CAMP COURAGEOUS---YES! PANCAKES--NO!

Seven of us departed Casey's at 10 AM on Sunday with full intentions of arriving at Camp Courageous for their annual pancake breakfast fundraiser.  Gary, Wayne& Sandy, Meryle & Mary, and Bob & Julie traversed the Volney Road into Monona where we picked up Carl & Joyce in the support Jeep at Kwik Trip.  From there we stopped for a short break in Elkader and continued on through Garber, Colesburg, Petersburg, Monticello, and on into the basketball court parking lot at Camp Courageous.  It was a gorgeous fall morning for a ride, but we discovered that the Camp had changed their hours from 8 til noon instead of 1. And it was 12:30, so there were no pancakes to be had!

After Bob & Julie dropped off their semi-annual donation, and Gary purchased a chance to win a Volkswagon Beetle convertible, we decided to feed our faces at the Pizza Ranch in Monticello.  No pancakes, but we did manage to stuff ourselves full of pizza and chicken.

After having our fill of food at Pizza Ranch we headed home via HWY 151 into Cascade and CR Y-17 into Epworth for a gas stop.  We continued on Y-17 to HWY 52 and took 52/3 into Sageville for another short break.  It was decided that it might be our last chance to have ice cream at Greaser's, so off we went on through Sherrill, Balltown, North Buena Vista, and onto Guttenberg.  After the ice cream treats we headed north on 52, then west on 18 past Monona and into Luana where we took the Forest Mills road home.  I had 240 miles on the trike when we pulled into the garage.  It was disappointing to miss the pancakes at CC, but we did get our fill of food and couldn't have asked for a better day to ride!

RUN, CHICKEN, RUN RUN
Next Sunday, Oct. 4th is our last scheduled ride of the season.  It's our annual "Chicken Run" to Rockton for their "almost" world famous chicken.  Weather permitting we will leave from Casey's at 10 AM that morning.  PLEASE NOTE:  If you want chicken to eat at Rockton, you have to make reservations for it.  You can do this one of two ways.  1)  Call the Rockton Bar yourself (608-625-4395) to reserve your chicken or 2) Let Bob know (563-568-7277) before Friday if you are going and he will call it in as part of the Wednesday Night Riders group.

Here's some shots of the Camp Courageous trip, and also in case some of you went to bed early Sunday night, I took a few shots of the lunar eclipse for you to see.

ALBINO PUMPKINS??!!

"I WONDER HOW MANY PUMPKINS WE CAN GET INTO BOB'S TRUNK?"

"ANYBODY SEEN MY SUN GLASSES?"

"SUPPORT JEEP" IN ELKADER

JOYCE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE COUPLES' TRIP

D double E double R-U-N

In Bob's absence, Chuckles (Lois) contributes to the blog this week.  Here's their report.  It's titled as above, if you can figure it out.

On a cloudy but warm Wednesday, 11 units carried 14 of us out on a beautiful first evening of Autumn ride.  Jim & Cathy led Bob Z, Howard, Gary, Lois, Chuckles, David, Carl, Darrel, Wayne & Sandy, and Bugsy & Helen in the Bugsmobile.  We took 76 north to Bear Creek, then Locust Road until just outside of Spring Grove where we turned onto smooth, black, and brightly striped Houston Co. Road 4.  We cruised up the the Yucatan area where the deer were really on the move.  Several times we stopped or slowed to a near stop to accommodate the "whitetail crossings".  Back on 76 we twisted and turned our way to Caledonia for a short stop at Kwik Trip.  Since the sun was disappearing rapidly, we cruised back to Waukon on 76 where Dorothy joined us for a bite to eat at Gus & Tony's.  We missed our regular fearless leader but hope he enjoyed his break out on the gold course.  Here's a few shots of the evening, and DON'T FORGET THE CAMP COURAGEOUS RIDE ON SUNDAY--10 AM --CASEY'S.

SOFTER THAN A HARLEY SEAT?!

COUPLES' TRIP--BOATS & TRAINS

On a sunny crisp Saturday morning seven couples headed out from Casey's on our annual Wednesday Night Riders couples' trip.  This time we were traveling to Osceola, Wisconsin to ride on the Osceola-St. Croix train.  Wayne & Sandy, Dayton & Joan, Meryle & Mary, Carl & Joyce, Jim & Cathy, Chuckles & Lois, and Bob & Julie took off north on 76 and stopped in Hokah for a break.  We then wound through the cones on HWY 61 and on into Winona for warm-up coffee at McDonalds.  Following 61 north we went through Lake City and a beautiful view of Lake Pepin and all the sailboats and on into Red Wing where we picked up HWY 63 and crossed the river.  We stopped in Hager City for gas for some of us and moonshine for others.  We continued on past a couple of roundabouts and on into Osceola just in time to catch our train.  After the train ride we rode to Tippy Canoes Restaurant for a midday meal featuring Aussie burgers.

