COOL & BREEZY, BUT STILL GREAT

 With temps still around 70, but a strong wind whipping up, we had 10 riders on 8 units show up at Casey's this Wednesday.  With the days growing shorter, and daylight savings time less than a month away, it pays to get the rides in when we can.

Richard & Melodye arrived in the Slingshot, and the other three-wheeled riders were Irv, Terry, and Bob.  The rest of the gang on bikes were Mike, Jim & Cathy, Chuckles, and Lois.

RICHARD & MELODYE "SLINGSHOT" IN

MIKE, JIM & CATHY DISCUSS FUTURE PLANS

IRV ANXIOUSLY AWAITS EVERYONE'S ARRIVAL

CHUCKLES MAKES HIS APPEARANCE

FOLLOWED BY LOIS

TERRY JOINS THE CREW

The plan was to explore the Elkader area, especially Gunder Road, so we had to head to Postville.  With Forest Mills and Old Stage being under repairs, that just left HWY 51 as the alternative.  So we departed Casey's at 5 and headed west on HWY 9.  HWY 9 took us over to HWY 51 and we turned south there.  We continued on 51, passing over the Trooper Ted Benda Memorial Bridge, and on into Postville.

We arrived in Postville to be treated to a newly paved main street.  What an improvement!  The roadway is really smooth except for the rough railway crossing, and I'm assuming that will be corrected.  We also noticed the new construction being done at the Ziegler Cat property.  Also, another motorcyclist passed by in the opposite direction.  He must have had "monkey butt" from a long ride, because he was standing up.

We continued on HWY 18 through Postville until we came to the turn for the Gunder Road (CR W64).  The first 8 miles of this road takes us into Gunder on some of the roughest pavement in the area.  This part of the road has needed improvement for ages!  Once we pass through Gunder, the road becomes not only a smooth transition, but offers up sweeping curves and fantastic views.

Once we arrive in Elkader, we find HWY 13 and start heading north.  We pass by the Fast Track Convenience Store that looks closed because of some food violations.  HWY 13 takes us up to CR B65 where we turn west and make the short jog into St. Olaf.  Once we reach the metropolis of St. Olaf, we turn back north onto Fawn Hollow Road (CR X28) and roll into Farmersburg.  There we pass a farmer who has had some bad luck with his fully loaded grain wagon.  It looks like a wheel had buckled and a skid steer was being used to lift the wagon so repairs could be made.  I would say the farmer had a bad day!

CR X28 took us through Famersburg and up to HWY 18.  We turned back west and then took Main Street through Monona and onto CR X26 (Volney Road).  The main street in Monona could use some serious repair work also.  We followed the Volney Road out of town and just as we headed up the hill near Volney, a hen turkey decided that she owned the road, and we had to wait for her to exit into the ditch.  However, she must have taken lessons from squirrels and couldn't make up her mind, because she shot across the road to the opposite ditch.  I would say her days are numbered!

The Volney Road took us into rosey Rossville where the aroma of chicken being cooked at the Rossville Store added to our hunger.  Once we reached HWY 76 we headed back for Waukon.  All the way back we were treated to a fantastically beautiful sunset, which made a great way to top off the ride.  Nine of us stopped at Uptown for eats.  There were 74 miles of the Wing's clock when I got her home.

NEXT WEDNESDAY

Possibly over towards Calmar.

SUNDAY

This Sunday is our last "special" trip for the season.  It's our annual "Run, Chicken, Run" Run.  We depart Casey's at 10 that morning and take a break in Viroqua before venturing on.  We wend our way through some great scenery up to Rockton where we can feast on the "nearly world famous" barbeque chicken.  Then on the way back we stop at the Sunrise Orchard for some goodies that might include hot apple cider and delicious apple cider donuts.

If you want the barbecued chicken, it's a good idea to reserve it.  If you let Bob know your intentions by Saturday, he will call in your reservations.  Otherwise it's up to you to make them.

NEW WAY TO ROCKTON