ANOTHER BIG GANG FOR DQ

A surprising number of riders (16) showed up for our usual Wednesday night ride. With temps in the mid 80's and with almost 20 showing up on Monday, 16 riders still made their appearance once again last night.

The biker bunch included Gene (newbie), Jim & Cathy, Bill, Mike, Dee, and Lissa.  On three wheels were Wayne, Terry, Richard & Melodye, Ron & Helen, Dave, ChucK, and Bob.

GASSING UP AFTER SPRAYING

PRERIDE CHATTER

BACKING ON IN

GOOD TO SEE RON & HELEN AGAIN

DAVE SURVEYS THE GROWING CROWD

ChucK & DEE GET PARKED

LISSA ROLLS IN RIGHT ON TIME

The plan was to arrive in West Union via a route Bob designed, so we departed Casey's (which should be less crowded from now on) and headed out on HWY 76.  Once we reached Forest Mills Road (CR X16) we turned south and cruised by the freshly sprayed corn on the Gelo farms.  FMR took us to Cherry Valley  Drive (838) and we made our way into Postville on it.  We wound our way through Postville and onto HWY 18 heading east.  

Since the last time he took Gunder Road (CR W64) just outside of Postville, Bob found it to be extremely rough, so he opted to keep going east on 18.  After passing by Luana and Monona, he decided to take Golden Avenue (CR X28) south down through Farmersburg and into St. Olaf.  In St. Olaf we turned back west on CR B65 and made our way over to the Gunder Road (CR X16)

After a 6 mile jaunt on Gunder Road, we actually did arrive in Gunder, and turned back south on Agate Road (CR W70) and weaved our way downhill into Elgin.  After working our way through Elgin, we found Golden Road (CR B64) and rode some smooth tarmac onto HWY 18, and took a short jog into West Union and a refreshing stop at Dairy Queen.

WE ARRIVE AT DQ

READY FOR A COOL BREAK

TERRY EVEN FINDS A LITTLE SHADE

The employees at DQ did a great job of getting all 16 of us served in good time, and the ice cream really hit the spot today.

We continued our journey by taking HWY 150 north out of West Union and we stayed on this smooth blacktop until we got to Festina where we took CR B32 east heading for Ossian.  This stretch of road was not the smoothest, but we only needed 6 miles before we arrived in Ossian.  We passed through Ossian, and on the edge of town, we took Sand Road.  Surprisingly, and maybe finally, Winneshiek County is going to fix CR W42 that heads north to HWY 9 outside of Decorah.  It has been in need of repair as long as I can remember. The sign says it was closed, so we would have to take Sand Road anyway.

At the end of Sand Road we turned back north onto Centennial Road and rode it up to HWY 9 where Ron & Helen departed for home.  Most of the rest of us continued east on 9, and after almost everyone else split for home, only four of us stopped for eats at Uptown.  

Bob had 105 miles on the Gold Wing clock after a warm but good Wednesday night ride.  Our two iron butts, Jim and Mike, are headed for Chattanooga today.  Wishing them safe travels!

UPDATE ON BOB'S HEALTH

As many of you may remember from the PMS get-together, I mentioned that there was a good possiblity that I was going to need the aortic valve replaced in my heart.  After further testing at Gundersen and visiting with the cardiatric staff there, it was confirmed that this replacement was necessary.

Right now, the surgery, hopefully TAVR and not open heart, is scheduled for June 17th at Gundersen.  Obviously, after the surgery, I am going to be "out of commision" recovering for, as of yet, an undetermined time. I go up to Gundersen on the 12th of June for a final check. So looking ahead, my last ride before surgery will be the Hospice Ride on the 14th, if they let me. That means I will be able to plan and lead two more Wednesdays, and the special ride on June 7th.  After the 14th, you will need new ride leaders and planners for an undetermined time.  I am hoping to be able to be back in action by the middle of July.  I am still willing to continue the blog, if I'm sent the ride reports, and I will keep you posted on my recovery via the blog.  I do expect you to keep riding on Wednesday nights while I'm not there!

Guess who these two bikers are!