BIG CREW FOR PROTIVIN--MONDAY--COUPLES

WOW!  We had seventeen show up at Casey's for our Wednesday night ride to Protivin.  On bikes we had Howard, Chuckles, Neil & Deb, Lois, David, Lars, Jim & Cathy, Bob Z, and Bob R.  Wayne & Sandy, Roger (caught us at the John Deere corner), and Darrel rode trikes, while Dale and Greg drove the support vehicles.

HOWARD SAYS, "THIS IS A REAL HEAD SCRATCHER."

CHUCKLES & LOIS WELCOME NEIL & DEB

NICE LIGHTS

A HARLEY THAT RUNS ON MUFFINS!

ANOTHER "GIMP" JOINS THE GROUP!

GREG & DALE TALK OVER SUPPORT STRATEGY

LARS GETS CHORES DONE IN TIME

DARREL FILLS OUT THE GROUP

We depart Casey's at 5:30 and head south to pick up HWY 76 and onto Forrest Mills Road and past the Gelo ranch.  Our next turn was onto Cherry Valley Drive and on into Postville.  Passing through Postville we took HWY 52 and followed it through Castalia, Ossian, and Calmar before we turned onto 325 and into Spillville.  We turned onto B 16 in Spillville and headed west into Protivin for a break at the Fast Stop.

RIDING THE HARLEY MAKES MY NOSE ITCH

THE GANG PULLS INTO THE PROTIVIN FAST STOP

NEIL & DEB TALK ABOUT THEIR TRIP OUT WEST

CHUCKLES PARKS IN THE "FIDELDY FART" LOT

ROGER FINALLY GETS TO RIDE WITH US ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT

IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE LARS AND DR. DAVID WITH US AGAIN

We left the Fast Stop via Willow Avenue and followed it on into Cresco where we picked up HWY 9 heading east with the setting sun to our backs.  Jim & Cathy got a couple of shots of the convoy from the back of the pack.

We followed 9 through Ridgeway and Decorah and on into Waukon for our supper at Gus & Tony's.  We put on about 100 miles on a beautiful night for riding!

MONDAY (LABOR DAY)
On Monday we are planning on riding in our 4th annual "Double Dip Ice Cream Run".  We will depart Casey's at 1 PM that day and have one dip (the size is up to you) on the road and a second dip at home at WW Dairy if they are still open.  Everyone is welcome--singles or couples.

COUPLES' TRIP
A final reminder--I'm going to need to know on Monday as to who plans on going on the couples' trip Sept 16 & 17 to Stevens Point.  Either let me know on the ride Monday or call me (563-568-7277).
Wayne & Sandy joined the group on Wednesday.

SEVEN TO STONE CITY--DOUBLE DIP ICE CREAM RUN--COUPLES' TRIP

Seven WNR met at Casey's on Sunday for a trip to Stone City, IA, and lunch at the Stone City General Store and Pub.  Chuckles was on his bike and Meryle & Mary, Dayton & Joan, and Bob & Julie were on their trikes.  We took HWY 76, Volney Road, HWY 18, Golden Avenue, HWY 13, Grandview Road, Littleport Road, and HWY 3 to get us to the Casey's in  Edgewood for a break.

It was really turning out to be a nice day as we continued onto HWY 38 through Greeley, Delaware, and Delhi.  In Delhi we took a series of county roads and crossed Lake Delhi.  We continued on a series of county roads in Jones, Delaware, and Linn counties and finally arrived at the Pub in Stone City around 1 PM.

HAIR CHECK

We then entered the Pub and checked out the decor.  Then we ordered food from the menu that included the General Burger, the Tadburger, The Strip Miner, Fish & Chips, and the Jackhammer.

You can even roast marshmellows at your table if you want!

After stuffing ourselves on the Pub's fare, we took a short journey through the rest of the town and saw---

RAILROAD CAR USED IN THE QUARRY

CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILT FROM THE LIMESTONE FROM THE QUARRY

NORMAN ROCKWELL ART HOUSE

Stone City has a real interesting history.  There was at one time about 1,000 residents (mostly quarry workers).  The limestone from the quarry was very prized for buildings and bridge pilings.  The quarry is back in operation today, and limestone is shipped out worldwide by the Weber Company.  Check it out the history on the internet.

