LAST ONE FOR 2020

 The curtain dropped tonight on the Wednesday night rides for this season.  Next Wednesday falls in daylight savings time, so it will be dark at 5:30.  Roll your clocks back Saturday night unless you want to be an hour early for church!

Again, Bob was the only rider this Wednesday.  Again, it was 50 degrees and no rain, so he departed Casey's at 5:30 sharp on the trike.  The plan was to try to stay in the sun for the entire route.  

Heading east on the Elon Road with the sun to my back, I could see that almost all of the crops were harvested, and the fields were brown and bare.  Reflecting on how time flies, it seemed like only yesterday when cruising along everything seemed to be a rich green color.

After passing through Elon, I turned onto the newly resurfaced Waterville Road.  A smooth 4 mile trip soon put me in the middle of Waterville where I saw a crew laying out what looked to be fiber optic cables.  I rounded the curve in town and had to watch out for a lot of sand on the curve.  The county must have spread it out shortly after the unwelcome snowfall in the area.  

I continued heading west still on Waterville Road until I came to the junction of HWY 76.  I followed this rough highway past Rossville where I stopped to get a shot of the sunset.  I thought it was fitting since it was now also sunset for our Wednesday night rides!

SUNSET OVER ROSSVILLE

 Back onto "smooth as a pool table" HWY 76 and I cruised on into Waukon and a stop at City Club.

NOTICE THE TEMP

LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR THE CITY CLUB

I was able to rack up about 32 miles before the sun dropped out of sight.  When I left the City Club, this was the only light in the sky.

A SURE SIGN FOR HALLOWEEN?!

PMS POSTPONED TIL SPRING

From the responses I got back concerning a possible get-together this fall for our annual PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome) meeting, it looks like we will postpone it until next spring.  I only got 10 responses back and four of those were negative, probably fear from the spike in Covid cases.  And I can't blame them for that concern, and that actually may be the right thing to do right now.  So, sometime next spring (probably late March), we will try to have our PMS meeting.  I pray by then that this whole Covid thing will be done with and we can have normal get-togethers again.  Look for details about this later on as spring approaches.

With all that's happened in 2020, I'm going to be glad to see the year done with.  Between disease, fires, hurricanes, and riots, 2020 will go down as a year to forget!  As time permits and if I come across some pertinent information or important drivel, I will try to post it here.  Since Julie and I do plan to venture down to Florida again for January and February, I'll try to keep you posted on some of the interesting things we get involved with our motorcycle friends down there.

UNTIL NEXT TIME----STAY SAFE!

JUST ME!

 I decided that things are not going to get any better weather-wise for the rest of our season, and I had just replaced the rear tire and brake pads on the Wing, so I decided to take what is probably the last Wednesday night ride.  

A SELFIE

If the temp is above 50 and it's not raining, I'll give it a shot.

Seeing as no one seemed to want to join me, I took off heading west on HWY 9.  I then turned south onto CR W60 (West Ridge Rd) and cruised past Fishville and onto Yellow River Drive.  I took Yellow River Drive west to HWY 51.  After a short jog on 51 I headed westbound again on the Frankville Road.  I passed through Frankville and continued on to HWY 9 just east of Decorah.  I cruised on 9 on into Waukon and a stop at City Club.

It had cooled off considerably by then.

I only racked up 36 miles (supposed to be at least 50 to count), but since I was alone, I'm counting it as a ride.  Hunter Biden said I could (LOL)!  With the heated seat and grips on the Wing, the ride was bearable, but the hot chicken dumpling soup at City Club hit the spot.  The good part--no bugs.  The bad part--I may not be able to pee for a while!

END OF YEAR PMS GET TOGETHER??

Because of Covid last spring no restaurants were open, so we couldn't have our annual PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome) meeting.  I am contemplating having a WNR get-together sometime later after the elections in November.  I still have the 2019 quotes video to show for entertainment.  That would depend on how many Wednesday Night Riders want to attend.  So far there would be two venues open to serve us, Rossville Store and City Club.  Our traditional meetings have been in Rossville and we would have the smaller room available.  However food must be ordered by 7.  City Club has a larger party room available and would be open later.  However there it would be "bar food", but it's still good.  This would probably take place on a Wednesday or Thursday evening.

