GOOD RIDE, BUT JOE WAS A "NO SHOW"

 We had 18 riders show up Wednesday for a planned trip to Guttenberg for an ice cream stop at Joe's Pizza and Ice Cream shop.  On bikes were Roger, Dee, Darron, Jim & Cathy, and Bob.  Boarding trikes were Darrel, Meryle & Mary, Bugsy (new ride), Chuck (not Chuckles), Wayne & Sandy, and Gary & Gloria.  The support vehicles were manned by Greg & Dale and Jay (newbie).

BUGS SHOWS OFF HIS NEW RIDE

WARM NIGHT ATTRACTS BOTH SANDY & MARY
DARRON VISITS WITH JAY (NEWBIE)

THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES

DALE HIDES BEHIND THE LICENSE PLATE

FILLING THE "QUOTA" FOR GELOS

With temps in the mid 80's and sunny skies, we departed Casey's heading south on HWY 76 for a short jog and then onto Forest Mills Road.  We breezed past the Gelo ponderosa and then took the Cherry Valley Road on into Postville.  Just outside of Postville we turned to the south on the Gunder Road and followed it through Gunder and into Elkader.  From there we took a short trip north on HWY 13 and then picked up the appropriately named Grandview Road.  We passed through Communia, Elkport and Garber.  On the edge of Garber we turned northeast on the (you guessed it) Garber Road.  Following the Garber Road took us to HWY 52 on the east edge of Guttenberg.  Those two roads, Grandview and Garber, rank in my top ten for scenery.  They didn't disappoint because the scenery was spectacular on this clear Wednesday night.

We then made our way through Guttenberg and arrived at Joe's expecting to sample some of the delicious ice cream we have enjoyed for the past few years on Wednesday nights.  Alas, the place was closed now on Wednesday nights!  What a disappointment!

WAYNE INFORMS US THAT THE "JOINT IS CLOSED"

GATHERING OF THE GELOS

"I WONDER WHAT THE HELL THIS BUTTON DOES?"

ROGER SAYS, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT!"

BEFORE THEY FOUND OUT JOE'S WAS CLOSED

Since we still needed a "treat" break, we decided to venture over to the local Kwik Trip.  There we found ice cream and other eats to carry us for the return trip home.

After our break we passed through Guttenberg and took CR X56 north out of town.  As we passed along the various rivers (Mississippi, Volga, and Turkey) we noticed how low they had become from the lack of rainfall.  CR X56 took us on north and into McGregor where we followed River Street into Marquette and then onto HWY 76 north.  Just before we entered McGregor, I had to come to a screeching halt for a deer standing in the middle of the road.  Actually that was the only live wildlife I saw on the whole trip.  There were plenty of dead animals lying along the roadsides.

HWY 76 took us back into Waukon where several of us stopped at the City Club for more eats.  There the conversation turned to how to foil all the telemarketing calls we have been getting.  It was also nice to have Bugsy entertain the riders behind him by playing loud radio music! He did do a good job of keeping up on his "new" ride. I had 120 miles on the Wing when I got home.

I do plan to continue the ride to Guttenberg on a Wednesday night in the future. It's just too nice a ride to pass up.  We just won't be able to stop at Joe's unless they change their hours.

RTE ON SATURDAY

On Saturday, the plan is to leave Casey's at 10:30 AM for a RTE to Larry's Lookout Bar near Arcadia.  In the past they have always had good food and a spectacular view from their deck.  I'm anxious to see what it's like under new management.  EVERYONE IS WELCOME.