LOIS IS "LONE RANGER"---THANKS, THANKS A LOT!!!

Apparently Lois was the only WNR to venture out last Wednesday.  Here's her report.  

"Seemed a bit cold and damp last Wednesday evening so we didn't ride or hear of anybody else that did, either.  At about 6:30, I ended up putting on my long johns and winter coat and heading up to 'Fields of Faith' where I sat covered with a couple more Indian blankets.

I was the lone rider on this comfortably quiet 59 degree evening.  Chuckles was on ambulance call so I put him on photo duty as I prepared to depart Casey's.  I headed out Elon to Lansing/Harpers Rd, took Lafayette Ridge across to Great River Road then up to Lansing where I stopped to see the wonderful progress on the new visitor center and to take a peek at the creek before taking  Hwy 9 back to Waukon.  Turned over about 40 miles and the sun may have set on my Wednesday night rides for the season." 

Here's some photos of what may well be the last Wednesday night ride of the season.

WOW!!!


THANKS--THANKS A LOT

I want to thank everyone in WNR who has called and even sent cards wishing me well after my knee replacement surgery on the 11th.  Also, many of you have offered help if I need it.  I really appreciate that, and I may have to take some of you up on your offers.  In the meantime, things are progressing surely but slowly so it's going to be a while before I throw a leg over the Wing again.  It looks like there is some nice fall weather coming yet, so I hope the WRN can get some good rides in yet, especially with the fall colors  My next riding will probably be in Florida in February.  The hospital sent a whole bag of "goodies" home with me.  In the bag was a set of ear plugs!  So far I haven't found a use for them.  But as time goes on, I'm sure Julie will! 

THREESOME ON BONUS RUN

Three veteran WNR showed up for the final special ride of the season, the Bonus Run.  With Bob R in the lead followed by Chuckles and Howard, we pulled out of Casey's on Sunday at high noon under sunny skies and temps in the sixties.  We took HWY 76 north to Bear Creek Road and then east to Locust Road.  Locust Road north got us to HWY 44 east near Spring Grove.  After a short jog on 44, we got onto CR 4 and wound our way through Black Hammer and the Yucatan valley over to 76 again.  We then took 76 into Houston for a break at the BP station.  While there we saw a lot of smoke coming from a farm field and soon the Houston fire department was on its way there.

ARRIVING IN HOUSTON

A FARM FIELD FIRE!

After our break we took CR 9 just outside of Houston heading east. This county road had just been resurfaced and was smooth as glass.  9 took us over to CR 11 north and then onto CR 8 heading back east through New Hartford and onto CR 5 into Nodine.  Nodine is the home of the "tin man".  It is mandatory if you are a male to stop and pay homage to the tin man.  Severe consequences may result if you don't!!  We did stop.

THE TIN MAN IN NODINE

After paying our homage to the tin man, we took Apple Blossom Drive where we were treated to a spectacular view of the Mississippi river valley and La Crosse below.

I HAVEN'T LOST THEM YET!

Here's a short video of the view from Apple Blossom Drive.  Click below.

After our view from the top, we continued on Apple Blossom Drive and on into La Crescent where we picked up CR 25 and then turned onto one of our all-time favorite roads--Teschemper.

Here's a short video of the view from Teschemper.  Click below.

After the most scenic five miles in the tri-state area, we continued onto CR 21, then over to HWY 16 and into Hokah for another break at the Kwik Trip.  

We got onto CR 18 in Hokah and took it on into Brownsville.  In Brownsville we headed south on HWY 26 into Iowa and just south of New Albin, we turned west onto Iowa River Drive.  From IRD we stayed straight onto Lycurgus Road, over to HWY 9 and back into Waukon for 150 beautiful miles!  If you missed this scenic trip, I have received a request to do it again next spring on our Memorial Day Run.  We'll see.

The only down side of the day was realizing that I had to put the Wing to bed for the winter, since after the knee surgery there won't be any fall riding left.

A SAD SIGHT

Hopefully there will still be plenty of nice fall rides yet for WNR.  You will need a new leader, and be careful.  With the crops coming out, so are the DEER!!

A ROSE AMONG THREE THORNS

On Wednesday evening four WNR gathered for Bob R's final Wednesday night ride as leader.  We had Nancy on her Harley, Howard on his Harley, Gary in a support vehicle, and Bob leading on his Wing.  Just from this description, you should be able to pick out the rose from the thorns!

GOOD TO SEE NANCY AGAIN

NEW SUPPORT VEHICLE??!!  SHOULD HAVE A MOWER ON THE FRONT!

