CLUCK, CLUCK!

Each year the Wednesday Night Riders have tried to make the trip on an early October Sunday up to Rockton for their almost world famous barbeque chicken.  We went again this Sunday.

 We had 16 riders gather at Casey's this Sunday in anticipation of a scenic ride up to Rockton and a chance to devour some tasty barbeque chicken.  Bikers were Mike & Joan, Jim & Cathy, Chuckles, Lois, and Bill.  The three-wheelers were Roger, Wayne, Dave, and Bob.  Dennis & Marlene supplied the "support" pickup with Julie aboard, and we were also joined by Danny & Cindy.

BOB SURVEYS THE CHICKEN EATING CROWD

EARLY ARRIVALS

THE GROUP GETS BIGGER

THE "SUPPORT" PICKUP ROLLS IN

CHUCKLES TRIES TO CONVINCE DANNY & CINDY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME

JIM WELCOMES THE "SUPPORT" GROUP

GETTING READY TO ROLL

WHO HAS THE BEST TRIKE?

After Bob called in the final chicken orders, we left Waukon at 10:15 and took off up HWY 9 into Lansing.  There were a lot of people gathered on Main Street in Lansing for a celebration, so the town was pretty crowded.  Crowding would come into play later.

We made our way across the Black Hawk Bridge, which is going to continue to be part of our rides until it is dismantled.  After arriving in Wisconsin, we followed HWY 35 north into DeSoto and then turned eastward onto HWY 82.  The temps were very warm, but you had to be aware of wind gusts particularly on hilltops.

We followed HWY 82 passing through Red Mound, West Prairie, Fargo, and Liberty Pole.  We also took a quick look at Monument Rock as we passed by.  We took CR J on into Viroqua where we had planned to stop at Kwik Trip for a break.  Unfortuanately everyone in the county decided to come to Kwik Trip, so we departed since they were extremely busy and crowded, and there wasn't any parking in their lot.

So, we backtracked a little and got on our planned route by taking CR SS eastward out of town.  Things got interesting on this route also, as we were passed by emergency vehicles.  About halfway along the route we saw the accident.  A car was flipped over on its top and was lying in someone's fron yard.  Hopefully no one was seriously hurt.

CR SS was a scenic drive (color on trees began to appear) offering a smooth surface and some sweeping curves.  Once we reached HWY 56, we took a short jog to the juction of 56 and CR S, where Liberty Bar was located.  Since Bob had been there before, he decided this would be a good place for our break.

LOOKS LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO STOP

BARBEQUE PORK LOOKS GOOD, BUT WE'LL WAIT FOR CHICKEN

IT WAS WARM ENOUGH NOW TO SHED SOME JACKETS

WAYNE IS READY TO KEEP MOVING

After thanking the folks in the Liberty Bar for their hospitality, Bob led the group northward on CR S.  This is another well maintained county road that offers up some great views of rivers, valleys, and bluffs.  We make our way through Avalanche (By the looks of some of the dwellings, it looks like this berg was hit by an avalanche!) and Bloomingdale before we dropped onto CR P which took us on a scenic ride eastward to HWY 131.  Taking 131 northward for a few miles, we soon arrived at the Rockton Bar, where another huge crowd had gathered.

LOTS OF CHICKEN EATERS

Since we had made reservations, we were able to get right in and find a table inside, out of the relentless wind.

GULP AND GLUG!

ALMOST GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT!

ROGER SAYS, "I'M NOT SHARING!"

BOB LOOKS FULL

THAT SAYS IT ALL!

We departed Rockton, with the next scheduled stop being the orchards near Gays Mills.  However, on the way, a "handy-dandy" Harley helmet couldn't take the wind gusts.

ANYBODY GOT A PIPE WRENCH?!

We continued along HWY 131 through LaFarge and Viola and into Readstown where we joined HWY 61 continuing south.  When we reached HWY 171, we turned back west and made our bumpy way to the Sunrise Orchards.  HWY 171 from Rolling Ground down to Sunrise Orchards has always been and continues to be a "piece of crap".  The view of the valley below just before you get to Sunrise is breathtaking, and Sunrise has set aside a part of their paved parking lot for motorcycles.

After everyone who stopped at Sunrise had sampled the cider and cider donuts and purchased other eats, we continued our journey down 171 into Gays Mills.  After stuffing ourselves with chicken, donuts, and other apple goodies, we still stopped for ice cream at the Arco Store in Ferryville.  Bob said this was the last stop for him and headed for Waukon after passing over the Black Hawk Bridge again.  It has been rumored that some of our party still hadn't had enough eats and drinks and succumbed to the call of the Ruptured Rooster.

Bob had 157 miles on the trike when he parked her.  Our final scheduled RTE was fun.  Good roads, good scenery, and good company!

NEXT WEDNESDAY

We will cross the Black Hawk Bridge again, and maybe for the last time.  From there on it's anybody's guess where we go.

RUN, CHICKENS, RUN!!