LAST WEDNESDAY FOR 2017--WNR FOR CYCLONES!

It looks like last Wednesday may be the last Wednesday night ride for the 2017 riding season.  Here's a report from Lois on that ride, and also WNR in a celebration in Ames.

Well we were able to get in one last Wednesday night ride even though the departing temp was 52 degrees and the returning temp was 48.  Lois on the bike and Darrel on the trike left Casey's for a tour down Forest Mills RD to Luana.  We hopped on 52 for a bit to the  Monona turn off.  We then took Volney RD back through Rossville and 76 back to Waukon where Chuck met us at Gus & Tony's for a bite to eat.  The fields were busy with the harvest going on.  We could smell the corn, but the fields and most of the trees have turned to brown.  We were able to find a few good flashes of color down through the Volney bottoms, and the deer left us alone.

We were able to get 40 miles on before the sun set on the 2017 WNR season.  I told Darrel that if Bob would have been able to ride, he would have been there!

OUR DEDICATED RIDER FROM DECORAH

ANY SIGNS OF A FUR LINED BRA?!

WHAT A GREAT SHOT!!

ANOTHER GREAT SHOT!!

"Helmets off" to Lois and Darrel for their dedication to WNR!!

CYCLONE PRIDE
On Saturday the Iowa State Cyclones upset the number 4 rated college football team (TCU) at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames 14-7.  The reports I received said this feat couldn't have been accomplished without the support of WNR!

DR. DAVID & SUZANNE

SWEET CAROLINE!!


DRAG-A-LEG REPORT
The swelling and soreness in my lower leg continues to hinder my progress.  I am scheduled to visit the surgeon on Monday, so hopefully we can figure something out.

STILL HAVE SOME RIDERS--DRAG-A-LEG 2

As I had hoped a few of you are taking advantage of the good weather while I'm still laid up with my knee.

LOIS REPORTS--A THURSDAY NIGHT RIDER
Since I was on duty this past Sunday, I had the afternoon off, so what better way to spend it than on the bike?  I headed down Forest Mills RD the took Yellow River DR past the Gelo ranch where it looked like Jim & Cathy were busy in the bean field.  The trees were absolutely gorgeous!  I then took 51 to Postville then 18 to Gunder RD all the way to Elkader.  I took 13 north a bit and then 128 through Clayton Center then 52 into Garnavillo.  From there I jumped on Clayton RD until Great River RD which took me down through McGregor & Marquette and 76 back home.  Probably should have gone for an even 100 but I was hungry!  Thanks Drag-A-Leg!  Trying to fill your riding boots, but wish you were here!

LOIS REPORTS ON THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDE
Wow!  Perfect evening for a middle of October ride.  Thanks, Drag-A-Leg!  Lois on the bike & Darrel on the trike headed out Elon and up Lansing/Harpers RD to Lansing where we turned on to Great River Road and took that to Harpers Ferry.  Heading up to Lansing/Harpers RD we got a big old wave as we met Carl on his bike, who found I out later had cruised that direction to visit an old friend.

We turned on to State Forest RD for a leisurely swoop through Yellow River Forest and took 76 back to Gus & Tony's for a bite to eat.  We were able to put on about 60 miles and were treated to some spectacular scenery & fortunately no deer on the road, but a pretty good dust storm where they were combining beans.

Darrel said that last Wednesday he was the only one at Casey's at 5:30, so he took Bear Creek DR and crossed over Locust RD for a cruise through the Bluffton area and back home again.  I guess we'll just keep playing it a week at a time.


DRAG-A-LEG UPDATE
Thanks to all who sent cards and called with well-wishes!  I have a (hopefully minor) setback in my recovery from the knee surgery.  The knee itself seems solid, but the area on the leg below it is swollen and very sore.  This is preventing me from taking physical therapy as I had hoped.  Until the doctors figure out the cause, I'll just be lying around with my leg stuck in the air and juggling ice packs.  In the meantime, I hope all of you get a chance to get out and see the leaves yet this fall.  I noticed how pretty they were getting on our trip back from LaCrosse, but I know they would look better from the seat of a bike, trike, or convertible than from a cage!

DRAG-A-LEG REPORT

Since I didn't get any reports of any riding last Wednesday, I am assuming that no one rode while my left knee was getting carved up, so I will give you an update on my drag-a-leg status.
According to my surgeon, the knee replacement was a success.  [What else are they going to tell you!]  He did say, however, that the knee was a mess.  He couldn't believe I was still walking on it.  Lots of arthritis, spurs, and loose particles, so even though I don't need to wear a knee stabilizer like last time, he said the recovery may take longer and be more painful. I guess time will tell.  Hopefully for you guys my extended recovery will mean more good riding weather like it did last year!  I know the PT people at the hospital can't wait to get their hands on me.
In the meantime I'll try to keep you posted on my progress.  Right now I'm at home under Julie's care, and like last time more people are feeling sorry for her than me!  I also have my electric recliner [Morris] and my walker [Orville] to help me out again.

'

LUCKY SEVEN ENJOY BONUS RUN

On a bright sunny and somewhat windy Sunday, seven WNR enjoyed our Bonus 2017 Ride.  Four bikes with Jim & Cathy, Howard, Lois, and Chuckles aboard and one trike with Bob & Julie departed Casey's at noon for a pleasant ride through northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota.  Heading north on HWY 76 we turned west onto Bear Creek Drive and over to Locust Road.  We turned north again on Locust for a short jog onto CR W40 and through Hesper and Mabel onto HWY 44 west.  We followed 44 and 52 to Canton and CR 21 north through Henrytown.  We turned east off Cr 21 onto CR 12 and then north again on CR 23.  23 took us through Highland and Bratsburg and onto HWY 43 south.  Following 43 for a short distance we turned east again onto CR 10.  CR 10 becomes CR 13 which I call the "mountain run" because it takes us down a steep hill with a couple of switchback turns and on into Houston.  The "mountain run" offers some spectacular views of the Houston valley below.  We stopped at the Houston BP for a break and visit with other bikers enjoying the great fall day.

