ANOTHER DOZEN TO HOME A' GINS

Another warm summer evening greeted a dozen riders for our Wednesday night ride.  We had bikes ridden by Larry & Suzie (sp), Mike, Bill, Chuckles, and Dee.  Wayne, Richard & Melodye, Dave M, ChucK, and Bob made up the three-wheel crowd.

WAYNE ARRIVES FIRST

RICHARD & MELODYE ROLL IN

LARRY JOINS THE GROUP AGAIN

DAVE & MIKE ARRIVE

SOON FOLLOWED BY BILL AND CHUCKLES

HERE'S DEE

WITH ChucK TO FOLLOW

Our destination for the night was Home A' Gins in Mt. Hope, WI.  We started out on HWY 76 south and turned onto Forest Mills Road (CR X16).  After passing by the Gelo plantation and the Luana Golf Course, we arrived in Luana.  The plan was to turn onto Edgewood Road to get to HWY 18, but it was blocked off apparently for repairs, so we continued on Old HWY 52 into Monona.  I do not like taking this road since it goes right by the huge metal recyling yard, and you are neversure what might be lying on the road waiting to enter your tires.  We did make it to Monona ok, and then picked up HWY 18 for a cruise through Froelich, Giard, and Marquette and across the bridge into Prairie Du Chien.

We skirted around Prairie on the HWY 18 by-pass and picked up 18 and 35 again heading south.  After crossing the Wisconsin River bridge, we turned onto CR C heading easterly.  CR C is a windy stretch of asphalt with no markings that skirts along the bank-full Wisconsin River.  After stopping to stare down a deer and avoid hitting a jay-walker, we ended our journey on C at HWY 133.  We followed this smooth curvy section of highway over to HWY 18 again.  We took a short jog on 18 before turning onto CR J and rolling into Mt. Hope.

Home A Gins is a very popular spot, particularly on Wednesdays.  Besides their great home-cooked food, they have a drawing every Wednesday for cash.  There has been know to be close to a thousand dollars available for the drawing.  Since this was going on, we had to park all over town since the bar was full of patrons.

MIKE ,CHUCKLES, AND THE SLINGSHOT  FIND A SPOT

THE BLAKE'S FIND A SIDE STREET

ChucK ARRIVES

HAVEN'T I'VE SEEN YOU SOMEWHERE BEFORE?

After getting some refrehments inside the crowded facility, we ventured outside in the shade to polish off our drinks.  There we were entertained with stories about canoes and horses.

WE FOUND SOME PICNIC TABLES OUTSIDE IN THE SHADE

THE STORY TELLING STARTS

DEE & ChucK ARE TUCKED BACK IN THE SHADE

After our refreshments, we continued on CR J south out of town.  After a windy, but scenic stretch on J, we arrived at CR A and took that on into Bloominton.  In Bloomington, we journeyed onto the newly paved HWY 35 and passed through Patch Grove on our way back to HWY 18.  We cruised on 18 back through Prairie Du Chien, back across the bridge and into Marquette again.  Here a number of the group continued on 18 towards home.  The rest of us followed HWY 76 back to Waukon where we stopped at Uptown for eats.  I had about 120 miles on the trike in downtown Waukon.

ANOTHER REALLY NICE WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDE!

In fact, I was treated to full moonlight as I made my way back home!

 UPCOMING EVENTS

Next Wednesday we'll try to get to Arlington.

This Sunday, the 13th, is our annual "You Gotta Love Summer" Pizza Run.  We will depart Casey's at 11 that morning.  Right now Footjoy Farms Brewing near Cashton looks to be our destination, but that may change depending on the events going on at Footjoy.

Thursday, July 17th, we are scheduled to give trike rides to some residents of Wellington Place in Decorah at 10 AM.  I will be in touch with Ron, ChucK, and Roger for the itinerary that day.

A DOZEN MYSTERY RIDERS

A dozen riders showed up Sunday for our Mystery Ride to Eat.  The bikers were Dee, Lois & Chuckles (glad to see them again), Mike & Joan, Bob P, and Bill.  Richard arrived in his Slingshot, and the other three wheelers were Dave M, Roger, and Bob & Julie.  The decision to postpone the ride until Suday proved to be a good choice.  It turned out to be a beautiful, warm day.

MOST OF THE CREW GATHERS

ANYBODY KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING

NOT EVEN JULIE KNOWS

BILL AVOIDS BEING RUN OVER!

With Bob R in the lead, and the only one who knows where we are headed, the group roars out of Casey's at 10:30.  We cruise up HWY 9 and disturb a hungry eagle feasting by the roadside.  After arriving in Lansing we were lucky to escape people pulling out or backing out in front of us.  We crossed the Blackhawk Bridge (no shaking) and arrived in Wisconsin on HWY 35.  

