J & P OPEN HOUSE

I attended the J & P Cycles open house rally in Anamosa on Saturday.  It was a nice ride down in the morning, and it was a good thing there was a breeze blowing that day to keep things cooler at the rally.  They are estimating that somewhere near 30,000 bikes will be present at the rally this year.  It was their 35th anniversary.  I remember when John Parnham stated the business in his garage.  Now it is one of the largest motorcycle aftermarket parts business in the nation with over 200 employees!  On the way back, I stopped to visit Mom in Manchester.  After leaving Manchester about 6 PM, I got drenched with a thunderstorm in St. Olaf.  After leaving there I ran into another storm in Farmersburg, but I got under a shelter in a park there.  From there I made it to Luana, where I ducked under the drive-through at the bank.  I tried to make it home through Postville from there, but it was too hard to see at night and I nearly got run off the road.  So I parked the bike and had Julie come and get me in the car.  We went back to Postville and retrieved the bike this morning.  Is it ever going to quit raining?!!!

Since I will be at Wing Ding in Madison on Wednesday, you will need a new leader.  Try to stay off the gravel!

Here's a video and some photos from J & P

GREG'S NEXT RIDE?!

MERYLE & MARY WOULD LOOK GOOD ON THIS!

TOM'S NEXT RIDE?!

CHUCKLES NEXT RIDE?!

CARL & JOYCE WOULD LOOK GOOD ON THIS!

THIS ONE WOULD WIN IF I WAS THE JUDGE!

YOU JUST CAN'T WEAR OUT A GOLD WING!

GOIN' BACK TO HOUSTON...HOUSTON...HOUSTON

Like the old Dean Martin song, we made a return trip to Houston on Wednesday night with a "full boat" of riders.  Meryle, Bob H, Tom, Bugsy (in the Bugsymobile), Jim & Cathy, Beth, Linda, Lois, Wayne, Gary, Bob Z, Bob R, and a retired minister all departed Casey's on a beautiful evening.  We traveled through Lycurgus, Eitzen, Wilmington, Caledonia, Sheldon, and a stop in Houston.  From there we CR 25 and 21 to Hokah and CR 18 to Brownsville, and then back along the river through New Albin and Lansing and back to Gus & Tony's.  Some riders did take the "detour" along the Harpers/Lansing road, but we all made it back safely with nice scenery, good weather, and smooth roads.  Although we did lose the minister along the way.  I think he tried to convert Bugsy and finally gave up!  I do think our group could use a minister.  I hope he shows up again.

You will need a new leader next Wednesday.  Julie and I will be attending Wing Ding.  This year it's in Madison, so it will be worth it to spend a couple of days there visiting with Goldwing riders from all over the nation and several foreign countries.

I do plan to attend the J & P Cycles open house this Saturday in Anamosa.  I plan to leave from Casey's at 9 that morning if anyone else cares to ride along.  I won't be coming directly back afterwards, since I plan to stop in Manchester to see Mom.

Here's some photos from Wednesday night.

MINISTER TRYING TO CONVERT WAYNE & MERYLE

SOMEBODY BROUGHT BOB'S BIKE BACK!!

THE BUGSMOBILE BLOCKS IN THE SEMI

THE MINISTER'S HELMET

BETH CALLING SOMEONE TO COME AND HELP LINDA LIFT THE DUMPSTER!!

NINE WETBACKS TRAVEL TO HANSEN'S

Nine members of WNR (Dennis & Marlene, Meryle & Mary, Carl & Joyce, Chuckles, and Bob & Julie) departed Casey's at 10 AM Sunday for our annual Hansen's Hold-Up Bar Ride.  It was a beautiful ride up through LaCrescent, across Apple Blossom Drive, through Winona and Fountain City, and on to Hansen's.  There we dined on burgers, fries, and brats.  Because of the look of the skies, we decided to go home through Arcadia and Centerville.  We were doing alright dodging the storms until we had to head south into LaCrosse.  We finally had to take shelter at the Cedar Creek Country Club.  After some drying out and waiting out the rest of the storm we headed back through LaCrescent to stock up on donuts.  We then traveled through Hokah and Caledonia and back home.  Overall it was good trip with lots of nice scenery.  The view from Hansen's is still fantastic!

Here's some photos of our adventure.

WE ARRIVE AT HANSEN'S

THE VIEW FROM HANSEN'S DECK

ANOTHER VIEW ACROSS THE VALLEY

CARL SAID HE HELPED PUT UP THAT HARVESTORE!

CHUCKLES THINKS HE'S GOING TO GET INTO THE BURNOUT CONTEST

ALL THE BS IS MAKING MARY TIRED!

CARL & MERYLE ATTRACT AN INTERESTED SPECTATOR

WAITING FOR THE FOOD TO ARRIVE

GOT BOOTS!!

TAKING SHELTER AT AN EXCLUSIVE COUNTRY CLUB
CHUCKLES IS GOING INCOGNITO!

MAGNIFICENT 7 RIDE & HANSEN'S IS SUNDAY & J and P & CANNONS

Wednesday night the MAGNIFICENT 7 (Meryle, Mary, Bob Z, Howard, Tom, Nancy, and Bob R) without fear of weather, deer, or bandits, left Casey's and traveled through Fishville, Postville, Gunder, Elgin, Wadena,  to a stop in Volga.  After some quick refreshments and storm dodging we returned through Elkader, Farmersburg, Monona, and back to Gus & Tony's.  It ended up being a scenic and dry comfortable ride.

