FULL BOAT TO HOME A GINS

On a spectacular Wednesday night 16 WNRs left Casey's at 5:30 aboard 9 bikes,a trike, and two convertibles headed for the metropolis of Mt. Hope, Wisconsin.  Bob Z, Jim & Cathy, Lois, Chuckles, Ron Troendle (welcome to the newbie), Howard, Gary, Wayne M, and Bob R on bikes; Meryle & Mary on the trike; Dale & Mike in the red convertible and Dennis & Marlene in the yellow one.

We took HWY 76 (a highway every Iowan should be proud of) to Marquette and then HWY 18 over the bridge to Prarie du Chien.  South of PDC near Bridgeport we picked up CR C that took us along the Wisconsin River through Millville and onto HWY 133.  We followed a smooth and scenic 133 back to HWY 18 for a short jog onto CR J and on into Mt. Hope for a rest stop and where we doubled the population.  We then invaded Home A Gins on taco night for refreshments. (If you have never eaten at Home A Gins, I strongly recommend it.  The food is great, and they have the best french fries around.)

After our break we continued on CR J, which offered us some more scenic views, and then onto CR A which took us into Bloomington.  We stopped at the One Stop Market to replentish the yellow support vehicle.  Heading north again on HWY 35/18 we traveled through Patch Grove, back through Bridgeport and back into PDC.  We crossed the bridge again and took HWY 76 north to CR X52 though Waukon Junction and into Harper Ferry.  Turning north on the Lansing/Harpers road, we then picked up the Elon Road and on into Waukon and Gus & Tony's where Lois tried playing waitress.  (Keep your day job, Lois!) Bugsy also joined us there.  We put on about 128 miles on a tremendous night to ride.

Since I will be leading the Fearsome Foursome (David, Bob Z, Chuckles, and Bob R) on our annual guys' trip next week, those of you who ride next Wednesday will have to pick a new leader.  A number of you have said that Lois looks a lot better from the back than I do, so Lois you may be "it".  Also, Jim & Cathy are headed for the U. P. next week.  Have a safe trip and enjoy the pasties!

Here's some shots from Wednesday night.

THE "HOME A GIN" GROUP GATHERS

RON DOESN'T LOOK TOO SURE ABOUT THIS DEAL

GARY ROLLS IN.  LUCKILY WAYNE & HOWARD CAN'T HEAR

"WHERE THE HELL IS HOME A GINS"?!

WE ARRIVE IN DOWNTOWN MT. HOPE WHERE THEY HAVE NEWLY PAVED STREETS!

PIZZA! PIZZA!

Our "You Gotta Love Summer" Pizza Run was very successful to say the least and eat the most!  Fourteen of us left Casey's at 11 AM Sunday bound for some pizzas at the Hideaway Inn in Chaseburg under sunny skies and temps in the 70's.  With Jim & Cathy, Howard, Lois, Chuckles, and Bob & Julie on bikes, followed by Meryle & Mary, Wayne & Sandy, and Carl & Joyce on trikes, and Dale in the support convertible we took HWY 9 through Churchtown and Lansing and across the bridge to Wisconsin.  We then followed HWY 35 south through Ferryville to CR C and turned east.  CR C took us to CR J where we turned north for some great scenery and into Viroqua where we stopped at the Kwik Trip for a break (no pizza, just cold coffee).

After our break we went west of Viroqua and picked up CR B and headed north through Esophia and some more great scenery to HWY 14 just outside of Coon Valley.  We followed 14 west to HWY 162 and into Chaseburg to the Hideaway Brew Pub and Restaurant where we feasted on some delicious homemade pizza.  While the "meat lovers" was great, we heard the "deluxe" was even better!

After rolling out of the Hideaway on full bellies and waiting for Chuckles (aka Fiddledy Fart), we headed out on CR K south and onto CR O east.  CR 0 took us to HWY 53 west and then onto CR N heading south.  CR N is also a beautiful stretch of road.  N took us to HWY 82 where we turned east to catch HWY 27 south.  From 27 we got on CR B west and back to Ferryville's One Stop,  where we topped off the pizza with hand-dipped ice cream.

