WIND FROM HELL COULDN'T STOP US

 Our Wednesday Night Riders Memorial Day festivities started off under sunny skies with a gentle breeze blowing in the morning.  This set excellent conditions for our tribute to our veterans. A large crowd gathered and we had several WNR participate in the parade and ceremony in Waukon.

DALE WITH MRS. AND MISS POPPY

JENS & JANE WITH THE WREATH LAYERS

CHUCKLES IN THE AMBULANCE
LATER ON HE WOULD TRY TO DIRECT TRAFFIC

JULIE PRESENTING "QUILTS OF VALOR"

After our tribute to our veterans, eighteen of us assembled at Casey's at 1 PM for our annual ride.  Al, Howard, Jim D and Honey, Chuckles, Lois, Jim G & Cathy, and Dee brought bikes.  Wayne & Sandy, Carl & Joyce, ChucK, and Bob & Julie mounted trikes, while David & Suzanne provided the support convertible.

SANDY & JULIE MAKE PLANS

AL SHOWS OFF HIS NEW RIDE

HONEY ANXIOUS TO GET STARTED

CHUCKLES & LOIS GAS UP

AL GREETS THE GELOS

PASSING GAS OR GETTING GAS?!

GET JUST ENOUGH TO GET US TO THE CASINO AND BACK

IT RUNS BETTER WITHOUT THE MOUSE NEST!

DAVID GETS TO DRIVE WITH CLOSE SUPERVISION

DEE ARRIVES AFTER SOME WARM-UP MANEUVERS

As we were departing, the wind really started to pick up from the southeast.  We took HWY 76 south to Forest Mills Road and cruised past the Gelo ranch. We were treated to some great lilac smells from the bushes on the east side of the road.  It didn't seem to matter which direction we headed, the wind continued to blast us.  Just outside of Luana, we took HWY 18 east through Monona, Froelich, Marquette, Prairie du Chien, and Bridgeport and then onto HWY 35.  Continuing on 35 through Patch Grove we arrived in Bloomington where the plan was to stop at the One Stop for a break.  However, the place was closed, so we continued on our windy journey down HWY 35 to CR U.

CR U joined up with CR N for a smooth ride through the southwest Wisconsin countryside.  CR N took us back to HWY 35 and we followed it south into Lancaster for a much needed break at the brand new Kwik Trip.

After a break from the heat and wind, we turned north onto CR K just outside of Lancaster.  CR K is a favorite, because it offers a smooth ride along with some great scenery.  This two laner took us to HWY 133 and we took it east on into Boscobel.  While we were heading north, the wind didn't seem quite as strong, so we continued north on HWY 61 to CR S where we turned back west.  Along CR S we were treated to seeing some beautiful purple phlox growing along the road edges.  Following CR S we arrived at HWY 27 and turned south for a short jog into Seneca for a break.

It was here that a little repair work had to be done to the DFT to get her running again, but after some battery bolt tightening, the journey continued down HWY 171 and onto HWY 35.  Passing through Ferryville we continued our journey to HWY 82, crossed the Mississippi River bridge into Lansing where we picked up HWY 9 heading back home.  The ride along HWY 9 from Chuch Town to Waukon brought out the "wind from hell", and keeping the bikes and trikes on a straight line and keeping the helmets from blowing off was a real challenge.  As of now, the wind was really making our butts tired, so it was a relief to pull into the Rotach house for our cookout.  There was 172 miles on the trike.

Here's Jim D's map of our windy route.

Dennis & Marlene and Jens and Jane were waiting for our arrival, and Chuck & Lois picked up Mary, so when everyone arrived, we had a total of 23 brat eaters.  Needless to say, the Rotach patio was pretty well filled.

CATHY IS TRYING TO FIND ROOM

I'D TAKE ANOTHER SHOT OF THAT CHOCOLATE VODKA

After sampling the brats and all the other "goodies" everyone brought and a shot of chocolate vodka, everyone seemed satisfied.  So the "wind from hell" did not spoil our tribute to the veterans or our Wednesday Night Riders festivities.