FOURTEEN WNR CHASE DOWN "CLUCKERS"

 Even with the cooler temps and some threat of rain, we still had 14 Wednesday night riders show up for our annual "Run, Chicken, Run" Run up to Rockton, WI, for their "nearly world famous" barbequed chicken.

The bike contingent was represented by Jim D, Dee, and Lois.  On trikes were Darrel, Meryle & Mary, Wayne & Sandy, ChucK, and Bob & Julie.  Wayne M brought his Spyder, and Irv & Chris supplied the "support convertible".

DARREL COMES OVER TO PLACE HIS ORDER

GOOD TO SEE WAYNE M AGAIN

GETTING BUNDLED UP

OUR "SUPPORT CONVERTIBLE"

With temps in the mid 60's and under mostly cloudy skies we left Casey's at 10 AM bound for Rockton and the USDA "cluckers".  Heading east on HWY 9 we passed through Lansing and over the Blackhawk Bridge into Wisconsin.  There we picked up HWY 35 south and took it over to CR B and headed up the hill to HWY 27 north.  Even though we were surrounded by cloud cover and sometimes some mist, we could still enjoy the start of some fall coloring.  HWY 27 took us through Liberty Pole and past monument rock and just outside of Viroqua, we turned back east on CR J.  CR J also offers some fantastic views down through the valleys.  CR JJ was our next turn east again and this short stretch of blacktop took us down to HWY 14.  A short jog on 14 took us into Reedstown where we stopped at the BP Convenience Store for a break.  So far we had encountered very little rain, but the blacktop roads were wet from previous rainfall, so we had to use some caution to avoid some possibly slippery surfaces.

After our break, we turned onto HWY 131 for a short hop and turned east again onto CR I.  Cruising along on I, we encountered a "dancing cow" along the road ditch.  Our leaders got by him ok, but he did dance his way onto the road and some riders had to stop to avoid him.  Chris got this shot of him dancing across the road in front of Wayne M.  Welcome back, Wayne!

It's bad enough to have to watch out for deer, but "dancing" cows!  We continued our journey on CR I before it ended at CR A where we turned north again.  CR A took us through West Lima and onto HWY 82 and after a short stretch onto CR V.  We followed V for a short ways north and found CR P and turned west through Valley and on up to HWY 131 where we turned west into Rockton.  Taking Bob's "shortcut", we arrived at the Rockton Bar at 12:25.

SOME OF US WERE ABLE TO PARK ALONG THE ROAD

OTHERS USED THE GRAVEL LOT

SPECIAL PARKING FOR VETTES

WHILE SOME DECIDED TO PARK IN THE BUSHES!

Since there seemed to be a much smaller crowd than usual, we were able to secure our reservations and get right in line for the chicken.

WE WERE ABLE TO EAT INSIDE A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED ADDITION

SANDY IS INSIDE COOKING FISH

EATIN BBQ CHICKEN CAN BE MESSY

ENJOYING THE MEAL

After "wolfing" down the delicious chicken, beans, macaroni salad, and bread, we departed the Rockton on HWY 131 some of us headed back south for the orchards and apple cider donuts .  However, once we reached LaFarge, we discovered that 131 was closed and we had to take a detour on HWY 82 and 56 back around to Viola.  I figured this detour cost us about 20 miles, but the ride was dry and we were able to take in more fall colors.  Arriving in Viola we got back onto HWY 131 and made our way back to Reedstown where we turned south onto HWY 61 south.  61 is a newly resurfaced stretch of road, so we had a smooth ride through Soldiers Grove and up to Rolling Ground and then turned west onto HWY 171 and down to Sunrise Orchards.  Apparently there must have been a Corvette group from Dubuque there also.  After we sampled and loaded up on apple cider donuts we hit the road again for home.  We followed 171 down the steep incline and passed through Gays Mills where we saw some old cars with Allamakee licenses.  I guess the "old car group" out of Waukon stopped there on their way back from Baraboo.  We continued on 171 passing through Mt. Sterling and on down the hill to HWY 35 north.  We then passed through Ferryville, crossed the bridge into Lansing, picked up HWY 9 west and cruised back into Waukon and points further south for some.  We had 184 miles on the trike as we entered the garage.  We avoided some rain, saw some nice colors, and enjoyed a great meal.  How much better can it get?!

NEXT WEDNESDAY

Bob will be gone golfing (He had to plan that trip,too!), so you will need a new leader for the Wednesday night ride.  Be safe!

NEXT WEEKEND

If the weather cooperates, we could have a "bonus" ride either Saturday or Sunday.  We have used one of these days in the past to go on an afternoon leaf-looking ride.  More on that as we get closer to the weekend.

A CONCERN

Please keep Roger Frick in your prayers.  He has a mass that needs to be removed while he is in the hospital in LaCrosse.  He has battled cancer before, and hopefully he can do it again.