GOOD REPRESENTATION OF WNR AT HOSPICE RIDE

Ten Wednesday Night Riders took part in the Annual Winneshiek Medical Hospice Ride on Saturday.  Gary, Carl & Joyce, Chuckles, Lois, Roger, Ron & Helen, Bob R, and, of course, Nancy. After a free-will breakfast in the hospital cafeteria, we mounted up at 10:30 and started our run.

DELICIOUS EGG BAKE AND CINNAMON ROLLS!

With a police escort, we traveled through Decorah and onto HWY 52 north.  We then turned east onto the North Winn Road (part of it was newly paved) and on into Hesper.  There we took CR W40 into Mabel and with the police directing traffic, we crossed HWY 44 and straight onto HWY 43 heading north.  Following HWY 43, we turned east again on CR 10/13.  I call this the "mountain loop" into Houston, because there are some switchbacks going down a long hill and some beautiful views of the countryside below.  After arriving in Houston, we stopped at the city park to draw our poker hands and have drinks and snacks.

HOUSTON IS THE HOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL OWL CENTER.
ANOTHER TRIP TO SEE IT?!

NANCY, CHUCKLES, AND LOIS MAKING THEIR WAY INTO THE PARK

RON & HELEN SAMPLING THE SNACKS

A REALLY NICE VETERANS' MEMORIAL IN THE HOUSTON PARK

After departing the park, the police had HWY 76 blocked off in town so we could turn onto HWY 16 and head east into Hokah.  Again in Hokah the police had traffic blocked so we could turn onto CR 18 and into Brownsville where we picked up HWY 26 south and to the Shellhorn Tavern for our second stop.

SHELLHORN TAVERN ON HWY 26

BIKES & TRIKES FILL UP THE PARKING LOT

CHUCKLES HIDING BEHIND HIS HELMET.
LATER ON HE WOULD BUY A|NEW ONE

ROGER'S NEW RIDE

RON & GARY EYEBALL OUR "SUPPORT VEHICLE".

WAITING TO BLOCK TRAFFIC FOR US

After leaving the Shellhorn we continued south on HWY 26 into Lansing and up the hill to Mt. Hosmer Park for our third stop.

LOIS NEGOTIATES THE SHARP CURVES UP THE HILL

BIKES & TRIKES AT MT. HOSMER

PICKING UP POKER CARDS

RON COMPARING RIDES

TWO "OLD HIPPIES" TRYING REAL HARD TO ADJUST!

DON'T STEP BACKWARDS!!

Back down the hill from Mt. Hosmer, we crossed HWY 9 again with police blocking traffic and then took CR X52 into Harpers Ferry.  From Harpers we turned north onto CR B52 and then west onto State Forest Road, through Yellow River Forest and back to HWY 76.  We followed 76 to CR X32 and turned right on into Waterville for our fourth stop at the Winchester.

PLENTY OF PARKING IN WATERVILLE

NANCY HEADS FOR THE WINCHESTER

ROGER COMPARES RIDES

WE DOUBLE THE POPULATION OF WATERVILLE

After a free-will lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, cheesy potatoes, and coleslaw, we departed the Winchester and headed north to pick up the Elon Road.  Just then, the rain that had been threatening all day, hit us with a pretty good shower.  I guess it's only appropriate that we get rained on in Waterville!  The Elon Road took us through the torn up Main Street in Waukon, and again with police blocking traffic, we were able to continue on through town and onto the Old Stage Road.  We continued on into Decorah and our final stop at Topping Goliath Brewery where Bugsy caught up with us.  At Topping Goliath we were treated to some more snacks and were able to purchase drinks from a large selection of beverages.  Also in wrapping up the day, Ron and Bob won door prizes, and Lois hit the jackpot with a $100 gift certificate to Elliot Jewelry.  Chuckles used the silent auction to pick up a new helmet and some gloves.  The ride was scenic, well-organized, and benefited a good cause.  Looking forward to next year!  I had 155 miles on the Wing for the total ride.