CHECKING OUT THE CZECHS

Fifteen of us on 12 bikes departed Casey's Wednesday night under sunny skies and 74 degrees.  Meryle & Mary, Wayne & Sandy, Jim & Cathy, Gary, Bob Z, Wayne M, Howard, Earl, Chuckles, Lois, David,  and Bob R took the Old Stage Road to HWY 9 outside of Decorah.  We turned west on 9 and went through Ridgeway and Cresco on brand new pavement.  In Cresco we turned south on CR V58 that took us to the Czech town of Protivin for a rest stop.  From there we headed east on CR B16  and on into the Czech village of Spillville.  In Spillville we picked up CR W14 and headed south to Ft. Atkinson.  Outside of Ft. Atkinson we traveled east again on CR B32 and onto HWY 150 south near Festina.  We turned east again on CR B32 in Festina and headed for Ossian.  In Ossian we headed north on W42 and then east on W46 to the Centennial Road.  North on Centennial took us back to HWY 9 east and on into Waukon at Gus & Tony's where Bugsy joined us.  I had 102 miles on the Wing at G&T's.

NEXT WEDNESDAY
Since Bob R will be up north in Boulder Junction WI, with Jens K hammering the small mouth bass, you will need a new leader next Wednesday.  Good luck and stay off the gravel!

LABOR DAY DOUBLE DIP ICE CREAM RUN
I will be back in time to lead the Labor Day "Double Dip" Ice Cream Run on Labor Day (Monday the 7th).  We will depart Casey's at 1PM that day and venture down to Cassville for our first dip.  (Yes, Sandy, they do have ice cream in Cassville!)  We will then venture back to Waukon for our second dip at WW Homestead Dairy.  Hope to see a good group of ice cream eaters there.

COUPLES TRIP
We currently have eight couples ready to go on the couples' trip to Osceola, WI, on the weekend of the 19th & 20th of September.  We do have room for one more couple.  If interested let Bob R know ASAP.

Here's some pics from Wednesday night.

GARY READY TO ROLL AFTER RECOVERING FROM HIS OPERATION

MARY CAN'T DECIDE WHO TO TAKE ON THE COUPLES' TRIP

DAVID ADMIRING LOIS'S NEW SHIRT

JIM & CATHY EITHER GASSING UP OR ORDERING A CASEY'S PIZZA

MERYLE IS TRYING TO SELL EARL A TICKET
FOR A DOZEN DONUTS AT CINDA'S

THE POSSE IN PROTIVIN

COLD & WET WEDNESDAY--LOOSE GRAVEL REPORT

An unusually cool and wet night kept the riders at home this Wednesday.  According to most folks, we needed the rain.  So, I suppose, we can let one Wednesday night be given up to the needed rain, but that's it!

As most of you know, I addressed the Allamakee Board of Supervisors on Monday concerning the chip seal process the road crew has been using on some of the paved roads that we ride and the danger it presents to us without any warnings.  Julie Rotach and Al Tweedy came with me for support and muscle if needed.  Here's what I presented to them.

The Board seemed quite receptive to my suggestions, and said they would bring the matter up with Brian R., the county engineer, at a meeting later that day.  Later in the day on Monday I received a call indicating that: 1) If the county is made aware in advance of a special ride like the I-RIDE, they would delay the repairs until after the ride was done, and 2) They will put up signage to warn of the upcoming repair area in the future.  Hopefully they will follow-up with these promises.  So, apparently my efforts did pay off in this case, and some injuries to bikers are prevented.  I think it would be good public relations for us to thank the board members and Brian when you see them.  Also, Larry Schellhammer was very instrumental in getting the gravel swept up off of the Elon Road before the I-RIDE on Saturday.  I called him on Friday when I noticed that the gravel was still there, and that's when he said I should come to the Board meeting on Monday.  

It's really ironic that when I checked the Gold Wing web site today, there were at least 40 threads from all over the country complaining about the use of chip sealing on the roads they were riding.  Well, hopefully at least, we're a bit safer in our little corner of the world! 

JIM & CATHY'S TRIP OUT WEST

Jim sent me some photos of the trip he and Cathy made out west after Sturgis.  Thanks to Jim, and I'm sure we're all going to be envious after viewing the pictures he took.

