WE GO BUCKNUCKLING !!

With early weather forecasts prediction an 80% chance of rain on Sunday, our chances for our RTE to Bucknuckles Bar & Grill looked rather dim.  However, come Sunday the Weather Witch smiled on us and provided a very comfortable day for a scenic ride to the unique destination known for burgers and brews.
We had 17 Wednesday Night Riders make the trip.  Fifteen showed up at Casey's Sunday morning, and two more met us at Caledonia.
Wayne & Sandy, Meryle (one glove) & Mary, Chuck (not Chuckles) & Dee, and Bob & Julie put butts on trikes, while Al, Jim & Cathy, Lois, and Chuckles put kickstands up on bikes.  David & Suzanne brought their "support" convertible and Roger & Darrel met us in Caledonia with Roger's 'Vette.

DAVID & SUZANNE LINING EVERYONE UP

LOIS ARRIVES "JUST UNDER THE WIRE"

DAVID LOOKS SATISFIED THAT ALL IS READY

CHUCK & DEE WOULD TRADE PLACES LATER

SET TO DEPART (PHOTO BY LOIS)

Under 80 degree temps and partly sunny skies we departed Casey's at 10 AM and took HWY 76 north all the way to Houston stopping at the Cenex convenience store for a break.

ON BREAK (PHOTO BY SUZANNE)

After the break we took scenic back roads; CR 9, CR 11, CR 12, and CR 17 down to HWY 14 in Winona.  After a short jog on 14 we took Huff Street past Winona State University campus, then 4th St. onto HWY 43 and across the Mississippi River bridge into Wisconsin where we picked up HWY 35 north.  Following 35 through Fountain City and Czechville we turned east onto HWY 88 for a scenic trip though the coulee.  We did manage to avoid the rush hours in Cream and Praag and made it

to our destination at Bucknuckles.

WE ARRIVE

HARLEYS HAVE TO PARK BY AN OLD TRUCK!

PHOTO BY CHUCKLES

It's fun to look around at all the "fixtures" in this unique bar.

TIME TO LOOK AROUND (PHOTO BY SUZANNE)

CHUCK & DEE LOOK AROUND

DAVID POSES WITH THE MASCOT

HOW ABOUT THIS CEILING FAN!

ALBINO DEER ARE SEEN IN THIS AREA

THIS FIRE TRUCK SAYS IT ALL!

EVEN THE BLUES BROTHERS ENTERTAINED US

ALONG WITH A DIVING EAGLE

THERE'S LOIS.  WHICH ONE IS CHUCKLES?

THERE'S JULIE.  WHICH ONE IS BOB?

POSTER IN THE WOMEN'S BATHROOM?

MERYLE & MARY STEP LIVELY

 It's time for food.  Even though there was a limited menu, the food was good and could be eaten inside the bar or out.  We chose to eat outside.

DRINK AND SOME FOOD ORDERS COULD BE PLACED OUTSIDE

ROGER & DARREL ORDERING UP

PRACTICING SAFE DISTANCING

GOOD SANDWICHES

BUT NO FISH FOR SANDY

 After eating and more looking around, we helped Meryle get his stubborn trike out of the parking lot and headed back down HWY 88.  We then turned south onto HWY 35 and followed it to near Centerville where we stopped for gas and ice cream.  We continued on 35 through Trempealeau to near Holmen where we got on HWY 53 back south to I 90 west to HWY 14 at LaCrescent.  HWY 14 for a short jog onto HWY 16 and then HWY 26 south all the way to Lansing.  In Lansing we found the Lansing/Harpers blacktop and traversed up to Elon Drive and headed west into Waukon.  We had 127 miles on the trike clock when we parked her.  A pleasant and entertaining trip to Bucknuckles as usual!!

ANOTHER NEW WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDER!!

Newest addition to the WNR family. Walter Charles Palmer was born to Jen & Lars on Tuesday, 6/23, weighing 7lb 8oz and measuring 21 1/2 inches long.

Congrats to grandparents Chuckles & Lois and great grandparents Wayne & Sandy!!

BASSACKWARDS!!

Normally on our Wednesday night rides we ride then stop to eat.  But since this has been one of the most unusual years on record, that's not what happened this Wednesday.

The sky looked darkened in every direction but the south, so nine WNR showed up at Casey's with high hopes.  We had Bernell & Kathy on their Spyder, Wayne & Sandy on the DFT, Irv on his Harley trike, Al on his Indian, Chuck (not Chuckles) on his Harley trike, David in the support convertible, and Bob on his Gold Wing.

BERNELL & KATHY ALREADY WITH RAIN SUITS

NOTICE THAT IT LOOKS GOOD TO THE SOUTH

THE SUPPORT CONVERTIBLE WITH TOP DOWN!

WAYNE & IRV WHILE SANDY SEEKS SHELTER IN THE STORE

CHUCK (NOT CHUCKLES) ALSO GEARED UP FOR RAIN

By the time 5:30 rolled around, there was still some sunlight to the south so we headed out that direction.  However, by the time we reached Farm & Home the wind had picked up and a sheet of heavy rain was going to cross our path.  We decided to turn back to Casey's and wait it out while Wayne & Sandy and Al headed home.  At Casey's I decided to go to the City Club and eat and see what happens later.  Irv and David decided to trek home, and when we got to City Club, Bernell & Kathy spotted an opening to the west and decided to take the chance of getting home dry.  Meanwhile Chuck (not Chuckles) and Bob stopped at the City Club for eats.

