COUPLES TRIP REPORT (PART ONE)-- ALSO CAMP COURAGEOUS

Seven couples went on this year's trip to New Ulm, MN.  We had 4 trikes, 3 bikes, and a convertible as our convoy headed out of town on HWY 9 passing through Decorah, Ridgeway, and Cresco.  Outside of Cresco we picked up HWY 63 north through Chester and onto HWY 56 headed west.  The sky suddenly turned cloudy and the temperature dropped and it began to look like we may get rained on.  We stopped in LeRoy, MN for a break at the BP station, where some of the riders put on rain gear.  Now the rest of us knew for sure it wasn't going to rain, although we did get a small amount of mist on the windshields as we continued on 56 through Taopi, Adams, Rose Creek, and into Brownsdale where we picked up HWY 2 heading west.  HWY 2 took us over to HWY 218 where we turned north through Blooming Prairie and on to HWY 30 west.  30 took us through Ellendale and into New Richmond for our second break.  We continued on 30 to HWY 22 north and on into Mapleton  and Maggie J's where we stopped for lunch.  Everyone would recommend Maggie J's for good food and good service!

After lunch we continued on 22 through Beauford and onto CR 90 west.  CR 90 took us to the outskirts of Mankato where we turned onto 169 for a short jaunt and then onto HWY 68 that took us into New Ulm for a little over a total of 200 miles.

With the aid of two GWRRA members, we were able to obtain our 14 tickets to the 4 PM tour of the August Schell Brewery where they brew German craft beers, Grain Belt, and 1919 root beer.  Our tour guide was a great guy and we all sampled some of the fine products in the beer hall afterwards.

The rest of the journey will be on the next post.  In the meantime, here's a few photos of the first half of the journey.

GARY SEES US OFF, BUT DOESN'T OFFER ANY DONUTS!

MERYLE PRACTICING HIS GAS PUMP TECHNIQUES

PIT STOP IN LE ROY

LUNCH AT MAGGIE J'S

THE V I P TABLE

ENTERTAINMENT IN THE GIFT SHOP WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOUR

OUR TOUR GUIDE AND THE COPPER KETTLE

WNR SAMPLING THE BREWERY PRODUCTS

CAMP COURAGEOUS

Weather permitting on Sunday, we will make our second trip of the year down to Monticello to support Camp Courageous with their pancake breakfast.  We will plan to leave Casey's at 9:15 that morning.  Everyone is welcome.  If the weather looks bad, we will end up taking some cages down there.