WHAT A DAY!!

The only way to describe the day on Sunday was "WOW"!  We had 12 members on 8 units make the trip from Casey's to Camp Courageous that day.  The Blockers, Meryle & Mary, the Thorntons, the Votsmiers, Gary, Jim G, and the Rotachs traveled through Fishville, Postville, Gunder, Elkader, (the Farmersburg road is closed), Elkport, Colesburg, Petersberg, Sand Springs, and on to Monticello for the Camp Courageous pancake meal.  We all had our fair share of pancakes and sausage, but a couple of us outdid themselves.  It was a delicious meal and all for a good cause!

Since some of the roads we usually take back through Balltown were under construction with loose gravel, we took a new route in spite of Chuckles' protests.  We came back through Cascade, Epworth, Graf (also called Farg by the locals), Durango, Sherrill, Balltown (The scenery with the leaves changing was spectacular!), North Buena Vista, Millville, and on into Guttenberg for an ice cream stop at Greaser's.  A couple of us outdid themselves there also!  We actually ate ice cream while sitting in the shade!

From there we continued along the river through Clayton, McGregor, Marquette, Harpers Ferry, Elon, and back to Waukon.

 The good Lord gave us a beautiful day with unbelievable scenery to be best enjoyed from the seat of a motorcycle or convertible.

Depending on the weather, we have our regular Wednesday ride and on Sunday we are scheduled for the "Chicken Run" to Rockton.  If you want to go along on Sunday and want chicken (they have other foods) let Bob know at least by Friday, so we can reserve the chicken dinners.  Apparently they are having a banner year for the chicken in Rockton!

Here's a few photos and a video clip of our journey on Sunday.

AS THE RASCALS SANG, "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING"

BIKES AND SUPPORT VEHICLE READY

CHUCKLES ASKING JIM HOW MANY PANCAKES HE CAN EAT

"HEY MARY.  I FOUND A NEW BUTTON"

WE GET OUR "USUAL" PARKING SPOT

"HEY JIM.  HOW MANY PANCAKES CAN YOU GET IN YOUR SADDLEBAGS?"

LOIS IS TOO BUSY EATING TO POSE FOR A PHOTO

WE ARRIVE AT GREASER'S

GREASER"S WAS BUSY!

FEARLESS FOURSOME ON WEDNESDAY/CAMP COURAGEOUS SUNDAY

This Wednesday a fearless foursome of riders left Casey's at 5:30.  Chuckles, Lois, Gary, and Bob R ventured out into the unknown.  How many miles we rode or what towns we went though?  WE'LL NEVER TELL!

The trip to Camp Courageous for the pancake breakfast is this Sunday.  We will leave Casey's at 10 AM.  It's supposed to be a nice day, so hopefully we can get a good group together.  It's for a good cause, and with the leaves starting to change there should be good scenery also.

Here's a couple of shots from Wednesday night.

WE ARRIVE AT G & T'S

LOIS HELPING CHUCKLES UNLOAD

"COME ON, CHUCKLES.  SPEED IT UP!"

SWEET 16 TO TASTE BEER & MUSTARD

Sixteen of us (Dennis & Marlene, Meryle & Mary, Clair & Doris, Wayne & Sandy, Chuckles & Lois, Carl & Joyce, Jim & Cathy, and Bob & Julie departed Casey's Saturday morning just ahead of an impeding rain shower on our annual couples trip.  This year we were headed to Middleton, Wisconsin to see the National Mustard Museum and to tour Capital Brewery.  For the most part we were able to avoid the rain as we passed through Luana, Monona, Froelich, Marquette, PDC, and Bridgeport for a break in Wauzeka.  We picked up Clair & Doris as they traveled from Dyersville to PDC.  We continued on through Boscobel, Blue River, Muscoda (the mushroom capital of Wisconsin), and  Avoca to a rest stop in Lone Rock.  From there we continued on to Spring Green, Arena, and in to Mazomanie where we had a very filling lunch at Rookies.  We then continued on past the Firm Worm to Black Earth, Cross Plains, and to Middleton where we toured the Capital Brewery and sampled beer in the Beer Garden.  We then left the brewery (with Chuckles screaming and dragging) to the Mustard Museum where Chuckles quieted down when he found out there were free samples of mustard and pretzels!  From there we headed back into Mt. Horeb to the motel where we told lies and ate snacks in the lounge area.
We started off Sunday by leaving Wayne & Sandy at the motel.  After they caught up with us we continued back to Cross Plains and into Lodi on HWY 113.  We continued on 113 to the ferry crossing on Lake Wisconsin at Merrimac.  After crossing on the ferry, we took the beautiful ride through Devil's Lake State Park on 113 into Baraboo and past Circus World.  We continued on HWY 136 through Rock Springs and then rejoined HWY 33 near Reedsburg for a break.  We took HWY 33 through LaValle, Wonewoc,  and on to HWY 82 near Hillsboro.  We took 82 through LaFarge and into Viroqua for lunch at Dave's Pizza and Ice Cream Shop.  From there we continued on 82 to Lansing and back home.
Total miles= 320; Total smiles=several hundred!

