WE WENT ANYWAY

 Despite the predicted rain in the area, four Wednesday Night Riders challenged the weatherman and arrived at Casey's for what turned out to be a very plaeasant cruise.

Arriving last night were Mike, Richard & Melodye, and Bob.  We were a slim but determined crew.

MIKE ROLLS IN FROM NEW ALBIN

RICHARD & MELODYE DECIDE TO BRAVE THE ELEMENTS

SKULL CAP GOES ON FIRST

MIKE IS READY TO MOUNT UP

The foursome departed Casey's a little after 5 and left Waukon via HWY 9/76 heading south.  When we arrived at CR X16 (Forest Mills Road) we followed it southward past the Gelo plantation and then onto CR 838 (Cherry Valley Drive).  We cruised on into Postville on CVD.  Once in Postville, we found HWY 18 and took it out of town and onto HWY 52.  Once on 52, we made our way through Castalia and Ossian and on into Calmar.  By now we were enjoying partly sunny skies and temps in the 70's.

Just outside of Calmar, we proceeded onto 175th St.  This took us past the PIVO Brewery (our destination on the Hospice Ride Sunday) and the South Winn Golf Course.  175th St. changes to 265th Avenue just past the golf course, and led us to CR B16 just outside of Spillville.  The metropolis of Spillville is actually a crossroads town.  CR B16 and CR W14 intersect right in the center of town.  If you take W 14 south it will lead you into Ft. Atkinson.  If you make a short jog around the town square and continue on B 16 you will end up in Protivin.  We took W14 northward towards Ridgeway.  

W14 has been recently repaved, so it a smooth but curvy stretch of asphalt.  I think I counted 5 90 degree curves with 20 mph limits on the way into Ridgeway.  When we arrived at HWY 9, we jogged a little west and stopped at the Clark Gas & Convenience Store for a break.

After our break we took HWY 9 east out of town and turned onto CR W14 again heading north.  After a short run on W14, we took Madison Road all the way to HWY 52 just north of Decorah.  As we looked behind us, we could see storm clouds building up, and hoped we could skirt or outrun them the rest of the way home.

We continued on HWY 52 until we reached CR W34 (North Winn Road).  This smooth stretch of concrete took us past the Seed Saver facility and continued north to 337th St. where we jogged eastward past the Winneshiek Wildberry Winery.  This made for an interesting and scenic ride.  337th St. takes us over to Locust Road where we cross and it becomes Big Canoe Road still heading east.  Once we reach Balsom Road, Big Canoe becomes CR A 26 (Bear Creek Drive).  So now we continued on Bear Creek all the way over to HWY 76.  I had to brake for two deer, a wild turkey, a turkey buzzard, and a hen pheasant on our journey on 76 back into Waukon.  Remarkably, I had exactly 100 miles on the trike when I pulled to a stop in fron of Uptown Grill.  

What was supposed to be a soaking ride, turned out to be a very comfortable and scenic journey!

DO NOT FORGET THE WIN-MED HOSPICE RIDE ON SUNDAY!!  SEE THE PREVIOUS POST FOR DETAILS!