After real full bellies, we returned back on HWY 35 to Somerset and on to HWY 64 traveling east.  From there we went through another roundabout on to HWY 63 south and on into Baldwin and the Super 8.  After resting, swimming, or walking for an hour or so, we decided it was time to eat again, so everybody brought their snacks to the meeting room and we dug in.  After a lot of laughs, stories, BS, and updates on who died, we were finally so full of food that we decided we had better retire before we passed out!

Sunday morning was also crisp, and after wiping all the dew off the bikes, we headed towards home.  Along the way we made stops in Menomonie and Ellsworth for gas before we journeyed on down to HWY 35 south for another drive down the Wisconsin side of the river.  Again we saw many sailboats out on the Mississippi lakes and the sun was gradually warming us all up.  We continued down 35 stopping at Buena Vista city park in Alma for a spectacular view of the river, the locks, and the surrounding bluffs.  By this time we worked up our appetites and headed down 35 to Centerville and the Jailhouse Saloon for some of the best burgers we ever tasted!  Also some of us spent some time "locked up" for misbehavior.  Continuing on down 35 we went through LaCrosse with very little traffic, on over to LaCrescent just in time to miss the Apple Fest parade, and onto HWY 26.  Taking 26 south into Lansing, we made our last stop at Skinny Dip's for ice cream and then back on HWY 9 back home.  All together I had about 500 miles round trip on the trike.  GOOD WEATHER--GOOD ROADS--GOOD FOOD--GOOD COMPANY--GOOD FUN!  In fact it was so good, word has it that there will be a video coming out later.

Since Bob will be on a golf outing next Wednesday and Thursday, Chuckles will be in charge of the Wednesday night ride.  Have a safe one!

CAMP COURAGEOUS
Next Sunday is our annual fall ride to Camp Courageous in Monticello.  This is the pancake breakfast fundraiser for the camp and one of the events that the Wednesday Night Riders have supported for quite a few years now.  Weather permitting we will leave Casey's at 10 AM Sunday morning.  Everyone welcome and spread the word to support Camp Courageous, a great facility for youth and adults with special needs, and receives NO government funding!

Here's a couple of shots from the couples' trip.

ALL ABOARD

CLICKITY CLACK

TIPPY CANOES

SNACK, STORY, AND BS TIME AT MOTEL

BV PARK IN ALMA

A COUPLE OF "SWINGERS"

IF YOU FALL, DAYTON ISN'T COMING AFTER YOU!

OVERLOOK VIEW

JAILBIRDS

SKINNY DIPPING IT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHUCKLES!

On an unusually warm September evening we celebrated Chuckles birthday with our usual Wednesday night ride.  Along with Chuckles, we had Lois, of course, and Howard, David, Wayne & Sandy, Meryle & Mary, Jim & Cathy, and Bob R leaving Casey's and heading out on the Elon Road.  After dodging the Norwegian meat ballers, we turned toward Lansing on the Lansing/Harpers Road.  In Lansing we picked up the Great River Road and headed into Harpers Ferry.  In Harpers we turned again on the Lansing/Harpers Road and took it to State Forest Drive.  We followed scenic SFD through Yellow River Forest and onto HWY 76.  &6 took us into Marquette for a rest stop at the Casey's there.  We then took HWY 18 to Luana and into a spectacular sunset.  We then rode the Forest Mills Road back to 76 and on into Gus & Tony's in Waukon.  Looked to be about 85 miles.

CHANGES TO COUPLES' TRIP
After looking over the itinerary again for the couples trip this weekend, I decided that we needed to make a small adjustment.  Since it looked like we were going to have to really scoot to make Osceola by 12:30 for lunch, we are now going to eat lunch at Tippy Canoes after the train ride.  This will make it a late lunch, probably around 2:30-3:00, so we will make the morning stop at McDonalds in Winona last longer and you can eat a breakfast there if you want.  So now we don't have to worry about time and calling in our lunch orders and hoping they would be ready for us as previously planned.  It looks like the weather is going to be cool at the start but warming up nicely and sunny.  Looking forward to a good time!

Here's some photos of the Wednesday night Chuckles' Birthday Ride.

