BAKER'S DOZEN AVOIDS RAINDROPS--MYSTERY RTE SATURDAY

Thirteen Wednesday Night Riders gathered at Casey's on Wednesday evening for a 4th of July eve adventure on bikes, trikes, and convertibles.  With bikes were Lois, Jim & Cathy, Howard, David, Chuckles, Lars, and Bob R, while Wayne & Sandy, Chuck (not Chuckles), and Irv rode in on trikes.  Dale piloted the support convertible.

LOTS OF PRERIDE CONVERSATION

GOOD TO SEE LARS AGAIN

CHUCKLES--NO BUNGEES

LOIS AIRS OUT

IRV'S BACK FROM MINNESOTA

With rain clouds still showing up on radar, we headed out east on the Elon Road.  The 'Loose Gravel" signs were still up, but the heavy rains earlier in the week probably washed away the chips, so the road was safe to ride.  At the end of the Elon Road we turned north onto the Lansing/Harpers Road for a short jog before we headed east again on Lafayette Ridge Road.  Following LRR east, we intersected with the Great River Road and took it south through Harpers Ferry and all the way up to Branstad Memorial south (HWY 76).  HWY 76 took us past Effigy Mounds and down into Marquette where we picked up HWY 18, crossed the Mississippi River bridge and then on through Prairie du Chien.  Outside of PDC, I had planned to take CR C and CR X over through Bagley, but looking at the sky and the radar, I decided to turn east instead and onto HWY 60 at Bridgeport.  It turned out to be a good decision because we found out later that a pretty good storm passed through Bagley.  We'll save that route for another time.

HWY 60 took us into Wauzeka.  We had been on 60 last week, but going in a different direction this time.  In Wauzeka we stopped at the BP for treats and to check out their door chimes.  After our break we took CR N west out of Wauzeka (still avoiding any rain) and weaved our way up to HWY 27 near Eastman.  HWY 27 north took us through Eastman where just outside of town we turned west again onto CR D.  This road had recently been repaved and for six miles down to HWY 35 it is going to be a biker's favorite--smooth as glass, excellent scenery, and plenty of sweeping curves.  When we got to the bottom of the hill in Charm, we turned north again on HWY 35 and passed through Lynxville and Ferryville and to HWY 82 across the Blackhawk bridge into Lansing.  That's where the good roads end, because of the stormy looks on both sides, we had to take Branstad Memorial north (HWY 9) back to Waukon.  Actually I think 9 may be a bit less rough going from Lansing to Waukon than from Waukon to Lansing.  That highway is still a "joke" however.

At any rate after our teeth quit chattering, and our eyeballs stopped rolling, and we checked the bikes for loose parts, we arrived at Gus & Tony's.

NOW THE SUN STARTS COMING OUT!!

CHUCK (NOT CHUCKLES) ARRIVES WARM & DRY

JIM & CATHY PLACE A PIZZA ORDER!

IRV SHAKES OFF THE EFFECTS OF HWY 9

Once inside Gus & Tony's, we find Bugsy waiting for us again.  Lois entertained the troops with jokes while the conversation turned to wives who talk to the passenger window while their husband drives the car. We also found out that a rain had passed through Ferryville after we were there.  I had 116 miles on the Wing when I got home still dry.

SATURDAY IS THE LONG-AWAITED MYSTERY RTE
We will plan to depart Casey's at 3:30 Saturday afternoon for our MYSTERY RTE (RIDE TO EAT).  I'd tell you where we're going, but I'd have to kill you!  Rain date is Sunday at the same time.  Right now the Weather Channel has a 50% chance of rain on Saturday (scattered thunderstorms) and a 20% chance on Sunday.

Finally to all Wednesday Night Riders and their friends and families, HAVE A HAPPY & SAFE 4TH!