Fiddledy Fart was ready this time, so we departed Ferryville on 35 north and across the bridge to Lansing.  From there we took the Lansing/Harpers road to the Elon road and back into Waukon and rolled into town at about 4:30.  I had 148 miles on the Wing when we pulled into the garage.

GREAT WEATHER + GREAT ROADS + GREAT FOOD + GREAT SCENERY + GREAT COMPANY = A GREAT RIDE

Here's some photos of the Pizza Run--

THE PIZZA GOBBLERS GATHER

NICE JACKET!

Fidledy Fart & Lois trying to explain why they are always the last ones here!

WE MAKE IT TO CHASEBURG  (Chuckles Photo)

CARL THINKS IT'S TIME TO EAT

YEP, THIS IS THE PLACE

HOWARD CHECKING FOR ANY DIRT (Chuckles Photo)

STUFFING DOWN THE PIZZAS ON THE VERANDA (Chuckles Photo)

LOIS & CHUCKLES "SPOONING" IN FERRYVILLE

MARY CHECKING TO SEE HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS IN THE BOTTLE

SANDY WATCHING SO NO ONE STEALS HER CONE!

THESE GUYS DON'T LOOK LIKE ROCK STARS TO ME!

BIRTH PLACE OF THE GIDEON BIBLE

Who says the WNRs ain't got religion?!  Sixteen of us departed Casey's on Wednesday night bound for Boscobel, Wisconsin, the birth place of the Gideon Bible.  With Earl, Howard, Chuck, Lois, Gary, Jim & Cathy, and Bob R on bikes, and Meryle & Mary, Dayton & Joan, and Wayne & Sandy on trikes, and Dale & Mike in a convertible we took HWY 9 through Lansing and across the bridge to HWY 35 south.  We followed 35 through Ferryville to CR E at Lynxville.  We turned east on E and followed it all the way through Steuben and on into Boscobel.  The views along the ridges were spectacular with green, and while E was under repair, we disappointed Chuckles by not having to "travel on gravel".

After arriving in Boscobel and not finding any Gideons, we stopped at the DQ for some mid-ride treats.  We departed Boscobel and onto HWY 60 headed for Wauzeka.  In Wauzeka we took CR N west back to HWY 27 south.  We had some beautiful green scenery to see along N also.  HWY 27 took us to Limery Road and west to CR K in Prairie du Chien.  We followed K along the river to HWY 18 and on across the bridge, through Marquette, Froelich, Giard, Monona, and on into Luana on the Edgewood Road.  In Luana we picked up CR X16 north through Hardin and onto HWY 76 outside of Waukon and then into Gus & Tony's for some very tough prime rib sandwiches.  I had 131 miles on the clock when I got home.

The "You Gotta Love Summer" Pizza Run is set for Sunday leaving Casey's at 11 AM.  We will be traveling through some neat Wisconsin back roads to the Hideaway Brew, Pub and Restaurant in Chaseburg for some mouth-watering pizza.  Everyone is welcome.  We stopped there on the way back on a couples' trip a couple of years ago.  We said the food was good then and we should go back.  So we are.  So far the weather man says warm and sunny.

Here's some photos of the Bible hunters from Wednesday night.

"Is that seat more comfortable than the Indian?"

Jim eyeballing the "new" Bugsmobile.

THE CONVERTIBLE

MELLO YELLO AND MINUTE MAID??!!

"I know it's in here somewhere."

Do they pass out Bibles at the DQ?

Dayton & Joan quizzing the "other" Mike Reisner

"I haven't seen any Gideons either"

THE "OTHER" ARLINGTON

While it's not the home of the National Cemetery, Arlington is a nice little northeast Iowa town we journeyed to on Wednesday night.  We had 6 bikes, we had 2 trikes, and we had 2 convertibles make the trip with 14 riders.  Bugsy and Helen were in the Bugsmobile, Dale and Mike in the convertible, Wayne & Sandy and Meryle were on trikes, and Jim & Cathy, Chuckles, Lois, David, Gary, and Bob R on bikes.

