

As for now here's wishing all Wednesday Night Riders, their families and friends a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

ANOTHER POSSIBLE FRIDAY RIDE

 If the temp is above 50 with sunny skies and low wind at 1 o'clock on Friday afternoon, I will go on a ride from Casey's.  Anyone who doesn't shiver easily can ride along!

DEE AND ME/VETERANS' DAY

 On a cool but pleasant fall afternoon, only Dee and Bob decided it was a good time to get in another ride.  With Dee on her W (Kawasaki) and Bob on the Gold Wing trike, the duo departed Casey's at noon on Friday with the plan to stay in the sun as much as possible.  The temp was right at 55 degrees and the sky was sunny.

We cruised up HWY 9 to Lansing, then HWY 26 up to just south of New Albin before we turned onto Iowa River Drive and we followed it all along the river over to HWY 76.  Once reaching 76 we took a short jog north and jumped onto Bear Creek Drive.  While transversing Bear Creek, I was amazed by the amount of corn still in the field.  However, there was a lot of combines, trucks, and wagons in the fields.

Bear Creek took us over to Locust Road and we turned north on it until arriving at HWY 44 just west of Spring Grove.  We rode on into Spring Grove for some warm drinks at Kwik Trip.

TIME FOR SOME WARM DRINKS!

After our break, we backtracked a short distance on HWY 44 and turned north on CR 4.  We breezed through Blackhammer and Yucatan and arrived just outside of Houston on HWY 76.  We then took curvy 76 on into Caledonia.  By this time, a check on the bike's outside temp showed 60 degrees.  After negotiating the hills and curves on 76, we made our way through Caledonia (not stopping at the "Ruptured Rooster"),  and then stayed on HWY 44 heading back towards Spring Grove.  Before reaching Spring Grove, we turned onto CR 17, and "roller coastered" our way back to HWY 76 just north of Eitzen.

We continued south on 76, noting the amount of tar on the shoulder and in the ditches around the bridges.  Apparently there is still more work to do on a section of road that I didn't think needed any repair, because we were stopped and had to follow a pilot car for several miles.  All the while we were following the pilot car, the vehicles ahead of us were kicking up some type of dust from the highway.  Hopefully the dust was harmless, because we did breathe in a fair amount of it before we got out of the construction area.  We spent the rest of the time on 76 back to Waukon, where I headed home and Dee motored on to her abode.  I had 135 miles on the trike when I got home, and Dee probably had about 150 by the time she arrived.  Dee and I can always reflect on this ride when we are looking out the window this winter and see the snow blowing sideways.

Apparently Jim and Cathy also went for a cruise for lunch, coffee, and horseradish cheese!  Not my "cup of tea" or should I say coffee.

If there is another day like this in the upcoming days, another ride might be instore.

VETERANS' DAY

Here's a salute to all veterans on their special day of recognition.  I want to especially honor the vets that are part of our Wednesday Night Riders group.  So special salutes to Terry, Bob Z, Richard, Bernell, and Carl.  GOD BLESS AND THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!!

FRIDAY RIDE

 If the weather forecast for sunny skies and mid fifties temps holds, I am going on a ride tomorrow afternoon.  I have no idea where yet, but I plan to pull out of Casey's at noon.  If you would like to ride along,  see you then.

FINAL WEDNESDAY ATTACKED BY THE WITCH

 The "Weather Witch" couldn't wait until Halloween to put a damper on our last Wednesday night ride for 2024.  She hit us with wind, rain, and cold temps right around 5 PM.  With daylight savings time coming to an end this weekend, it will be dark at 5 from now on .  We didn't miss very many Wednesday night rides or special rides this year, so it was a great year for the Wednesday Night Riders!

Although the extended forecast looks to be cool and damp, there may be a chance to sneak in a ride some time before snowfall.  Since we take the trike to Florida, we don't have to winterize it.  So it can be ready about anytime.  If I decide to go on a ride and want some company, I'll post it on the blog.  

IN THE MEANTIME

I was able to catch some colorful trees before all the wind and rain knocked all the leaves down.  Here's a couple of photos.

I also like to cruise around town and take photos of Halloween decorations.  This year, thanks to the wind and wet, I was only able to catch a few.  Here they are.

SO, HERE'S WISHING ALL OF OUR WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDERS' FRIENDS AND FAMILIES A HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN!!

While on a trip to the Carolinas, Dennis & Marlene and Jens and Jane stopped to tour the Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg, TN.  Marlene snapped this photo of the Jack Daniels Harley.