OUR FIRST STOP--CHUCK CLIMBS OUT OF HIS RAIN GEAR

After polishing off the burger special and some chicken strips, Chuck and Bob walked outside to see sunshine and no rain in Waukon.  Since it was just 6:30 and it looked clear to the north, we decided to continue the ride.  We took HWY 76 past Hanover, Dorchester and Eitzen.  Just outside of Eitzen we took scenic CR 27 west on into Spring Grove.  The roads were damp in places but no standing water.  We continued west on HWY 44 to Mabel where I made a stop for some Gatorade.  
We continued west to HWY 52 and then took it south into Decorah where we picked up HWY 9 heading east.  Again some damp roads, but no rain.  Following 9 we then took Frankville Road through Frankville and onto HWY 51 just outside of Postville.  Chuck headed south into Postville, while Bob turned north and headed back home to Waukon.  I had exactly 100 rain free miles on the Wing as I pulled her into the shed.

With this odd year, maybe we need to eat first and then go riding!


BUCKNUCKLES RUN IS SUNDAY

So far the weather prediction for Sunday looks good, so we plan to meet at Casey's at 10 AM for our journey up to Bucknuckles Bar near Alma, Wisconsin.  This iconic spot offers good food with inside and outside seating.  Before we go I'll make sure they are open.  If you have never been there, it's a scenic trip over for some interesting eats.  See you at 10 Sunday morning listening to church services on the way up!

THE FOURSOME

As some of you may remember, Bob has played with the same group of guys in the Waukon Golf Tournament for 50 straight years.  Because of this remarkable feat, a documentary film was made and had it's debut at the theater in Waukon last November.  Now it has been placed on YouTube with over 20,000 views!!  I know some of you saw it in Waukon and some didn't.  So, if you want to see it again or for the first time, here's the link.

 https://youtu.be/AdeQl5x4yLs

I bet you didn't know your fearless leader was also a movie star.  Neither did he!!

Finally some more humor from Chuckles:

NO HIDEAWAY BUT RED PINES

Our Saturday RTE actually took place!  If you looked at the weather shortly before takeoff, you would certainly have your doubts!

However, almost exactly at 4 PM, the heavens parted and we had partial sun.  So with our ride still a go, we had 8 WNR show at Casey's.  David & Suzanne provided the support convertible. Jim & Cathy were on their 2 wheel Wing, and Gary & Gloria and Bob & Julie arrived on Gold Wing trikes.

YOU CAN GAS UP A WING WITHOUT GETTING OFF

DAVID & SUZANNE ARRIVE WITH THE TOP UP

THE SECOND SET OF GELOS ARRIVE

Since the Blackhawk Bridge at Lansing is closed, our plans changed from a ride to Norwegian Hollow Hideaway to a place Jim & Cathy suggested.  So we departed for the Red Pines Bar & Grill in Onalaska.
We departed Waukon on the Elon Road east and then down Lansing/Harpers Road north into Lansing.  In Lansing we took HWY 26 north through New Albin and Reno and followed it all the way to HWY 16 just south of LaCrescent.  16 took us to HWY 14 and then onto Interstate 90 eastbound.  For some reason our leader decided to circle into Onalaska passed up exit 3 and took 4 instead.  We then backtracked to Exit 3 and it landed us on HWY 35 north and we stayed on it until we came to CR Z and that took us about 5 miles to our stop--Red Pines.

OUR DESTINATION

HAIR CHECK AND TOP BACK UP

LET'S EAT!!

SOCIAL DISTANCING

The Red Pines has a back patio for seating that has a view of the river.  They also have a sand volleyball area.

And what's a Wisconsin bar without some trophies on the wall?

THAT'S A CARIBOU 

Everyone commented on the tasty food that was served.  Most of had the perch and fries.  They ran out of ribs (the special), so the women were given a portion of pulled pork nachos.
After a satisfying meal, we started to make tracks back home and by this time the sun was shining but there was a cool north wind.  With temps still in the 70's, we retraced our route back on CR Z, HWY 35, I90 west, HWY 16 & 14 back through LaCrescent and instead of taking HWY 26 back, we continued on HWY 44 though Hokah.  Hwy 44 took us to HWY 76 just outside of Caledonia and we took it south through Eitzen, past Dorchester and Hanover and back to Waukon.  We had a little over 130 miles on the trike when we parked her.

We have another RTE scheduled for next Sunday, the 28th.  The plan is to leave Casey's at 10 AM that morning and wind our way over to Bucknuckles Bar near Alma, Wisconsin.  Hopefully they will be serving.  If you've never been there, it's a scenic ride to a unique establishment.  Last time I had a camel burger!

And finally...A HAPPY FATHERS' DAY TO ALL US DADS!!

Also, a little humor compliments of Chuckles....