Here's a couple of photos

READY TO LEAVE TO BEAT THE RAIN

CHUCKLES & JIM MOONING THE RESIDENTS OF WAUZEKA

BELLYING UP TO THE FREE BEER AT CAPITAL BREWERY

EVEN CAESAR LIKED MUSTARD

LION PEEING FOUNTAIN OUTSIDE THE MUSTARD MUSEUM

GOOD FOOD AT DAVE'S IN VIROQUA

ABOARD THE MERIMAC FERRY

  

DUSTY START--GREAT RIDE

Construction on the street in front of Casey's filled the air full of dust for the start of our ride Wednesday night.  However, 13 of us on 10 bikes made an 85 mile trek through Eitzen and Caledonia to a stop at Brownsville for everything from ice cream to hot chocolate.  We (Jim, David, Bugsy, Gary, Jim & Cathy, Chuckles, Lois, Meryle & Mary, Wayne & Sandy, and Bob R) then returned home by passing through Reno, New Albin, and Lycurgus.  The stop for supper at Gus & Tony's included a birthday pie for Chuckles.  We all watched him devour it with no offer to split with Lois.  HAPPY 60th TO CHUCKLES!  You don't look a day over 70.

The Couples' Trip for this weekend is all set with Blockers, Meryle & Mary, Riesbergs, Fishs, Votsmiers, Thorntons, Gelos, and Rotachs all ready to see mustard, beer, and a ferry.  See everyone at 9:30 AM at Casey's on Saturday.  Sounds like some rain Saturday, but warm.  Sunday sounds warm & sunny.  Should be lots of fun!

Here's some shots from Wednesday night.

ONLY THE SHADOW KNOWS

JIM GETTING ADVICE FROM BUGSY

IS'NT THAT THE BEST TRASH CAN YOU'VE EVER SEEN?

I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE

I'D ASK MERYLE, BUT HE DOES'T KNOW EITHER!

ANY RIDERS ON WEDNESDAY? COUPLES' TRIP

Was there anybody in our group tough enough to ride last Wednesday?  I haven't heard any reports yet, but if it was as cold here as it was fishing in Boulder Junction, WI, I don't think anyone went.  Jens caught the biggest fish, so he won't be going with me again!

Hopefully we will have much better weather for the couples' trip this weekend (9:30 AM Saturday at Casey's).  We're headed for Middleton, WI, to see the Mustard Museum and tour the Capital Brewery (you each will owe Bob seven dollars for the cost of the brewery tour).  We will then go to our motel in Mt. Horeb for Saturday night.  On Sunday we will depart for a scenic tour back through Wisconsin  that includes a ferry ride.  Should be lots of fun!
As of now (Sunday), I have eight couples going:  Blockers in the "support vehicle", Meryle & Mary, Kaesers, Riesbergs, Fishs, Votsmiers, Thorntons, and Rotachs.  If for some reason you can't make the trip, you have to let Bob know by Thursday morning.  They have a 48 hour cancellation policy at the motel.  Hopefully I will be able to pass out the itinerary and route to those who ride on Wednesday night.  Any questions?  Call Bob's Fairly Reliable Tour Guide Service at 563-568-7277.

STREET SIGN IN MT. HOREB

A TRIBUTE TO TOM AND HIS FAMILY

The Wednesday Night Riders had 23 people attend Tom's funeral on Saturday.  Eleven bikes along with our "support vehicle" escorted the funeral procession from the church to the cemetery.  This is a fine tribute to Tom and I'm sure Nancy and the rest of his family appreciated it.

We all are really going to miss Tom and that big grin he always had when he was riding with us.  I know right now he's in heaven riding a stretch of road with lots of curves, a few hills, and no potholes and grinning ear to ear.  Tom, someday we are all going to join you there, so keep Wednesday nights open.

While Tom and the guys were on the Black Hills trip a couple of years ago, we stopped by a rest stop that had some paintings done by Native Americans who lived in the area. One of the paintings had the following verses listed below it.  I'd like to share those with everyone now.  The verses were entitled "The Road Home".