SOOO, it's up to you guys to decide if we have a get-together or not this fall.  Before we can make that decision, I will need to know how many will attend.  SOOO, I want everyone to respond by e-mail to me at brotach@msn.com and say "yes" if you would come or "no" if you don't want to come.  I will leave this open until next Wednesday and make the decision then based on the number of "yes" responses I get.  Again, I would like everyone to respond "yes" or "no".  Otherwise we will just wait until next spring and see what happens.

JUST ME AND CHUCK (NOT CHUCKLES)

Only two WNR showed up at Casey's this Wednesday evening.  With temps in the low 60's, brisk west winds, and rainy looking clouds, Chuck (not Chuckles) and Bob still contemplated a ride.  

After sitting and waiting for others to show up, the twosome looked at the skies and the radar, and decided to try it anyway, but stay close to home just in case.  So Chuck on his Harley trike and Bob on his 2 wheel Wing departed Casey's a shade before 5:30.

We started out heading up HWY 76 north with Bob leaning his bike against the brisk west wind. (Does the wind ever quit blowing anymore?!)  Chuck on his trike didn't have that problem.  When we reached Iowa River Drive, we turned east, and with the wind now at our backs, we had a pleasant cruise along the river to New Albin.

By now, the thoughts were to make the WNR 50 mile rule.  (You have to ride at least 50 miles to count it as a ride.)  That's why we did not turn onto the Lycurgus Road.

After turning south on HWY 26, we had a rather wind free ride along the river into Lansing.  It was dark and cloudy enough that the color of the leaves on the bluffs didn't show up well, but it still looked like there was still plenty of color left.  With the wind and rain the Witch is sending our way this next week, I don't know how much longer the color will stay.  So if you have a chance to take the drive between New Albin and Lansing to see the colors, you may want to do it soon.

We followed HWY 26 into Lansing while the sun actually came out for a short time.  We then continued on newly restored HWY 9 back to Waukon as the darkness was descending on us pretty rapidly.  We pulled into the City Club right at dusk with 54 miles on the Wing.  Perfect!

THE CITY CLUB AT DUSK

CHUCK IS PRETTY WELL BUNDLED UP

This may have well been our last Wednesday night ride for the season.  Looking at the extended weather forecast, it looks like the Wicked Weather Witch has her ugly claws dug into us pretty good.  Wind, below normal temps, and even snow flurries are on her recipe list with only two Wednesdays to go before daylight savings time is done and it's dark at 5:30.  Hopefully there will be a nice weekend yet before winter sets in and before the bikes are put away.

I'm looking for a venue for us to hold an "end of the year PMS get together".  I still have the video for the quotes of the 2019 season to show yet.  If anyone has an idea where and when we could hold an event for around 30 people, let Bob know.

WE CATCH THE CHICKENS!

 Fifteen potential "chicken eaters" gathered at Casey's for our annual "Run, Chicken, Run" Run to Rockton for their "near world famous" barbecued chicken.  We had Howard, Al, Dee, Clair, Tim, and Jim & Cathy on bikes.  Wayne M was on his Spyder, while Darrel, Chuck K, Wayne F, and Bob & Julie had butts on trikes.  Jean & Sandy rode in the support vehicle.

