Wednesday Night Riders: NORTH TO YUCATAN

Thursday, July 23, 2026

NORTH TO YUCATAN

Thanks to Lois for the following report on the Wednesday night ride and also to those who led the ride. Here's her report plus some photos of the event.

Lois, Ride Reporter Pro tem

We had a wonderful turnout this evening, with 20 riders and 15 units participating on a very comfortable Wednesday night.

Our two-wheel riders included Bill, Chuckles, Lois, Dee, Mike & Joan, Jim & Kathy, and Lee & Jill. The three-wheel group consisted of Wayne, Dave M., Ron, Mark, Terry, ChucK, Richard & Melodye in the Slingshot, and Bernell & Kathy in the convertible.

As others have led recent rides and several members are currently organizing the upcoming summer trip, I volunteered to lead tonight's excursion. We departed from Casey's under partly cloudy skies and proceeded up Hwy 76 until turning onto Dorchester Dr which had been newly blacktopped. We followed this up to Spring Grove and went West on Hwy 44 to Hwy 4. We cruised through Blackhammer and what a surprise, about half way through, that this road had just been blacktopped, as well. It was a real treat to ride this smooth black road with sweeping curves. We didn't need no stinking lines here either but they did have reflectors down the center. It didn't matter much for us but sure would be a help for any night driving. When we got to the end of Hwy 4 we drove a short stretch up Hwy 76 and turned onto Hwy 16 just East of Houston to our break destination of Kwik Trip in Hokah. Who would have thought a week ago that tonight it would feel good to put the liner in my jacket.

Leaving Hokah we cruised Hwy 44 past Caledonia then took Hwy 76 South passing Dorchester and Bear Creek where Ron cut across to get back to Decorah. We turned on to Iowa River Drive and then Lycurgus Rd to Hwy 9 then back to Waukon where some stopped for eats at Uptown.

As we were cruising up Lycurgus Rd, I was starting to put the ride report together in my head, thinking about how beautifully green everything is for this time in July, how there was lots of hay down and alot that had already been made and how this week it felt good to ride in the sun compared to last week we sought shade. Then also thinking about the wildlife sightings of a couple of rabbits and minimal roadkill except for one big old racoon. I thought it was pretty good to have only seen one deer until suddenly I spotted 2 more just off in the ditch. Driving a short distance farther 2 ran out in front of me and as I was squeezing the brakes one slipped and fell and scrambled back to it's feet to get out of the way. Chuckles said he saw 2 run out ahead of ChucK but it appeared he had spotted them in plenty of time and was ready for their high speed crossing. Others noticed more off in the fields and standing on gravel roads.

Rolling into the garage, I had 113 miles on the odomoter from tonight's outing and felt grateful to have had another safe and enjoyable ride.

Bob, we miss you and it's easy to sense from our conversations that both you and Julie are held in our prayers. Here's a few pics that Jim got for us.