BUCKLE UP....ZIP UP

WISHING CHUCKLES A HAPPY BIRTHDAY

REST STOP IN MARQUETTE

READY TO GO AGAIN

PICKING UP APPLE PICKERS

We had 9 riders show at Casey's at 5:30 Wednesday night and we picked up two more (apple pickers) on the way to Spring Grove.  Starting out were Wayne & Sandy, Bob Z, David, Chuckles, Lois, Gary, Meryle, and Bob R. on six bikes and two trikes heading up HWY 76 north.  We then picked up the two apple pickers (Jim & Cathy) arriving from Gays Mills at the junction of 76 and A26.  Continuing on 76, we turned west on Bear Creek Drive to Locust Road and then north to HWY 44 west and on into Spring Grove for a break at Kwik Trip.  
From KT we continued west on 44 to the junction of CR17.  I was going to take 17 back over to 76, but the sign said "CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC".  I disappointed Chuckles by not wanting to take gravel,  so we proceeded on 76 and on into Eitzen.  At Eitzen we took Pool Hill Road on down to HWY 26 at New Albin and followed 26 south into Lansing.  From Lansing we took HWY 9 back west into Waukon and Gus & Tony's.  It was 7:45 when we got to G&T's and pretty dark.  That only means our Wednesday night rides are going to get shorter and shorter.  DAMMIT!  I passed out the itinerary for the couples' trip on the 19th & 20th, and Jim & Cathy shared their cheese curds to stop Bob Z from whining!  Also, Meryle informed us that he was getting a new ear!  I had 95 miles on the Wing when I pulled into the garage.

Here's a couple of pics from Wednesday.

BRONTE SEES US OFF

CHUCKLES CONVERSING WITH THE TRASH RECEPTACLE

WAYNE & LOIS SHARE A LAUGH

MERYLE IS GETTING A NEW EAR SOON

CHUCKLES LEADS WEDNESDAY--DOUBLE DIP TURNS TO SINGLE DIP

In Bob R's absence (fishing), Chuckles led the ride on Wednesday night.  Here's his report.
In the absence of "Boulder Junction Bob" this past week, 10 of us, Chuckles, Lois, David & Bob Z on two wheelers, Wayne, Dayton & Joan and Meryle & Mary on trikes, and a lone rider in the Bugsmobile gathered on a somewhat overcast and muggy Wednesday evening.  We rounded the gold course and headed out on Elon, across Lafayette Ridge, up Great River Road, crossing at Lansing, and following 82 through DeSoto up to 27.  We headed south on 27 to Mt. Sterling where we took 171 down into Ferryville for a nice stretch & refreshments before taking 35 north, crossing back over into Lansing and taking Hwy 9 back to Waukon.  Gus & Tony's was ready for us with some refreshing ice water and to cook up our tasty sandwiches, some with Bugsy fries (a 1/2 order).  We sure missed some of the regulars, especially Sandy, who we sure could have used to help keep track of which direction everybody was going amidst the 5:30 rush hour traffic.  Yikes!

LABOR DAY DOUBLE DIP ICE CREAM RUN

One thing about our WNR group.  We like ice cream!  Fifteen of us on nine units departed Casey's at 1 PM on Labor Day heading for Cassville and our first dip.  Carl & Joyce, Wayne & Sandy, Bob & Julie, Dayton & Joan, Jim & Cathy, Howard & Dorothy, Chuckles, Lois, and Gary headed down HWY 76 to Marquette, across the bridge into PDC on HWY 18 and into Bridgeport for a rest.  Heading south we picked up CR C and traveled the loop through Wyalusing and into Bagley where we picked up CR A. CR A took us east and onto CR VV and on into Cassville where we stopped at the BP Store for our first dip.
We left the BP on HWY 81 north to Beetown where we took CR U to HWY 35 and back into PDC.  After crossing the bridge we took HWY 76 north to X52 and on into Harpers Ferry for a rest.  We then headed out on the Lansing-Harpers Road to the Elon Road and on into Waukon where we were anticipating our second dip at WW Dairy.  Much to our displeasure, the placed was closed, so except for Gary, we only got one dip!  It was still a great ride, however!

COUPLES' TRIP  

I have the couples' trip on the 19th & 20th pretty well finalized.  We did have a cancellation though.  Dennis is going to have hip replacement surgery, so he and Marlene regret that they won't be able to come.  We all wish Dennis the best of luck with his surgery!  That means there is still an opening for another couple yet.  I'll keep the offer open for the rest of this week, and then I have to let the motel know the exact number.  So if there's another couple interested in going, let Bob R know yet this week.  I will be handing out the itinerary for the trip on the next two Wednesday nights.  Be sure to get your copy.

Here's some photos of the ice cream run.

WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!

"I GET TO HAVE MY OWN CONE THIS TIME, CHUCKLES"

LOOK WHO WAS FIRST IN LINE!

"SEE, I GOT MY OWN CONE!"

DROOLING IN LINE

CARL SEEING IF HE HAS ANY MONEY LEFT

THE POSSE IN CASSVILLE

KICKING TIRES IN HARPERS FERRY

"I WAS ONLY THIS TALL BEFORE I ATE THAT CONE!"

CATHY EXPLAINING HOW AN AIRPLANE WORKS