HOWARD STROLLS BY WHILE JIM & CATHY PARK NEXT TO THE SUPPORT VEHICLE 

WAYNE M KNOCKS THE DUST OFF HIS SPYDER

DARREL GETS READY WHILE DEE, SANDY, AND JEAN CONFER

AL & JULIE WATCH

AS CLAIR AND SON, TIM, ROLL IN FROM DYERSVILLE

With partly sunny skies and temps in the low 60's, we depart Casey's heading east with a brisk south wind on HWY 9 to Lansing.  HWY 9 is now much improved with new paving, and with some sun, we were able to start enjoying Mother Nature's autumn leaf displays.  Passing through Lansing, we crossed the Mississippi River on the Blackhawk Bridge and on into Wisconsin on HWY 35 heading north.  Passing through DeSoto, we arrived at Victory and took CR UU up the hill to Red Mound and onto HWY 82.  Again the sun was offering some spectacular views of the autumn colors.  HWY 82 took us into West Prairie where we turned north onto CR N.  Following scenic N to through Purdy (Norwegian for pretty!) we arrived at HWY 56 and then took a short jog onto CR O again heading north.  We passed through Newton and then took CR Y east to HWY 14 and turned south into Viroqua for a short break at Kwik Trip.  By this time, the sun had ducked under some cloud cover and the temps dropped back into the low 60's.

After our break, we backtracked on HWY 14 north back to CR Y again and headed east again.  Jim & Cathy stayed at Kwik Trip waiting for another couple for a different RTE.  Y took us into Avalanche where we picked up CR S and headed north through Bloomingdale and onto CR P heading east.  We followed scenic P through Dell and finally arrived at HWY 131 and took it north into Rockton and arrived at the very busy Rockton Bar for our chicken feed.

Because of the number of bikes in the lot, we had to park in the overflow lot for canoes.

OVERFLOW PARKING

PARKING NEXT TO THE CANOES

MORE CANOE PARKING SPOTS

With the number of bikes, trikes, and support vehicles here, it's a good thing we had reservations!

We also discovered that the Rockton Bar had made some changes due to the pandemic.

OUTSIDE SEATING AREA

NO LINE UP NOW AT THE FOOD SHED

OLD OUTDOOR SEATING AREA IS NOW ENCLOSED

After verifying our reservations, our food was delivered to us, and we settled into the new enclosed seating area.  We had to use different tables, but we all got fed!

WHERE THE CLUCKERS ARE 'QUED

There was also some great scenery to be viewed from the bar area.

MOTHER NATURE SHOWS OFF HER BEST!

AMEN!

After our fill of chicken, macaroni salad, beans, and a dinner roll, we mounted up and departed Rockton on HWY 131 heading south.  After passing through LaFarge, Viola, and Readstown, we took HWY 61 south through Soldiers Grove and to Rolling Ground where we got on HWY 171 heading east and a stop at Sunrise Orchards for a load of apple cider donuts for desert. Leaving Rockton, the sun reappeared and made for a warm ride and some more spectacular fall colors. At the orchards, Wayne M, Clair, and Tim continued on home. After our orchards visit, we headed down the hill (mountain) into Gays Mills, where we gathered up again.  Still following 171, we passed through Mt. Sterling and down to HWY 35 again heading north.  We passed through Ferryville and took HWY 82 across the bridge again onto HWY 9 in Lansing.  HWY 9 took us back to Waukon.  We had about 170 miles on the trike when we parked her.  In all the years we have made this trip, I think this year was by far the best for viewing the fall foliage.  And the chicken wasn't bad either!

NINE ON THE SEVENTH AND THE CHICKEN RUN

 As the lyrics from the song from the 60's goes "Where the days are shorter, and the nights are long--".  The Rivieras were singing about California, but it's now fitting for October in northeast Iowa.

Even with a shorter riding time, we still had nine riders join in on a very pleasant October evening.  Gathering at Casey's on trikes were Irv, Darrel, and Chuck (not Chuckles).  Al, Howard, Marie, Claire, and Bob mounted bikes, and Roger joined the group on his bike in Decorah.  We welcomed back Claire to our group and didn't hold it against her when she claimed to know Chuckles!

TRIKES, BIKES, AND PUMPKINS!

WELCOME BACK CLAIRE

HOWARD & IRV SOAKING IN THE SUN

Trying to choose a route that would give us a decent ride and get us back before dark is a challenge.  So we departed Casey's at 5:30, passed through downtown Waukon, and took the Old Stage Road into Decorah.  After a short jog on HWY 9 west and HWY 52 north, we turned onto Madison Road where Roger joined us.  We continued on Madison until it ended just north of Ridgeway and then took CR W14 on south and joined HWY 9 again just east of Ridgeway.  All along the Madison Road we saw a lot of bean harvesting.  We were expecting to be swarmed by Japanese beetles, but so far, so good.  In fact, the only wildlife I spotted was a lonely male pheasant.