After a short ride on 35 north, we turned the wheels onto HWY 82 at DeSoto and headed easterly.  Highway 82 has been recently resurfaced (it needed it), and now offers a still curvy, but smooth ride up through Red Mound (new convenience store there) and on into West Prairie.  There we turned onto CR N, one of our favorites, and proceeded on a scenic, twisty journey along the south fork of the Bad Axe River and arrived in the metropolis of Purdy (Norwegian for pretty).  An unmarked (no stinking yellow lines) paved drive called, aptly named, Norwegian Hollow Road led us to our mystery destination, Norwegian Hollow Hideaway Bar & Grill.

WE WERE EARLY, SO THERE WAS PLENTY OF PARKING

IT WAS WARM.  TIME TO SHED JACKETS

SOME DECIDED TO USE THE WHOLE PARKING LOT

THESE TWO HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE

Bill mentioned that the restaurant was under new management, so some of us who had been there before were wondering about the food and service.  We found out both were very good and the trout pond was still active with a good school of fish.

Everyone seemed happy with their eats.  Chuckles had chicken balls, and Bill ate the rest of the chicken, but both seemed satisfied!  Here's our now, no longer hungry, dozen.

After departing the restaurant, we followed Norwegian Hollow Road back out to CR N and continued our journey on N up to HWY 56 heading east again.  After passing through Bud, we took a side trip off 56 and roamed through Sidie Hollow Park. (There seems to be a lot of "hollows" in this area.)  We completed a loop on CR XX and back onto HWY 56 bound for Viroqua.

Once in Viroqua we passed through town on HWY 14 and then onto CR J just south of town.  We passed by the very busy Viroqua Hills Golf Course and continued out of town crossing on HWY 82, but staying on CR J.  This is another scenic stretch of black top that roams through many hills and valleys and takes us over to CR C.

CR C is a road we take many times during the riding season, since it is usually in good shape, offers up some curvy sections, and gives us some great scenery.  We cruise past Bob P's residence and arrive at HWY 35 again.  We head back north on 35 for the "mandatory" ice cream stop and pull into the Arco Convenience Store for our treats.  Again we were offered good portions of ice cream at a very reasonable price.

For some of us our journey continued back into Iowa.  There some split for Harpers Ferry while others headed for New Albin or stopped at home in Lansing.  The rest continued on into or through Waukon.  There was just over 110 miles on the trike when we parked her.

A REALLY GOOD MYSTERY RIDE--GOOD WEATHER, GOOD ROADS, GOOD FOOD, AND GOOD COMPANY!

SUMMER TRIP UPDATE

With the last day to join the Summer Trip, July 5th, now passed, we have 7 riders planning to make the joirney along the Lincoln Highway (US 30) taking in some of the sights in Iowa and Nebraska.  Our riders are ChucK, Dee, Richard, Dr. David, Bill, Mike, and Bob R.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The plan for Wednesday night is to venture over to Mt. Hope and a refreshment stop at Home A'Gins.

Next Sunday, July 13, is our annual "You Gotta Love Summer" Pizza Run.  Right now the plan is to journey up to Cashton to Footjoy Farm & Brewery.  Leaving Casey's at 11 AM. 

DEE, LOIS, LISSA, NANCY--YOU CAN DO IT!!

 

MYSTERY RIDE TO EAT IS NOW ON FOR SUNDAY

 After checking every available weather forecasting website, the chances of rain, possible thunderstorms, and strong winds for tomorrow (Saturday, the 5th) are from 65 to 80%.  So there was no use waiting until tomorrow to call off the scheduled ride Mystery Ride.

We will instead move the ride to Sunday, the 6th, and depart Casey's at the same 10:30 AM time.  Sunday is predicted to be a very nice day.

SEE YOU THEN!

NO HOUSTON, BUT NO RAIN

Houston, Mn, was our goal for the Wednesday Night Riders last night, but after some conflicting reports on how to get there, a new route was taken.  It was a beautiful, but warm, evening as 14 riders made their way to Casey's.

The bikers included Jim and his grandson, Greyson, Mike, Lissa, and Bill.  Trikers were Wayne, Terry, Ron & Helen, Dave M, and Bob R.  Richerd and Melodye arrived in their Slingshot, and Irv provided the support Corvette.

