COUPLES TRIP REPORT (PART ONE)-- ALSO CAMP COURAGEOUS

Seven couples went on this year's trip to New Ulm, MN.  We had 4 trikes, 3 bikes, and a convertible as our convoy headed out of town on HWY 9 passing through Decorah, Ridgeway, and Cresco.  Outside of Cresco we picked up HWY 63 north through Chester and onto HWY 56 headed west.  The sky suddenly turned cloudy and the temperature dropped and it began to look like we may get rained on.  We stopped in LeRoy, MN for a break at the BP station, where some of the riders put on rain gear.  Now the rest of us knew for sure it wasn't going to rain, although we did get a small amount of mist on the windshields as we continued on 56 through Taopi, Adams, Rose Creek, and into Brownsdale where we picked up HWY 2 heading west.  HWY 2 took us over to HWY 218 where we turned north through Blooming Prairie and on to HWY 30 west.  30 took us through Ellendale and into New Richmond for our second break.  We continued on 30 to HWY 22 north and on into Mapleton  and Maggie J's where we stopped for lunch.  Everyone would recommend Maggie J's for good food and good service!

After lunch we continued on 22 through Beauford and onto CR 90 west.  CR 90 took us to the outskirts of Mankato where we turned onto 169 for a short jaunt and then onto HWY 68 that took us into New Ulm for a little over a total of 200 miles.

With the aid of two GWRRA members, we were able to obtain our 14 tickets to the 4 PM tour of the August Schell Brewery where they brew German craft beers, Grain Belt, and 1919 root beer.  Our tour guide was a great guy and we all sampled some of the fine products in the beer hall afterwards.

The rest of the journey will be on the next post.  In the meantime, here's a few photos of the first half of the journey.

GARY SEES US OFF, BUT DOESN'T OFFER ANY DONUTS!

MERYLE PRACTICING HIS GAS PUMP TECHNIQUES

PIT STOP IN LE ROY

LUNCH AT MAGGIE J'S

THE V I P TABLE

ENTERTAINMENT IN THE GIFT SHOP WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOUR

OUR TOUR GUIDE AND THE COPPER KETTLE

WNR SAMPLING THE BREWERY PRODUCTS

CAMP COURAGEOUS

Weather permitting on Sunday, we will make our second trip of the year down to Monticello to support Camp Courageous with their pancake breakfast.  We will plan to leave Casey's at 9:15 that morning.  Everyone is welcome.  If the weather looks bad, we will end up taking some cages down there.

SOME SAD NEWS

I wanted to inform everyone in Wednesday Night Riders that Marlene Blocker's father, Orville Tangen, passed away on Sunday.

His visitation is Wednesday from 5 PM to 7 PM at Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield, MN.  The funeral is at 10 AM on Thursday at Root Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Fountain, MN.

Both Julie and I plan on attending both the visitation and the funeral, so if any of you would like to ride along with us to either or both, call Bob at 563-568-7277.

I don't plan on riding Wednesday night, and it's predicted to be raining anyway.  Our next ride is Sunday to Camp Courageous for the annual pancake breakfast.  Since they quit serving at noon, we will be leaving Casey's at 9:15 that morning.  More on that in the next post.

AN EVEN DOZEN--COUPLES' TRIP UPDATE

A full carton of eggs (WNR) left Casey's Wednesday night for a loop through Spring Grove.  Bob R led on his Wing followed by Darrel on his GW trike, Meryle & Mary on a GW trike, Wayne & Sandy on a GW trike, Jim & Cathy on their Wing, Dayton & Joan on their Harley trike, Lois on her Susie, and Chuckles on his Yamaha.

