If the weather stays the way it's predicted (temps near 60 and calmer winds), I do plan to take a short ride tonight (Wednesday) from Casey's at 5. If the weather stays cool and the winds pick up like they have been, then I'm staying home!
See you at 5, maybe!
It's also "Be Kind To Your Pet" week.
It's now official. The PMS get-together has been moved from the 16th of April to the 23rd. After receiving a fair number of responses in favor of moving the date to the 23rd, and none saying it would not work, the change was made. The 16th fell right in the middle of Holy Week and I also think it's when St. John's Lutheran in Waukon had their annual meatball supper scheduled.
Again, for those of you who have given me your address, you will be receiving in the mail an invitation along with a sheet showing the "special rides" for the 2025 riding season. For those of you who I do not have an address for, you are still invited to attend and can pick up your "special" rides sheet then, or if you want, you can send me your address. It has proved to be a "fun" time for everyone and it will be good to see everyone again after another winter.
So, set aside the 23rd of April for the seventeeth annual meeting of the Wednesday Night Riders Club at the Uptown Grill in Waukon. More details will follow on this blog as I get time to put everything together.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST MORE FUN GOING TWO UP!!
Hi Everybody!
We did arrive safely back from Florida, even though we had to spend a couple of extra nights in Dyersburg, Tennesse, to avoid severe wind and rain storms.
The reason for this update is when I looked at the intended date for our annual PMS get-together at Uptown Grill on April 16th, I discovered that this year it falls right in the middle of Holy Week. We have Palm Sunday to start the week on the 13th and Good Friday on the 18th.
Now this would not bother a Buddist like me (LOL), but the last thing I want to do is have a conflict with those in our group that set that week aside for religious purposes and have to make a choice between church attendance and our get-together.
The Uptown has the following Wednesday night, the 23rd still open, so I am contemplating changing our PMS a week later to that date.
I know some of you may have already set aside the 16th, and now may have a conflict on the 23rd. If so, then please send me an e-mail at brotach @ msn.com or call me at 563-568-7277. If I don't have too many objections, I'll make the date change. I would like to let them know at Uptown by next Wednesday, so please contact me by then. We have always had good atttendance at this "fun" time, and I would like to keep it that way.
I still plan to send out personal invitations and the ride dates sheet to everyone that I have an address for. If you want to get these, then make sure I have your mailing address. Stay tuned to this blog for any change that may be made for our PMS date.
When the weather finally broke for the better, we were able to rack up some miles on the trike. As of today, we have put somewhat over 1600 miles so far.
We have been able to connect with the motorcycle groups from Ft. Walton, FL, and Dothan, AL, by attending their monthly get-togethers. We were on two rides with the Dothan group (the wiregrass u crew). Our first ride, called their Sweet Heart Ride, was to a home cooked buffet at a restaurant called Red's School House in Grady, AL.
Here's some photos from that adventure.
 |
| A GOOD TURNOUT |
 |
| OUR ENTERTAINMENT THE GUY WAVING IS THEIR RIDE LEADER DON'T EXPECT THAT FROM ME! |
 |
| TWO SWEETHEARTS FROM IOWA |
 |
| THE GAL ON THE TRIKE BEHIND US GOT THIS SHOT |
 |
| ONLY 6 BIKES AND TWO CARS ON THIS RUN |
 |
| THE PO' BOYS FILLED US RIGHT UP |
|
 |
| JULIE WITH THE TRIKE |
 |
| THE TWO "SUPPORT VEHICLES" |
 |
| WE REACH OUR DESTINATION |
 |
| LOT'S OF FISHING ON LAKE SEMINOLE |
 |
| WE TOOK A RIDE OVER TO PORT ST. JOE THEY ARE STILL BUILDING BIG SHIPS THERE |
 |
| PHOTOS OF CYPRIS STUMPS THAT MAKE GREAT BASS FISHING |
 |
| CAN'T SEE ANY MOUNTAINS! |
 |
| SLINGSHOTS ARE PRETTY POPULAR RENTALS DOWN HERE ARE RICHARD AND MELODYE LOOKING TO UPGRADE TO A SIX SEATER?! |
 |
| SHUFFLEBOARD IS PRETTY POULAR HERE AT THE CONDO DON'T PLAY THESE PEOPLE FOR MONEY! |
As you may have heard by now, winter was not nice to the south, and Panama City Beach was no exception. We received about 4 inches here and in some areas just north of us in Florida and Alabama received over 8 inches, all new records. It may not get warm enough today to melt away the snow, so it will probably turn to ice. As you may well know, the natives in these areas have no idea how to drive in winter weather, so a day in the condo is the plan. The only saving grace, is that temps this coming weekend are supposed to be in the 60's.
