CAMP COURAGEOUS & NEXT WEDNESDAY

 We had 7 Wednesday Night Riders journey on down to support Camp Courageous with their omelet breakfast on Sunday.  Since it rained the entire way down and back in leu of motorcycles, Dennis, Marlene, Jens, and Jane rode down in the Blocker van, and  Bob, Julie, and Richard took the Rotach Durango.  Also special thanks to Carl & Joyce for sending down a contribution with us.  The breakfast was well attended with plenty to eat.  Camp Corageous really appreciates our support!

THE SUPPORT CAST

On the way back we stopped at Joe's in Guttenberg for our "traditional" ice cream treats (as if we needed any more to eat!)

I think the way the apple treees seem to be blossoming out, if the weather is good for our Wednesday night ride, we may journey up through the orchards near Gays Mills and enjoy the aroma and beauty of apple blossoms.

"SUPPORT" VEHICLE BACK THEN

BRIDGE CROSSING & CAMP COURAGEOUS

 Even without swim trunks or life jackets, seven riders traversed the repaired Black Hawk bridge in Lansing and made it safely over to Wisconsin.

Showing up for our Wednesday evening ride were three bikers,  Chuckles, Lois,  and Mike.  Richard and Bob rode in on three wheels, and Irv and Terry roared in aboard the "support" Vet.

Richard, Irv, and Terry compare rides.

Chuckles and Lois join the group.

Mike completes the group.

 With the bank temp reading 62 degrees, and under sunny skies, we departed Casey's and passed through town proceeding on HWY9.  We cruised through Churchtown and down the hill into Lansing.  We then proceeded onto the newly repaired bridge and crossed with no problems.  I am amazed that this structure was built way before any heavy equipment was available, and yet the craftmanship that went into building the bridge was remarkable.  It lasted over 100 years!  Let's hope the new one does as well.  After crossing the bridge itself, we came upon a temporary stop sign that apparently is there to allow construction traffic to cross the highway.

After arriving in Wisconsin, we turned south onto HWY 35 and after passing through Ferryville and Lynxville, we took CR K around Prarie du Chien.  We then crossed the bridge there and arrived back in Iowa.  Let's hope the bridge builders in Lansing to a better job with the bridge surface than the one done in PDC.

Our route then took us up HWY 76 offering us a smooth ride up to Waterville Road where we turned north and cruised on into town.  This stretch of road offers up some really nice views of the hills and valleys in the surrounding area.  After cruising through Waterville, we continued on CR X32 over to the Elon Road.  The Elon Road then took us back into Waukon and to the Uptown for eats.  I had a little over 90 miles on the trike when I got Home.

It does look like our Wednesday night rides from now on can be a little longer and we should be able to take a break along the way.

CAMP COURAGEOUS

The weather for our Sunday trip to Camp Courageous doesn't look good for motorcyling.  So some of us will still be going by cars.  If you would like to ride along or drive, we will still be leaving Casey's at 9 Sunday morning.  If you can't go along and would still like to make a contribution to Camp Courageous, you can drop off a check to us on Sunday morning, and we will be happy to take it with us.  By the way, the omelets at their breakfast are delicious, and this is a fundraiser is very important to help a great facility like Camp Courageous to keep operating without government help (interference)!

The ride next Wednesday looks to be heading to Pikes Peak park near McGregor.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!

LANSING BRIDGE

 With predicted temps in the upper 50's and sun, I plan to ride on Wednesday evening.  I plan to check out the newly repaired Lansing bridge (You may want to be wearing swim trunks!) and then mosey down to PDC and either pass through Monona, Luana, or Postville on the way back.  Won't stop for a break, and be back before it gets too chilly.

The weather does not look too good for Sunday for a bike trip to Camp Courageous.  Unless the weather changes, some of us will be going by cages.  More on that later.

GOOD TURNOUT FOR 16TH PMS

 Just over 30 people showed up at the Uptown Grill in Waukon on Wednesday evening for the 16th PMS (Parked Motorcycle/Motorcar Syndrome) get-together.

After a tribute to America by Johnny Cash was presented, Bob presented information from Florida, his shoulder update, introduced new riders, and went over the 2024 special rides.

A visual presentation of tributes then followed. Condolences for Dawn Roney, honors for Richard and Terry, Wayne & Sandy's 65th anniversary, trike rides to seniors at Northgate and Good Sam, and the Iowa Hawkeye women's basketball team were presented.

