WHAT HAPPENED TO SPRING?!

 With temps in the lower 90's, fifteen Wednesday Night Riders gathered at Casey's for the second ride of the season.  Last week the temps were still in the 60's for highs and down to the upper 40's for lows.  Quite a change!

We had Dee, Marie & Kaleb, Al & Kia, Lois, Jim & Cathy, and Jim D & Honey on bikes.  Straddling trikes were Ron & Helen, ChucK, Darrel, and Bob R.

GOOD TO SEE RON & HELEN & DARREL AGAIN

DEE LEADS CHUCK INTO TOWN

HONEY GETS SOME ATTENTION

STILL TOO WET TO PLANT

With Bob R in the lead on the Gold Wing trike, we passed through steamy Waukon and headed north on HWY 76.  We turned west onto Bear Creek Road and followed it along the river to Locust Road.  We did not see much field work going on yet as we passed some large farms.  Turning back north on Locust, we cruised on up to HWY 44 and then turned east and followed it into Spring Grove for a break from the heat.

TIME FOR COOL DRINKS AND CONVERSATION

KALEB QUENCHES HIS THIRST

EVEN HONEY LOOKS WARM

After our break we passed through Spring Grove where their "music in the park" night drew a huge crowd.  We continued on past the park and then turned onto CR 27 and wound our way back to HWY 76.  After a short jog south, we turned onto Pool Hill Road and passed through Eitzen on our way east to HWY 26 at New Albin.  While we didn't spot much for wildlife as we traversed down the hill, we did pass by a huge sheep farm.  When we arrived at New Albin, we headed south into Lansing where we picked up HWY 9 and motored into Waukon for a meal at Green Valley Getaway.  I had 89 miles on the clock when I herded the trike into the shed.  The shoulder survived the trip quite easily!

Thanks to Jim D, here's a map of the route we took.

OUR NEXT RTE

This Saturday, May 14th, is our first RTE (Ride To Eat) for the season.  It's officially (or unofficially) our "Burger Run".  The plan is to journey on over to Gunder (They have reopened.) and sample their burgers (maybe even a "Gunder burger").  We will depart Casey's at 4:30 that afternoon and plan to arrive in Gunder at around 5:30.  Looking forward to trying this place out again, and seeing who might try to tackle the Gunder burger.  EVERYONE IS WELCOME, so come hungry and see you at 4:30 on Saturday!

OPENING DAY!!

 Finally a decent Wednesday night!  Time to ride!  With Bob R still on the mend, Chuckles was the designated leader.

Here's the report from him and Lois along with some stats from Jim D.

The weather witch finally cooperated and allowed 4 of us to embark on our first WNR of the season.  Chuck, Lois, Al & Jim D. departed Casey's after a welcome send off from Bob Z. and Bob R. who was finishing up a round of self-therapy on the Gold Wing trike.  We headed out on 76 to Iron Mine Dr., where we cruised past the Tweedy Ranch, to Hwy 9.  Next we turned on to Lycurgus Rd. then Iowa River Dr until we were back on 76.  We took that to Eitzen then Co Rd 2 over to New Albin then 26 down into Lansing where we stopped for a stretch and to put on an extra layer.

From there we took Great River Rd then across on Lafayette Ridge.  After a short jog on Lansing-Harpers Rd we cruised Elon Rd back to Waukon.  Bob R. met us up at Lid's where we filled our bellies on pizza, burgers & fries.  It felt great to be on the road again and to tally up 77 miles!

BOB Z SEES US OFF

WHO'S THAT IN THE DISTANCE?

BOB R--NOT QUITE READY TO LEAD YET

BREAK TIME

GOOD LOOKING NEW LEADER

TIME TO EAT

MERYLE'S SERVICES

THE SERVICES FOR OUR FRIEND MERYLE ARE SET.

Visitation is from 4-7 Monday, May 2, at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

 His funeral will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 3rd, at Salem UCC at 1097 Pole Line Road rural Waukon.

As I had mentioned previously, our Wednesday Night Riders are going to be honorary pall bearers.  If you wish to be included, you need to be at Salem UCC on Tuesday morning at 10:15 and no later than 10:30 to be seated with our group.  

If you have any questions, you can call Bob at 563-568-7277.

MORE SAD NEWS

 It's with a very heavy heart that I have to inform our group that Meryle Honn passed away yesterday.  Meryle had been a member of our Wednesday Night Riders practically since the start.  He was always eager to go on the guys' trip when he was still able, and I don't think he and Mary ever missed a couples' trip.

Meryle had a great sense of humor and was always fun to be around.  I know Mary and his family are going to miss him greatly as we will also.

Mary asked if the Wednesday Night Riders would be honorary pall bearers, and I told her we would be proud to do that.  Once I have all the details of Meryle's funeral, I will put them on an upcoming post to keep everyone informed.  I do know he attended church out at Salem, so I would assume the services would be out there.

