TO FLORIDA

We arrived in Port Canaveral, Florida, today and board our cruise ship tomorrow morning.  Here's the lowdown on how we arrived here.  
We left Waukon about 7 AM on Wednesday morning.  The roads were OK until just outside of Oelwein where we ended up on some glare ice.  Why the DOT hadn't been there yet is anybody's guess.  We did make it OK, just really slow until we were out of Oelwein.  The rest of the way was fine.  We spent our first night in Jackson, TN (home of Casey Jones), about 650 miles from Waukon.
We left Jackson on Thursday morning headed for Altoona, AL, in pouring rain.  Near Altoona is KD Cycle, the largest Gold Wing trike builder in the US, but you'll need a gps to find him.  They had a trike there that I saw on their website that seemed to be just what I might be interested in trading for.  As it ended up Kevin (the owner) shot me a price that Julie just couldn't refuse, so we are now the proud owners of a 2013 GW Roadsmith conversion trike with only 12,000 miles on it.  This one has the independent suspension, the red color, heated grips and seat, navigation and weather, and a music system that lets me play all my downloaded music.
After loading up the "new" trike we headed out for Phenix City, AL (yes, I spelled it correctly) for the night.  Since we had a spare day, we decided to do a little tourism in the area on Friday.
  Phenix City is actually right across the river from Columbus, GA.  When we were in Columbus on a previous trip we visited the Infantry Museum located at Fort Benning.  This time we decided to visit the Nation Civil War NAVAL Museum also located in Columbus.  We made a great choice!  We, probably like most people,  had no idea how big a role the Union and Confederate navies played in the Civil War.  This museum was well done, so if you are ever near Columbus, GA, I highly recommend both the Infantry and the Civil War Naval Museums.
After leaving Columbus on Friday afternoon, we paid a visit to Andersonville, GA, where there is a historical site depicting the Confederate POW prison located near there.  We were able to tour the cemetery where many Union soldiers who died while imprisoned at Andersonville are buried.  We wondered why the graves were so close together.  After visiting the museum located there, we found out that so many soldiers died at once, that they had to be buried in trenches.  The museum there also pays tribute to POW's from all the wars.  We were then able to drive around the prison grounds and saw the markings for the stockade that was designed to hold about 3,000 union POW's, but ended up with over 30,000 before the Civil War was over.  I have been to several Civil War sites now, but a visit to Andersonville was probably the most humbling of the experiences.  Again, the Nation Park Service has done an excellent job with preserving the grounds and telling the story that goes with the prison.  If you ever have a chance, you need to visit here!
We left Andersonville and passed through Americus, GA, the hometown of Jimmy Carter.  We didn't see him, but we sure saw a lot of peanut fields!  We spent Friday night Lake Park, GA, and rolled into Cocoa Beach (Port Canaveral) today (Saturday).

Here' some photos of our journey so far.  I will try to do more posting after the cruise.

Julie and her "new" ride outside of the Civil War Naval Museum.  The Water Witch, a Civil War
gun boat is in the background.

the remnants of the Jackson, a Confederate gun boat

STANDING NEXT TO MY HERO
ANOTHER CANON "POWDER RUNNER"

THE IOWA MONUMENT AT THE ANDERSONVILLE CEMETERY

PART OF THE SIXTEEN ACRE STOCKADE
WHERE 13,000 UNION SOLDIERS DIED

WE'RE OUTTA HERE!!

Finally the ice storm has passed, and thanks to Chuckles and Dennis for helping me with the trailer and trike, we will be departing for Florida tomorrow.  Right now my trike is sitting on the trailer in my driveway getting snowed on!  We need to be in Cocoa Beach on the 22nd to catch the cruise boat for the Caribbean.  There should be well over 200 Gold Wingers from all over the country accompanying us for seven days.

As an update on the knee, when I visited the surgeon last Monday, he seemed to be pleased with the results.  Extension of the knee is above what he expected, but flexion (bending) is coming around much more slowly.  As long as I am able to tee up a golf ball and throw my leg up over the trike, I can live with it.  I go back to see him when we return.  He says if I'm not satisfied with the flexion, they will bend it.  Owww!

I'll try to keep you posted on our adventures down south this year by posting on this blog when I get a chance.  As it figures, the minute we are leaving Iowa, January thaw comes.  Hopefully it will keep thawing for you guys, because I know of at least one WNR who is real anxious to get the new bike out of the barn.

In the meantime, I'll share a neat image that Chuckles sent to me and also some more photos of warmer times.  Reminder--keep the 15th of March open for our annual PMS get together. 

SHE SAID "NO" FIRST AND "YES" SECOND

While in Missouri at a resort listening to a time share presentation, Cathy had the good sense to say "NO".  However when they arrived in Arkansas at Russelville Honda, she also had the good sense to say "YES".  And she is now the proud owner of a new Gold Wing.  That should spice up our Wednesday night rides!