We departed Stone City and took a more direct return route.  We passed through Prairieburg, Ryan, Manchester, Lamont, Arlington, Wadena, Elgin, and into Clermont for an ice cream break.

DEPARTING STONE CITY

ICE CREAM BREAK AT CASEY'S IN CLERMONT

We then followed HWY 18 to Postville and then 51 and 9 back into Waukon.  I had 220 miles on the trike for the trip.  Great ride!  Great food!

DOUBLE DIP ICE CREAM RUN
Our Double Dip Ice cream Run is next Monday, Sept. 4th.  We will depart Casey's at 1 PM that day for a dip on the road and a dip when we get back to WW Dairy in Waukon. 

COUPLES' TRIP
Our annual couples' trip this year will be to Stevens Point, WI on Sept. 16 & 17.  I need to know by next Wednesday's ride or the ice cream run as to who all plan to go.  I need to firm up motel reservations and get brewery tour tickets.   Right now I have Meryle & Mary, Dayton & Joan, and Bob & Julie on the trip.

PERFECT EVENING--GREAT RIDE--SUNDAY RIDE

The great weather on Wednesday night brought out 14 WNR gathering at Casey's.  We had Bob Z, Howard, Larry, Chuckles, Lois, and Bob R on bikes; Darrel, Wayne & Sandy, and Dayton & Joan on trikes; and two support vehicles with Dale & Joann in one and Bugsy in the other.  

We departed Casey's under clear blue skies with temps in the low 70's and headed to Lansing on HWY 9 (Terry E. Branstad Memorial Byway).  Crossing the Blackhawk bridge into Wisconsin, we turned south on HWY 35 to Lynxville.  We then turned east up the bluffs on CR E and followed it through Steuben and onto HWY 60 just outside of Boscobel.  Following 60 on into Boscobel, we stopped at the DQ for our break.

DAMN BUGS!!

After our fill of ice cream and drinks we headed back out of Boscobel and picked up HWY 60 taking it through Wauzeka and onto HWY 18 at Bridgeport.  We followed 18 through PDC and Marquette and then turned onto CR X26 (Volney Road) at Monona.  Following the Volney Road through Monona, we came onto HWY 76 at Rossville.  76 then took us into Waukon and Gus & Tony's.  It was pretty dark by now, but I was just back from Alaska where it was light a lot longer!  I had a little over 120 miles on the Wing.

SUNDAY'S RIDE TO STONE CITY
I didn't get much response for our scheduled ride to Stone City on Sunday for lunch at the Stone City Pub.  If you still would like to go along (leaving Casey's at 10 AM) let Bob R know by Saturday.  If it looks like rain, we won't go or maybe go somewhere closer.

Back from Alaska--WNR Reports--Stone City

We made it back from our Alaska adventure on Sunday afternoon.  Not to bore everyone with a travelogue, I'll just summarize our trip.  We flew from Minneapolis to Anchorage--5.5 hours.  We did some exploring in Anchorage and then rented vans and traveled to Seward where some of our group hiked and the others fished.  After a couple of days in Seward we took the vans to Whittier (a really unusual town) where we took a cruise boat out to see the glaciers.  We then headed back to Anchorage to turn in the vans and jump on a train to Denali.  In Denali we toured the park by bus, hiked, took an ATV adventure, and visited a sled dog training.  From Denali we took a bus back to Anchorage and flew back to Minneapolis.  Alaska is incredible, just not easy to get to.  I talked to several bikers while I was there who said they had to travel quite a ways on chip seal and gravel and ate a lot of dust.  Also food and lodging is very expensive in Alaska, but the trip was worth it!

While I was gone, the WNR did some riding.  So here's a couple of reports from Jim.

Wednesday, the 9th
"It was Wednesday night, so of course there was rain.  At 5 it looked like it might be safe to the south.  We had Lois, Larry. and Jim & Cathy on 2 wheelers.  Wayne (Sandy elected to stay home with the repairman), Darrel, Dayton & Joan on trikes, Dale & Greg in convertibles.
Headed out to John Deere and took a left on 76 to Forrest Mills Rd. took a right on Cherry Valley Dr. to Postville.  Proceeded through Gunder and Elkader.  Hopped on Grandview Rd. to Garber Rd. into Guttenberg and made a stop at Joe's Pizza for ice cream.  Decided to head back on 52 to Garnavillo and take a right to bring us past Pikes Peak into McGregor.  When we got to Garnavillo, the radar showed we would be driving into showers if we stayed on 52 to Monona.  Volney Rd and back on 76 to Gus & Tony's for supper.  Showed about 120 miles on the bike.  Had a few light sprinkles after we left Guttenberg but all stayed dry."

