SHE GIVES US A BREAK--GUYS' TRIP--NEW LEADER

After an all day, off and on rain, things began to look a lot better around 5:30, so five of us gathered at Casey's hoping to finally get in another Wednesday night ride.  We had all bikes this time with Howard, Bob Z (who??), Jim & Cathy, and Bob R ready to ride.

WHO'S THIS GUY??!!

JIM TELLING HOWARD ABOUT PUTTING IN BOB'S NEW LIGHTS

After looking at the radar and seeing blue skies to the north, that's the way we headed.  However, before we got out of town, we were joined by another Bob (Bob H).  So now we have six people and three Bobs.  We headed up HWY 76 north to Eitzen and then turned east on Pool Hill Road and down into New Albin.  At New Albin we picked up HWY 26 and headed north again along the river with sunny skies and 76 degrees.  After going through Brownsville, we took CR 7 west over to Hokah for our break at Kwik Trip.

BOB H GETS TO MINGLE WITH THE GROUP AT KWIK TRIP

"THIS IS HOW YOU GRIP THE HANDLEBARS ON MY BIKE"

After the break we took HWY 44 through Hokah, Caledonia, and into Spring Grove.  Just outside of Spring Grove we took CR 8 (Locust Road) south to A 26 (Bear Creek Road) east back over to HWY 76 and south into Waukon and Gus & Tony's.  We racked up about 115 miles on what turned out to be a real nice night.

CHUCKLES WAS WAITING FOR US OUTSIDE OF G & T'S

THE NIGHT SKY OUTSIDE OF G & T'S

GUY'S TRIP 
On Monday five of us (Howard, Jim, Chuckles, Bob, and Clair R) will be heading for the Pig Trail in Arkansas.  We will be back on Saturday, but you will need a new leader on Wednesday night.

Also, the day after Bob R gets back from Arkansas, he will be boarding a plane for Anchorage, Alaska, and will be gone for two weeks.  So you will need a new leader for those two Wednesdays also.  The good news is that Jim will probably lead on one of those Wednesdays, and he has lined up a new "support vehicle" just in case.  See below.

BAKER'S DOZEN ON PIZZA RUN

Thirteen of us gathered at Casey's at 11AM Sunday for our "You Gotta Love Summer" pizza run.  Eleven WNR including Meryle & Mary, Carl & Joyce, and Bob & Julie on trikes; Dennis & Marlene in the support vehicle; Jim & Cathy and Chuckles on bikes.  We also welcomed Darron & Sue Sander from Decorah on their Harley.  They rode with us once last year, so we were happy to see them back.

CARL REMEMBERS GAS, BUT FORGOT THE COOLER

JIM TRYING TO CONVINCE EVERYONE THAT HE ACTUALLY WENT TO SCHOOL WITH DARRON

DARRON DENIES THAT HE EVEN KNOWS JIM!!

MERYLE TELLING EVERYONE THAT HE WAS GLAD TO HAVE POWER ON AGAIN

After originally planning to journey to Happy Joe's in Lancaster, we decided that because of all the storms and flooding, it would be better to head up to Stumpy's in Rushford.  So, on probably the nicest day in weeks, and after watching car stunts in the lot by some idiot from Minnesota, we headed west on HWY 9 into Decorah.  In Decorah we took HWY 52 north for a short ways and got onto Madison Road heading east and back onto HWY 9 in Ridgeway.  We followed 9 again to HWY 139 just outside of Cresco.  139 took us on into Harmony and the Kwik Trip for a break.

After our break we continued north on HWY 52 to HWY 16 east near Preston.  With sweeping curves and beautiful scenery, HWY 16 is a biker's delight!  16 took us along the Root River and on into Rushford and Stumpy's.

WE ARRIVE IN RUSHFORD

AND FIND STUMPY'S

AFTER EVERYONE WAS SEATED AND PLACED THEIR ORDERS......

I WAS ABLE TO PERUSE THE DECOR IN STUMPY'S

After everyone was fed, some of the leftover pizza didn't quite make it into the box.  You can guess whose lap this is!!

After leaving Stumpy's we took scenic CR 26 & 27 out of town east through Money Creek and over to HWY 76 south.  76 took us through Houston and then onto CR 10 west.  CR 10 winds around several bluffs, through Sheldon and back to 76 again near Caledonia.  Since pizza needs to be topped off with ice cream, we hit the DQ in Caledonia.