GOIN' BACK TO HOUSTON

READY TO DEPART HOUSTON

After our break we took HWY 76 south for a short distance and turned west onto CR 4.  CR 4 took us through the Yucatan valley and Black Hammer and back to HWY 44 just outside of Spring Grove.  We followed 44 into Caledonia for our second stop at the DQ there where we visited with more bikers.

ENJOYING THE DQ

After the DQ we went back through Caledonia and found CR 14 east back down to the Mississippi River and onto HWY 26 south.  We followed 26 through New Albin and then turned back east on Iowa River Drive and then onto Lycurgus Road to HWY 9 west.  9 took us back into Waukon for a pleasant 130 mile trip that will be Bob R's last for the year.  With Bob's knee surgery approaching on Wednesday and if his recovery is like last year, WNR should have a lot of extended fall riding.

5 UNDER FULL MOON--DRAG-A-LEG--BONUS RUN

On a beautiful early fall evening, five of us gathered at Casey's for our Wednesday night ride.  Irv joined us again on his Harley trike with Darrel also on his trike.  Lois, Howard, and Bob R rode two-wheelers.

LOIS WELCOMES IRV FOR THE RIDE

LOIS IS THE "ROSE" AMONG THORNS

With temps in the mid 60's we departed Casey's under sunny skies and took the Old Stage Road into Decorah.  In Decorah we picked up HWY 9 west and then turned onto HWY 52 south just outside of town.  52 took us through Calmar, Ossian, and into Castalia.  Just outside of Castalia, we took Centennial Road back north to HWY 9 again.  We headed east on 9 where we were treated to a great view of a full moon rising!  We turned north again onto West Ridge Road and then east gain when we reached the Old Stage Road.  From there we coasted on into Gus & Tony's by the light of the full moon.

BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON

I had just over 72 miles on the Wing when I got home.

DRAG-A-LEG AGAIN

The ride Wednesday will be Bob R's last Wednesday night ride until next spring.  He will be undergoing knee replacement on his other knee next Wednesday, the 11th.  So you will need a new leader(s) to finish out the Wednesday night rides this year.  Look on the bright side.  The last time he had his knee replaced you had the best fall weather in the last 50 years while he was recovering!  So he is expecting you to be able to do a lot more riding yet this fall.  He will try to keep you posted on his progress after the operation.

BONUS RUN

We set next Sunday as a time for a bonus run depending on the weather.  If it is a nice day, I plan to ride from Casey's at noon that day.  I don't know where I'll be headed, but one stop for sure will be the DQ in Caledonia.  If anyone wants to join me, I'll see you at Casey's at noon on Sunday.  Everyone is welcome.

FOURTEEN CHASING CHICKENS

On Sunday we had 14 show up for our "Run, Chicken, Run" Run to Rockton on Sunday.  Jim & Cathy, Chuckles, Lois, and Wayne M were on bikes.  While Wayne F, Meryle & Mary, Dayton & Joan, and Bob & Julie boarded trikes.  Dale and Mike followed in the support convertible.

MARY SPORTING THE NEW WINTER DOO RAG

THIS RIDES BETTER THAN OUR COMBINE!

WE WOULDN'T LET MERYLE HELP THIS CUTIE FILL HER CAR WITH GAS

MY COAT'S BETTER THAN YOURS

We took off under 59 degree temps and a pretty stiff breeze from the southeast and headed out on the Elon Road to the Lansing/Harpers Road and down into Lansing.  After crossing the bridge into Wisconsin and picking up Chuckles & Lois, we headed south on 35 and then east on CR B.  We followed B to HWY 27 and heading north we then turned on to CR J east again.  J ran into CR M and we stayed on M to HWY 14 near Readstown where we stopped for a break at the BP there.

WAYNE BLEW THE "COBBS" OUT OF HIS BIKE

WE MAKE "MAD" DASHES FOR THE RESTROOMS

JIM SHARES HIS BLUEBERRY DONUT HOLES

JOAN TELLS ABOUT HER TRIP TO THE CHIROPRACTOR

In Readstown we got onto HWY131 for a short ways and turned onto CR I heading east again.  At the intersection if I and CR A, we took A north to HWY 82 and then onto CR V.  At the intersection of V and CR P, we took P west over to HWY 131 and south into Rockton.  As soon as we turned onto 131, we could smell the chicken being barbecued.

COOKING UP THE CLUCKERS!

And after a short wait in line, we dove into the "nearly world famous" barbecued chickens.

LOIS LOOKS LIKE SHE GOT CAUGHT STEALING SOME OF CHUCKLES' FOOD!

After our fill of chicken, we headed back down on 131 south back to Readstown where we took HWY 61 south to 171 west and into Sunrise Orchards.  There we sampled their delicious apple donuts, cider, and slushes.  Also Jim & Cathy loaded up on apples, and Wayne F filled his trunk with donuts for Sandy.  If the donuts weren't enough, we made a stop at the convenience store in Ferryville for ice cream.  One scoop was enough!  We then journeyed back across the bridge into Iowa and back to Waukon.  I had about 188 miles on the trike when we got home.  It turned out to be a beautiful fall day, but really no color in the leaves yet.