WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDES DONE FOR THE YEAR

With the weather witch throwing snow and temps that are 20 degrees below normal, and with daylight savings time kicking out on Sunday, it looks like the Wednesday night rides are over for 2019.  Despite having no spring and now no fall, we did have good participation and a lot of fun this summer.  I'm looking forward to start again the next warm spring night.  Hopefully November will turn out a lot better than October, and we can sneak a couple more rides in before winter actually hits us.  (maybe it already has!)

In the meantime I may post some interesting if not entertaining drivel on the blog at times.  As the riding season draws to a close, I usually try to get some winter storage and other maintenance done before it gets too cold out in the shed.  This year, because it was long overdue (the two-wheeler has nearly 90,000 miles on her), I decided to overhaul the front forks.  I removed them last Sunday and sent them in to a recommended facility to have new seals, bushing, oil, and springs installed.  They will install springs that are made for the rider's size and riding style.  Removing the shocks on my 2012 Gold Wing proved to be quite a task as you can see from the following photos.

FRONT END REMOVED

FRONT WHEEL, BRAKE CALIPERS,SHOCKS, AND FENDERS GONE

A FEW OF THE MANY PARTS

Hopefully it doesn't take too long to get the shocks back, so I can remember how to put everything back again!  I'll keep you posted on the progress here.  Hopefully I will be able to change out the air filter and spark plugs on the trike before we haul her to Florida in January.

Anyway Happy Halloween and don't forget Veterans' Day!!

Here's a thought for the week:

"We owe illegals nothing...we owe veterans everything."

4 SOME ON BONUS/LEAF RUN

Four Wednesday Night Riders showed up on Sunday afternoon at Casey's for what may well be the last ride of the season.  Looking like the only sunny and warm day for the next two weeks, Sunday proved to be an excellent day for a scenic ride and a peek at the fall leaves.  With Howard and Chuckles on their Harleys and Bob & Julie on the Gold Wing trike, the group departed Casey's at 1 PM.

JULIE BUNDLED UP & READY

TWO OTHER LEAF LOOKERS

We cruised north on HWY 76 to CR 27 west just north of Eitzen.  CR 27 has been newly paved and proved to be a smooth scenic ride into Spring Grove and then onto CR 4 heading north again.  By this time, even though it was sunny, it looked like the only trees that were turned were the yellows of the maples and oaks.  About the only real red maples we saw were in towns.
CR 4 took us through the Yucatan valley and back onto HWY 76 just south of Houston.  We stopped at the BP store in Houston for a break.  It was still very sunny and pleasant as we headed through Houston and onto CR 9 heading east.  After a few miles on 9 we turned north again on CR 25 and up Happel Hill and then east again until we came to CR T-258 (aka Thumper Road).  The four mile stretch south down Thumper Road is arguably the most scenic ride in the tri-state area and it did not disappoint today!  We arrived at the bottom of Thumper and turned east onto CR 25 again and then to HWY 16 heading south.  We passed through Hokah and picked up HWY 44 south that took us into Caledonia and the DQ.  What's a nice fall ride without a stop for ice cream?!

CHUCKLES LOOSENS HIS BELT FOR ICE CREAM

HOWARD SPOTS A PRETTY TREE NEXT TO THE DQ

THE TRIKE JUST CAN'T GO PAST A DQ WITHOUT STOPPING

After the ice cream break we followed 76 back to Waukon where I found some pretty trees right on our block.

It was still a great fall ride and we had 120 miles on the trike at home.

WEDNESDAY WAS A BUST--STILL PLANNING ON SUNDAY

With only a high temp of 43 degrees with clouds and wind, no one rode on Wednesday night.  I still plan to ride on Sunday.  It is supposed to be partly cloudy with a high of 60.  Not the best, but looking ahead, it may be the last ride for this year.  They are talking snow on Halloween!  I plan to leave Casey's at 1 PM on Sunday afternoon.  Anyone is welcome to ride along.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Why do I have to press "1" for English?  Did America move?!

DOUBTFUL WEDNESDAY? LEAF RIDE SUNDAY!?

Looking at the upcoming weather, Wednesday shows cloudy with highs in the high forties, so there may not be many riding Wednesday night.  However, right now Sunday looks promising with partly sunny skies and highs in the mid sixties.  Looking at long range forecasts, Sunday may be the last chance to take a ride to see the leaf colors.  So for now, I plan on taking a leaf run on Sunday afternoon leaving Casey's at 1 PM.  Anyone is welcome to ride along and there may be a possible ice cream stop!  I'll post again later if Sunday works out or not.

FIVE SOME ON WEDNESDAY--WEATHER SUNDAY--TRIKE RIDE FOR GOOD SAM

Five Wednesday night riders gathered at Casey's last night at 5:30.  Since it starts getting dark a lot earlier now, our routes need to be shorter.  We had Chuck (not Chuckles) on his Harley trike and Dee (newbie) on a Honda Silver Wing, Lois on her Suzuki, Al on his Harley, and Bob R on his Gold Wing.

