Florida Bike and New Darksider

Finally we were able to ride again Wednesday night.  We had 7 riders with Gary, Wayne, Bob Z, Howard, Tom, Nancy, and Bob R venturing through Lycurgus, New Albin, Brownsville, Houston, Caledonia, Eitzen, and back to Gus & Tony's.  It was a nice night with a moderate breeze (Hey! It's a motorcycle!  Expect wind!) and we put on a little over 100 miles.  They were doing some paving work on highway 26 in Minnesota.  It's nice to ride in a state that actually takes care of their highways!
Of the seven riders, we have two mystery riders for those of you who weren't with us to try to guess.  One bike has a Florida license and the other bike is a brand new Darksider.  From the photos and process of elimination, you should be able to guess who the riders are.

Here's a couple of photos from the start at Casey's

"Boy, they ain't got anything like this in Florida!"

There's something different about that bike.

Also, I'm going to try another video.  This is my favorite stretch of highway 76 that we rode on Wednesday.  For those of you who couldn't make it--enjoy.  For those of you who rode it--enjoy again.

BLAH!

That's the most civil description that I can give to the current weather in northeast Iowa.  Obviously with temps at 42 degrees and rain, no one rode last Wednesday.  As of now, the weather does look a little better for next week, so hopefully we can get a ride in on Wednesday night.
Julie and I did travel by cage to Camp Courageous on Sunday.  There were no motorcycles there, but the omelets were good again, and they had a nice crowd.  Maybe the fall ride down there will have better weather.
I was able to put on about 200 miles last Friday.  After delivering a spare sewing machine to West Union, I rode back through Decorah and up to Preston on 52.  I took 16 over to Houston and then 76 back home.  Apparently the legislature in Minnesota is smart enough to pass a gas tax!  Highway 16 from Preston to Hokah is brand new and smooth as glass!  It was a great ride, so if you get the chance, I recommend it.
With plenty of time indoors this week, I was able to put together the annual summer trip.  It looks like about 1,800 miles through such exotic places as Yankton, St. Joseph, Leavenworth, Gainsville, Springfield, Cuba, St. Louis, and Hannibal.  Looking forward to it, and hopefully everyone will be able to make it this year.  It should have stopped raining by then.
I thought you might enjoy this photo of the odometer from an 07 Gold Wing from one of my buddies in Pennsylvania.  

AND YOU THOUGHT I PUT ON A LOT OF MILES!!

THE WITCH STRIKES AGAIN

Apparently the weather witch has decided that we need another spring like last year! Cold--wind--rain or a combination of any of these.  No one rode Wednesday night but Howard, Chuck, and Bob R ventured down to Dyersville on Tuesday to pick up an air filter and heckle Clair for a while.  We put on about 175 miles.  Cool and windy, but manageable.  I guess if we waited around for warm weather and no wind, we would never get out.

The weather for Sunday's Camp Courageous ride doesn't look too good either.  If it's not raining, I will probably ride down, and Julie will drive our car.  If you want to ride along with her, let us know before Sunday.  Otherwise it's Casey's at 10 and maybe take some cars down.

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WHICH WAY DO YOU THINK I WOULD TAKE?!

WITCHEY WEATHER AND SOME HUMOR

With the weather witch still haunting us, we didn't ride on Wednesday night.  Maybe we can give it a shot over the weekend and as of now, next Wednesday looks to be better.  Also, next Sunday, the 27th, is the Camp Courageous ride.  Let's hope the witch doesn't crap on that too!
My buddies in Florida are aware of what we are going through up here, and since I get their newsletters, I thought I might share some of the humor they sent me.

LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE

 My husband and I divorced over religious differences.  He thought he was God, and I didn't.

I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every damn minute of it.

Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Don't take life too serious.  No one gets out alive!

HAPPY TRAILS!

CAN YOU SEE ME NOW!!

OPENING NIGHT

It was breezy, but warm when four of us officially opened the Wednesday night riding season.  Wayne, Gary, Meryle, and Bob R put on about 85 miles through Eitzen, Caledonia, Brownsville, New Albin, and back to Waukon at Gus & Tony's.  It was warm enough that some of us even ate ice cream at Brownsville!  We all got a look at Wayne's new ride without tool boxes.  Right now it doesn't sound too good for next Wednesday, but we'll have to wait and see.
Here's some photos from Wednesday.

Now what's this button do again?

Hey!  My credit card worked!

Wayne's new ride and Gary's tires full of nitrogen.

NICE NEW RIDE, NICE RIDE, FIRST WN RIDE

Now that the secret is out (Howard's move to the darkside), Howard and Bob R ventured out on Sunday afternoon for about 120 miles through Luana, Monona, PDC, Wauzeka, Steuben (all roads lead to Steuben), Eastman, Seneca, Mt. Sterling, Ferryville, Lansing, and back to Waukon.  A little cool, but a NICE ride!  The way the weather looks, we may actually be able to get our first Wednesday night ride of the year in this Wednesday---5:30 at Casey's for another NICE ride?!

HOWARD'S NEW BIKE--IT'S A NICE RIDE!

GOOD RIDE!! GOOD RIDDANCE!!

It did happen Sunday!  The temperature did get up to 60, and Tom, Nancy, and Bob R traveled about 100 miles through Eitzen, Caledonia, Hokah, Brownsville, New Albin, Lansing, and back to Waukon for the first ride of the season for the Haberichters.  It was a little breezy at times, but it was great to be back in the saddle and to also say "good riddance" to the month of March and some signs of winter we saw along the way.  I'm glad we got the ride in since the forecast for the next week is highs in the 40's with rain and snow mixed.  Oh well, we had two nice days this month.  What more could you expect!

Here's some photos of the trip.

Tom & Nancy set for a GOOD RIDE!

Snow melting in the ditch on 76--GOOD RIDDANCE

Snow melting off the bluffs on 26--GOOD RIDDANCE

Pond thawing out from ice--GOOD RIDDANCE

Ice flowing out of the Upper Iowa--GOOD RIDDANCE

Ice flowing out of the Mississippi--GOOD RIDDANCE

Snow melting off the bluffs along 9--GOOD RIDDANCE