We left Casey's on HWY 9 west under partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 72.  We then picked up Centennial Road near Decorah and then on into Ossian.  From Ossian we continued on county roads and picked up HWY 150 near Eldorado.  We stayed on 150 through West Union and on past Fayette where we took county roads to HWY 187 and on into Arlington.  We stopped at Charley's One Stop for a break and some treats.

After the break we stayed on county roads back through Volga, Wadena, Elgin, and Clermont.  At Clermont we picked up a county road that took us to the suburbs of Gunder and then on into Postville where we got on HWY 51.  From 51 we headed south to HWY 9 again and then onto Old Stage Road and to Gus & Tony's.

Who said there are no good motorcycle roads in Iowa!!??  We put on about 125 miles on some great scenic roads here in northeast Iowa.  Maybe someone should let our tourism people know!

WARNING

On Sunday the 19th we have our "You Gotta Love Summer" Pizza Run scheduled.  If you don't like homemade pizza, if you don't like beautiful southwest Wisconsin curvy back roads, if you don't care for spectacular green scenery, and if you don't like hand dipped ice cream, then this ride is not for you!  
However if you do like any of the above we will be departing Casey's at 11 AM that day.


Here's some shots from the Arlington ride Wednesday night.

THE GROUP GATHERS

WE GOT TRIKES

WE GOT CONVERTIBLES

WE GOT "OLD HIPPIES"

WE GOT COWBOYS

WE GOT THE BUGSMOBILE

HELEN TELLING BUGSY THAT HE HAS TO GO FASTER THAN 45 TO KEEP UP

CHUCK THINKS THEY SHOULD CALL THE PLACE "CHUCKLES ONE STOP".

WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR?!

DAVID AFTER POLISHING OFF A QUART OF CHOCOLATE MILK

AND THEY DO HONOR THE VETERANS IN THE "OTHER" ARLINGTON

"COOL" FIRST OF JULY RIDE

While it's usually really hot and humid in July here in the midwest, 10 of us on 8 bikes left Casey's this Wednesday with temps in the mid 60's.  Meryle, Chuckles, Lois, Howard, Dayton & Joan, Carl & Joyce, Bob R, and Darrel S, a guest rider from Decorah who joined us, went around the golf course to the Elon Road and headed west through Dalby and Elon.  We then turned south on the Lansing/Harpers Road and on into Harpers Ferry.  In Harpers we picked up CR X52 south to HWY 76.  HWY 76 took us south into Marquette and onto HWY 18 west into Prairie du Chien.  We follwed 18/35 to it's junction with HWY 133 and turned south traveling through Patch Grove and arriving at the One Stop in Bloomington for a break.

After our break we picked up CR A outside of Bloomington and headed west into Bagley.  In Bagley CR A changes to CR X and we followed it through Wyalusing,  skirting the river, and to the junction of CR C heading east and then onto HWY 18 again.  We followed HWY 18 all the way back through PDC, Marquette, past Giard, Froelich, and Monona, and onto Edgewood Drive in Luana.  In Luana we hooked onto CR X 16 and followed it through Hardin and onto HWY 76 outside of Waukon.  From there we journeyed into Gus & Tony's where Bugsy filled us with bs.

The ride was cool, the weather was cool, the roads were cool, and it was cool that Darrel joined us.  Hopefully we'll see him again.  I had 125 miles on the clock when I got home.

IT'S ALSO TIME TO LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING OR NOT ON THE GUYS' TRIP AT THE END OF THE MONTH.  As of now I have yes's from Chuckles, Bob Z, and myself.  I have definite no's from Howard, Meryle, and Jim S.  I am going to have to firm up motel reservations soon, so I need to know one way or the other.

Here's some shots from Wednesday night.

DARREL WITH HIS COOL TRIKE

MERYLE WORKING THE COOL BUTTONS ON HIS TRIKE

OUR STOP AT THE COOL "ONE STOP"

DAYTON & JOAN TELLING ABOUT THEIR COOL WHIRLWIND TRIP TO CANADA