GOOD SUPPORT FROM WNR AT I-RIDE

As near as I could tell we had 21 from our Wednesday Night Riders group partake in the Good Sam I-Ride on Saturday.  We covered around 150 miles with two stops throughout the northeast Iowa area on a warm summer day.  (It was warm enough that even Sandy didn't need a jacket!).  After returning to Waukon, we were well fed at Waukon HD with barbeques, beans (a favorite food of Harley riders), cheese curds, chips, bars, and ice cream sundaes. Besides a good ride and delicious food, we all received a t-shirt, and the WNR group did well with door prizes.  As near as I remember,  Carl (Three bottles of wine.  He always wins!), Cathy, Jim G, Mary, Joyce, Julie, Lois, Mike, Joan, and Sandy all won door prizes. (Hopefully Carl will hide the wine from Joyce until the couples' trip!)

Speaking of the couples' trip, there is room for only one more couple.  I now have Thorntons, Blockers, Votsmiers, Mary & Meryle, W&S Fish, D & J Fish, Gelos, and Rotachs signed up for the weekend of 19 & 20 of September to Osceola, WI.

Here's some shots from the I-RIDE on Saturday.

JIM & CATHY TELLING ABOUT THEIR STURGIS TRIP

JOYCE GIVING JULIE TIPS FOR HER FIRST TRIKE RIDE

RIDE COORDINATORS

CATHY TELLING JIM THAT HE DOESN'T GIT TO LEAD THIS TIME

LOIS & SANDY WITH A BAG OF GOODIES AND RITA LOOKING ON

DAYTON GETTING READY TO ROLL ON A WARM DAY

OUR SUPPORT TEAM EVEN SHOWED UP

WAYNE ENJOYING THE SHADE

CARL SAYS IF LOIS WANTS TO DIVE FOR PENNIES,
SHE SHOULD GET OFF HER BIKE FIRST

THE SUPPORT VEHICLE

BETH & BOB H ALONG WITH US AGAIN

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL WEDNESDAY--I RIDE--LOOSE GRAVEL--COUPLES TRIP

Another beautiful Wednesday night saw 12 of us gather at Casey's for our Wednesday night venture.  With  Earl, Chuckles, Lois, Wayne M, Lee E (glad to have him with us again), and Bob R on bikes and Carl & Joyce, Wayne & Sandy, and Dayton & Joan on trikes we departed at 5:30 on the street bordering the golf course.  However, before we could get out of town we lost one rider.  Chuckles' headlights went out on him.  ( I always thought his bulb was a little dim anyway!)  He turned back and headed home, so we continued with 11 of us traveling east on the Elon Road where we ran into more loose gravel from the county repair work.  (More on that later.)  After skirting the gravel, we took the Lansing/Harpers Road north and then the Lafayette Ridge Road east again to the Great River Road north into Lansing.  In Lansing we had to detour onto Front Street to pick up HWY 26 north.  On 26 near New Albin, we turned west onto Pool Hill Road and on into Eitzen and HWY 76 north.  After a short drive north on 76 we took CR 27 west on into Spring Grove for a break.  From Spring Grove we took HWY 44 west into Mabel where we picked up CR 28 heading south into Hesper.  In Hesper we turned east onto CR A14 and followed it to the Locust Road.  Heading south on Locust we then turned east again on CR A26 (Bear Creek Drive) to HWY 76 south and then back on A26 again to the Lycurgus Road.  Heading south on Lycurgus Road we ran into more of the loose gravel, but managed to make it to HWY 9 west and back into Waukon at Gus & Tony's where Dale joined us.  I had 110 miles on the Wing for our trip.  Great scenery and still really green for this time of year!

I-RIDE

Again to remind everyone that the Good Sam I-RIDE is this Saturday with registration from 8AM  to 8:45 with the "Blessing of the Bikes" following, and the ride starting at 9.  Let's all try to support this worthy cause.  Entry fee includes breakfast, lunch and a t-shirt!

LOOSE GRAVEL

With the county doing their tar spray and gravel repairs to two of the county roads frequented by motorcycle riders, I believe that the loose gravel that is left over presents a real danger to the riders, particularly if there are no warning signs.  You can be into some of this loose gravel danger before you know it!  So, I am scheduled to address the Board of Supervisors Monday morning at 9 AM concerning this issue.  If they continue to use this method of road repair, then all I'm going to be asking is that they put up signs (LOOSE GRAVEL) warning bikers so they have time to react or turn around if they want.  If some of you can make that meeting, I would appreciate the support!