IRV WELCOMES WAYNE BACK TO THE WNR'S

THE SLINGSHOT ARRIVES

GREYSON LOOKS HAPPY TO BE GOING WITH GRANDPA

MIKE ARRIVES WITH A REVAMPED COOLING SYSTEM

RICHARD INSPECTS A COUPLE OF VEHICLES

WITH RON'S FOOT MENDED, HE AND HELEN CAN RIDE AGAIN

LISSA DONS HER COLORFUL HELMET

THE GROUP GATHERS FOR THE PRERIDE BS

GREYSON INSTRUCTS GRANDPA ON HOW TO WEAR A HELMET

BILL RIDES IN ON A MOTO GUZZI

DAVE FILLS OUT THE TRIKE CONTINGENT

EVERYONE WELCOMES WAYNE BACK

WAYNE LOOKS GOOD ON THE DFT

 The convoy departed Casey's at 5, with our first Moto Guzzi ever on a Wednesday night.  We proceeded through the county's only stop light, and made our way up HWY 76 heading north.  On the way, we picked up Roger on his trike to now make our numbers fifteen.  Once we arrived at Dorchester Drive (CR A-16), we pointed our wheels up hill and rolled through some extremely green countryside and on into Spring Grove. It looked like a storm was brewing to our west so we had some quick decisions to make. The original plan was to take CR 4 out of Spring Grove and motor on up to Houston.  However, with some conflicting reports on the condition of CR 4 after some resurfacing, we decided to wait for a while before trying that route.

Instead, we took HWY 44 out of town heading east until we arrived at CR 17 and took this roller coaster stretch of asphalt back over to HWY 76.  Back north we went into Caledonia where we stopped at Kwik Trip for a break.  We all got some cool refreshments while Lissa visited with some of her former workforce.

ROGER'S CAN AM GOT THIRSTY ON THE WAY

MIKE EXPLAINS THE WORK JIM DID ON HIS 116,000 MILE GOLD WING

 After our break, we passed through Caledonia on CR 3,  with just a slight pause for a salute in front of the Ruptured Rooster.  We followed this smooth and scenic route down into Brownsville.  Actually, it felt pretty good to be riding in the shade of the bluffs.  It looked like we avoided the rain, at least for now.  

After arriving in Brownsville, we proceeded onto HWY 26 heading south along the Mississippi River.  After passing through New Albin, some of our crew took Iowa River Drive back to HWY 76 for a shorter ride home and to maybe dodge some possible rain.  The rest of us journeyed on into Lansing and then took HWY 9 back to Waukon where some of us ate at Uptown.  I had 108 miles on the trike in front of Uptown.  

I guess we'll have to save CR 4 (Yucatan Avenue) for a later trip to Houston.  It did turn out to be a good ride, and hopefully everyone made it back home safely and without getting wet.  Apparently there were some trees uprooted in Canton, Mn, and some hail damage near Calmar, so I guess we were lucky again.

OTHER DRIVEL

As some of you know know, I no longer have two rides.  I donated my 2012 Gold Wing to a veteran's organization.  They came and picked it up a couple of weeks ago.  It carried me, and sometimes Julie, over 101,000 miles, through 38 states and three Canadian provinces without a whimper!  So, obviously, I was sad to see it go.  It was sold at auction and the proceeds from the sale go to the veteran's organization and hopefully whoever bought it will put on another 100,000 miles.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Our first Mystery Ride to Eat is scheduled for Saturday, July 6th, with a departure time of 10:30 AM from Casey's.  According to the weather channels, there is better than a 50% chance of rain and thunderstorms that day.  I'll keep an eye on the weather, and by 8:30 Saturday morning, I'll make a decision to go or wait until Sunday and go then at the same time.  Stay tuned to the blog!

Next Wednesday evening, the plan is to ride over to Mt. Hope via CR C out of Prairie Du Chien.  Hopefully we don't run into anymore under construction or closed roads on the way!

These guys plan on joining us soon!

CATCHING UP

 Since it's been a while for our regular Wednesday night rides, (actually Richard was the only one to go last Wednesday), I thought I needed to catch up on a few items.

First of all, here's a couple more photos from the very successful Hospice Ride last Sunday.

THIS ONE SHOWS US LEAVING WADENA

ROGER TOOK THIS ONE AS WE LEFT WIN-MED PARKING

I have been diligently working on the details of our Summer Trip.  As most of you know, it was formerly called the "Guys Trip", but now it's open to everyone, depending on whom you want to share a motel room with!  It will go from July 28 to August 2nd.  Anyway, our trip will be down "memory lane" aka HWY 30, aka the Lincoln Highway in Iowa and Nebraska.  We will weave "in and out" of some of the towns along the way and observe some of the historical items such as old restored gas statiions, restaurants, motels, brick streets, monuments, route markers etc.  We will try to follow the original route as long as it is paved.

