OUR WNR MEMORIAL WEEKEND

On Saturday at noon a decision was made by the "board of directors" to move the traditional ride and cookout from Monday to Sunday because of the impending weather forecast.  As this post is written today (Monday), it proved to be a wise decision.

THE RIDE
As we had hoped, Sunday afternoon turned out to be a beautiful day for a ride!  At 1 PM from Casey's nine WNR gathered under sunny skies and temps in the 70's.  We had Bob Z, Jim & Cathy, Gary, David, Al, and Lois on bikes, while Bob R & Julie led on the trike.

GARY TELLS A HEAD-SCRATCHER

AL FINALLY GETS A CHANCE TO JOIN US

JIM & CATHY CHASED THE GEESE OFF THEIR FIELD BEFORE THEY CAME

OUR NEW "SUPPORT VEHICLE"??!!

After departing Casey's we took the Elon Road east to the Lansing/Harpers Road north into Lansing.  We try to avoid the Terry Branstad Memorial Byway (HWY 9) if at all possible.  In Lansing we saw what could have been a very dangerous situation.  We saw a big Harley tip over while parked with the driver and his passenger still aboard.  We stopped to see if they needed any help, but the bike got uprighted by some friends and the couple looked relatively unscathed.  We then crossed the bridge , observing some very high water on the Mississippi, and heading north on HWY 35 towards Ferryville.  We then turned east again on CR B and followed it through Towerville and onto CR C still heading east.  After a short stint on C, we took CR J to the north and on into Viroqua for a break at the Kwik Star.
As we left the Kwik Star after our break, Lois stole David's spot in the lineup, but we continued on to CR B outside of Viroqua.  B took us north again until we turned west onto CR KK.  After a scenic drive through Amish country on B and KK , we picked up HWY 162 north near Chaseburg and followed it to HWY 14 heading west again towards LaCrosse.  However before to got to LaCrosse, we took one of the more scenic by-pass routes in the area by turning onto CR MM.  This county road seems rather benign to start with, but about half way across it, the views of the river and valleys below are spectacular.  MM took us back to HWY 14 again and we followed it through LaCrosse and across the river again into LaCrescent.  From there we took HWY 16 south into Hokah for our second break at the Kwik Star there.

WE ARRIVE AT THE KWIK STAR IN HOKAH

JIM SAYS, "JEEZ, THAT'S A TALL POLE!"

  We left the Kwik Star without Lois "crowding in" and took HWY 16 and to HWY 76 through Caledonia, Eitzen, past Dorchester, and back into Waukon for the cookout.

THE COOKOUT
We were joined at the cookout by Cathy, Dennis & Marlene, Suzanne, and Chuckles (free lunch).  Bob R brewed up some of Jet's brats and we all dove into the snacks, salads, and deserts that we brought in by the guests.  After the meal and some conversation, the gathering broke up about 9 O'Clock.

SOME CONVERSATION

AND PROBABLY A GOOD DOSE OF B.S.

BUT NO ONE WENT AWAY HUNGRY

THE MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE PROGRAM
Because of the rainy, cold weather the Memorial Day parade had to  be cancelled and the program had to be moved inside the Waukon Banquet Center.  Some WNR attended and some were involved in the program.  Julie headed up the presentation of the Quilts of Valor, Bob Z was part of the honor guard, and Lindsey and Ella Lund (Wayne & Sandy's grand and great granddaughters) were Mrs. and Miss Poppy.

JULIE PRESENTS QUILTS OF VALOR

BOB Z (WITHOUT GLASSES) WOULD LATER SHOOT A RIFLE.
NO ONE GOT HURT!

On behalf of the Wednesday Night Riders we express our gratitude to those known and unknown heroes who have sacrificed themselves in the name of Freedom.


NEW LEADER
You will need a new leader for next Wednesday's ride.  Dennis and Bob R will be up in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, hammering smallmouth bass.

IT'S GOING TO BE SUNDAY!!

I know it's not nice to fool Mother Nature, but she's been tricking us for quite a while now.  So instead of trying to have our Memorial Ride and cookout on Monday when the we usually have it, because of the nasty trick She wants to play on us again, we are going to go on Sunday instead.  The weather so far looks to be great with no rain predicted.  So we will still meet at Casey's at 1 PM on Sunday for the ride, and have the cookout at Rotach's afterwards (5 to 5:30).

IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THE RIDE, YOU ARE STILL MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME TO THE COOKOUT!

Brats will be furnished but bring your own drinks and maybe something to pass (salad, desert, snacks).

POSSIBLE CHANGE FOR RIDE AND COOKOUT

The weather forecast for Monday (Memorial Day) looks dicey to say the least (80% chance of thunderstorms).  I'm thinking of changing our ride and cookout to Sunday at 1 PM, since the forecast for Sunday really looks a lot better.

Please let Bob R know if you had plans to make it Monday, but Sunday will not work for you.  If enough can't make it on Sunday, we may just have the cookout and not have the ride on Monday.

Call Bob at 563-568-7277 if Sunday will not work for you!!  I'll keep you posted on what we decide.

Also, here's a photo that Roger sent me on our ride to Steuben and the RR Bar & Grill.

LUCKY DOZEN FOR APPLE BLOSSOMS/MEMORIAL DAY RUN & EAT

On a warm, sunny, albeit windy, Wednesday evening 12 WNR departed Casey's heading for the Gays Mills orchards to view and smell the apple blossoms.  Hopefully with all the wind and rain in the area, the blossoms would still be worth seeing. It was our second nice Wednesday in a row, and it was enough to lure Clair out of Dyersville on his new Gold Wing.  Bob Z, Lois, Chuckles (also on a new ride), Howard, Jim & Cathy, Larry, and David were on two-wheelers.  While Darrel and Bob R mounted trikes, Dale followed in the support convertible.

CHECKING OUT CHUCKLES' NEW RIDE

IS THAT GLARE FROM THE BIKE OR JIM'S HEAD?

DAVID'S FIRST WEDNESDAY NIGHT

We headed east on Elon Road then turned north onto Lansing/Harpers Road into Lansing.  We crossed the Black Hawk Bridge into Wisconsin and onto HWY 35 south.  After passing through Ferryville, we took CR C back east all the way into Soldier's Grove where we stopped at the Citgo convenience store for a break.

WE ROLL INTO SOLDIERS' GROVE

CHUCKLES' NEW RIDE (2009 HARLEY)

CLAIR'S NEW RIDE (2018 GOLD WING)

After leaving the convenience store we followed newly paved HWY 61 south to HWY 171 east and down through the orchards.  Our timing was perfect.  The blossoms were beautiful!  It looks like a bumper crop of apples is on the way despite the crappy weather.  HWY 171 took us down to Gays Mills where we picked up HWY 131 and headed south to CR S.  We approached CR S with some caution, since the water from the Kickapoo River was still high, but it had receded enough for us to take CR S west to HWY 27.  There were times when we spotted deer, but fortunately not while the sun was glaring in our eyes.  We then took HWY 27 south to CR F and turned west again down the bluff to the river and HWY 35 south.  CR F is one of the most scenic seven mile rides in the area, and it did not disappoint tonight despite the sun in our faces.  After waiting for another deer to dance back and forth, HWY 35 south took us into Prarie du Chien through the roundabouts and onto HWY 18 across the bridge into Marquette.  In Marquette, Clair dropped off and headed back to Dyersville and the rest of us took HWY 76 north and headed back into Waukon for our supper stop at Gus & Tony's.  The conversation there turned to whether Diet Pepsi and ketchup makes a good mixed drink.  I had 127 miles on the trike when I pulled into the shed.  Another really nice Wednesday night ride!!

MEMORIAL DAY

Monday is time for our annual Memorial Day ride and cookout at Rotach's.  The weather calls for spotty showers, but we do plan to leave from Casey's at 1 PM after honoring our fallen veterans.  We should get back to Waukon and Rotach's house around 5 PM.  If you can't make the ride , be sure to stop over for the cookout.  Brats furnished--bring your own drinks and maybe something to pass (salad, snack, desert).  See you then!!

NO GUNDERBURGER RIDE

Apparently the weather witch has decided to piss on us again.  With a 95% chance of thunderstorms starting around 6 PM today and a chance of 4 inches or more of rain predicted, our ride to Gunder will have to wait until maybe a better Saturday coming up later.  I knew it was too good to have two good days (Wednesday and Thursday) in the last two weeks!
Right now next Wednesday looks good, but things could change for the worst by then also.  Until then, have a good weekend and try to stay dry!

