A BEAUTY OF A MEMORIAL DAY!!

We were greeted by beautiful weather for the 150th Memorial Day programs honoring our armed service veterans.  We had some Wednesday Night Riders take part in the memorial parade and program in Waukon.

DALE IN SUPPORT VEHICLE WITH GUEST SPEAKER

CHUCKLES DRIVING THE AMBULANCE AND EATING DONUTS

JULIE PRESENTING QUILTS OF VALOR

After the presentations at the cemetery, we gathered at Casey's for our annual Memorial Day ride and cookout.  By the time we were ready to leave we had ourselves a convoy!  We had 26 of us on 12 bikes, 4 trikes, and 2 convertibles.  I'm pretty sure that was a new Memorial Day record!  On bikes we had 4 members of the Wayne & Diane Hirth family, Paul M, Sandy B, Jim & Cathy, Gary, Nancy, David, Greg, Howard & Dorothy, Bob Z, and Lois.  With support convertibles were Dale & Mike and Dennis & Marlene.  Butts on trikes were Dayton & Joan, Wayne & Sandy, Carl & Joyce, and Bob R & Julie.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS MANY PEOPLE READ OUR BLOG!"

WAYNE "HIGH TAILING IT" BEFORE WE LEAVE

I NEED A WIDE ANGLE LENS TO GET EVERYONE

NANCY DOESN'T HAVE THE ONLY BLACK BIKE
SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK

At one o'clock and with temps in the high seventies we all departed Casey's heading east on HWY 9 through Churchtown and Lycurgus and into Lansing where we crossed the bridge on HWY 82 and headed north on HWY 35 to DeSoto.  At DeSoto we turned north up the hill on 82 through Red Mound and onto CR N at West Prairie.  We followed N through the scenic Purdy valley and on to HWY 56 east.  After a short jog on 56 we headed north again on CR O through Newton and on to CR Y.  We followed Y east past Runge Hollow Lake and onto HWY 14 south.  14 took us into Viroqua and the Kwik Trip for our first break at around 60 miles.  After the break we continued on 14 through Viroqua and picked up CR SS east just south of town.  We traveled on SS along Pleasant Ridge until we came to HWY 56.  After a short jog on 56 we took CR S south along the Kickapoo River and onto HWY 131 south into Readstown and HWY 14 east.  We followed 14 until we came to CR X and headed south through North Crawford and the intersection of HWY 131 at the North Crawford school.  We headed north on 131 to CR C in Soldiers Grove where we stopped for our second break at the Mobile One Stop.

CARL CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVEN'T LOST ANYONE YET

LOOKING HAPPY FOR A REST STOP

DENNIS MANEUVERING THE SUPPORT VEHICLE TO A STOP

GARY IS INSIDE LOOKING FOR MORE ICE CREAM

After our second rest stop we headed back west on CR C through Conway valley, past Star Valley Flowers and the Sugar Creek Bible Camp and onto HWY 35 north outside of Ferryville.  We followed 35 to HWY 82 west, across the bridge again, and on into Lansing.  Instead of taking the "pool table top" called HWY 9 back to Waukon, we opted for the Lansing/Harpers and Elon roads for our route back to town.  We arrived back in town at 5:30 and I had 156 miles on the trike when I pulled into the garage.
 After the ride, everyone who could make it gathered at Rotach's where we partook in brats and 14 different kinds of desert!

GARY SAYS GATORADE AND ICE CREAM DON'T MIX

JIM SAMPLES ALL THE DESERTS

THE "OVERFLOW" CROWD

As a very famous rider once said--"Good weather, good food, good roads, good company--IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!"

IT CLEARED UP NICELY--MEMORIAL DAY RUN

Wednesday started out rainy and windy, but by the time to ride, the sky was clear and temps showed 80 degrees.  Seven WNR departed Casey's at 5:30 with one trike (Dayton & Joan) and four bikes (Jim & Cathy, David, Nancy, and Bob R) headed west on HWY 9.

NANCY ARRIVES  AND THEN SHE'S TOLD........

"SINCE YOU HAVE THE ONLY BLACK BIKE...
YOU HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK."