This was followed by a video called "Reflections on WNR 2023".  This included some "good-natured" kidding by (mis)interpretation of 2023 photos.  There were no exemptions for any members, so almost everyone had an "opportunity" to be "picked on".  From the comments afterwards, it seemed everyone enjoyed the night.

Bob also expressed the importance of letting him know ASAP about any intentions members have for participating in the Annual Summer Trip (July 29-Aug 3) to Ohio to the National Air Force Museum in Dayton and to ride some of the Windy 9 routes near Athens.  This would also be true of the Couples' Trip (Sept. 14 & 15).  Motel reservations remain harder to get and more expensive.

Here's some photos of the Wednesday night "extravaganza".

Our next "special ride" is a week from Sunday, April 28.  We will head down to Camp Courageous in Monticello for their fund-raising omelet breakfast.  If it's not suitable weather for riding cycles, we will take autos.  We will depart Casey's at 9 AM.  If you cxan't make the ride, you may want to make a contribution to Camp Courageous anyway.  Just make out a check to them and we will deliver it Sunday.  If you want to know about CC go to:  ttps://youtu.be/dVnJyB_ff9Q

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!

WE SNUCK ANOTHER ONE IN

 With a warm but welcome pleasant evening, ten riders gathered to take advantage of the weather and get another pre PMS ride in the books.

Irv & Terry arrived in the "support" vet for it's maiden 2024 voyage.  Chuckles, Lois, Dee, and Mike rolled in on their bikes, while Richard rode in on his lit up Slingshot.  We were joined by Bobby and Levi (newbies) on their Harleys, and Bob led on his trike.

RICHARD DEMONSTRATES HIS NEW LIGHT SET-UP

IRV HAS TERRY ABOARD IN THE "SUPPORT" VET

DEE ARRIVES AFTER SOME PARKING LOT WARM-UPS

MIKE SAYS "IT'S ABOUT TIME WE RODE AGAIN!"

OUR NEWBIES, BOBBY AND LEVI, GET READY TO ROLL

The bank sign registered 71 degrees as we rode through town and headed north up HWY 76.  Once we reached Bear Creek Drive, we turned west and followed it over to Locust Road.  We spotted a flock of turkeys in a field hiding from hunters.  Once we arrived at Locust Road we turned back north and arrived at HWY 44 in Minnesota.  Passing into Spring Grove on 44 we headed back south on CR A16 which changes over to Dorchester Drive when we enter back into Iowa.  We slowed way down to avoid sand on a couple of downhill curves into Dorchester.  Dorchester Drive offers up some nice views of the surrounding hills and valleys and we saw some farmers working up their fields already.  We also saw a few patches of that ugly "white stuff" that had not completely melted in some of the ditches.  Once we avaoided the "rush hour" in Dorchester we made our way back to HWY 76 and after a short jog south we turned east onto A 26 (Iowa River Drive).  About three miles later, I came "face to face" with a startled hen turkey.  I ducked and she flew what seemed to be just inches over my head.  That was the closest I've come to hitting a big bird since a pelican tried to hitch a ride with me in Florida a couple of years ago.  We continued east on IRD over to Lycurgus Road and then headed south over to HWY 9.  We spotted a rooster pheasant in all his spring attire along the road trying to attract a hen, so he didn't pay much attention to us.  After arriving at the junction of HWY 9, we followed it back to the Uptown Grill back in Waukon.  I had 78 miles on the trike when I parked her for the night.

Our second pre PMS tour turned out to be a very pleasant run.  I hope Bobby and Levi enjoyed it and will join us again some time.

SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEDNESDAY AT THE PMS (Parked Motorcycle/Motorcar Syndrome) get-together next Wednesday, April 17th in the party room at Uptown Grill in Waukon.  Eats around 6 and "program" around 7.  Sounds like a good time!

NOT INVITED (YET)

PMS & WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDE

 I have mailed out the invitations to the PMS get-together on April 17th, so you should be getting them shortly.  Also included in the mailing was the special ride sheet for the 2024 season.  If you did not receive an invitation, and want to come to the get-together, please do.  It's good to see everyone again and it's usually a fun time.  Hopefully we have a good crowd.

This Wednesday evening, the 10th, looks to be warm and dry enough for a ride, so I am planning to leave Casey's at 5 and maybe scoot up towards Spring Grove.  We already had one pre PMS ride, so it looks like another one is in store.  We will probably have to watch out for sand on the roads left over from the last blast of snow.

See you on the next two Wednesday nights!

WHO NEEDS A MOTEL ROOM?!