GREAT RIDE--DODGED A BULLET

The Wednesday Night Riders met at Casey's last night in anticipation of a ride into Wisconsin and then up to Lansing, across the ferry, and over to the Tiki Bar in Lansing for eats.  Because of the pending weather forecast, we had a variety of vehicles making the trip.

Bob & son, John, arrived in Bob's pickup and took Richard & Melodye aboard.  Bikers were Lois, Chuckles, Mike, and Bill, the leader for the night, with Beth Ellen aboard.  Trikers were Dave and Mark.  Jim & Cathy rode in the Bug, while Bernell & Kathy joined us in their red convertible.  Dee took the shortcut and joined us later at the Tiki Bar.

LOIS SEES DAVE ARRIVE IN THE HAZE

MARK SURVEYS THE SITUATION

BILL, BETH ELLEN, AND MIKE JOIN THE GANG

RICHARD & MELODYE ARRIVE SLINGSHOT LESS

CHUCKLES ARRIVES AFTER SOME EQUIPMENT CHANGES

BERNELL & KATHY ARRIVE WITH TOP UP

Bill led us on some roads that I haven't ridden for a long time.  We started out with the caravan headed down HWY 76 into Marquette, across the river into a torn up Prarie du Chien, and onto HWY 35 heading north. Bill led us north on 35 to Picatee Road and then onto Ducharme Ridge Road. These roads are rather narrow paved back roads that are neat to ride and offer up some great scenery.  We followed DRR over to HWY 27 and turned northerly to CR F.  F is another downhill scenic ride back to HWY 35.  We head north again on 35 and after passing through Lynxville, we turn back east onto CR E and back over to HWY 27.  After a short jog on 27, Bill leads us onto Shortcut Road, then Oak Ridge and Hobbs Hollow? and back down to HWY 35.  We pass through Ferryville, pick up HWY 82, and arrived for the ferry ride over to Lansing.  We hit the ferry perfectly timing wise, and we were able to get everyone on at once.

MIKE SAYS HE COULD HAVE BUILT THIS FERRY

MARK POSES WITH THE NEW BRIDGE

THE YELLOW BUG IS ABOARD

WE CRUISE UNDER THE NEW BRIDGE

WE GET A GOOD VIEW OF THE NEW BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

ALL ABOARD!

We soon depart at Lansing with a short jog over to the Tiki Bar and order our food.  Since the Tiki Bar is known for their fabulous ribs on Wednesday nights (by special order only), some of us got to sample these tasty morsels, and they were great!

DEE ARRIVES FOR THE RIBS--JOHN WAS MY CHAUFFEUR

WAITING FOR THE ORDERS

BERNELL & KATHY ENJOY SOME ADULT BEVERAGES

WE EVEN GET TO SIT TOGETHER

AND THE FOOD WAS GREAT

After eats everyone departed their separate ways hoping to avoid any storms.  From what I have gathered this morning, we lucked out.  North and west of Lansing, it was reported that over 7 inches or more of rain fell.  In fact a section of I90 had to be closed due to flooding.  Lois said she had 92 miles on her bike when she got back to Waukon. 

A GREAT RIDE AND GREAT EATS AND THANKS TO BILL (and Beth Ellen) FOR LEADING!

A COUPLE OF UPDATES

On Tuesday I met with Nikki Rink, the activity director at Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah, after she contacted me about the possiblity of giving trike rides to their residsents.  After our discussion, both ours and their expectations and requirements will work out.  But since trying to choose a time to give the rides during an Iowa summer with the heat being a huge factor, we decided it would be best to wait until fall for some cooler weather.  I did not want to disappoint the residents with the possiblity of having to keep cancelling the rides due to heat.  I did indicate that if everything works out well, we could move their next rides to the spring when we give the rest of the rides.  I am not too crazy about the route that we may have to use there, but it may be the only way to avoid traffic and stay in the residential neighborhood.  Man, I thought Waukon had some rough streets!

Just this morning, I was contacted by a resident of the senior living complex in Spillville who wanted to see if we would give their residents trike rides.  These would all be assisted living folks.  I told the contact that I would touch bases with her in the near future to see if they meet our rquirements, and what kind of route would be available.  Again, the soonest we would give rides there would be this fall.  Apparently she read the great write-up our club got in the Decorah newspaper.

ME AND LOOKING FORWARD

Although I am starting to recover better from all the heart issues I had (new valve and a pacemaker), it will still be a little over two weeks before I am able to ride the trike again. So, the distance for the Summer Trip in late July, early August would be contrary to doctors orders.  That means that I will not be able to make that trip and be that far away from home that early after my treatments.  If the club still wants to have a Summer Trip, you will definitely need a new leader and may want to consider going to a different place other than the International Peace Gardens.  I would be willing to HELP plan a trip if someone wants to step forward and be the leader (s), but that should be done soon!