DOZEN MAKE IT "HOME AGIN"

 An even dozen Wednesday Night Riders showed up at Casey's for a planned ride over to Home Agins Bar & Grill in Mt. Hope.  It was a warm night with temps in the low 80's and clear skies.

Darrel and Sharon (newbie) cruised over from Freeport on their trikes.  Other trike riders were Chuck (not Chuckles), Wayne, and Irv.  Sporting bikes were Dee, Howard, Lois, Chuckles, and Bob.  Greg supplied the support vehicle and Dale was co-pilot.

CHUCK & DEE ROLL IN

MORE OF THE CREW WITH SHARON (NEWBIE)

CHUCKLES & LOIS READY TO ROLL

Departing Casey's at 5:30, we started out on HWY 76 south before turning onto Forest Mills Road.  We cruised past the Gelo plantation and through Hardin and on into Luana where we picked up HWY 18 heading east.  Once we passed through Monona, Giard, and Froelich, we discovered that the stop light on the Mississippi River bridge was no longer in use, and we crossed from Marquette into Prairie du Chien with no delay.  In PDC we followed HWY 18 until we reached CR C just south of Bridgeport and turned east on it.  We cruised on CR C along the bank -full Wisconsin River.  It proved to be a cool, refreshing ride through Millville and up to HWY 133.  We turned south for a scenic drive south on 133 down to HWY 18 and a short jog west to CR J and on into Mt. Hope for a break at Home Agins'.

ON THE STREETS OF MT. HOPE

THE LEADER GOT US HERE

We discovered that most of the population of Mt. Hope was in Home Agains', but we were able to get our treats and sit outside and tell lies.

RELAXING IN MT. HOPE

CHUCKLES BITTEN BY A MT. HOPE BUG

Since the days of summer are growing shorter (dammit!), taking the shorter route back to Waukon was really our only option.  So instead of traveling back through Bloomington, as we have done before, we took HWY 18 back through PDC and back over the bridge to Marquette.  A couple of deer were spotted on our journey just before we reached the "deer crossing" signs on the highway.  

In Marquette, after everyone had caught back up from the PDC stop lights, we took HWY 76 north.  Again along the way several deer crossed the road ahead of us or were staring at our convoy from the side of the road. 76 continues to be one of the worst state highways in Iowa!  We did pass through Rossville safely and on into Waukon and eats at the City Club.  There the conversation turned to what a great event the "Field of Dreams" production turned out to be in Dyersville last Thursday night.  I had 115 miles on the Wing when she roared into the garage.

NEXT WEDNESDAY

Right now the plan is to ride west over towards Cresco.

THANKS TO THE GUYS THAT WENT ON OUR TRIP TO THE DAKOTAS FOR YOUR "THANK YOU" GIFT.  I WAS GLAD TO HAVE "JUST SOME" OF YOU GUYS ALONG (LOL), AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY GOOD ADVENTURE!  LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR, GOD WILLING.