THIS TIME NO ONE SPILLED FOOD ONTO THEIR LAP AND CARL & MERYLE FOUND A DEAD JACKET!

After our fill at DQ we continued on down the road on HWY 76 and back into Waukon.  The trip was about 140 miles with lots of good food and scenery.

ANOTHER WASHOUT WEDNESDAY--PIZZA SUNDAY--ARKANSAS

I just got a look at the weather radar on the computer and it looks like we are going to get hit again on Wednesday night.  This time it looks to be rather heavy rains!  So, once again the Weather Witch foils our plans!

"You Gotta Love Summer" Pizza Run is this Sunday, the 23rd.  I don't know where we are going yet, but we will depart Casey's at  11 AM.  Hopefully the thunderstorms are out of the system by then!

ARKANSAS GUY'S TRIP

Right now I have Bob R, Chuckles, Jim, Howard, and Clair committed.  I have to know by Sunday if anyone else wants to go.
So either call 563-568-7277 or brotach@msn.com and let me know.

On a brighter note Jim & Cathy traveled to Madeline Island in Bayfield, WI,  this past week.  They were scheduled to return today (Wednesday).  Here's a couple of photos they sent back. 

NO HUNGER AFTER GUNDER

On Saturday 11 of us departed Casey's heading for the Shanty, home of the Gunderburger, in Gunder, Iowa.  On bikes were Howard & Dorothy along with Jim (newbie).  Wayne & Sandy, Carl & Joyce, and Bob & Julie were on trikes while Dennis Marlene followed in the support convertible.

"NEWBIE" JIM JOINS US FROM CALMAR

With Bob leading, you know that the "direct" route to Gunder wasn't going to happen.  We took the Luana road and Cherry Valley road through the detour in Postville and onto HWY 18 heading for Clermont.  We turned onto CR B60 called the Apple Road and followed it until it changed into the Gunder Road and on to the Shanty in Gunder.

THE IRISH SHANTY---HOME OF THE GUNDERBURGER

CARL DEMONSTRATING HIS TRIKE GRIP
WHILE JOYCE FIXES HER HAIR

SANDY DECIDES NOT TO "MOON" GUNDER

After parking across the street in the overflow parking area (old DX station), we wandered in and ordered from the Shanty menu.  Carl was the only one hungry enough or brave enough to order the Gunderburger.

JIM HAS A SALAD THAT'S THE SIZE OF A WHOLE GARDEN!!

EVERYONE GETS SERVED "HUGE" PORTIONS

CARL'S GUNDERBURGER---ONE FULL POUND OF BEEF!!

Most of us "bet" that Carl couldn't polish it off, but he did.  And as his reward, he got to wear the "official" Gunderburger hat!!

Like Dennis said, "If you leave here hungry, it's your own fault."  I don't think anyone felt starved as we "limped" across the street to our rides.  We took the Gunder Road on down to Elkader and picked up HWY 13 there.  We then cut through St. Olaf, and NO we did not stop for tenderloins!  At St. Olaf we followed Fawn Hollow Road into Farmersburg and took Golden Avenue on to HWY 18.  We turned west on 18 and headed for Monona.  At the Monona turn Jim continued on to Calmar.  We took the Volney road north towards Rossville where Carl & Joyce got off at their shed.  The rest of us went through Rossville onto 76 and back to Waukon just in time to miss a brief rain shower.  Who would have thought that Gunder was an 89 mile round trip!

AND BECAUSE........GUNDER

Another because--we were rained out again on Wednesday, we plan to travel to Gunder on Saturday.  Leaving Casey's at 5 PM.  Everyone welcome to come along!!

Just in case you were wondering why we didn't ride on Wednesday night....I was out in my shed with a metal roof and it sounded like all hell was breaking loose!

THE WEATHER WITCH EVEN THREW IN A LITTLE HAIL THIS TIME!

PLUS 50 MPH WIND GUSTS

NOT A GOOD NIGHT FOR A RIDE!!

SATURDAY RIDE------BECAUSE

Because it's our wedding anniversary (actually that was Wednesday),and
Because we were rained out of our previous burger run, and
Because there is no I-RIDE that day and,
Because I haven't been there in a while and, finally
Because it's supposed to be a nice day,

We are going to ride down to Gunder on Saturday.  We will be leaving Casey's at 5 PM.  Anyone who wants to ride along and is hungry for a Gunderburger is welcome!!  Pass the word.