There are also some scheduled stops that we will try to make, depending on time and weather.  

In Iowa-

Colo-Reed/Niland Cafe

Jefferson--Mahanay Bell Tower*

Carroll--Chicago at Northwestern Railroad depot

Templeton--Whiskey distillary

Woodbine--Longest paved stretch in Iowa*

Missouri Valley--Heritage Visitor Center*

Council Bluffs--Lewis & Clark Memorial Monument

In Nebraska--

Blair--DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge*

Ashland--Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum*

Columbus--Higgins Boat Memorial*

Kearney--Classic Car and/or Archway Museum

Cozad--100th meridian

North Platte--Golden Spike & Bailey Yard railroad*

Ogallala--Pony Express monument

Potter--home of the Tin Roof Sundae

* definites

I haven't figured out our way home yet.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS JOURNEY, THEN YOU NEED TO LET BOB R KNOW BY JULY 5th, SO APPROPRIATE MOTEL RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, July 2nd--Regular Wednesday night ride--Houston

Saturday, July 5th--Mystery Ride To Eat--10:30--Casey's

Sunday, July 13th--Pizza Run--10 AM --Casey's

Thursday, July 17th--Wellington Place Trike Rides--10AM

Good showing of WNRs at Hospice Ride

 All in all, we had 14 in our group of Wednesday Night Riders show up for all or part of the Win-Med Hospice Ride on Sunday.

Bob P joined us from Wisconsin.  We also had Richard & Melodye, Jim G & Cathy, ChucK, Dee, Terry, Mike, Jim S, Roger, Julie, and Wayne.  Dave M also arrived with his HOG group for the ride.

A small group of us left Casey's in Waukon at 9:30.

Mike, Bob P, Richard, and Melodye arrive.

Bob and Terry make sure Richard gets aboard.

Bob P on a brand new Harley and Julie in her Durango

Our group was soon joined on the route to Decorah by Jim & Cathy and ChucK and Dee.  We all arrived at Win-Med together.  The hot, windy day that was predicted arrived.

EASY PARKING AT WIN-MED

A PRE BREAKFAST DISCUSSION

TIME TO EAT

While we were having breakfast and registering for the ride, Jim S and Roger joined us.

We were treated to breakfast sandwiches, fruit, and cinnamon rolls.

ChucK and Dee are enjoying the food.

After the breakfast, the ride was to begin at 11 AM.  Some of the "coffee connoisseurs" in our group decided that a trip to Caledonia for the air-conditioned comfort of the Ruptured Rooser was a better choice, so they opted out of the ride and forfieted all of their prize winnings.

The rest of the group (six of us) joined about 60 other cycles and cars for the scheduled ride.  We passed through Ossian and West Union and into Wadena on county roads and the newly paved highway 56.  We stopped at Barney's there in Wadena for our first break.  With the temps  now approaching 90 and a stiff south wind, hydration (non alchoholic) became important.

We left Wadena and took county roads and highways 112 and 13 passing through Volga, Osborne, Elkport and into Osterdock for our second break.  The restaurant and bar (Stockyard) in Osterdock has been completly remodeled and added to since I had been there.

Nancy arrives from directing traffic earlier.

Bob P and Terry find parking in the metropolis of Osterdock.

After our brief stay in Osterdock, we followed county roads and highways 52, 128, and 13 through Guttenberg, Clayton Center, St. Olaf, Gunder, Elgin, and into Clermont  for our last break at the city park.

Mike, Terry, Bob P, Jim S, and Bob R find shade for parking.

Mike finds out he's not going to a graduation party

After the refreshments in Clermont, we made our way to the PIVO Brewery in Calmar by taking CR B40 and HWY 150 through Festina and into Calmar.  At the reception at PIVO we were joined by Julie and Wayne.  We were treated to sanwiches, cheese curds, meat sticks, cookies, and bars.  No one of us present there won any prizes, but the numbers called were pretty close to ours!  Mike did get his bid for propane at the silent auction.  The Wednesday Night Riders were recognized along with two other groups for supporting the event.  I believe the route covered about 170 miles.  THANKS TO ALL FOR SUPPORTING A VERY WORTHWHILE CAUSE!

IF WE ARE ABLE TO RIDE WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE WILL MAKE OUR WAY UP TO HOUSTON.

Also, start thinking about whether you want to go on the Summer Trip (formerly Guys' Trip) from July 28 to August 2.  The plan is to explore some of the interesting and historic attractions along the Lincoln Highway (US 30) in Iowa and Nebraska.  Bob R will need to know your intentions by July 4th.