A NEAT BLESSING

I'm not going to go on about the crap weather, since you already know how much I hate winter, so I thought I would share a blessing with you.

First a little background.  As most of you know, Julie's mother passed away in October at the age of 99.  While I was at the wake at St. Boniface Church in Waukee, I happened by their announcement board, and low and behold, I found out that this church has a group of bikers that meet at the church every Monday for a ride together and a stop for food afterwards.  They also have special rides scheduled throughout the riding season.  They call themselves the Blessed Bikers.  Except for the day of the week and the blessed part, it reminds me of a group I know.

I did ask the pastor, Father Vince Resonke, if he rides along with them also.  He said the closest he comes is having his picture taken while sitting on one of the bikes.  However, he did write a blessing for them that I wanted to share with you.  By the way, the good Father grew up in New Hampton, so he knew about Waukon and extends the following blessing.  It's called "Onto the Open Road"

Onto the open road we ride---
Surrounded by the fresh air of nature.
         Side by side we travel
        Down the many roads---
  Each day a new adventure--
      Each time, new friends.
Bless our comings and goings;
      Bless our time together.
Keep us safe as we ride our paths;
      May we always notice
   The beauty of your creation.
       May we put our trust
      In the one next to us as 
Onto the open road we ride....

----Fr. Vince Rosonke

WINTER SHOWED UP!

I was able to get a ride in on Monday this week, then the bottom dropped out on the temps.  I went through Decorah to Ridgeway and then took the Madison Road back to Decorah and back to Waukon for about 60 miles. (Remember it has to be at least 50 miles to count as a ride.) The sixty miles put me at 50,000 on the Wing, so it was due for the oil change and Sea Foam treatment for the winter.  Hopefully I'm not done riding here in Iowa yet, but it doesn't look good in the upcoming forecasts. 

Things must be rough all over.  I see in the news that they shot a weather man out east!  
If you think you've got troubles, check this guy out.  He must be the one that taught Chuckles how to plan routes!

NOVEMBER RIDE

It was Wednesday afternoon instead of Wednesday night, but Chuckles and Bob R got a November ride in this year.  For the past several years, I was able to ride at least once every month of the year.  Last year I did miss December and the year before I did miss January.  There is some "cheating" going on there, because, as most of you know, we do take the Wing with us to Florida in February.  I did ride the first three days of this week and put on a little over 300 miles on Monday and Tuesday.  On Wednesday, Chuckles and I put on about 135 miles by traveling on HWY 76 through Eitzen, Caledonia, and Houston.  We then took HWY 16 through Rushford, Peterson, Whalen, and Lanesboro.  Then onto HWY 52 through Harmony, Canton, Prosper, and Decorah and HWY 9 back to Waukon.  We did a couple of "warm-up" stops at Houston and Harmony.  The temperature got barely into the 50's with a few rain sprinkles, but the roads were really smooth and very little traffic.  I can't believe we didn't see another biker!  Actually it's kind of neat to be able to see some new things now with the leaves mostly off the trees.  Some things are nice to see, and some not so nice.  Hopefully the weather may warm up enough again for another chance for us to get out again.

On a sad note...Wayne Martin's brother, Harlan, passed away on Tuesday.  Condolences to Wayne and his family.

Here's a couple of photos from Wednesday afternoon.

WARM-UP STOP IN HARMONY

CHUCKLES SHOWING OFF HIS "NECKEE"

"MAN.... THAT NECKEE REALLY ITCHES!"

THREE "SPOOKS" ON FINAL WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDE

Unfortunately as Halloween approaches, so does daylight saving time.  That means that our Wednesday night rides have come to an end, since it will be dark now at 5:30.  Even with the late start to summer this year, we did get a lot of Wednesday night rides in and had a lot of fun.  Let's hope for a short winter, so we can begin again in the spring.

Lois, Chuckles, and Bob R (three spooks) went on the last Wednesday night ride of the season this week.  After leaving Casey's at 5:30 we rode through Luana, Monona, Rossville, Waterville, and back to Waukon putting on about 53 miles.  (You have to go at least 50 miles to count it as a ride.)  It was a crisp cool night with temperatures hovering around 43 degrees.  (43 degrees will soon feel balmy.)  We enjoyed a nice ride while the sun set on our riding season.

Here's a couple of photos and also a video (that Lois took).

LOIS IS SHIVERING ALREADY!

THE SUN IS SETTING ON OUR RIDES

TWO "SPOOKS" FINISHED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

NICE PIZZA-LOOKING LEAF RUN

On Sunday, which could be our last group ride of the season, eleven of us on 7 bikes went on our first annual "Pizza-Looking Leaf Run" to Happy Joe's in Lancaster, WI.  Carl & Joyce, Howard, Chuckles & Lois, Wayne & Sandy, Dayton & Joan, and Julie & Bob left at 11 from Casey's and went through Luana, Monona, PDC, Bridgeport, Millville, Mt. Hope (road closed), and on into Lancaster.  After Carl cleaned out the buffet table, we headed back to Waukon going through Mt. Ida, Werley, Woodman, Boscobel, Steuben (all roads lead to Steuben), Eastman, Lynxville, Ferryville, Lansing, and back home.  It was about 170 miles round trip.  Not a lot of leaves, but plenty of pizza and a great fall day!  Next year maybe it will be the "Leaf-Looking Pizza Run".

Here's a couple of photos from Sunday.

HUNGRY GROUP OF PIZZA EATERS

CHUCKLES BETS HOWARD THAT HE CAN EAT MORE PIZZA THAN HIM

CARL ACCUSES DAYTON OF STEALING HIS GAS CAN!

WE ARRIVE ...AND THE COOKS START SCRAMBLING!

MOE, CURLEY, AND LOIS...PLUS A RIDE ON SUNDAY

Last Wednesday Lois, Chuckles, and Bob R departed Casey's right a 5:30.  It was 59 degrees and sunny for our trip through Lycurgus, New Albin, Eitzen, and back to Gus & Tony's where we were joined by Julie and Bugsy.  We were able to squeeze about 56 miles in that time.  Our days are really getting shorter!

It is supposed to be real nice on Sunday, so we will have our First Annual Pizza- Looking and Leaf Run.  We will head over to Wisconsin leaf-looking on the way and stop at Happy Joe's for some pizza or ice cream or both.  I plan to leave Casey's at 11 AM.  EVERYONE IS INVITED TO RIDE ALONG.  We will be back long before dark.

Here's a shot from Wednesday night.

CHUCKLES LOOKS A LOT BETTER IN THE DARK!!

JUST ME AND CHUCKLES

I was surprised that on a beautiful fall evening that only Chuckles and Bob R were the only riders.  We left Casey's with a temperature in the 60's and headed for Postville.  We got about halfway there and discovered they were doing some blacktopping on HWY 51.  Not wanting to wait and tar up our bikes, we turned around and took 9 into Decorah.  We cut through on Pulpit Rock Road past the campground and to the stop light.  After turning left, we took Locust Road on up to A26 (Bear Creek Road) and followed it over to HWY 76 and back to Gus & Tony's.  We covered about 70 miles with pleasant temps. and really beautiful scenery.  There is some really great leaf-looking left and you can't beat the view from the seat of a motorcycle or convertible!

WE ARRIVE AT G & T WITH THE SUNSET

IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE!