THREE BIKE OUT TO VIEW FLOOD WATERS

On Wednesday night three of us met at Casey's just as the sky cleared at 5:30.  Wayne & Sandy on DFT and Bob R on his Wing decided we would stay fairly close to home and maybe get a chance to see some of the flooded areas.  We were concerned about coming upon roads that might be closed.

GASSING UP THE DFT

We headed out through Elon and then north to Lansing.  We followed HWY 26 north to New Albin.  On the way we crossed a couple of creeks that seemed high, but so far we hadn't really seen any flooding of roads or fields.  

We turned onto Pool Hill Drive at New Albin and followed it into Eitzen, where we stopped at Gators for some drinks.  Again we saw some bluffs that looked as if the rain had knocked down some debris, but no real damage.

That all changed when we got on 76 and headed south, particularly as we got closer to Dorchester.  We could see that the water had flooded Waterloo Creek.  I saw about a dozen deer standing on what looked like a small island.  We also saw a field of corn that had water standing right to the top of the corn stalks.  I had planned to take A26 over to the Lycurgus road back to town, but as I signaled the left turn, I saw a sign that said "ROAD CLOSED--WATER OVER ROAD".  So we continued on 76.  When we got to the bridge and road that leads back to Hager's campground, we saw emergency vehicles from the DOT and sheriff's office parked on the road.  As we crossed the bridge we could see that the water was just about up to the bridge platform, and the Dougherty home had water up to the first floor.  I think they actually closed the bridge shortly after we crossed.  I later heard people say they saw big hay bales floating down the river and striking the bridge.

We continued on to Gus & Tony's where we recounted what we had seen.  Having been in the insurance business, I know there is nothing short of a tornado that can be more damaging than floods.  We did end up with about 75 miles on the shortened ride.

EIGHT ATE RIBS

It couldn't have worked out better!  A rain storm passed through Waukon, but at 4:30 Saturday afternoon the sky cleared and eight WNR were able to leave Casey's under blue skies headed for the Bagley Hotel for the "all you can eat naked ribs" run.  Bob & Julie led on their trike followed by Dayton & Joan and Wayne & Sandy on their trikes.  Wayne M and Gary rode their bikes to make up the total of eight.

TWO "NEW" GUYS

THE REST OF THE RIB EATERS

We trekked through Elon, Harpers, Marquette, PDC, and Bridgeport before turning onto CR C and following it and CR X through Wyalusing.  As we passed Wyalusing beach, we saw a number of boats and swimmers.  We found out later that there was a missing person that had been presumed drowned.  After a scenic ride along the river and railroad, we arrived at the Bagley Hotel ready for our rib feast.

THE HISTORIC BAGLEY HOTEL

After arriving we inquired about the rooms in the hotel.  Our waitress informed us that all the rooms were filled with women bikers!  After taking our orders, she made sure that we knew that the salad bar and the homemade desert table were included with our ribs.  After finishing with the salads, she brought us each a huge plate of ribs and our choice of potatoes.  I'm not a rib connoisseur, in fact, I very rarely even have them, but I'm telling you these ribs were fantastic!  Since it was "all you can eat", our waitress kept checking back to see if we wanted more, but with the huge plateful we had, no one took her up on it.  She did say she would be insulted if we didn't try some of her homemade deserts, so we all waddled out to the desert table for more food!  By the time we were through eating, it was tough getting up and walking back out to the bikes.

STUFFED FULL OF RIBS!

Our way back home included a trip up newly paved CR P (We don't need any stinking yellow lines!) through the Brodtville rush hour and onto HWY 18 at the River Ridge school.  We followed 18 back through PDC, Marquette, Giard, Froelich, and into Monona where we picked up the Volney road back to HWY 76 at Rossville.  76 took us back home just at 8:30 as darkness was setting in.  It was jacket time on the way back as the temperature approached the lower 60's, but it was a great 110 mile trip with fantastic eats!!

By the way, Lois, since Gary took your place, you will be getting a bill for food and gratuities from the Bagley Hotel!

Make plans for our next "special" ride, the Labor Day Double Dip Ice Cream Run on Sept. 5th from Casey's at 1 PM.

SIX PACK TO RUSHFORD--NAKED RIBS

On a near perfect night for riding, five WNR and one guest departed Casey's at 5:30 headed for Rushford, MN.  

NOT MANY RIDER FOR A NICE NIGHT!!

STEPHANIE STILL HITTING THE OLD MAN UP FOR CASH!

 With Bob R in the lead, Lois followed on her bike and then Jim and his daughter Stephanie (all the way from New Joisey to join WNR) on his bike.  Wayne & Sandy brought up the rear on the DFT.

We followed 76 north to Bear Creek Drive and headed west to Locust Road.  After riding on Locust north, we turned on to CR A14 and west again on into Hesper.  In Hesper we avoided the rush hour and turned onto CR W40 north and on into Mabel.  In Mabel we made a quick turn on to HWY 44 and then on to 43 heading north and on through Choice and Bratsburg and into the Kwik Trip in Rushford where some took advantage of the dollar pizza slices and scones.

PIZZA, SCONES, AND DRINKS IN RUSHFORD

After our rest stop, we took HWY 16 east over through Houston and jumped on 76 south.  76 took us into Caledonia where we stopped under the canopy at Kwik Trip and waited out a brief shower.  We continued on 76 and as we rounded the curve near Dorchester, we were treated to a view of the full moon.  We arrived at Gus & Tony's at 8:30 and 120 miles with the conversation turning to allergies.

FULL MOON OVER WAUKON

NAKED RIB RUN IS SATURDAY

We will leave Casey's at 4:30 Saturday afternoon for The Bagley Hotel and the "all you can eat naked rib night".  The Bagley Hotel has a full menu of other meals, but if you plan to have the ribs, you need to let Bob R (563-568-7277) know by Friday noon, so the cook has an idea on how many to prepare.  Right now I have 5 rib eaters (Lois, Wayne F, Wayne M, Bob R, and Julie) .

Right now the weather predictors show rain on Saturday AM, but partly cloudy the rest of the day.  However if they happen to be wrong for once, and it's raining or threatening at 4:30, we will change to the following Saturday, the 27th.

NAKED RIB RUN

After you've stuffed yourself with sweet corn at Waukon Corn Days, we are planning to ride to the Bagley Hotel next Saturday, the 20th, for their "All you can eat Naked Ribs Night".  

We will depart from Casey's at 4:30 and head for Bagley.  Everyone is welcome, and if you don't like ribs, they also have a full menu of other foods.  However, if you plan to go along and want the ribs, you need to let Bob R  (563-568-7277)  know before Friday, so he can call them and they have an idea on how many ribs to prepare.

You may want to check the Bagley Hotel website--

www.bagley hotel.com for more information.

Again everyone is welcome and clothing is optional!

ELEVEN TO N ANDOVER & THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN

With the temperature at 86 and partly cloudy, eleven WNR left Casey's at 5:30 bound for North Andover, Wisconsin.  With Bob R back in the lead, Howard, Nancy, Chuckles, Lois,  Lars, and Jim & Cathy followed on two wheelers while Darrel and Wayne & Sandy were on trikes.  

JIM TELLING CHUCKLES THAT HE DIDN'T BRING HIM ANY SNACKS

GOOD TO SEE HOWARD BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

NANCY IS BACK WITH US AGAIN......

AND SO IS LARS

We passed through Hardin, Luana, Monona, Marquette, and at PDC headed south on 35 to CR C.  C took us through part of Wyalusing Park and onto CR X.  Turning south on X, we hopped on CR P which was being freshly repaved (we don't need no stinking yellow lines).  P took us to CR A heading east and picking up CR VV south.  VV took us to CR V east and on into the metropolis of North Andover and M C's Sports Bar & Grill where we were warmly welcomed with drinks and popcorn.

BARTENDER SENDING US ON OUR WAY HOME

WHERE'S CHUCKLES?!!

In spite of having to wait for Fideldy Fart to get ready (Clair, where are you when we need you?) we did make it back to Waukon before it got too dark.  We went back through Bloomington, Patch Grove, PDC, Marquette, Rossville on 76 and into Gus & Tony's where the conversation turned to "how to say no at time-share presentations".  Great 120 mile ride on a warm night!

THE BOYS ARE BACK
Bob Z, David, Chuckles, Jim, Clair, and Bob R have returned from the "hunt for Elvis" trip to Memphis.  Despite some rain and warm weather, the trip went well, and Memphis was a good place to visit.  We took in the Pyramid Bass Pro Shop, Graceland, Mud Island, and a Memphis Redbirds AAA baseball game.  Here's a couple of photos.  If you want to see more you'll have to borrow the dvd from one of the guys after it's published.

LOIS LEADS

Lois gave the following report on the Wednesday night ride on the 3rd.

"While some of our riders were out looking for Elvis, the Lucky 7 made the best of a muggy Wednesday evening.  Even though it was "too hot to wear long pants", it was nothing a 55 mph breeze couldn't cure.  Lois & Beth on 2 wheelers, Meryle & Mary and Darrel on trikes, and surprise visitors Richard & Liz with the Chevy "pickup" cruised out Elon and down to Harpers where it was delightfully cool between the bluffs and the Mississippi.  We came back up to 76 and followed it through Marquette and McGregor and then took the Great River Road to Guttenberg for a nice cold treat at Greasers.

A couple of the highlights along the way were a close fly-over from a crop dusting helicopter before Harpers and a glimpse of the Mississippi River Queeen riverboat as we were on the downhill approach to Guttenberg.  Unfortunately some of the "dust" forced Darrel's first stop in Guttenberg to be at Casey's to clean the windshield and front of the trike.

The stop at Greaser's wasn't a fast one, so we took 52 back to Luana and then Forest Mills back to Waukon.  Since Gus & Tony's was closed for vacation, a few of us had a bite to eat at the City Club.  We put on 103 miles on what turned out to be a nearly perfect evening ride.  Here's a few shots of the group."

Thanks, Lois!!