IT COOLED DOWN

 With a dramatic change in temps from the weekend, 14 riders in or on 11 units showed up at Casey's for our Wednesday night foray.  With Chuckles, Jim D, Mike, Dee, Jim & Cathy, and Bob on bikes; Roger, Darrel, and ChucK on trikes; Richard & Melodye in the Slingshot, and Irv & Terry in the support Vette, the Wednesday Night Rider gang was set to depart for the Gays Mills area.

ChucK & DEE LOOK OVER THE WEEKEND PLANS

MIKE FINDS A PARKING SPOT

GATHERING AROUND TO CHECK OUT THE NEW SEAT

JIM SAYS HE HAD TO SELL HIS OLD BIKE TO PAY FOR THE NEW SEAT

ROGER "BUTTONS UP"

JIM D JOINS THE CREW

WHERE'S THE DIP STICK?

Under overcast skies and temps in the high 60's the convoy heads out of town on HWY 9.  When we arrive in Lansing, we marvel at the new mural painted on the Main Street building.  We cross the Mississippi and take HWY 35 north until we come to CR B.  My original plan was to take CR C east, but local reports said that C was being resurfaced with a lot of loose gravel and tar, so B made the logical choice.  Up the hill we went on B.  This road offers some twisties along with some great views.

As I was coming up over a rise on B, I nearly came "face to face" with a bald eagle who was trying to devour a road kill on the left side of the pavement, and it took him a while to get airborne.  Until you're up close to one of these birds, I don't think one realizes how big they really are!

We continued on B, just missing rush hour in Towerville, until we came to HWY 131 and turned south.  We pulled in to the Cenex Market Place just outside of Gays Mills  for our break.

TIME FOR A BREAK

PLENTY OF PARKING AVAILABLE

After the break, we returned to HWY 131 and cruised into Gays Mills.  Just outside of town we turned east onto HWY 171 and followed it into Mt. Sterling.  There we made a turn south onto HWY 27 and cruised through Seneca.  We then came to one of my favorite 4 mile stretches of road, CR F.  This smooth route takes us downhill to HWY 35, and offers some of the best scenery in the tri-state area.  Some of the views across the valleys and the Mississippi River are incredible!

At the end of CR F, we turned south onto HWY 35 and headed toward Prairie Du Chien.  Just north of PDC, we took CR K around the west edge of town and along the river.  We then arrived at HWY 18 and turned west.  At Marquette some of us continued the ride on HWY 76, while others broke off for home.  HWY 76 is still under construction (repaving), but we did not have any delays and made our way into Waukon for eats at the Uptown.  I had 115 miles on the Wing after parking her on Main Street.  By now the temps were in the low 60's, or about 30 degrees cooler than the weekend.

NEXT WEDNESDAY

Looking to head up into the Spring Grove area.  The rides will be getting shorter as the daylight is also.

THIS WEEKEND

Saturday and Sunday is the annual Wednesday Night Riders Couples' Trip.  This year Jim & Cathy, ChucK & Dee, Dennis & Marlene, Jens & Jane, and Bob & Julie are headed to Lake Geneva for a scenic ride and a boat cruise on the lake.  We will be staying at the Baymont in Waterford with snacks and lies on Saturday night.  We will meander our way back on Sunday.