RIP, Meryle

FOURSOME TO CAMP COURAGEOUS

 Four Wednesday Night Riders made the journey down to Camp Courageous in Monticello on Sunday.  Dennis & Marlene accompanied Bob & Julie for a ride down in Bob's pickup.  We also delivered a contribution check that Gary K sent along with us.  Jim & Cathy decided to make a contribution by buying a ticket for the 1971 VW bus that Camp Courageous is raffling off.  Good luck to them!

When we arrived, Charlie Becker, the camp director, was very appreciative of our trip down and our donations.  The omelets, sausage, juice, and coffee hit the spot!

While we were eating, I visited with another motorcycle group that had made the trip down.  This was a HOG group that left from Elgin and rode their bikes down.  They were pretty well bundled up, but I'll have to hand it to them for biking down on a cool spring Sunday.  Those HOG riders must be a lot tougher that the Wednesday Night Riders!

While visiting with them, I asked if they had eaten at Gunder yet.  They informed me that they only lived about 6 miles from Gunder, and had eaten there several times.  They said the food was delicious and they still served the big burgers.  So, we should be looking forward to our RTE to Gunder on May 14th !

ON A SAD NOTE

Jane Miene, Sandy Fish's sister, passed away last week.  Condolences go out to the Fish families and friends.

UPCOMING RIDES

This Wednesday night does not look like good riding weather either.  The Weather Witch has certainly cast her spell over us this spring!  Hopefully she is about out of cold breath and we can resume our rides again.  As mentioned above, the next WNR RTE (Ride To Eat) is on May 14th.  More on that later.

WELL ATTENDED PMS/ CAMP COURAGEOUS/SHOULDER UPDATE

WE HAD ANOTHER INCREDIBLE TURNOUT FOR OUR FOURTEENTH ANNUAL PMS GET-TOGETHER.  THE LAST COUNT WAS CLOSE TO 40 BEING "COSEY" IN THE ROOM AT THE ROSSVILLE STORE.  THE FOOD WAS GREAT AS USUAL AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN.

BECAUSE OF MY SHOULDER CONDITION, I HAD CONTEMPLATING CALLING THE MEETING OFF FOR THIS YEAR, BUT I'M GLAD I DIDN'T.  HOPEFULLY EVERYONE HAD A GOOD TIME!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT, I'LL TRY TO GET YOU OUR SPECIAL RIDE SHEET THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU. 

I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO LENT A HAND IN PULLING THIS OFF.  CHUCKLES, LOIS, JIM G, AND HOWARD FOR WORK ON THE INVITES AND RIDE SHEET.  THANKS TO DENNIS AND JENS FOR GETTING MY BODY AND THE EQUIPMENT TO ROSSVILLE.  I ALSO WANT TO THANK HOWARD (HE DID IT AGAIN!) FOR BUYING OUR SUPPER AND TO WAYNE FOR BUYING OUR DRINKS!

HERE'S OUR BUNCH...

 

 

CAMP COURAGEOUS

OUR ANNUAL SPRING TRIP TO CAMP COURAGEOUS FOR THEIR OMELET BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER IS SET FOR THIS SUNDAY DEPARTING CASEY'S AT 9:15.  I DON'T KNOW HOW THE  WEATHER IS LOOKING FOR BIKES, BUT JULIE AND I PLAN ON GOING BY AUTO.  IF YOU WANT TO RIDE ALONG OR DROP OFF A CHECK FOR US TO DELIVER, SEE YOU ON SUNDAY.

SHOULDER UPDATE

WE VISITED THE ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR AT GUNDERSEN TODAY, AND HE WAS WELL-PLEASED WITH THE HEALING PROCESS ON MY SHOULDER.  IN FACT, HE THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO START PHYSICAL THERAPY!  SO I'M SCHEDULED TO START THOSE TREATMENTS AT VMH ON TUESDAY.  I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME PAINFUL MOMENTS THERE, BUT IT WILL HELP ME HEAL FASTER AND HELP ME GET BACK RIDING, GOLFING, AND FISHING QUICKER.

READY TO ROLL!!

 NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT RIDING WITH OUR NEVER-ENDING WINTER, BUT I DO HOPE AT LEAST SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SNEAK SOME RIDES IN.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PMS GET TOGETHER COMING UP WEDNESDAY NIGHT (EATING AT 6--PROGRAM AROUND 7) AT THE ROSSVILLE STORE.

THANKS TO CHUCKLES, LOIS, AND HOWARD INVITATIONS WERE SENT OUT.  IF, BY CHANCE, YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE ONE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME ANYWAY AND BRING SOMEONE ALONG IF YOU WANT.  NO RESERVATIONS ARE NEEDED!

ALSO, AT THE MEETING, YOU WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF THE SPECIAL RIDES WE HAVE LINED UP FOR 2022.

THIS WILL BE OUR FOURTEENTH PMS MEETING!  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.  IT WILL BE GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN, AND WE USUALLY HAVE A GOOD TIME.

SEE YOU THEN!