SIXTEEN TO JOE'S

On a near perfect Wednesday night (who deserves it more?)  sixteen WNR gathered at Casey's all set for a ride through one of the most beautiful areas in northeast Iowa.  We had Wayne & Sandy, Irv, and Darrel on trikes while Bob Z, Wayne M (who?), Jim & Cathy, Lois, Al, Larry, Howard, David, and Bob R on bikes.  Dale and Greg escorted us with the red convertible.

RIDER WITH HIS NAME ON HIS BACK IN CASE HE GETS LOST

ADMIRING IRV'S TRIKE

SUPPORT VEHICLE GETS READY

AL AND DARREL JUST MAKING IT BACK FROM SUNDAY'S RIDE

WELCOMING WAYNE M BACK

IRV AND LOIS READY TO ROLL

We departed Casey's at 5:30 heading for an ice cream stop (eat desert first..life is short) at Joe's in Guttenberg.  We took Forest Mills Road to Cherry Valley Road and down through Postville and picked up HWY 18 heading east to the Gunder Road.  We followed the scenic Gunder Road through Gunder and down to Elkader and onto HWY 13 south.  After a short jag on 13 we turned onto Grandview Road and down through Elkport and Garber.  The Garber Road then took us to the detour onto Kale Avenue and then onto HWY 52 north of Guttenberg.  We then took 52 on into Guttenberg for ice cream at Joe's.

TWO DRUGSTORE COWBOYS??!!

SOME HAD A "PICNIC" BY THE RIVER

WHILE THE REST OCCUPIED THE SIDEWALK

POSING FOR A GROUP PHOTO

STILL GOING STRONG

After polishing off the ice cream we made our way back on the river road down through McGregor and onto HWY 18 again, but heading west.  We turned onto the Volney road and into Monona and across the SMOOTH railroad crossing.  We followed the Volney Road on into Rossville and onto HWY 76 (not so smooth) into Waukon and Gus & Tony's where JoAnn joined us and we were entertained by the Gelo brothers tossing insults at each other.
I had about 126 miles on the Wing as I pulled into the shed under a full moon.

Next Wednesday is July 4th, so I don't know if anyone will be riding or not, but Julie and I will be in Denver enjoying the fireworks (aka grandkids).

OUR NEXT RTE IS JULY 14TH (SATURDAY) LEAVING CASEY'S AT 3:30
This is the first of two MYSTERY RIDES which means someone in WNR (besides Bob R) who has a place that they want to ride to for supper, needs to contact Bob R by Wednesday, July 11th.  It can be a place we have been to before or somewhere new they would like to try.  The only rules are that 1) it must be a place close enough to get us back by dark 2) Bob will still lead, but he has to know where by Wednesday 3)  Only tell Bob where you want to go by phone (563-568-7277) or e-mail (brotach@msn.com) keeping it a secret, 4) First come.. first serve.  It's time someone else besides Bob chooses where we go!

THIRTEEN SENT TO THE JAILHOUSE

On probably one of the nicest Sundays we have had so far this year, 13 WNR headed for jail (AKA The Jailhouse Saloon near Centerville, Wisconsin.  We gathered at Casey's at 10 AM with Meryle & Mary, Carl & Joyce, Wayne & Sandy, Darrel, and Roger on 3 wheelers, while Gary, Al, Jim & Cathy, and Bob R rode bikes.

PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEY SHOULD GO TO JAIL!

DARREL HAS A NEW HOLE IN HIS TRIKE, BUT IT'S NOT FOR GAS!

We departed Casey's heading up HWY 76 north passing through Hanover, Eitzen, Caledonia, and on into Houston for a break.

MERYLE TELLING ROGER ABOUT ALL THE TREE TRIMMING HE'S DONE

GARY REARRANGES HIS HAIR

PAUSING FOR A COOL DRINK

After our break we continued on up 76 to CR 12, HWY 43, CR 21 and CR 44 passing through Money Creek, Witoka, and Wilson.  CR 44 took us into Garvin Park where we stopped for the view from Garvin Heights that overlooks Winona and the surrounding area.

I still can't believe that no one else in the group had been up here before.  If you are ever in the Winona area on a clear day, I strongly recommend a trip up to Garvin Heights.  After our spectacular view we headed down through Winona, across the bridge and onto HWY 35 heading south.  We soon arrived at the Jailhouse, but before we could check in, we got to view one of the Freedom Rocks painted by Ray "Bubba" Sorenson.

THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL OF THESE ROCKS HE'S PAINTED IN IOWA AND MINNESOTA

We also had to try to help start a "dead" Harley.

YOU CAN'T PUSH START A FUEL INJECTED BIKE

IT TAKES A WHOLE ARMY TO GET A DEAD HARLEY GOING AGAIN

After the Harley got started, we entered the Jailhouse for our sentences.  Everyone enjoyed the food, and of all the places we stop on our trips, I think they have the best burgers here.

INMATES

MORE INMATES

We made our "jail break" about 2:30 and caught another photo of the rock on the way out.

We continued our journey through Bluff Siding, Marshland, Centerville, Galesville, Council Bay, Holmen, LaCrosse, LaCrescent, Brownsville, Reno, New Albin, and on into Lansing where we stopped at the Skinny Dip for treats. They had all types of ice cream along with 99 cent root beer floats.  Some had both!  Somewhere along the way we lost Al, Darrel, and Roger.  Apparently no one looks behind them to see if anyone isn't coming!  Hopefully they escaped and were not captured and returned to jail!