NO GO WITH THE INDIAN, SO AL TAKES THE HARLEY

CHUCK (NOT CHUCKLES) AND WIFE, DEE (NEWBIE)

LOIS VISITING WITH A PASSERBY

DEE WONDERING IF THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA

We headed out on the Elon Road, and right away things got a little ominous when we looked to the north and saw the Grim Reaper standing in a harvested farm field!

THE GRIM REAPER!!

In spite of that sighting, we continued east on the Elon Road and then north for a short ways on the Lansing/Harpers Road and then east again on Lafayette Ridge Road.  LRR took us east to the Great River Road and then south into Harpers Ferry.  The temp still remained in the mid sixties as we continued to follow GRR south to HWY 76 and headed north.  After a ways north on 76, we turned onto Waterville Road, went down through Waterville and back to the Elon Road.  Just outside of Waterville, we had a herd of six deer cross in front of us and we slowed way down to make sure they stayed put.  Elon Road took us back into Waukon and Gus & Tony's where the conversation turned to a battle with Billy Goat Gruff and some cows.  In spite of the Grim Reaper and our deer encounter, it was a pleasant fall evening ride.  Welcome to Dee, and hope she joins us again.  I had 67 miles on the Wing at Gus & Tony's.

NEXT SUNDAY
On our ride sheet we have a Bonus Ride possibility on Sunday.  However, with a high temp of 42 degrees scheduled for that day, I don't think we will have any bonus ride.  However, stay tuned because if the weather ever straightens out and all the leaves don't blow off the trees, I would like to take a leaf-looking ride maybe on the following weekend.  I'll keep you posted.

TRIKE RIDE FOR GOOD SAM RESIDENTS
After visiting with a Gold Wing chapter in Oelwein that gives trike rides to nursing home residents, I thought it might be a good thing for our WNR group to try.  The Oelwein group says they really enjoy doing it, and the residents can't wait to do it again.  As near as I can figure, we have a dozen Wednesday night riders with trikes or Spyders that have passenger back rests.  So I contacted Good Sam this week, and they are excited about having us do this.  After going over some basic procedures, we came up with a date of May 14th (Thursday) from 2PM to 4PM to try this.  This corresponds  with a national nursing home week, and when Good Sam would have enough staff available. I realize it's early yet, but if you have one the the trikes/Spiders and would like to do something "feel good", let Bob R know before April 1st.  All you need is your drivers' license and proof of insurance.  The route will be all in town (8-10) blocks and not over 30 mph.  No helmets are needed and the staff at Good Sam will get the residents on and off the trikes.  Three-wheelers only, no bikes.  I will keep posting more information on this and reminders to participate.

Hopefully we can get some more rides in before daylight savings time hits us, but in the meantime, Halloween is just around the corner.

JIM'S RIDE

Jim & Cathy couldn't join us on the chicken run last Sunday because Jim apparently picked up a flu bug on his journey to Ohio and West Virginia last week.  While Cathy ventured into Houston, Jim mounted his other Honda and headed east.  Here's his report and some photos and a video he took.  We did visit the New River gorge on our guys' trip several years ago, but Jim wasn't with us then, so this would be a whole new experience for him.  Bob Z, David, and Bob R rode the triple nickel (555) on the guys' trip in 2018.

We are planning on it. Little touch of a cold, maybe flu bug. Going to be healed by Sunday! Ok sent pics using Google drive. Let know if you don't get them. Couldn't leave till Wednesday am. Made to the East side of Columbus the first night so I wouldn't get caught in rush hour traffic. Next morning took 555 south out of Zanesville with a short detour to see big muskie. Back to 555 to 550 into Marrietta OH. Worked my way east and a little south to camp in Summersvilles lake WV.  Next morning I headed over the New River gourge bridge. The longest and highest steel arch bridge in the world. They close the bridge each year for a day and people bungee and parachute off. If anyone is interested it's the 19th of this month. Headed down to Knoxville and stayed just east of Nashville. It was a lot of interstate riding but curvy and very pretty in the mountains. Wanted to go farther south and ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Tail and the Cherahala Parkway but it was miserably hot. Made it to my son's in St Louis Saturday and headed home Sunday. Rode in heavy rain when I got to IA which was fine until it started to lightning. Pulled off at Donnelson IA Casey's. I was chatting with a guy when we had a lightning strike about a mile or less away. Think we both had to change our shorts😎 Decided it was time to go inside. After the thunder quit rode the rest of the way home. Good trip!

I PLAN ON ADDING THIS TO MY FARM MACHINERY!

THE TENT SEEMS SMALLER THAN IT USED TO BE!