COUPLES' TRIP

I am going to need to know very shortly if you plan to go on the couples' trip on the weekend of September 19th & 20th.  I plan on traveling to Osceola, WI for a train ride and then an overnight stay and return to Waukon on Sunday.  Very soon I am going to have to firm up motel reservations and get tickets for the train ride ($14 each).  Right now I have confirmations from Thorntons, Blockers, Votsmiers, and Rotachs.  If you are planning on going (first come-first serve) then let Bob R know as soon as you can.

Here's some shots from Wednesday night's ride.  I also included a photo of the "American Queen" riverboat that is docked in Prairie du Chein.  You may want to venture down there and see it.  Look to the left as you cross the bridge and you'll see it.  Go to the Villa Louis grounds for a closer view.

THE AMERICAN QUEEN IN PDC

THE LONE RANGER CHECKING TONTO

DAYTON TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT HIS 6 HD SERVICE JOB

WHERE'S CHUCKLES?!

IS THAT A REAL INDIAN?

NEW RECORD SET

On a near-perfect Wednesday night, a WNR record for number of riders was set.  We had 20 individuals on 11 bikes, 3 trikes, and a convertible.  The previous record was 16, set 2 summers ago.  With Bob Z, Howard, Carl, Wayne M, David, Lois, Nancy, Greg, Jim S, Jim & Cathy, and Bob R on bikes; Meryle & Mary, Wayne & Sandy, and Dayton & Joan on trikes; and Dale & Mike in the support convertible we struck out for Gays Mills under partly cloudy skies and 78 degrees.  We took HWY 9 (a highway every Iowan should be proud of!) to Lansing where we crossed the bridge and headed south on HWY 35.  Nearing Ferryville, we picked up CR B and headed east,  CR B is a curvy and scenic road that took us through Rising Sun and Towerville and on into Gays Mills where we took a break.  When one of the clerks in the store asked about the number of bikes, I asked her, " If this was Sturgis?"

After some refreshments, including a half gallon of chocolate milk, we headed south on HWY 131 where we went through Bell Center and Petersburg and picked up CR S heading west.  CR S is also a curvy scenic drive that follows Halls Branch Creek to HWY 27 south and into Seneca.  Following 27, we picked up CR F and headed west again to HWY 35.  CR S is one of the most scenic 7 miles in southwest Wisconsin.  Turning south on 35 we took CR K through the outskirts of Prairie du Chien and onto HWY 18 and across the bridge into Marquette.  In Marquette we picked up HWY 76 north (another highway Iowans should be proud to have!)  Having enough of 76 we turned onto CR X32 and proceeded through Waterville and on to the Elon Road.  Turning west we proceeded into Waukon and our usual stop at Gus & Tony's where Bugsy was waiting for us.  It's amazing that we can put on about 120 miles and the worst stretches of road we traveled were the two state highways leading into town!

WARNING
The county has decided that Lycurgus Road need to have some of that tar spray and gravel put on the bumps to make the bumps up instead of down.  However, in their infinite wisdom, they left a whole lot of loose gravel on the roadway making it very dangerous for anyone on a motorcycle.  There is no warning and for some reason they refuse to put up "Loose Gravel" signs.  It seems to me with all the liability concerns they seem to have with 4 wheelers on the county roads, this loose gravel is just an accident and a law suit waiting to happen.  So avoid the Lycurgus Road for a while until the gravel either washes or blows off the road!

HAPPY TRAILS
Jim & Cathy are headed for Sturgis tomorrow to join the million other bikers there for the 75th Anniversary.  Be careful, and you don't have to worry because you can't eat the pasties there!

I RIDE
Next Saturday, August 15th is the Good Sam I Ride.  Registration is at Good Sam at 8 AM with the "Blessing of the Bikes" at 8:45 and the ride starting at 9.  Wednesday Night Riders have always been supportive of this important fundraiser, so let's all try to be there.  Besides you get a breakfast and a lunch included.  Since we all know how we like to eat, that should make the journey worthwhile in itself!

Here's some shots of the record crowd from Wednesday night.

Who's the guy in the black shirt?

BOB TELLING WAYNE HE CAN "SMELL" RAIN

IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE NANCY............

................AND GREG RIDING WITH US AGAIN

DALE GETTING READY TO BLOCK TRAFFIC WITH THE SUPPORT VEHICLE

IS THIS STURGIS?

CARL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT HIS BIKE IN "PARK"