AN EVEN DOZEN SHOW UP

GOOD TO SEE MERYLE & MARY AGAIN ALONG WITH DARREL

JOAN TELLING ABOUT THEIR TRIP TO COLORADO

JIM SHOWING THE FINE POINTS OF A WING TO CHUCKLES

Our trip took us up HWY 76 north to CR 7 just north of Eitzen.  7 took us west over to HWY 44 and on into Spring Grove.  We normally stop at the Kwik Trip there, but it's getting dark earlier now, so we kept on moving.  Outside of Spring Grove we turned south on CR 8 which turns into Locust Road in Iowa.  We turned off of Locust and headed east on Big Canoe Road that turns into Bear Creek Drive (CR A26).  Along Bear Creek we could see more of the damage to crops caused by the recent flooding.  After crossing HWY 76, we continued on A26 now changing to Iowa River Drive.  Again we saw numerous places where the flooding had damaged crops.  Iowa River Drive took us over to Lycurgus Road and as we followed it to HWY 9, we were treated to a spectacular sunset and a full moon rising at the same time.  We reached HWY 9 and took Iron Mine Drive and 76 back to Main St. in Waukon and to Gus & Tony's where we discussed where an order of cheese curds should be set down.  It was really a nice late summer ride, and I had about 88 miles on the Wing.

SHUFFLING INTO G & T 's.......

UNDER A RISING MOON

COUPLES' TRIP UPDATE
We have seven couples going to New Ulm this weekend.  We have changed the departure time to 9 AM instead of 10.  Blame Fideldee Fart!  At any rate it's KSU, BOT, and BISV at 9 from Casey's.  I have planned to tour the Schell Brewery there, so I called to make reservations for the 4 PM tour for us.  I found out that it can't be done that way. The tour reservations are on a "first come--first serve" basis, so you have to be there Saturday morning at 11 AM to make sure you get tickets.  Now what?  Since it would be impractical, if not impossible, for us to be there at 11 Saturday morning, I had to decide if we still wanted to go to New Ulm or just pass up the brewery tour.  After doing some hard thinking, I did what any GWRRA member might do for needed help.  I looked in the Gold Book.  It lists GWRRA members all over the country who might be willing to help if you are having bike troubles.  Low and behold, I found two members who live in New Ulm.  Now how was I going to convince someone who didn't know me from Adam to spend some of his time and money to go get 14 tickets?  I couldn't get a hold of the first name listed, so I called the second person.  He was in Branson, MO, on a bike trip when he answered.  I explained the situation to him, and he said he would take care of it for me!  He called me back later to tell me that he contacted another GWRRA member in New Ulm and he would get us the tickets.  I haven't heard back from him yet, but it sounded like they would take care of us.  Needless to say I will pick up the tickets from them when we get to New Ulm and pay for them, and I also invited them and their wives to our snack party at the motel later.  It just goes to show that the old saying, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." holds true!

It's supposed to be a nice weekend, so see you all on Saturday morning at 9.

ELEVEN SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM

The cool, wet weather left and we were greeted by a warm, humid, and rather windy day for our "double dip ice cream run".  Departing Casey's on Sunday afternoon were Meryle & Mary, Wayne & Sandy, and Bob & Julie on trikes.  Gary, Lois, and Chuckles rode two-wheelers followed by Dennis & Marlene in the support vehicle.

"I WONDER WHO'S BURIED HERE?!"

ICE CREAM EATING TRIKE RIDERS

GARY FILLING UP A HARLEY WITH POWERADE?!

We departed Casey's at 1:00 heading out of town on HWY 9 west.  We then turned onto Old Stage Road, passed through Fishville and got onto Yellow River Drive heading west.  YRD took us over to HWY 51 south and then on into Postville and HWY 18 east.  Just east of Postville we turned south onto the Gunder Road and had a scenic ride on down through Elkader.  By this time the day was really beginning to warm up, and the wind also picked up considerably.  In Elkader we took HWY 13 north to HWY 128 east and through Clayton Center and onto HWY 52 south.  52 took us on into Garnavillo where we stopped at Thoma Dairy Bar for our first dip.

ARRIVING AT THOMA's

WE HAVE THE RESTAURANT AREA ALL TO OURSELVES

ENJOYING OUR "FIRST DIP"

After polishing off our first dip, we headed out of Garnavillo on HWY 52 north.  We followed 52 back to HWY 18 east and on into Marquette.  In Marquette we picked up HWY 76 north until we turned onto CR B25 and entered Yellow River Forest. To me this is the most scenic way through the forest and then onto Lansing/Harpers Road and the end of the forest road.  We followed L/H Road north and then Took Elon Road west on into Waukon where we arrived at WW Homestead Dairy where we enjoyed our second dip. 