Those of us who ride have our stories.  Each time we ride we know both the risks and the joys of the journey.

We've all lost love ones who didn't make it back on their last ride out.

They've taken the road home, made it through the pass into the Spirit World.

No matter what we've been through or where we are on the road, we are at ease--with each other, with the natural world, and with ourselves.

We are all related.  As relatives, we strive to keep to the good road.  And look out for each other.

God Bless

TOM'S FUNERAL ON SATURDAY

Our group has been asked to escort the funeral procession from St. Pat's on Saturday to the cemetery.  I have tried to contact as many people as possible about this, but in case I missed you, we will gather at St. Pat's at 10:30.  If you plan to go on the escort, park your bike in front of the church (east side).  Dave Martin will then lead us into the church to sit as a group as honorary pallbearers.  He will then lead us out after the service.  We will then get on the bikes and lead the procession (police escort) out to the cemetery.  I don't know for sure where we will park out there, but as always, just follow me and we should be ok.  Any questions, just call Bob at 563-568-7277.  

TOM'S FUNERAL

As most of you may know by now, the wake for Tom is Friday from 4 to 8 at Martin's.  His funeral will be Saturday at 11 AM.  The Wednesday Night Riders are honorary pall bearers.  Dave Martin has informed me that he will escort us into the church for special seating about 15 minutes before the service starts.  Those of us who want to attend will meet in a group outside of St. Pat's around 10:30.  Hopefully we will have a good size group to lend out support for the Haberichter family.

Also, I am collecting donations from our members to give to the family to use as a memorial for Tom.  I think this would be more appropriate than flowers.  If you want to donate just let Bob R know and you can give it to him the next time you see him.  I plan to leave the memorial money with a card from our group at the wake on Friday.

BUZZZZING TO GARNY

Last Wednesday seven of us (Bob Z, Lois, Gary, Wayne & Sandy, Carl, and Bob R) on 6 bikes left Casey's on a beautiful night ride headed for a stop in Garnavillo.  However only five of us actually made it to Garny.  Sandy got nailed by a buzzing bee, and the Fish's had to return home.  Hopefully Sandy has recovered from the sting.
We did pass through Elon, Harpers, Marquette, and McGregor on our way to Garnavillo where we stopped and admired the monument there in the park dedicated to their veterans.  They did a really good job on that!  On the way back we passed through Clayton Center, Monona, Luana, and back to Gus & Tony's where we were joined by Chuckles and Bugsy.

Here's a couple of photos of the group.

Carl has to ride in the back!

Lois calling Chuckles to tell him we're having a good time without him!

It would be advisable to put knobby tires on your bikes for next Wednesday's ride.  I will be up north after smallmouth bass, so Chuckles will be leading and it's hard to tell where!!

SOME VERY TRAGIC NEWS

As most of you have probably heard by now, Tom and Nancy Haberichter were involved in a very serious accident on Sunday.  Apparently they were riding on highway 52 north of Dubuque when a pickup pulled out in front of them trying to make a left turn onto the highway.  Tom was airlifted to Iowa City where he passed away and Nancy was taken to a hospital in Dubuque with broken bones.  She is now at home.
I'm sure most of us (Wednesday Night Riders) will want to attend Tom's wake and funeral.  As of yet those dates have not been set.  I'll let everyone know as soon as I find out.  I think it would be supportive to Nancy and the family to see as many of us as possible at the funeral.  Hopefully we can enter and sit as a group there.  I will try to keep everyone informed about that also.

Meanwhile prayers for Nancy and the rest of the family.

GOOD RIDE..GOOD ICE CREAM

Seven of us took to the highways and byways for our Labor Day Double Dip Ice Cream Run.  The Blockers, the Thorntons, the Rotachs, and Chuckles left Casey's on Monday afternoon. After surviving a couple of showers, we passed through Decorah, Prosper, Mabel (avoiding Hesper), Tawney, Choice, and Bratsberg to Rushford and stopped at The Creamery Pizza and Ice Cream for our first dip.  From there we continued on through Houston, Mound Prairie, and CR 25 to Teschemper Road.  We went down Teschemper (the most scenic 5 miles in the tri-states) to CR 21 and into Hokah.  From there we toured through Brownsville, New Albin, Lycurgus, and back to WW Dairy in Waukon for our second dip and fishing stories from Carl.  It was a very pleasant 150 miles with great scenery and delicious ice cream!

Here's a shot of the group at WW Dairy.

Carl entertaining us with fishing stories