ANOTHER BIG GANG FOR DQ

A surprising number of riders (16) showed up for our usual Wednesday night ride. With temps in the mid 80's and with almost 20 showing up on Monday, 16 riders still made their appearance once again last night.

The biker bunch included Gene (newbie), Jim & Cathy, Bill, Mike, Dee, and Lissa.  On three wheels were Wayne, Terry, Richard & Melodye, Ron & Helen, Dave, ChucK, and Bob.

GASSING UP AFTER SPRAYING

PRERIDE CHATTER

BACKING ON IN

GOOD TO SEE RON & HELEN AGAIN

DAVE SURVEYS THE GROWING CROWD

ChucK & DEE GET PARKED

LISSA ROLLS IN RIGHT ON TIME

The plan was to arrive in West Union via a route Bob designed, so we departed Casey's (which should be less crowded from now on) and headed out on HWY 76.  Once we reached Forest Mills Road (CR X16) we turned south and cruised by the freshly sprayed corn on the Gelo farms.  FMR took us to Cherry Valley  Drive (838) and we made our way into Postville on it.  We wound our way through Postville and onto HWY 18 heading east.  

Since the last time he took Gunder Road (CR W64) just outside of Postville, Bob found it to be extremely rough, so he opted to keep going east on 18.  After passing by Luana and Monona, he decided to take Golden Avenue (CR X28) south down through Farmersburg and into St. Olaf.  In St. Olaf we turned back west on CR B65 and made our way over to the Gunder Road (CR X16)

After a 6 mile jaunt on Gunder Road, we actually did arrive in Gunder, and turned back south on Agate Road (CR W70) and weaved our way downhill into Elgin.  After working our way through Elgin, we found Golden Road (CR B64) and rode some smooth tarmac onto HWY 18, and took a short jog into West Union and a refreshing stop at Dairy Queen.

WE ARRIVE AT DQ

READY FOR A COOL BREAK

TERRY EVEN FINDS A LITTLE SHADE

The employees at DQ did a great job of getting all 16 of us served in good time, and the ice cream really hit the spot today.

We continued our journey by taking HWY 150 north out of West Union and we stayed on this smooth blacktop until we got to Festina where we took CR B32 east heading for Ossian.  This stretch of road was not the smoothest, but we only needed 6 miles before we arrived in Ossian.  We passed through Ossian, and on the edge of town, we took Sand Road.  Surprisingly, and maybe finally, Winneshiek County is going to fix CR W42 that heads north to HWY 9 outside of Decorah.  It has been in need of repair as long as I can remember. The sign says it was closed, so we would have to take Sand Road anyway.

At the end of Sand Road we turned back north onto Centennial Road and rode it up to HWY 9 where Ron & Helen departed for home.  Most of the rest of us continued east on 9, and after almost everyone else split for home, only four of us stopped for eats at Uptown.  

Bob had 105 miles on the Gold Wing clock after a warm but good Wednesday night ride.  Our two iron butts, Jim and Mike, are headed for Chattanooga today.  Wishing them safe travels!

UPDATE ON BOB'S HEALTH

As many of you may remember from the PMS get-together, I mentioned that there was a good possiblity that I was going to need the aortic valve replaced in my heart.  After further testing at Gundersen and visiting with the cardiatric staff there, it was confirmed that this replacement was necessary.

Right now, the surgery, hopefully TAVR and not open heart, is scheduled for June 17th at Gundersen.  Obviously, after the surgery, I am going to be "out of commision" recovering for, as of yet, an undetermined time. I go up to Gundersen on the 12th of June for a final check. So looking ahead, my last ride before surgery will be the Hospice Ride on the 14th, if they let me. That means I will be able to plan and lead two more Wednesdays, and the special ride on June 7th.  After the 14th, you will need new ride leaders and planners for an undetermined time.  I am hoping to be able to be back in action by the middle of July.  I am still willing to continue the blog, if I'm sent the ride reports, and I will keep you posted on my recovery via the blog.  I do expect you to keep riding on Wednesday nights while I'm not there!

Guess who these two bikers are!

BIB GANG FOR MEMORIAL RIDE & BRATS

For a good number of years now, the Wednesday Night Riders have planned a ride and a brat feed after the ride on Memorial Day.  We always wait until after the Memorial Day presentations are completed at the cemetery.

Here's some photos of some Wednesday Night Riders who attended and /or participated in the presentation at Oakland Cemetery this year.