THESE CURD SAMPLES AIN'T BAD EITHER!

IT'S TOUGH TO DECIDE ON FLAVORS

WE CAPTURED OUR SECOND DIPS

I had a little over 100 miles on the trike when we got home.
COUPLES TRIP UPDATE
So far the following couples have indicated that they want to go on the couples' trip to New Ulm on Sept. 17 & 18.
Bob & Julie, Meryle & Mary, Wayne & Sandy,

Dennis & Marlene, Chuckles & Lois, Dayton & Joan, and Carl & Joyce.  Remember to let Bob R (563-568-7277) know as soon as you decide!

GREAT RIDE--ICE CREAM RUN--COUPLES TRIP--HD PROGRAM

On a spectacular Wednesday night 11 WNR departed Casey's at 5:30 for a look at some of the flood damage around Spillville.  Led by Bob R on his Wing, we had Meryle, Wayne & Sandy, Dayton & Joan, and Jim on trikes.  David and Bob Z were on their Harleys.  Lois was waiting for Chuckles to show up, so they took their bikes on a different route to Spillville.

BOB CHECKING HIS GAS SUPPLY

MERYLE CHECKING HIS KNEES

JIM ON A BORROWED TRIKE WITH NO GAS LEAKS

We left town on HWY 9 and passed through Fishville on Old Stage Road.  We then picked up Yellow River Drive and saw some bean field damage along the river before we got to HWY 51 and headed south into Postville.  Outside of Postville we got on HWY 52 and had a very smooth ride through Castalia and Ossian and on into Calmar where we took HWY 150 south.  After about 13 miles and passing through Festina and past Eldorado, we turned west onto Nature Road (B44) and headed towards St. Lucas.  Outside of St. Lucas we picked up W14 heading on into Ft. Atkinson where we stopped at the Lickety Split for a break and for Bob Z to gas up again.

WAYNE ASKING JIM ABOUT THE TRIKE RIDE TO FT. ATKINSON

THE REST OF THE GROUP AT THE LICKETY SPLIT

We learned that W14 was closed into Spillville, so we took a different route that was new to the leader, and we had to make three left turns to get there, but we did make it.  After driving into Spillville and observing the flood damage, particularly to the Inwood Ballroom, we departed Spillville via 325 and over to HWY 52 south and on into Decorah where we saw more damage along HWY 9 near the Upper Iowa River on the east side of town.  We took HWY 9 back to Waukon and Gus & Tony's where we met up with Lois and Chuckles again.  The conversation there turned to the after effects of eating onions and where one might be sleeping tonight if he ate them.  We put on about 100 miles on a beaufiful late summer evening!

ICE CREAM RUN

On Monday we will have our third annual Labor Day Double Dip Ice Cream Run.  We will depart Casey's at 1 PM and head out of town (as yet undecided) for a dip and return to Waukon and WW Dairy for a second dip (provided they are still open when we get back).  Everyone is invited and it's predicted to be warm, so the ice cream should hit the spot.

HARLEY DAVIDSON TV PROGRAM

Also on Labor Day, and for those of you who get the Discovery channel, there's going to be the first of a three part program called "Harley and the Davidsons".  It is a story that's based on fact about the development of the Harley Davidson motorcycle.  Sounds interesting!

COUPLES TRIP

September 17th and 18th are the dates for our annual couples trip.  This year I plan to go to New Ulm, Minnesota, to tour the August Schell Brewery and visit The Hermann the German statue.  I have reservations at the Econolodge there, but I will need to firm up those reservations before we go, so as soon as you know you are going to go, let Bob R know (563-568-7277).  The deadline will be Wednesday, September 14th, but it would be nice to know before that.

NEW LEADER

You will need a new leader for next Wednesday.  Bob R and Jens will be up in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, hammering the small mouth bass and then over to Lake Chetek to pound crappies with Dennis.  I plan to return by Sunday, since I have to help at the Lion's Club pancake breakfast on Sunday, the 11th.