Shown below is Cathy with her new bike and her chauffeur.  Congrats, and spring can't get here quick enough!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

He's on his way, so I hope all Wednesday Night Riders have been good little boys and girls.  I have some suspicions about some of you, but I decided Santa could decide for himself.

Thanks to all who sent us Xmas cards, and hopefully you got ours.  Otherwise Elvis and Marilyn are going to be disappointed!

In about a month Julie and I will be boarding one of the largest cruise ships in the world (Oasis of the Seas) at Port Canaveral, FL, where we will be joined by several hundred Gold Wingers from all over the US for a seven day cruise to the Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Marten.  I will still probably be a little gimpy yet, but I'll be glad to leave the northeast Iowa winter behind.  After the cruise we will return to our usual condo in Panama City Beach for the month of February.  While there we have a good time with the Gold Wing chapters in the panhandle of Florida.  We go on rides with them and attend their chapter meetings.  Hopefully the "gimp" will be healed up enough to ride the trike.  As usual, I will try to post some of our activities with our Florida riders.  They are a lot of fun, but have a ways to go to match the WNR rides.  They do like to eat though!!

Right now I plan to have our annual PMS meeting on the 15th of March.  That time of year seemed to work out well last year, so set that date aside.  You will receive more information on this later, and if you are important enough, you will receive a personal invitation in the mail!

But for right now here's wishing y'all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Here's some "warm" memories from 2016.

ANOTHER WNR HONORED & DRAG-A-LEG 2

We had another WNR honored last week!  Notice the smiling face below.  Congratulations to Wayne!

43 years!  How many young lives he must have touched over all those years.  And never did have to kill one of the "little urchins"!

DRAG-A-LEG REPORT II

Today, the 28th, I returned to Gundersen in LaCrosse for some x-rays to see how my knee was progressing.  The news was good!  Everything was healing well, and I could start physical therapy.  The doctor who saw me said that all the walking I had done (1/2 to 3/4 mile daily) at the Wellness Center paid off.  She was also surprised by the amount of flex I already had in the knee.  So, baring some unfortunate circumstance, I am well on the road to recovery.  I have to do some active flex exercises in pt instead of forced bending.  Thanks to everyone who wished me well.  Gary said they were praying for me in church, but he didn't know whether to pray for me or Julie!

MY NEW MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

WNR VETS HONORED & KRISTI WINS

This past Veterans' Day three of our WNR were presented Quilts of Valor to honor their service to our country as veterans of our armed services.  The quilts were presented to Carl, Meryle, and Dale at a special assembly in the Waukon High School gymnasium.  The quilts were made especially for veterans by a group of local quilters which includes Julie.  As you can see from the photo, the quilts are quite beautiful and represent a lot of labor.  Thanks to the quilters and especially THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, Carl, Meryle, and Dale!

CONGRATS TO KRISTI
Congratulations to Kristi Hager who won election to the Iowa House.  Kristi will be our representative in Des Moines in the Iowa Legislature.  Hopefully she and Bob will still have some time for motorcycling.  Maybe they can ride their Wing to town meetings!

SOME DRIVEL
It has come to my attention that one of our WNR had a collision with his bicycle and Harley, and the Harley is the worst for wear!  Apparently we are going to have to wait until spring for the full story.
Also. I have been recently informed that our newly elected Vice President rides a motorcycle!

Hopefully some of you are taking advantage of this sensational fall weather to do some cruising!

UPDATE ON DRAG-A-LEG

Again thanks to all of the WNR who either called, stopped by, or sent cards concerning my knee replacement surgery.  Since it has been about three weeks since the surgery. I thought it might be a good idea to update you on my progress.

First of all, the pain has been very tolerable.  In fact, I have been able to walk (with the use of a walker from Dennis & Marlene--still supplying a support vehicle) about four blocks on the street at home in the morning and about four laps around the track at the wellness center in the afternoon.  When I went back for my two week check-up, they were well pleased at my progress.  I will try to continue to "push" myself and hope this speeds up the recovery since we are shooting for the middle of January to head south on another cruise and our stay in February in Florida where I plan on riding the trike.

The only downside has been having to wear a stabilizer on my knee when I'm up to keep the knee from bending.  Apparently my knee was quite a way out of place, and the ligaments on the inside of the knee had shortened.  So the surgeon had to stretch and reattach them to get the leg straight again.  That means that I'm not supposed to bend the knee for another three weeks until my next check-up.  Using the stabilizer makes it difficult getting into the car, and almost impossible to sit anywhere but in the recliner (that was loaned to me by Dennis & Marlene).  The  doctor was surprised that I could get along at all before he operated.  I didn't have the heart to tell him that I had played 27 holes of golf and rode 200 miles on the Wing the week before. 

I think my disablement this fall has benefited everyone else.  Because I would guarantee you if I was able to be up and about, mother nature would have had six inches of snow on the ground by now!

I'll try to keep you posted as time allows.  In the meantime, enjoy the great fall weather and put some miles on the bikes, trikes, and convertibles!

MY NEW TWO-WHEELER