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!