We returned to Waukon on that super slab HWY 9.  I had about 170 miles on the Wing when I pulled into the shed.

GREAT DAY, GREAT VIEWS, GREAT FOOD, GREAT RIDE!!

WASHOUT WEDNESDAY--LOOKS GOOD FOR SUNDAY

It must have become dry out again.  Otherwise why would we get rain on Wednesday (LOL)?

However, so far the weather looks good for Sunday for our Bucknuckles or Jailhouse ride to eat.  Right now it looks like the Jailhouse since some WNR have already been up to Bucknuckles or are planning to do so shortly.

We will leave Casey's at 10 AM on Sunday morning.  EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

KINDA LOOKS LIKE JIM & CATHY!

SIXTEEN FOR RIBS

Sixteen of us departed Casey's at 4:30 Saturday afternoon for our 3rd Naked Rib Run to the Bagley Hotel.  On bikes were Gary and Jim & Cathy, while Dayton & Joan, Wayne & Sandy, and Bob & Julie mounted trikes.  They were joined by three support convertibles (in case anyone happen to od on ribs) occupied by Dennis & Marlene, David & Suzanne, and Dale & Greg & Pam.

The temps were in the upper 80's, but a steady breeze was blowing that made the trip mostly comfortable.  Sandy thought it was great!  After about an hour and fifteen minutes we arrived in Bagley.  I could smell the ribs the minute we entered town!

SANDY ENJOYING THE TEMPERATURE

GREG CHECKS THE PLACE OUT

DALE DELIVERS TWO RIB EATERS

THE HARLEYS PARK IN THE SHADE

GREG STILL CHECKING THINGS OUT

NEW SUPPORT DRIVER

We entered the hotel and placed our orders although we were held up by a huge order of cheese curds.

EYEBALLING THE MENU

Even though it was "all you can eat", the first serving seemed to be more than sufficient for everyone, particularly for those who ate desert first!

After a belly full of ribs, we crawled out the hotel door for our trip back home.

GETTING READY TO DEPART

Except for Gary, the rest of us took a different route into Prairie du Chien.  On the way back we did spot a few deer, but none of them were very close to the road.  We learned that Dayton & Joan had ridden up to Bucknuckles earlier in the day, so they would have over 300 miles on the trike that day.  I had about 114 miles on our trike when I pulled into the shed.  The ride was warm, but scenic, and the food was plentiful and good.  Good times!

NEW LEADER WEDNESDAY

While Bob R and Dennis were up in Boulder Junction, WI, last Wednesday, the WNR had a good ride.  Here's a report from Jim.

Wednesday night ride

Had a beautiful Wednesday night to ride. We had Dave H, Bob Z, Lois, and 
Jim and Cathy on two  wheelers. Wayne and Sandy, Dayton and Joan, and 
Merle on trikes. Bob Z and Dave H decided that it is written in the 
bylaws the youngest has to lead. Jim's not buying it! We headed out on 
76 to Bear Creek Dr to Locust Rd then 44 to Spring Grove with hopes of 
riding 4 to Houston. Wasn't meant to be. Had a road closed, local 
traffic only sign up. Headed on to Caledonia and DQ to consider our 
options while snacking on ice cream.  After enjoying some good ice cream 
we took 3 to Brownsville, then followed the Mississippi down to the 
Upper IA Drive all the way to 76 and back to Gus and Tony's Had a little 
over 100 miles on the bike. The DPM ( Deer per mile ratio) was right up 
there. I don't believe I have ever seen more deer. Bob, hope you and 
Dennis are catching lots of fish or at least practicing telling fish 
stories!

Saturday at 4:30 we depart Casey's at 4:30 for the Bagley Hotel on our All You Can Eat Naked Rib Run.  I have 14 reservations for ribs.

WNR SUPPORT HOSPICE RIDE

A good number of WNR ventured over to Decorah on Sunday to support the Winneshiek Medical Hospice Ride.  Lois, Chuckles, Gary, Al, Dennis, Marlene, and Bob R departed from Casey's and participated along with Nancy in the breakfast and ride.  Dayton and Joan also came to the medical center for the breakfast, but didn't ride for fear of getting the new trike wet.

WE ARRIVE AT THE MEDICAL CENTER FOR BREAKFAST

SILENT AUCTION QUILT

After leaving the medical center with a police escourt, our first stop was the ball park at St. Lucas.

From there we proceeded to our second stop at the tavern in Cleremont.

From Cleremont we ventured east on HWY 18 and then into McGregor and up to Pike's Peak for our next stop.

From Pikes Peak we headed up HWY 76 and then into Waterville for our next stop.

NEW TAVERN IN WATERVILLE

OUR NEW LEADER!!

We then left Waterville with Chuckles as our leader.  With his expert guidance we made it to our final stop at the Topping Goliath Brewery in Decorah.  We had more snacks and sampled the beer there while Lois (2), Chuckles, Marlene, Dennis, and Al won big prizes.  

NEW BREWERY FACILITY

There was reported to be close to 70 bikes and 11 cars/trucks on the ride.  As close as I can figure the ride was about 140 miles.  ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE!!

AS A REMINDER
Dennis & Bob R will be gone Wednesday, so you will need a new leader that night.

Next Saturday, the 16th, is our Naked Rib Run to the Bagley Hotel.  We will leave Casey's at 4:30 that afternoon.  If you want ribs, you need to make a reservation.  Call Bob at 563-568-7277 by Friday with your order.  He already has 5 reservations.