A DOZEN ON THE RUN, CHICKEN, RUN RUN ON SUNDAY

Even though we have had 11 straight weekends with rain, we lucked out on Sunday for our annual Run, Chicken, Run run to Rockton, WI, to sample their "nearly world famous" barbecue chicken with trimmings.  Ten of us started out from Casey's, but because of the low temps at the time, only Bob R rode a trike and Julie and Dennis & Marlene in a van and Wayne & Elaine, Wayne & Sandy, and Meryle & Mary in another van.  The temp was 55 at the start.

WAYNE TAKING CHICKEN ORDERS??!!

We traveled east on the Elon Road and the sun started to shine through the clouds.  Elon took us to Lansing/Harpers Road and on into Lansing where we crossed the Blackhawk Bridge into Wisconsin and HWY 35 heading south.  After passing through Ferryville, we turned east again onto CR C.  We frequently take C on our rides since it is scenic and curvy.  C took us to CR J heading north along a scenic ridge, onto HWY 27, and into Viroqua where we stopped at the Kwik Trip north of town for a break.  At the break there, we were joined by Chuckles & Lois.  Chuckles was still full of free snacks from the Harley-Davidson open house yesterday and two breakfasts today.  We can only assume that he was late joining us because of time needed in the bathroom!

NOTICE THE BLUE SKIES

CHUCKLES & LOIS MAKE THEIR APPERANCE

READY FOR THE LAST LEG INTO ROCKTON

After leaving Kwik Trip we turned east onto CR Y and passed through Avalanche and then onto CR S through Dell and finally onto CR P which took us over to HWY 131 north and on into Rockton.  Y, S, and P proved to be both smooth and scenic.  I was a little concerned about possible flooding on P, since a lot of rain had fallen in this area and P runs along several creeks and part of the western branch of the Kickapoo River.  We had no problems, however, and by the time we made the turn into Rockton, we could smell the barbecuing chicken.

After introducing ourselves as the Wednesday Night Riders having reservations, we got in line for 1/2 chicken, macaroni salad, beans, and a roll.  Even though the sun was shining and the temps were now in the mid sixties, we found a spot to eat inside the Rockton Bar.  The Packer game had not yet started, or we wouldn't have been able to sit inside.  Thanks to Lois for the inside photos.

HEARTY CHICKEN EATERS

SOME MORE USDA CLUCKERS GOT DEVOURED

Part of our chicken trip has always been to stop at the orchard in Gays Mills for their apple cider donuts.  Actually we found out that the reason for taking vans was not because of the cool weather, but to have enough room to haul donuts back home!  So after leaving Rockton, we took HWY 131 through LaFarge, Viola, Kickapoo Center, and into Readstown where we got onto HWY 61 south through Soldiers Grove and then HWY 171 west at Rolling Ground.  171 took us to Sunshine Orchard and the mass of humanity there buying apples and other goodies.  After stocking up on the donuts, we continued on 171 through Gays Mills and past the swollen Kickapoo River.  171 passed through Mt. Sterling and down the hill to Ferryville and HWY 35 this time heading south.  At HWY 82 we turned west across the bridge again and into Lansing.  We would normally stop for ice cream either at Ferryville or Lansing, but with the cool temps and being full of donuts, the ice cream will have to wait until next time.  We took the Terry E Branstad Memorial Byway (HWY 9) back into Waukon.  I had 167 miles on the trike when I got home.  Even though he was full of snacks, breakfasts, and chicken, Chuckles was still able to polish off this desert when he got home.

LOOKS GOOD!

It was a nice fall trip, but in another week or so if Mother Nature cooperates, the leaves should be turning, and this route would be a really beautiful scenic journey.

PURE CRAP!! MAYBE SUNDAY?

PURE CRAP!!  If anyone has a better description for the weather so far this fall, let me know.  Obviously our Wednesday night ride has been crapped out for this week. 

However, I did fool the "witch" and went for a ride on Monday.  It was windy (You knew it couldn't possibly be a perfect day!), but no rain and lots of sun.  I put on about 165 miles to Rockton and back.  I wanted to make sure the route I intended to take on Sunday was not under construction.  It wasn't, and I enjoyed a scenic, smooth ride up to the Rockton Bar where I was able to converse with about a dozen other bikers who also expressed discontent (were pissed off) at the fall weather so far. I did check with Jill at the bar and explained that our Wednesday night riders group had a ride scheduled for Sunday and I wanted to make sure they were still having their chicken-que.  They are and she said I could wait until just before 10 that morning to call in reservations.

SO

The weather on Sunday so far calls for cool temps, but no rain.  I plan on riding the Wing up to Rockton if it's not raining.  But with the cool temps, Julie is probably going to take the car.  SO if you still want to go, and don't want to ride your bike or trike, I'm sure you will be able to hitch a ride with someone with a car.  Just show up at Casey's a little before 10 AM on Sunday, so I can call up there and they can catch the chickens for us.  See you Sunday!