THREE BIKE OUT TO VIEW FLOOD WATERS

On Wednesday night three of us met at Casey's just as the sky cleared at 5:30.  Wayne & Sandy on DFT and Bob R on his Wing decided we would stay fairly close to home and maybe get a chance to see some of the flooded areas.  We were concerned about coming upon roads that might be closed.

GASSING UP THE DFT

We headed out through Elon and then north to Lansing.  We followed HWY 26 north to New Albin.  On the way we crossed a couple of creeks that seemed high, but so far we hadn't really seen any flooding of roads or fields.  

We turned onto Pool Hill Drive at New Albin and followed it into Eitzen, where we stopped at Gators for some drinks.  Again we saw some bluffs that looked as if the rain had knocked down some debris, but no real damage.

That all changed when we got on 76 and headed south, particularly as we got closer to Dorchester.  We could see that the water had flooded Waterloo Creek.  I saw about a dozen deer standing on what looked like a small island.  We also saw a field of corn that had water standing right to the top of the corn stalks.  I had planned to take A26 over to the Lycurgus road back to town, but as I signaled the left turn, I saw a sign that said "ROAD CLOSED--WATER OVER ROAD".  So we continued on 76.  When we got to the bridge and road that leads back to Hager's campground, we saw emergency vehicles from the DOT and sheriff's office parked on the road.  As we crossed the bridge we could see that the water was just about up to the bridge platform, and the Dougherty home had water up to the first floor.  I think they actually closed the bridge shortly after we crossed.  I later heard people say they saw big hay bales floating down the river and striking the bridge.

We continued on to Gus & Tony's where we recounted what we had seen.  Having been in the insurance business, I know there is nothing short of a tornado that can be more damaging than floods.  We did end up with about 75 miles on the shortened ride.

EIGHT ATE RIBS

It couldn't have worked out better!  A rain storm passed through Waukon, but at 4:30 Saturday afternoon the sky cleared and eight WNR were able to leave Casey's under blue skies headed for the Bagley Hotel for the "all you can eat naked ribs" run.  Bob & Julie led on their trike followed by Dayton & Joan and Wayne & Sandy on their trikes.  Wayne M and Gary rode their bikes to make up the total of eight.

TWO "NEW" GUYS

THE REST OF THE RIB EATERS

We trekked through Elon, Harpers, Marquette, PDC, and Bridgeport before turning onto CR C and following it and CR X through Wyalusing.  As we passed Wyalusing beach, we saw a number of boats and swimmers.  We found out later that there was a missing person that had been presumed drowned.  After a scenic ride along the river and railroad, we arrived at the Bagley Hotel ready for our rib feast.

THE HISTORIC BAGLEY HOTEL

After arriving we inquired about the rooms in the hotel.  Our waitress informed us that all the rooms were filled with women bikers!  After taking our orders, she made sure that we knew that the salad bar and the homemade desert table were included with our ribs.  After finishing with the salads, she brought us each a huge plate of ribs and our choice of potatoes.  I'm not a rib connoisseur, in fact, I very rarely even have them, but I'm telling you these ribs were fantastic!  Since it was "all you can eat", our waitress kept checking back to see if we wanted more, but with the huge plateful we had, no one took her up on it.  She did say she would be insulted if we didn't try some of her homemade deserts, so we all waddled out to the desert table for more food!  By the time we were through eating, it was tough getting up and walking back out to the bikes.

STUFFED FULL OF RIBS!

Our way back home included a trip up newly paved CR P (We don't need any stinking yellow lines!) through the Brodtville rush hour and onto HWY 18 at the River Ridge school.  We followed 18 back through PDC, Marquette, Giard, Froelich, and into Monona where we picked up the Volney road back to HWY 76 at Rossville.  76 took us back home just at 8:30 as darkness was setting in.  It was jacket time on the way back as the temperature approached the lower 60's, but it was a great 110 mile trip with fantastic eats!!

By the way, Lois, since Gary took your place, you will be getting a bill for food and gratuities from the Bagley Hotel!

Make plans for our next "special" ride, the Labor Day Double Dip Ice Cream Run on Sept. 5th from Casey's at 1 PM.