AND FINALLY

WHERE WE GOING?!

FEARSOME FOURSOME RIDES SUNDAY

 On what may well be the last weekend ride for this year, we had four determined souls show up on Sunday, which looked to be the best for temps for the next 10 days.

Lois arrived on the only two-wheeler.  Richard had the Slingshot ready to roll, and Dave and Bob rode their trikes.

ALL BUNDLED UP

REFLECTION OF LOIS

There are four roads in northeast Iowa that I consider top rides.  They are Gunder Road, Grandview Road, Colesburg Road and Littleport Road.  They are well maintained, offer some sweeping curves, and have some great scenery.  So. the goal for what may be the final ride of the season was to ride at least part of these roads today.

With temps still in the 50's, and a stiff south wind blowing, we departed Casey's at noon, with the Gunder Road as our first route.  There are two ways to access the Gunder Road.  We could take it from the start just east of Postville.  However, the portion of this road to Gunder is a real teeth shaker. So instead, we progressed down HWY 76 to Rossville and took the Volney Road (CR X26) down into Monona after we pass by Carl's Used Car Lot.  After passing through Monona, we arrived at HWY 18 and took it for a short jog over to Golden Avenue (CR X28) and turned south heading for Farmersburg.

Golden Avenue isn't as pleasant as the name sounds with a lot of uneven pavement, but it is still a bit better than the Postville route.  The only downfall is that you miss a pretty good section of the Gunder Road coming this way.  After arriving in Farmersburg, we continue on X 28 (now called Fawn Hollow Road) into St. Olaf.  By the looks of the number of vcehicles parked in front of the St. Olaf Tavern, the tenderloins must still be in demand.

We turn back west on CR B65 in St. Olaf and take it for a short distance to our goal, the Gunder Road.  We turn south and again Gunder does not disappoint as we have a smooth scenic cruise into Elkader.  We make our way through the ouskirts of Elkader over to HWY 13 and take it north to our second goal, Grandview Road (CR X3C).  We get a "grandview" on this stretch of pavement all the way into Colesburg.  After passing through Elkport, Grandview Road changes to Colesburg Road, but still remains CR X3C.

After we arrive in Colesburg, we jump on HWY 3 and into Edgewood we go for a break at the Casey's store there.

PARKING ISN'T THAT EASY

BUT WE DO MAKE IT TO EDGEWOOD

After our break, our next goal is to find Littleport Road.  That's no problem since it is just a short distance out of Edgewood on HWY 3.  Again, this road does not disappoint.  There are some views from this road that are almost breathtaking, and the best way to get these views is to travel north as we are doing.  And now that "pesky" wind is at our backs.  We "gawk" our way along on into Littleport and arrive back on Grandview Road.  We backtrack on it and enjoy the views going the other way back to HWY 13.

Instead of going back through Elkader, we turn south on 13 and make our way on new pavement through Osborne and onto HWY 112 heading west into Volga.  HWY 112 offers up some great views also, and we make our way through Volga and onto Bush Road (CR C24) and head north again.  Bush Road parallels the Volga River over to CR W 51 (Cedar Road) and we take it north on into Wadena.  We stay on W51 all the way into Elgin.  This section of W51 could use some work, but there are still some great views.  After this many miles, we don't see much color in the trees along the routes, but in the towns we still see some beautiful color and some unique Halloween decorations!

In Elgin, we stay on W51 (now called Canoe Road) and on into Clermont we go.  We have passed several golf courses on this journey and have seen no players out on the courses.  WIMPS!!

Once in Clermont we turn onto HWY 18 and wind our way into Postville.  Dave heads home from here, while the threesome heads out on HWY 51 to Yellow River Drive and take it past the Gelo plantation and on to the freshly paved portion of Forest Mills Road.  A smooth ride north, and we are back on HWY 76 and into Waukon we go.

I had 148 miles on the Wing when I got her home.  It was a "cool" ride in more ways than one.  Hopefully it's not our last, but the next 10 day forecast looks like rain and cold temps.

RECOGNIZE THIS GUY...MY FAVORITE SINGER

SUNDAY--MAY BE THE LAST ONE

 After the Boy Scout omelet breakfast on Sunday, Bob does plan to ride from Casey's at noon. Looks like a cool start, but it looks to be sunny, and the temps are supposed to get into the 60's.  Destination unknown as of yet, but anyone is welcome to come along.  From the looks at the upcoming weather predictions, it may be our last one for a while.

BRINGS BACK SOME MEMORIES!