OH, WHAT A NIGHT!

The Four Seasons hit song from 1963 "Oh, What a Night" does a good job of setting the scene for our ride on Wednesday night.  Ten of us departed Casey's at 5:30 under sunny skies and temps in the mid 70's.  We had Larry and Dale in the support convertible, Bob Z, Bob R, Gary, and Howard on two-wheelers, and Darrel, Roger, Irv, and Ron S (newbie) on three-wheelers.

GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH RON

IRV SHOWING OFF HIS NEW RIDE

  

DARREL & ROGER ROLL IN

We headed down 76 south and onto Forest Mills Road heading south past the Gelo Ranch and into Luana where we picked up HWY 18 east into Prarie du Chien.  After a battle with a couple of the round-a-bouts we gathered again and headed north on HWY 27.  This highway had recently been resurfaced, so we were riding on glass.  27 took us to Eastman where we turned onto HWY 179 east and down into Steuben where we stopped for a break with the friendly folks at Lou's Rail Road Bar & Grill (the only place open now in Steuben).

WE ARRIVE IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN STEUBEN

RON NOW KNOWS THAT "ALL ROADS LEAD TO STEUBEN".

IRV SURVEYS THE FLOOD DAMAGE

LOU'S RR BAR--WE'LL BE BACK!

After about a half hour break we departed Steuben...

READY TO DEPART AVOIDING THE RUSH HOUR IN STEUBEN

and headed back west on 179 and onto CR E heading west to HWY 27 north again.  We followed 27 through Seneca and into Mt. Sterling where we turned west again on HWY 171 and down to the river on HWY 35 north.  35 took us through Ferryville and onto HWY 82 west across the Black Hawk bridge and into Lansing.  Opting not to take the Terry Branstad Memorial Byway (aka HWY 9) back to Waukon, we took the Lansing/Harpers Road over to the Elon Road and through Elon into Waukon where we stopped at the City Club for our meal.  (Gus & Tony's was closed due to construction.)  It was really a great ride on a fabulous Wednesday night!  (Who deserves it more?!)  I had about 115 miles on the Wing when I put her to bed.

WELCOME TO RON S FROM DECORAH.  Irv informed him about our WNR group.  He plans on joining us on Wednesday nights when he gets back from his Canadian fishing trip next week.

DON'T FORGET--GUNDER BURGER RUN ON SATURDAY.  Leaving Casey's at 4:30. 

A clue for next week's Wednesday night ride....

....AND APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE

LOUSY WEDNESDAY WEATHER AGAIN--JIM & CATHY'S RIDE--HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY

The sick joke of the spring weather pattern continues in northeast Iowa.  Again this Wednesday, and practically every other day for that matter, has not been conducive to motorcycle or convertible riding.  I was able to get a good ride in last Saturday.  I ventured up to LaCrosse and put on about 200 miles.  As you know I don't always take the direct route!  I met several other bikers who said it was their first time out.

Jim and Cathy participated in a ride last Sunday that was very aptly named for this year.  It was called the Slimey Crud Run.  Here's Jim's report and some photos.
This tells about it

https://www.slimeycrudrun.com/  

We just went to Leland. We went through Prairie to  60, county 00, then just ran county roads the rest of the way. I made a two hour trip last three and a half ; )  Turned out to be a perfect day to ride and we missed all the showers. We arrived  about noon and there were a lot of motorcycles. There were a quite a few vintage bikes in the mix that were fun to look at. They had a food stand setup outside with brats, pork sandwiches and an adult beverage stand. I don't know if you have interest in a ride to see the lavender this summer. We went to Baraboo on the way home and it looks like the lavender is off to a better start than last year.

Jim included a web site address above that you can visit and see how this ride developed and is organized.  Jim also mentions some lavender fields that are over in the Baraboo area.  We'll keep an eye on those, and maybe when those fields are up or in bloom, it might be a nice ride over there to see and smell the lavender.  We'll keep you informed.

And last, but certainly not least....to all MNR mothers.....

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!!