STEAM TO SLIMEY CRUD

 This Sunday was a busy riding day for 10 of our Wednesday Night Riders.  Six met at Casey's on Sunday morning for a trip to West Salem, Wisconsin to see the Final Spike 2816 steam train on it's journey to Texas.  Four others met at Kwik Star in Lansing for a trip to the Slimey Crud Run from Pine Bluff to Leland, Wisconsin.

THE FINAL SPIKE

Chuckles, Lois, and Jeff (newbie) arrived on bikes while Dave M and Bob took trikes, and Richard stoked up the Slingshot.  This group had West Salem, Wisconsin, as their destination.  There they wanted to see the Final Spike steam train pass through on it's way through the country from Canada to Mexico.

The group awaits the leader who is still in church

Bob finally arrives and greets Jeff (newbie)

With Bob leading the group departed Casey's a little later than the 10:15 starting time.  Our destination was to be West Salem, where we hoped to get a passing view of a restored steam engine and passenger cars.  This was the Final Spike train that started in Canada and was passing through Wisconsin on it's journey to Mexico.  It was scheduled to come down the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River, stop in LaCrescent for a crew change at noon, and then cross over into Wisconsin and pass through West Salem.  There is where we thought we could get the best view of the train and we were right!

After passing through Waukon, we proceeded on HWY 9 to Lansing, crossed the Black Hawk bridge (for about the third time in a week), and then headed north on HWY 35 in Wisconsin.  Following 35 north to HWY 14 east we turned there just outside of LaCrosse.  HWY 14 took us to one of my favorite backroads at CR Yy where we turned in a northerly direction.  CR Yy offers some outstanding views of the countryside along with some sweeping curves and gentile hills.  We took a short jog on HWY 33 and picked up CR M continuing in a northerly direction.  CR M also offers some outstanding scenery, and by now the temps were a comfortable 68 degrees.  We followed M to Barre Mills and then up to CR C, just short of I 90.  C took us across the interstate and on into West Salem  and the Kwik Trip where we stopped to reconoider.

JEFF HAS A WELL APPOINTED GOLD WING TRIKE

CHUCKLES SERVEYS THE AREA

LOIS FINDS SOME GOODIES

CHUCKLES SAMPLES THE GOODIES, DAVE HAS A DRINK

On our break, we saw a freight train pass through, so we were able to locate the tracks in West Salem.  We decided to get a closer view and found a small park right next to the tracks.  It was a great place to wait for the train to arrive.  We were also greeted by some local folks who arrived on a Gold Wing trike.

WAITING COMFORTABLY IN THE PARK

ACROSS THE TRACKS WAS A SMALL FACTORY THAT MAKES WOODEN BALL BATS

The Slingshot must have liked the ride, because it was winking at me!

By now a pretty large crowd had gathered in the area, and at about 1:30, she rolled through!

After viewing the steam train, we were all hungry, so our new friends with the Gold Wing trike led us to Features Sports Bar & Grill in West Salem for lunch.  The fish sandwiches were supposed to be "world famous".  They were large and rather tasty, but not quite "world famous".

We left West Salem via HWY 16 west, and then took I 90 over into Minnesota, and on into LaCrecent.  Since the weather was great, and we still had plenty of time, I decided to take another one of my favorite backroads, CR 25.  It's best to take this route before the corn grows too high, because you can see for miles and miles along this scenic stretch of pavement.  We took CR 25 over the river and through the woods to HWY 16 and then on into Hokah.  In Hokah we picked up HWY 44 and on into Caledonia we went.  We stopped at the Kwik Trip there and I was able to visit with Lissa. It had been almost one year since her run in with a deer.  She has recovered well and hopes to get an easy clutch release arm for her Harley so she can ride with us again.

We followed HWY 76 back into Waukon, and Dave and Jeff headed to Postville.  I had 143 miles on the trike when I got back home.  I think we all really enjoyed seeing the steam train and the ride to and back.  Jeff said he enjoyed being along.  He plays pickelball on Wednesday nights, but hopes to join us on some weekend rides.

SLIMEY CRUD RUN

Apparently the ride is alot better than its name!  Jim & Cathy and Mike & Joan made the trip.  Cathy sent some photos shown below from the number of older bikes that make the run.

MIKE'S FIRST BIKE, ONLY A DIFFERENT COLOR

YOU MEET THE NICEST PEOPLE ON A HONDA!

ANOTHER GEM!

Right now the weather for Wednesday shows a 25% chance of rain.  If the weather holds, we will take a ride up to Pikes Peak near McGregor.

Also, Saturday, the 11th is our first RTE (Ride To Eat), a burger run.  If the weather holds, we will probably try to go to Little Miami in Freeburg (near Caledonia).  It's been a long time since I've been there, so I'm looking forward to it.  Leaving Casey's at 4:30.