Compare the photos I sent you last time with the ones I'm sending today, and you'll see what I'm talking about! It's amazing that right now we have more snow here than you have back there in Iowa!
 |
| The trike and pickup during the snow fall |
 |
| VIEW FROM OUR FRONT DOOR |
 |
| MORE PARKING LOT PHOTOS FROM LAST NIGHT |
 |
| SNOWFALL LOOKING OUT THE BACK BALCONY |
 |
| MORE EVENING SNOW FALL |
 |
| NO ONE IN THE HOT TUBS NOW |
 |
| THE PARKING LOT IS A SKATING RINK |
 |
| STEAM ROLLING OFF THE HOT TUB |
 |
| FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW |
 |
| MORE TRACKS |
 |
| THAT'S NOT WHITE SAND. IT'S SNOW! |
I have received a number of requests to see how it's going for us in Florida, so I thought it might be easier to inform everyone on the blog.
First of all our trip down here was a little challenging at times. We waited at home for a couple of hours before leaving on the 29th for the fog to lessen. It was pretty soupy until we got to Oelwein, and then a few spots in Missouri along the way. We stopped at Sikeston, MO, for the first night and then on to Defuniak Springs, Florida, and finally to Panama City Beach on the 31st.
When we first arrived, the weather was pleasant, but cool. I was able to get in a 150 mile ride on Jan. 2nd. However, since then, the weather has been very cool for this area along with a lot of rain and wind. For almost a week now, the high temps were in the 40's, and I have not ridden since. It looks like it's going to be in the 50's today, so I plan on a ride. Needless to say, the natives are really "pissing and moaning" about the cold, but I also remind them that it's currently below zero in Iowa. They said it would be crazy to live there! The outdoor pool here is heated, so we are able to use it most every day. The real challenge comes when it's time to get out!
We did attend a get-together with the motorcycle group from Ft. Walton last Thursday evening. They are a group that's affliliated with Eagle Wings Motorcycle Association. They only had 7 members show up, so I'm a little concerned about this group. Hopefully we will be able to go on some rides with them.
On Saturday morning, I ventured over to Pensacola for their monthly meeting. They are also members of the Eagle Wings Association. Since I am also a member, I was able to participate in their activities and hopefully be able to join them on some rides. This is a very active group. They have several charities that they support and generally have a couple of RTE's (Rides To Eat) each month. You have to be a member of Eagle Wings to be able to go on rides with both of these groups.
Tonight we are heading up to Dothan, Alabama, the peanut capital of the world, for a get-together with a group that's similar to our Wednesday Night Riders. They call themselves the Wiregrass U Crew. Like us, they have no affliliation with any particular association, but some of the members belong to Eagle Wings like I do. They have both 2 wheelers, 3 wheelers, and 4 wheelers of all kinds on their rides like we do. They always have a RTE called a "Sweetheart Ride" near Valentines Day that we participate with them.
None of these groups ride as often as we do and don't have anywhere near the members that they had when we first started coming to their meetings. This is why I am extremely proud of our group. We seemed to be growing in numbers and I was introduced to a fellow at the hospital Christmas party that wants to join us in the spring.
Hopefully the cold weather is coming to an end, and we will be able to get more riding in. If we have any interesting adventures, I'll post them. In the meantime, stay warm!
Here's some photos from our condo unit.
 |
| GULF OF MEXICO FROM OUR BALCONY |
 |
| A LONELY TRIKE! |
 |
| VIEWS FROM OUR FRONT DOOR |