Here's some photos of us arriving safely at the convenience store in Volga City.

Mary looks happy to be here!!

You guys can't park in that shed.

Tom & Nancy circle in for a landing.

The ride to Hansen's Hold-Up Bar will be this Sunday, the 22nd.  The weather is predicted to be good, so we will be leaving from Casey's at 10 AM.

Also, the J&P Open House in Anamosa is next Saturday and Sunday, the 27th and 28th.  It's a week later this year.  Right now I plan to go on Saturday.

Finally, for those of you who did not make it to Thunder in the Park, here's a video of a cannon shoot by the 3rd Iowa Light Artillery.  Notice the hustling powder runner!

CHUCKLES IN THE LEAD

In my absence, Chuckles took over the lead last Wednesday, and he sent me the following report:

On a beautiful June evening, while Bob and Dennis were hopefully slaying the bass, 14 riders on 10 bikes embarked on our 100 mile
"Adventure with Chuckles".  Bob & Kristi, Jim & Cathy G, Meryle & Mary, Wayne & Sandy, Bob Z, Chuck, Dave H, Jim S, Lois, and Wayne M cruised north on 76, across Locust, where Lois got to see a deer up close and christen Bear Creek Drive with some rubber from her new rear tire.  We had a detour through Hesper to Mabel where we took 43 north and then C 10 east to Houston.  We traveled the side streets, finding one block of gravel, to our rest stop where we filled up on needed gas, air & refreshments before taking 76 back through Caledonia to Gus & Tony's for lots of tenderloins and prime rib sandwiches.  Thanks, Bob, for the wonderful roads you have taken us on over the years. Some riders were asking "When is Bob coming home?"

Here's some photos Chuckles submitted.

KING & QUEEN OF THE ROAD

And in case you wondered, yes, we did slay the smallmouths!

Dennis caught the first and largest fish on the trip.
He won't be going again!!

WNR SUPPORTS HOSPICE RIDE

A good number of our WNR group showed up on Sunday to support the Hospice Ride.  Dennis & Marlene, Carl & Joyce, Chuckles, Tom & Nancy, Jim, and Bob & Julie racked up about 220 miles traveling on the ride and going from Waukon to Spillville and back.  We traveled from Spillville, to Ft. Atkinson, Festina, Ossian, Postville, Monona, and to a first stop at the Marquette Cafe.  From there we went through PDC, Lynxville, Ferryville, and to Pork's Hilltop in DeSoto for our second stop.  From there we went to Lansing, New Albin, down Bear Creek Road to the Highlandville Store for our third stop.  From there we returned to the Innwood in Spillville through Decorah and Calmar.  Good ride, good cause, good weather, good food, and good company.

Don't forget that you will need a new leader on Wednesday.  Try to stay off the gravel and definitely do not take hwy 76 south!  See you next Wednesday and hopefully you can make it to Thunder in the Park this weekend.  They are going to let me shoot a cannon again!

Here's some photos of the Hospice Ride.

START OF THE RIDE IN SPILLVILLE

FIRST STOP IN MARQUETTE

MARQUETTE CAFE WAS CROWDED

STOP IN HIGHLANDVILLE

ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS!

It was one of those nights that a motorcyclist wants to last forever!  Wednesday night was 74 degrees, clear sky, smooth roads, great scenery, and good company.  Meryle & Mary, Bob Z, Gary, Carl (on two wheels), Howard, David, Bugsy, and Bob R departed Casey's for a 120 mile journey through Elon, Harpers Ferry, Marquette, PDC, Bridgeport, Bagley, Wyalusing, back for a stop in Bridgeport, and on to Monona, Luana, and Gus & Tony's for prime rib sandwiches.  It was a really enjoyable ride.

Don't forget that the Hansen's ride is now on the 22nd of June, and the Hospice ride is this Sunday.  It starts from 10 to 11 AM from the Inwood in Spillville and finishes there also around 4 PM with food and door prizes.   I plan to leave from Casey's at 9:45 that morning if anyone else wants to ride over from here.  It's been a good ride for a good cause so it's worth attending.

Also, you will need a new "leader" next Wednesday.  Dennis and Bob R will be up in Boulder Junction hammering the smallmouth!

Here's a couple of photos from Wednesday night.

Meryle giving Bugsy tips on using a credit card

Boy, it's dark in there!

She's ready to go now with new lights!

HANSEN'S RIDE POSTPONED TO THE 22nd

It's been my policy not to schedule our rides that would conflict with local charity rides.  So since the Winneshiek Hospice ride is taking place this Sunday, we will move the ride to Hansen's Hold-Up Bar to June 22nd.  The Hospice Ride was later in June last year, so when I scheduled our rides, I didn't think there would be a conflict, but the Hospice ride is for a good cause, so I would encourage you to attend.  Nancy puts a lot of work into it, and they have good food and door prizes, so I plan on being there.  If we ride Wednesday night, I'll have more details.  Also, if Nancy or Tom is there, they can fill you in.  Otherwise I think there are posters around town also.

READY FOR THE HOSPICE RIDE?!