A DOZEN BUCKNUCKLERS--GUYS' TRIP

Our second attempt was successful!  After getting rained out a couple of weekends ago, a dozen WNR departed Casey's at 10 AM Sunday and  made the journey to Praag, Wisconsin, the home of Bucknuckles Tavern.  We had four GW trikes in the convoy along with two 2 wheelers, a GW and a Yamaha.  Bob & Julie led the way on their trike followed by Wayne & Sandy, Meryle & Mary, and Carl & Joyce with trikes.  On the two wheelers were Jim & Cathy and Chuckles & Lois.  Lois wins the "tough girl" award for riding on the back of Chuckles' bike and then getting nailed by a bee.

THE D F T HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND READY TO GO

JULIE THINKING A CAMEL BURGER MAY NOT BE FOR HER

CARL & JOYCE GASSING UP

CHUCKLES & LOIS SHOW UP JUST UNDER THE WIRE RIDING TWO UP

We made our way up HWY 76 on into Houston for a break at the BP station there.  With the sun out, it was beginning to get really warm, but still very comfortable.

JIM TELLING EVERYONE TO ORDER A CAMEL BURGER WHEN WE GET THERE

SO FAR, SO GOOD WITH THE NEW BEARINGS IN THE D F T

After our stop in Houston, we took scenic CR 9, 11, 12, and 17 down into Winona.  We crossed the bridge there and onto HWY 35 north to newly paved HWY 88 west.  After a nice run up 88, we did find Praag and sure enough there was Bucknuckles!

WE'RE HERE!!
PHOTO BY CHUCKLES

AIN"T THAT THE TRUTH!!

GATHERING AROUND MR. BUCKNUCKLES

JOYCE WAS "SOBER" THIS YEAR!

CARL IS EITHER TRYING TO STARE DOWN MR. BUCKNUCKLES OR
CHALLENGING CHUCKLES TO A DUEL!

SOME BUCKNUCKLES WISDOM!

PART OF THE GROUP PICNICING NEAR THE TOTEM POLE

JULIE TELLING LOIS THAT IT'S A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE BACK OF A GOLD WING THAN A YAMAHA CROTCH ROCKET!

THEY RESERVED THE WHOLE PICNIC AREA FOR US!
CHUCKLES CAMERA

BOB SAVORS THE CAMEL BURGER.  HE SAID LATER HE THOUGHT HE COULD FEEL SOMEONE ON HIS BACK!  (CHUCKLES PHOTO)

NOTICE THE SEATS AT THE TABLES IN THE PICNIC AREA!

After our incredible eats and drinks at Bucknuckles, we headed back down the hill on HWY 88 west, then turned south on CR E and over to HWY 95 and down to HWY 35 at Fountain City.  What a scenic ride!  We followed 35 back south to the bridge and crossed again on into Winona.  We stopped for gas there, because one of us forgot to fill up before we left!  The break there was needed anyway, but we couldn't believe that Chuckles passed up the 3 for a dollar donuts!  We continued on through Winona and picked up HWY 61 south along the river.  We got off at Dakota and took the Apple Blossom Drive across the top of the ridge and down into LaCrescent.  (more good scenery)  Outside of LaCrescent we took Teschemper Road down the valley and onto CR 21 (more beautiful scenery).  We then journeyed into the Kwik Trip in Hokah for our final break.  We returned to Waukon via CR 18, HWY 26, Iowa River Drive, Lycurgus Road, and HWY 9.  I had about 220 miles on the Wing when we pulled into the garage.

GOOD ROADS, GOOD WEATHER, GOOD FOOD, GOOD SCENERY, GOOD COMPANY!!

GUYS' TRIP
By the end of this coming week, I will need to know for sure who plans on going on the Guys' Trip to Arkansas July 31 to Aug. 5.  Right now I have Bob R, Jim, Chuckles, and Howard committed.  I plan to journey on down to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on the 31st and 1st and use the motel there as a base for a ride on the "Pig Trail"  (voted the second best motorcycle ride in the US) Wednesday, and another scenic ride on Thursday.  Then spend Friday and Saturday returning back home.  If you plan to go along, then let Bob R know by the end of the week so motel reservations can be firmed up.