NOT HARD TO FIND THE ROSE IN THIS PICTURE!

 Since the daylight is getting shorter, so are our rides.  Since we want to try to be back before dark, it looks like we need to be at Gus & Tony's by seven.  So we decided to take a perimeter run around Allamakee county by starting out east on the Elon Road and then took Lafayette Road down to the Great River Road and into Lansing.  We headed north out of Lansing along the river on HWY 26 to New Albin where we picked up Pool Hill Road west into Eitzen.  In Eitzen we took HWY 76 south to Iowa River Drive over to Lycurgus Road and then onto HWY 9.  We took 9 on into Waukon for our usual stop at Gus & Tony's where Dorothy and Wayne & Sandy joined us.  Nice fall evening and about 75 more miles on the Wing.

BONUS RUN

On your ride sheet you'll notice a Bonus Run on Sunday.  That was put there in case we couldn't go to Rockton the week before, or if it turned out to be a nice day for a ride, we could try to squeeze one more in.  If it is a nice day, I do plan to ride on Sunday.  I'll leave Casey's at noon.  I don't know where I will be going yet, but I will be back before dark.  Anyone is welcome to ride along!!  Since I'm having my knee replaced on Tuesday, this will no doubt be my last ride for 2016.

SEVENTEEN CHICKEN EATERS!!

On what turned out to be a beautiful Sunday morning, fifteen WNR and two guests raised anchor and journeyed across the pond to Rockton and the apple orchards.  Bob R and Julie led followed by Jim & Cathy, Meryle & Mary, Wayne M, Carl & Joyce, Dayton & Joan, Wayne & Sandy, and Dennis & Marlene in the support vehicle.  Our guests were Darron & Sue S from Decorah.  Darron is a fireman over there, so it was nice having him along in case Meryle tried to set his socks on fire again!

CARL CHECKING HIS GAS AND HIS TEETH

JIM & CATHY ARRIVE UNDER WADE'S WATCHFUL EYE

THE "FLOCK" IS STILL GATHERING

OUR GUESTS, DARRON AND SUE, WONDERING IF THEY MADE A WISE CHOICE

After leaving Casey's we headed east on the Elon Road and then north on the Harpers/Lansing Road.  At Lansing we crossed the bridge and turned south to pick up CR B near Ferryville.  We took B east to HWY 27 and turned north again and headed into Viroqua for a break and watched Joan set a land speed record sprinting into the Kwik Trip.
We continued north out of Viroqua and got on CR Y again heading east.  We continued following Y and CR S and CR P over to HWY 131 just south of Rockton.  That stretch of CR Y,S, and P is one of my favorite routes since it is very scenic any time of year, especially in the fall.  We pulled into the Rockton Bar at 12:30, just in time to get some of their "almost world famous" barbecued chicken.

WE MADE IT TO ROCKTON

JOAN DOESN'T HAVE TO DASH IN THIS TIME!

MERYLE TRIES TO GET BOB TO PAY FOR HIS CHICKEN

"TOOTHLESS" CARL CUTTING UP HIS CHICKEN WITH A BOWIE KNIFE

THIS PLACE AIN'T CHIC-FIL-A!

THIS SAYS IT ALL!!

After polishing off 8 1/2 USDA cluckers, our group decided it was time to sample the apple donuts at Sunshine Orchards, so we headed south on 131 until we came to the detour outside of Viola and had to take HWY 56 west to CR S.  We followed S south until it connected with 131 south again just outside of Readstown.  131 south was closed again at Readstown, so we detoured onto HWY 14 east and followed it to CR X.  We turned south on X until we came to CR H and followed it south to HWY 171 west.  171 took us into Sunrise Orchards where the apple and donut shoppers were as thick as flies.  They did have a huge tent that gave away free samples of every kind of treat you could think of.  It's a good thing Chuckles wasn't along, or we would still be there! 

After loading up on apples, cider, and donuts, we continued on 171 west down to HWY 35 north just outside of Ferryville.  We followed 35 to 82 west across the bridge to Lansing and HWY 9 back to Waukon.  It turned out to be about 177 fabulous miles.  GOOD WEATHER--GOOD FOOD--GOOD COMPANY!!

NEXT WEDNESDAY

Next Wednesday, the 5th, will be my last one for the year, since I will be having knee replacement surgery on the 11th.  So up until daylight savings time ends, you will need a new leader on your Wednesday night rides.  Good luck and stay off the gravel!!