9 WNR to Camp Courageous

Seven WNR met at Casey's Sunday morning for our annual spring trip to Camp Courageous for the omelet breakfast fundraiser.  Meryle & Mary, Dayton & Joan, and Bob R came on trikes while Chuckles was on a two-wheeler and Julie in a support vehicle.

BRAND NEW HARLEY TRIKE!

We left Casey's under sunny skies with temps in the low 50's.  Since we needed to be in Monticello by noon, we decided to take the shortest route.  Our first stop was in Monona to pick up Carl & Joyce and fill out our ninesome.

CARL & JOYCE BUNDLING UP FOR THE RIDE

After leaving Monona we continued through Garnavillo and then into Guttenberg for a break and warm-up.  By now the temps were in the low sixties with a fairly strong south wind.

AT THE NEW KWIK TRIP IN GUTTENBERG

JOAN SAYS "I'M LEAVING MY COAT ON."

MARY SHOWS OFF HER LONG UNDERWEAR

After our "warm up" in Guttenberg we continued down the road through New Vienna, Luxemberg, Dyersville, Worthington, Cascade, and finally outside of Monticello, we arrive at Camp Courageous at 11:35.

WE MADE IT!!

"I CAN FINALLY DUMP MY COAT."

MARY & JULIE READY FOR OMELETS

We entered the Camp Courageous lodge and were served omelets, sausage, toast, juice, and coffee.

WNR OMELET EATERS

Since it had warmed up considerably and we were in no hurry, we decided to take the scenic ride back.  When we left CC we went back through Cascade and turned onto North Cascade Road (CR Y17) and followed it into Epworth where some of us filled up our gas tanks.  We then continued on county roads and stopped at Eichman's in Sageville for a break.

WE ARRIVE IN SAGEVILLE AND YES, MERYLE IS STILL OK

 After our break at Eichman's we headed up the hill through Sherrill, Balltown, North Beuna Vista, and back through Guttenberg.  We then followed the Great River Road past Pikes Peak and into McGregor.  From there we took HWY 76 back to Waukon.  This route from Epworth to Waukon has to be one of the top scenic rides in Iowa!  

Great trip for a great cause!
I had about 250 miles on the trike when I got home.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT OFFICIALLY STARTED--CAMP COURAGEOUS SUNDAY

Five WNR officially kicked of the Wednesday night riding last night.  Jim & Cathy, Chuckles, Gary, and Bob R gathered at Casey's at 5:30 under sunny skies with temps in the low 60's.

It's been a long winter, and we were anxious to get the season started.  We decided since there is still a lot of sand on the side roads and with the number of deer seen lately, we would stick to the main highways tonight.  We took HWY 9 west to HWY 51 south through Postville and then picked up HWY 52 and took it through Castalia, Ossian, and on into Calmar for a break at the Kwik Trip.

NO ICE CREAM TONIGHT

After stopping at Calmar, we continued on 52 into Decorah and swung onto HWY 9 heading east through Decorah and finally on into Waukon and Gus & Tony's.

"I CAN'T WAIT TO GET AT THEM CURDS!"

BACK TO G &T BEFORE DARK

We break in Wednesday nights with a beautiful spring run through NE Iowa.  I had about 70 miles on the trike when I pulled into the shed.

CAMP COURAGEOUS RUN IS SUNDAY
Sunday looks to be a beautiful day for a ride, so hopefully we'll have a good group going to Monticello for the Camp Courageous omelet breakfast fundraiser.  We will depart Casey's at 9:15 Sunday morning.  SEE YOU THERE!

WHO RODE LAST NIGHT?!!

Maybe next Wednesday night??!!

Good thing we've got global warming, or we would have all frozen to death!!

THANKS!

Remember the quilt for little Henry that Julie made and you all signed at the PMS meeting?  Well, we received a thank-you card from Lars and Jen.  Since it looks like it's going to be a while before we can get together again for a ride, I decided to put the thank-you on the blog for all to see.

JUST DON'T LET CHUCKLES "TIRE KICK" FOR THE SIDE CAR
OR LITTLE HENRY WILL HAVE OUTGROWN IT!

AGAIN, CONGRATS TO LARS & JEN, CHUCKLES & LOIS, AND WAYNE & SANDY FROM THE WNR!

HOOTERS!

It's not what you thought, but apparently I wasn't the only one who squeezed in a ride yesterday.  Jim & Cathy sent in the following

Going to town today and saw a chance to take some nice hooter Pics😎 If you ever need any electrical stuff go to 7 Rivers Surplus in Hokah. I needed an odd piece for a fuse box so we took a bike ride there the long way. He had it. Kind of like Horse Falls but a hardware store. Came home on the other side of the river. Took MM past Guadalupe Shrine then 162 through Chaseburg. Nice day to ride.

THIS IS THE HOOTER!!

BETWEEN SNOW STORMS ??!!

With the way the weather witch has treated us this spring, riding has been at a minimum.  With the cooler weather and possible snow storm coming this weekend, I decided to forgo a round of golf on Thursday afternoon and break out the trike.  This would be my first ride since we left Florida in early March.  I took the trike since I was concerned about the soft backyard with the recent snow melt and the amount of sand that still might be on the pavements.

After I got the trike out of the back yard with no problems, I headed around the golf course and tooted the horn at the fellows I usually golf with on Thursdays.  I then stopped near the Family Chiropractic Office and snapped this photo near a large pile of snow.

A SLOW SPRING THAW

From there I continued the ride in near 60 degree temps but with the heated grips and seat turned on.  I took 76 to Forest Mills Road and then turned onto Yellow River Drive and past the Gelo ranch.  Continuing on YRD to HWY 51 south and on into Postville.  In Postville I turned left on Greene St. and picked up the Cherry Valley Road out of town.  CVR took me back to Forest Mills and a right turn headed me towards Luana.  I did not see any golfers on the Luana course.  They must be pansies!
In Luana I turned right at the milk plant and past the bank onto HWY 18 and headed east to Monona.  I turned left through Monona and onto the Volney Road.  There was plenty of sand on these roads, particularly at the intersections, so I was glad to be on the trike.  Anyone on a two wheeler before we get some good rains really needs to be cautious on these county roads!
I continued on the Volney Road all the way to Rossville and back to HWY 76 where I turned right and headed south to the Waterville turn.  I cruised through Waterville, but did not see the highway patrolman that apparently is stationed there.  I went past the Waterville school building that now apparently belongs to the city (Good luck there!) and on to the Elon Road.  I took it back west into town and then continued on home, through the back yard and back into the shed.  I put a little over 80 miles on the Wing trike.  It felt good to get back in the saddle again!
The way the weather sounds, it doesn't look too good for next Wednesday.  Let's hope the witch gets it out of her system by the time we are scheduled for the Camp Courageous run.