LOIS OBSERVES THE PARADE FROM THE SHADE

BOB Z ARRIVES WITH THE VETS

KEN K BRINGS THE GRAND MARSHAL

CHUCKLES REPRESENTS THE KC's

WAYNE'S GRANDDAUGHTER CARRIES A FLAG

SUZANNE BRINGS THE WREATH LAYERS

ONE OF "BUGSY'S" SONS BUILT THIS WWII REPLICA

RICHARD & MELODYE'S GRANDDAUGHTER DELIVERS THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

WAYNE OBSERVES THE CEREMONIES

BOB Z WITH THE RIFLE SQUAD

JIM DOWNING'S GRANDDAUGHTER DELIVERS HER ESSAY

Our ride planned to leave Casey's at 1 PM well after we paid our respects to our fallen service men and women.

Arriving on bikes for the ride were Dee, Jim & Cathy, Mike, Chuckles, Lois, and Bill.  Aboard three-wheeled vehicles were Dave M, ChucK, Richard & Melodye, Mark, Uncle Wayne & Karrie, Terry, and Bob.  Dr. David & Suzanne drove in with their Mustang convertible.

DAVE M ARRIVES

ChucK & DEE DISCUSS COMMUNICATIONS

THE GANG GROWS

LOTS OF PRERIDE VISITING

UNCLE WAYNE & KARRIE ARRIVE

BILL PULLS IN FROM LANSING

BOB & CHUCKLES OBSERVING THE BIG GANG

The plan was to take Bob's "shortcut" up to Rushford and include three of his favorite pathways to get there.  The gang rolled out of Casey's under high 70's temps, but with a strong south wind.  Thanks to the "support" convertible blocking traffic, we were all able to get out of the Casey's lot still together.

Our journey started by passing through the only stop light in Allamakee County and continuing through Waukon until we reached HWY 76 and turned north.  We cruised along 76 with wind blasts until we arrived at the Dorchester turn and took CR A16 up the hill into Spring Grove.  We passed through Spring Grove on HWY 44 and made our way through Mabel, where we picked up Roger, adding to the three-wheeled gang.  Continuing on 44, we arrived in Canton, and there took CR 21, one of Bob's favorites, north all the way to HWY 16 just outside of Lanesboro. CR 21 is a smooth stretch of pavement that offers up some spectacular scenery  We slipped into town for a break at the BP store there.

AFTER PICKING ROGER UP IN MABEL

LOIS CHECKS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE

THE GANG STARTS TO RETURN FROM THE RESTROOM

THAT'S NOT A BUDWEISER!

After our break, we pick up HWY 250, another of Bob's favorites, and start weaving our way north.  250 offers some neat curves, but is probably best know for its "roller coaster" hills.  At its junction with HWY 30, we turn eastward on 30, and wind our way on into Rushford.  Once there, we pass through town and find our way to CR 27 and follow it part way along the Root River.  This stretch of road is pretty well tucked into tree lines, so the wind wasn't as bothersome. Bob likes this route because of the variety of hills and curves along with some great views. Near the end of CR 27 is Money Creek Haven, a campground with a huge swimming pool.  Per chance, a bathing beauty was spotted on the diving board as we passed by (very slowly!).

We then arrived at HWY 76 and cruised south on into Houston, where we stopped at the River Valley Convenience Store for a break.

WITH TEMPS NOW IN THE 80'S JACKETS COME OFF

SOME FIND A LITTLE SHADE

BUT SOME FIND LOTS OF SHADE

AND SOME LIKE TO BE DISTANT

After our second break on the trip, we continued our journey on HWY 76 out of Houston until we reached CR 10, another fun road.  After avoiding the "rush hour" in Sheldon, 10 led us back to HWY 76 just outside of Caledonia.  We passed through Caledonia staying on HWY 76, cruised past Eitzen and Dorchester and back to Waukon.  Bob had about 140 wind blown but fun miles on the trike when he arrived home.

Julie and Dennis & Marlene joined the 14 riders who stopped by for the  cookout, so we had 17 folks chowing down on brats and other goodies for a great climax to another Memorial Day.

We had a good ride, good food, and good fellowship today, but there is always something we should never, ever forget, especially on Memorial Day...

ELEVEN INVADE PATCH GROVE

 Again this Wednesday evening proved to be not the warmest, but we still had 11 riders show up at Casey's.

The bikers were Lissa, Bill, Chuckles, and Lois.  The three wheel gang had the majority of the rides with Terry, Mark, Dave, Richard & Melodye, Wayne, and Bob.  Our two "iron butts" weren't with us tonight.  Mike was off building a rail fence and Jim was spraying crops.

