Goin' Back To Houston

We were heading back to Houston, MN, for the second attempt this year, but with the temps Wednesday night, one would think we were headed for Houston, TX !  The thermometer on the bank clock read 91 degrees as eight "cool" riders arrived at Casey's.  

Chuckles and Mike were our bikers. while ChucK, Terry, Richard & Melodye, and Bob boarded three wheelers.  Irv arrived in the "support" Vet.

HIS WATCH MUST BE BROKEN.  CHUCKLES IS THE FIRST ONE HERE!

ChucK & TERRY DO CROSS-OVER MANEUVERS

CHUCKLES INSPECTS TIRES

TERRY GETS PARKED

THE SLINGSHOT ARRIVES

JUST HOW HOT IS IT?!

SORRY BOYS, NO AIR CONDITIONING FOR YOU

MIKE TOPPS OFF THE GANG

It actually felt good to start moving again as we pulled out of Casey's parking lot.  I had the windshield set low and the wind deflectors on full, as we passed through Waukon and onto HWY 76 north.  The temp on the trike read 91 degrees as we made the corner and turned onto Bear Creek Drive.  We followed Bear Creek onto Big Canoe (CR A26) over to Locust Road and then turned north.  All along the way, the field crops looked tremendous!

When we arrived at HWY 44, we turned back east, and just outside of Spring Grove, we pointed our wheels onto CR 4.  I call this county road the "Yucatan Expressway".  We were treated to a refurbished stretch of blacktop all the way over to HWY 76.  CR 4 is a popular road for our gang.  It's scenic as it meanders along side of the south fork of the Root River and offers some nice sweeping curves.

As we looked to the west and north, we could see some dark skies forming and the wind started to cool down.  Actually the temp on the trike dropped down to the low 80's before we reached the BP convenience store in Houston.  Clouds were all around us, but so far no rain on us.

SOME OF US FOUND PARKING UNDER THE OVERHANG

CHUCKLES, TERRY, AND MIKE PLAY WEATHER FORECASTERS

THE REST OF THE GANG FINDS PARKING

THEY DECIDE WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET WET RIGHT NOW

TERRY FILLS US IN ON HIS HELMET LIGHTS

After some well-needed hydration, we left Houston, and with clouds still surrounding us, Bob decided to take HWY 76 back to Caledonia since that direction seemed less cloudy.  By passing along the shadey spots on 76, the changes in temps were remarkable.  At one time 76 degrees actually showed up on the trike thermometer.

We wound our way down to Caledonia and stayed on 76 south until we reached Iowa River Drive (CR A26) and turned back east skirting along the Iowa River.  When we reached Lycurgus Road, Mike headed back to New Albin, while the rest of us took Lycurgus Road back to HWY 9 and rolled into Waukon.  A few of us chowed down at Uptown.  I had 108 miles on the trike in downtown Waukon.

It was quite a ride!  Some of us got accumstomed to the heat we might endure on the upcoming Summer Trip, but all of us were amazed at the number of temperature changes and the great looking crops.  Thanks to Houston County for reconditioning one of our favorite county roads!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Seven of us are going to be gone for six days on the Summer Trip starting Monday.  Since Bob will be gone on this trip, you will need a new leader for a ride next Wednesday.

Our next scheduled "special ride" is another Mystery Ride To Eat on Saturday, August 9th, leaving Casey's at 4 that afternoon.  

BOY, IS THE SUMMER SLIPPING AWAY FAST!!