DAYTON & JIM DISCUSSING THE WEATHER

After cruising on 9 we turned south on the Old Stage Road and

passed through Fishville.  We then took Yellow River Drive west over to HWY 51.  Turning south on 51 we picked up HWY 18 west in Postville and then south onto the Gunder Road.  After o-passing through Gunder and catching the aroma of the Gunder Burgers, we took CR B64 into Elgin.  Outside of Elgin we headed south again on CR W51 through Wadena.  North of Wadena we turned east onto CR C24 and ended up in Volga at Charley's Volga Valley for our break.  Since Gary wasn't along, Jim couldn't bring himself to eat ice cream alone, so he settled for a drink.

After leaving Charley's we continued on a very scenic trip on C2W up to HWY 56.  Turning east on 56 we went through Elkader and onto HWY 13 heading north.  After a short run on 13 we caught CR B65 west into St. Olaf.  In St. Olaf we turned north again on CR X28 and through Farmersburg and up to HWY 18 west. After a short jog on 18 we caught CR X26 north in Monona and passed by Carl's Used Car Lot and on into Rossville and HWY 76 (aka "smooth as glass").  76 took us into Wayukon and Gus & Tony's for supper and a visit with Bugsy.  I had a little over 100 miles on the Wing.  Not bad for a day that started out with rain and wind!

MEMORIAL DAY RUN & COOKOUT

It looks like Monday is going to turn out nice for our annual Memorial Day ride and cookout.  After paying tribute to our veterans, we will leave from Casey's at 1 PM for our ride.  We should be back in town around 5:30 for the cookout at the Rotach's.  If you can't make the ride, you can still come for the brats and other goodies at the cookout!

STEUBEN BURGER RUN

WNR increased the population of Steuben by over 10% on Saturday evening as 15 of us departed Casey's at 4:30 under sunny skies and 75 degrees for our "All Roads Lead to Steuben" Burger Run.  With Wayne M & Elaine, Dennis & Marlene, and Dale & Mike in support vehicles, along with Gary, Howard, Chuckles, and Jim & Cathy on bikes, and Carl & Joyce and Bob R & Julie on trikes we headed south out of town.

CHUCKLES CHECKING OUT "SAFETY CHROME ON CARL'S TRIKE

"I'M HUNGRY!  LET"S GO!"

GARY ARRIVES JUST IN TIME

 After a short run on HWY 76 we turned south on X16 through Hardin and into Luana.  We then picked up HWY 18 west through Monona, Froelich, Giard, Marquette, and into PDC where we took Main St. (CR K) north to Limery Rd.  Limery took us west to HWY 27 north and into Eastman.  Outside of Eastman we took HWY 179 west and on into Steuben.  179 for 9 miles is a motorcyclist's dream!  We arrived in Steuben just before 6 and ready for chow.

SUPPORT GROUP IN STEUBEN

TRAFFIC JAM IN STEUBEN

THE OTHER SUPPORT VEHICLE PARKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE

BIKES PARKED ON MAIN ST. IN STEUBEN

However when we entered Jo's Kountry Bar, we discovered that there was a traveling bachelorette party going on inside.  Gordy, where were you when we needed you?!  The bus load of women departed and we all enjoyed our meal.  The burgers were outstanding again.

We departed Steuben about 7:30 on CR E and followed it on into Lynxville where we got on HWY 35 north.  Continuing on 35 through Ferryville, we crossed the bridge into Lansing on HWY 82.  Rather than taking the "pool table top" called HWY 9, we took the Lansing/Harpers and Elon Roads back into Waukon.  The trip was about 120 miles on a fantastic night.  However, now we have two WNR's banned from returning to Steuben.  Meryle stole all the rubbers out of the men's bathroom two years ago, so he's out, and this year Wayne M tried to "free lunch" the bar, so he's done also!!
I think we may be able to smuggle them into Steuben again next year though.

The weather sounds kind of "iffy" for Wednesday night, but Memorial Day looks good so far.  So plan on the ride leaving from Casey's at 1:00 and the cookout at Rotach's afterwards.

A PEEK FROM THE PEAK

Finally we had a beautiful Wednesday night for our ride!!  Fourteen of us including two newbies departed Casey's under sunny skies and mid-sixties temps heading for Pikes Peak in McGregor.  On bikes we had Cody and Kayla (our two newbies), Jim and Cathy, Chuckles, Lois, David, and Bob R.  Trikers were Carl and Joyce and Wayne F.  Bugsy came along in the Bugsmobile, and Dale and Mike followed in the support convertible.

DID YOU GUYS NOTICE THAT I WASHED MY BIKE?