GOOD TO SEE LISSA  AGAIN

THE TRIKES ARRIVE EARLY

ADMIRING DAVE'S NEW RIDE

BILL ROLLS IN

CHUCKLES & LOIS ARRIVE

LOIS DIRECTS WAYNE TO PARKING

The plan was to take Bob's "shortcut" to the Wyalusing/Bagley area in Wisconsin, so we left a crowded Casey's and headed out east on the Elon Road( CR A52)  Once we reached the Elon Road, we turned back north for a short jog on Lansing/Harpers Road (CR X42) before taking Lafayette Ridge Road back east to Great River Road (CR X52)  We followed GRR past the Wexford Church and spotted the "Big Foot" family just before we entered Harpers Ferry.

The Great River Road took us all the way back south to HWY 76.  We then cruised south on 76 into Marquette where we picked up HWY 18 and crossed the Mississippi River bridge into Prairie du Chien.  Hwy 18 bypass (S Main St.) took us around PdC and we reconnected with HWY 18 near Culver's.

After negotiating all the stop lights in PdC, we continued on 18, crossed the Wisconsin River bridge and made our way to CR C.  After making sure everyone was caught up we continued our adventure on CR C and through a small portion of Wyalusing Park.  Once we reached CR X, we turned southward on it to its end at CR P.  All of these backroads are a treat to ride since they are pretty well maintained and offer up some great scenery.  I call CR P the "roller coaster" road because of all the great ups and downs on the hills that lead us over to HWY 18 again.  I decided to pass up the rest of Wyalusing Park for a warmer day.

Once we reached HWY 18 again, we did a short backtrack to HWY 35 and after a brief trip, we arrived for a break at the 1835 Crossroads Convenience Store near Patch Grove.

UNLOADING AT CROSSROADS

THREE WHEEL ONLY PARKING?

SNUG UP THEM HELMETS

After our break, we continued our foray by going back to HWY 18 again and taking it back through PdC and continuing on 18 all the way to Monona.  However some riders thought it would be better to take HWY 76 back to Waukon, so our group was cut in half.  Continuing the original plan, some of reached Monona and passed through taking the Volney Road to Rossville and then HWY 76 back to Waukon.  The rest of the wanderers were waiting at Uptown for eats.  Another cool, but fun ride.  I had a little over 100 miles on the trike when I parked her at home.

UPCOMING EVENT

Our annual Memorial Day ride and cookout (picnic) is going to take place on this coming Monday (Memorial Day).  After paying tribute to the "fallen" who gave their lives for our freedom, a ride from Casey's at 1 PM is planned.  Right now the plan is to venture north towards Rushford.  After the ride, there will be a cookout (picnic) at Rotach's.  Grilled brats will be furnished, but if you come, bring along a dish to pass, like a salad or a desert.  IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE RIDE, YOU ARE STILL INVITED TO THE COOKOUT!  That should start around 4:30 to 5.  AGAIN, EVERYONE IS INVITED TO BOTH THE RIDE AND THE COOKOUT!

How about this guy!

FULL PLATES AT N A FIRE DEPT. PANCAKE BRUNCH

 Counting Mike & Joan (who worked there), we had a total of 13 WNR present at the New Albin Fire Department Pancake Fundraiser on Sunday.  Chuck & Dee, Dennis & Marlene, Wayne, Richard & Melodye, Bob & Julie, and Jim & Cathy were in attendance.  

Jim & Cathy left earlier than the rest of the group, since Jim was afraid they were going to run out of coffee.  The rest of the group departed Casey's at 10:15 in cages, since it was raining then.

As advertised, the semi-world famous pancake flipper was in action.  Notice the wrist action!

Along with pancakes, eggs (anyway you wanted them), sausage, milk, and coffee were served.  Everyone was well-fed and served very quickly.  Seconds on pancakes were offered, but we were already stuffed with the good food.

FULL PLATES FOR EVERYONE!

Obviously because of the rain, we were not going to continue our Ride To Eat, so everyone departed on their own to various destinations. However, on the way back, Bob & Julie passed through Lansing to get a view of the new  Lansing Bridge construction.

Here's a photo of the progress on the bridge.  Let's hope the two ends end up matching exactly with each other!

If the weather is decent Wednesday, we will try a trip to Wyalusing/Bagley.

UPCOMING EVENT

Next Monday, May 25th, is Memorial Day.  As has been our custom for a good number of years now, we will go on a ride starting from Casey's at 1 PM.  After the ride we will get-together for a cook out at Rotach's.  Grilled brats will be furnished, but you are responsible for bringing a dish to pass (salad, desert, ect.) and maybe a chair.