Following HWY 9 with a beautiful sunset to our backs, we arrived at the City Club in Waukon.  I had 63 miles on the Wing at City Club.

ARRIVING IN WAUKON AT SUNSET

DARREL GETS THE PRIME PARKING SPOT

SUNDAY

This Sunday is our last scheduled RTE for the year.  It's our annual "Run, Chicken, Run" Run up to Rockton for their "almost world famous" barbequed chicken.  The plan is to depart Casey's at 10:30 that morning and take a scenic ride through southwest Wisconsin up to Rockton.  Hopefully we are able to catch some of the leaves turning their autumn colors.  At the Rockton Bar, we will feast on the chicken, or any other items on the menu.  After stuffing down the chicken, we will meander down to the Sunrise Orchard in Gays Mills to sample the apple cider donuts for desert, and then finish with a scenic ride back to Waukon.

IMPORTANT!

If you want the chicken dinner at Rockton, you will need reservations!  You can do that one of two ways.  You can let Bob know by Friday noon by calling him at 563-568-7277 and leave a message as to how many dinners you want, and he will make the reservations for you.  Your second choice would be to make the reservations yourself on Saturday or Sunday morning by calling the Rockton Bar at 608-625-4395 and say you are part of the Waukon Group.  Right now Bob has reservations for Bob & Julie, Wayne M, Chuck K, and Darrel.  Don't wait too long because Sunday is predicted to be a nice day, and the chicken may go fast, and you may have to "run down" your own!

DARKER FASTER

 On a cool and breezy Wednesday evening, we had eight riders show up at Casey's who obviously were not "fair weather" riders.  The temps showed 57 and with a brisk northwest wind we departed on the Elon Road with Irv, Darrel, and Chuck (not Chuckles) on trikes and Al, Jim & Cathy, Howard, and Bob on two-wheelers.

JIM TELLS ABOUT HIS BLACK HILLS TRIP

AND THEN POINTS TO US WHICH WAY TO TRAVEL

  For the most part we did stay out of the wind, but while we were out of the wind, we were riding in shade, so there was a trade off.  After traversing the Elon Road, we turned south onto the Lansing/Harpers Road.  We began to see damp spots on the road from some previous showers, but none falling from the sky yet.  We arrived in Harpers and then took  the Great River Road back up to HWY 76.  We followed 76 through Marquette and McGregor and then onto CR X56 south past Pikes Peak and onto Clayton Road west into Garnavillo.  Again there was dampness on the roadways but no rain on us.  In Garnavillo we turned back north on HWY 52 to the junction of HWY 18 and took 18 past Monona into Luana.  In Luana we followed Forest Mills Road past the Gelo Ranch, where Jim & Cathy took the first exit, and then past Woodchuck Road where we lost Chuck.  We then turned onto HWY 76 and back into Waukon where Irv, Howard, and Bob stopped for eats.  It was getting pretty dark by the time we got back, but it's difficult right now to gauge the time and sunlight.  We did see some very unusual cloud formations through the sunset, but no rain on us.  However after leaving City Club, I pulled into my shed just in time to avoid a pretty good rain shower.  Good luck there, I guess.  I had 88 miles racked up on the Wing when I shut her down.

SUNDAY 

This Sunday was supposed to be our annual Run, Chicken, Run Run up to Rockton for the barbequed chicken.  But the weather forecast shows high temps only in the low 50's and no sun.  With that in mind, let's postpone the Chicken Run to the following Sunday, the 11th.  That date was set aside for "chicken make up" anyway, so let's plan on leaving Casey's at 10:30 on Sunday, the 11th.  The forecast looks a lot better at least for now.  More details coming about reservations on upcoming posts.

HERE'S THE LINK TO A REAL NEAT VIDEO TO WATCH!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tapZWekS1o8