ANY RIDERS ON WEDNESDAY? COUPLES' TRIP

Was there anybody in our group tough enough to ride last Wednesday?  I haven't heard any reports yet, but if it was as cold here as it was fishing in Boulder Junction, WI, I don't think anyone went.  Jens caught the biggest fish, so he won't be going with me again!

Hopefully we will have much better weather for the couples' trip this weekend (9:30 AM Saturday at Casey's).  We're headed for Middleton, WI, to see the Mustard Museum and tour the Capital Brewery (you each will owe Bob seven dollars for the cost of the brewery tour).  We will then go to our motel in Mt. Horeb for Saturday night.  On Sunday we will depart for a scenic tour back through Wisconsin  that includes a ferry ride.  Should be lots of fun!
As of now (Sunday), I have eight couples going:  Blockers in the "support vehicle", Meryle & Mary, Kaesers, Riesbergs, Fishs, Votsmiers, Thorntons, and Rotachs.  If for some reason you can't make the trip, you have to let Bob know by Thursday morning.  They have a 48 hour cancellation policy at the motel.  Hopefully I will be able to pass out the itinerary and route to those who ride on Wednesday night.  Any questions?  Call Bob's Fairly Reliable Tour Guide Service at 563-568-7277.

STREET SIGN IN MT. HOREB

A TRIBUTE TO TOM AND HIS FAMILY

The Wednesday Night Riders had 23 people attend Tom's funeral on Saturday.  Eleven bikes along with our "support vehicle" escorted the funeral procession from the church to the cemetery.  This is a fine tribute to Tom and I'm sure Nancy and the rest of his family appreciated it.

We all are really going to miss Tom and that big grin he always had when he was riding with us.  I know right now he's in heaven riding a stretch of road with lots of curves, a few hills, and no potholes and grinning ear to ear.  Tom, someday we are all going to join you there, so keep Wednesday nights open.

While Tom and the guys were on the Black Hills trip a couple of years ago, we stopped by a rest stop that had some paintings done by Native Americans who lived in the area. One of the paintings had the following verses listed below it.  I'd like to share those with everyone now.  The verses were entitled "The Road Home".

Those of us who ride have our stories.  Each time we ride we know both the risks and the joys of the journey.

We've all lost love ones who didn't make it back on their last ride out.

They've taken the road home, made it through the pass into the Spirit World.

No matter what we've been through or where we are on the road, we are at ease--with each other, with the natural world, and with ourselves.

We are all related.  As relatives, we strive to keep to the good road.  And look out for each other.

God Bless

TOM'S FUNERAL ON SATURDAY

Our group has been asked to escort the funeral procession from St. Pat's on Saturday to the cemetery.  I have tried to contact as many people as possible about this, but in case I missed you, we will gather at St. Pat's at 10:30.  If you plan to go on the escort, park your bike in front of the church (east side).  Dave Martin will then lead us into the church to sit as a group as honorary pallbearers.  He will then lead us out after the service.  We will then get on the bikes and lead the procession (police escort) out to the cemetery.  I don't know for sure where we will park out there, but as always, just follow me and we should be ok.  Any questions, just call Bob at 563-568-7277.  

TOM'S FUNERAL

As most of you may know by now, the wake for Tom is Friday from 4 to 8 at Martin's.  His funeral will be Saturday at 11 AM.  The Wednesday Night Riders are honorary pall bearers.  Dave Martin has informed me that he will escort us into the church for special seating about 15 minutes before the service starts.  Those of us who want to attend will meet in a group outside of St. Pat's around 10:30.  Hopefully we will have a good size group to lend out support for the Haberichter family.

Also, I am collecting donations from our members to give to the family to use as a memorial for Tom.  I think this would be more appropriate than flowers.  If you want to donate just let Bob R know and you can give it to him the next time you see him.  I plan to leave the memorial money with a card from our group at the wake on Friday.

BUZZZZING TO GARNY

Last Wednesday seven of us (Bob Z, Lois, Gary, Wayne & Sandy, Carl, and Bob R) on 6 bikes left Casey's on a beautiful night ride headed for a stop in Garnavillo.  However only five of us actually made it to Garny.  Sandy got nailed by a buzzing bee, and the Fish's had to return home.  Hopefully Sandy has recovered from the sting.
We did pass through Elon, Harpers, Marquette, and McGregor on our way to Garnavillo where we stopped and admired the monument there in the park dedicated to their veterans.  They did a really good job on that!  On the way back we passed through Clayton Center, Monona, Luana, and back to Gus & Tony's where we were joined by Chuckles and Bugsy.

Here's a couple of photos of the group.

Carl has to ride in the back!

Lois calling Chuckles to tell him we're having a good time without him!

It would be advisable to put knobby tires on your bikes for next Wednesday's ride.  I will be up north after smallmouth bass, so Chuckles will be leading and it's hard to tell where!!

SOME VERY TRAGIC NEWS

As most of you have probably heard by now, Tom and Nancy Haberichter were involved in a very serious accident on Sunday.  Apparently they were riding on highway 52 north of Dubuque when a pickup pulled out in front of them trying to make a left turn onto the highway.  Tom was airlifted to Iowa City where he passed away and Nancy was taken to a hospital in Dubuque with broken bones.  She is now at home.
I'm sure most of us (Wednesday Night Riders) will want to attend Tom's wake and funeral.  As of yet those dates have not been set.  I'll let everyone know as soon as I find out.  I think it would be supportive to Nancy and the family to see as many of us as possible at the funeral.  Hopefully we can enter and sit as a group there.  I will try to keep everyone informed about that also.

Meanwhile prayers for Nancy and the rest of the family.

GOOD RIDE..GOOD ICE CREAM

Seven of us took to the highways and byways for our Labor Day Double Dip Ice Cream Run.  The Blockers, the Thorntons, the Rotachs, and Chuckles left Casey's on Monday afternoon. After surviving a couple of showers, we passed through Decorah, Prosper, Mabel (avoiding Hesper), Tawney, Choice, and Bratsberg to Rushford and stopped at The Creamery Pizza and Ice Cream for our first dip.  From there we continued on through Houston, Mound Prairie, and CR 25 to Teschemper Road.  We went down Teschemper (the most scenic 5 miles in the tri-states) to CR 21 and into Hokah.  From there we toured through Brownsville, New Albin, Lycurgus, and back to WW Dairy in Waukon for our second dip and fishing stories from Carl.  It was a very pleasant 150 miles with great scenery and delicious ice cream!

Here's a shot of the group at WW Dairy.

Carl entertaining us with fishing stories