Nice report, but I can't believe that no one asked, "Who in the hell was the repairman?!!"

Wednesday, the 16th
First from Chuckles
"It's a quarter to 5 on another glorious Wednesday evening.  Think it will clear up enough to ride?"

And then from Jim--
"Well another wet Wednesday.  The rain let up enough to head to town just after 5.  Dale said he would go, so Dale & I headed out from Casey's on Elon Dr. to Lansing.  The valleys had a little fog from the earlier rain that was pretty to ride by.  We crossed the bridge into WI and headed south on 35.  We pulled into Ferryville so Dale could put the top down and the proceeded to Lynxville where we picked up F to 27 and then 179 to Steuben.  On 27 we saw a chicken building that had fenced around the building and had all the chickens outside running around.  There were a lot of chickens.  I think Cathy and I need to step up our game next year.  We took 131 North to County Road E into Boscobel.  The radar said rain was coming so we grabbed a pizza and let the rain pass.  We took 131 through Woodman and then C back to 18/35.  The back through Prairie and up 76. Stayed dry until we were on top of the hill on 76.  Had one dirty little rain cloud that seemed to be tracking us.  When I reached Forest Mills Rd I headed south and Dale headed back to town.  I had 130 miles on the bike."

STONE CITY IS SUNDAY
On Sunday we have a ride scheduled for the Stone City General Store Pub, a restaurant in Stone City, IA.  It's located near Anamosa and looks to be about the same time frame as our rides to Camp Courageous have been.  We plan to leave Casey's at 10 AM that morning, so if you plan on going, let me know on Wednesday night so I can call in reservations.  If you want to look the joint over go to www.generalstorepub.com
Right now Wednesday night looks good for riding, so see you then!

GREAT GUYS' TRIP!!

The boys are back in town after an outstanding trip into northwest Arkansas and a ride through the famous Pig Trail.  We left Waukon on Monday and arrived in Jefferson City, MO, that evening.  On Tuesday we left Jefferson City and arrived at the Trails Inn motel in Eureka Springs, AR.  The Trails Inn is owned by a Swiss couple who were extremely friendly and run a very clean, reasonably priced motel.  We spent three nights there, and I would recommend staying there to anyone!

From our base at the Trails Inn, on Wednesday we rode the Pig Trail (HWY 23) out and HWYS 103, 215, 23, and 21 back.  While the Pig Trail gets most of the attention, I thought some of the other roads offered as much, if not more, scenery and sweeping curves.

On Thursday from Eureka Springs, we rode the Scenic 71 loop and the Heritage Tour.  Again, we saw beautiful scenery and rode some real twisties!  When we got back to our motel, with some time left, we took a shorter ride out to the Beaver Town Bride, which is the oldest suspension bridge in Arkansas.  Each of the rides on Wednesday and Thursday we about 260 miles and took most of the day.  The weather both days was about 10 degrees below normal for that part of Arkansas, so we were very comfortable.  We even managed to dodge the rain on both days.

On Friday we headed for home by taking the roller coaster ride on HWY 19 and stayed overnight in New Florence, MO.  Jim left us in Cuba, MO, and headed to St. Louis to visit his son.  Saturday took us through Hannibal, MO, and on into Iowa.  We stopped at West Liberty for lunch and found a place that rivals Gunder for burgers!
We passed through Dyersville and dropped Clair off and continued on into Waukon arriving around 4:30 in the afternoon.  When I pulled into the garage I had almost 2,000 miles on the Wing.

Our riders included Howard (Switchback), Jim (Snack Master), Clair (Cuz), Chuckles (Fideldy Fart) and Bob R (Fearless Leader).  

Here's a couple of photos of our journey.

FEASTING ON HOMEMADE PIE AND ICE CREAM AT THE OARK GENERAL STORE

A PIT STOP ON THE PIG TRAIL

AN OVERLOOK ON HWY 23

OUR BREAKFAST SPOT----NOTICE THE SIGN!

THE BEAVER TOWN BRIDGE

Bob R is on his way to Alaska, and won't be there for the next two Wednesday nights.  Hopefully the weather cooperates and you can get in some good rides!