A FUTURE "PROSPECT" PEDALS BY

THE "NEWBIES" ARE INTRODUCED

BUGSY MAKES HIS APPERANCE

We took the Elon Road out of town heading east through Elon and then turned south on the Lansing/Harpers Road on into Harpers Ferry.  In Harpers we turned onto X52 and followed it through Waukon Junction to HWY 76 south.  We got on 76 (another Iowa pool table top) through Marquette and into McGregor where we picked up CR X56 and motored into Pikes Peak State Park and took some time at the overlook view from the main platform.

WE ARRIVE AT THE PARK

ENJOYING THE VIEW

TRYING TO GET CHUCKLES TO DIVE IN

It was a crystal clear night and the view (one of the best in Iowa) was fantastic!  Click below and we'll try to share it with you.

After the "peek from the peak" we left the park and continued south on X56 to Clayton Road and on into Garnavillo for a treat at the Speede Shoppe.  From there we headed north on HWY 52 and then west on HWY 18 through Monona and on into Luana where we picked up CR X16.  We passed through Hardin and by Tri-City Golf Club on the way back to 76 again.  76 took us back into Waukon and Gus & Tony's where we feasted on sandwiches and discussed chiropractic adjustments using a rope and a tractor tire!  It was a great ride, and I ended up with about 90 miles on the clock.  For some it was the first time out with the bikes.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THIS SATURDAY!
It's our second annual "All Roads Lead To Steuben" Burger Run.  KSU/BOT from Casey's at 4:30.  We'll be back before dark.

MORE UGLY WEDNESDAY WEATHER

This picture says it all!  Again this Wednesday the Weather Witch took a dump on us with rain, wind, and cold.  However if the predictions are even close, we should have good riding weather for our rides next week.

Wednesday night (18th)--KSU/BOT at 5:30 from Casey's--weather predicted to be 67 and sunny.  How about a stop for a peek from Pikes Peak?!

Saturday afternoon (21st)--"All Roads Lead To Steuben" Burger Run--KSU/BOT at 4:30 from Casey's--weather predicted to be 73 and sunny.  Burgers and pink squirrels in Steuben are reported to be excellent!

Also keep open plans for Memorial Day--Ride and cookout afterwards!

I also heard that the local VFW is going to have a poker run for all vehicles on the 4th of June.  I'll try to get more info on that soon.  Sounds like a good cause.

.....AND APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE

With sunny skies and a balmy 57 degree temp, 5 of us departed Casey's at 5:30 headed for the blooming apple orchards at Gays Mills.  Jim & Cathy on their Wing, Dale & Mike in the support convertible, and Bob R on his trike took the "pool table top" that Iowa calls highway 9 to Lansing.  We crossed the bridge and got on 35 south through Ferryville and onto CR C heading northeast.  We followed C through Star Valley and on into Soldiers Grove where we stopped for a break.  We then took 61 south through Rolling Ground and then west on 171 and down through the orchards.  The apple trees were magnificent in full bloom, and there is nothing like the aroma of apple blossoms!  Keeping on 171 through Gays Mills and Mt. Sterling we came to the junction of 35 north and back through Ferryville again.  Crossing the bridge again, we decided to pass up "kidney punching" highway 9 and take the Harpers/Lansing road and the Elon road back into Waukon.  It was now getting cool enough that Jim & Cathy thought they had better head for home, while I stopped out at Green Valley Get Away and met Dennis and Chuckles.  I had 102 miles on the trike when I pulled into the garage.  We really did enjoy the ride through the apple blossoms, and I would recommend this ride to anyone this weekend.  That may be the final peak for the blossoms before anymore wind and rain. We will be back when the apples are red and the donuts are warm!

Here's some photos of the apple blossom lovers.

"BOTTOMS UP"?  

"I CAN SMELL THEM BLOSSOMS ALREADY!"

THAT'S NOT WHAT MIKE SMELLS!

OUR SUPPORT DRIVER

DON'T YA JUST LOVE RED!

PIT STOP IN SOLDIERS GROVE

Also here's a video of part of the trip through the orchards.  It really doesn't do the blossoms justice, but you can tell the trees were in full bloom.

Speaking of videos, I just discovered that the gal at Camp Courageous took a video of our group instead of a photo. So here's a real short video featuring the WNR Camp Courageous crusaders.

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY TO ALL!!