CAN"T GET TO NORTH ANDOVER__BUT GOOD RIDE

The weather prediction early in the day was for rain later in the afternoon, but at 5:30 the weather was perfect for our ride.  Gathered at Casey's were Howard, David, Larry, Jim & Cathy, and Bob R on bikes.  They were joined by Dayton & Joan, Darrel, and Irv on trikes.  Dale and Bugsy supplied the support convertibles.

WHERE'S MY DRIVER?

GOOD SIZE GROUP GATHERS

GOOD TO SEE DARREL AGAIN

AND TO SEE IRV AGAIN

BLACK TRIKE FRESH OUT OF THE CRATE

RED MUST BE THE COLOR

WAYNE MARTIN COMES TO SEE US OFF

  Our destination was North Andover, so we departed Waukon on the Elon Road heading east to Lansing/Harpers Road and south into Harpers Ferry.  CR X52 took us south out of Harpers to HWY 76.  We followed 76 to Marquette and then crossed the river into PDC and onto HWY 18/35 heading east and south to CR C.  We went from C to CR X and then onto CR P.  We followed P to just outside of Bagley and then turned east onto CR A.  A took us to CR VV south and over to CR V where we were going to head east over to North Andover for a break.  However V was being prepared for paving and didn't look too inviting especially for two-wheelers, so we back tracked on VV back to A and followed A east into Bloomington for a break at the One Stop Market there.

THIS ISN'T NORTH ANDOVER....BUT IT AIN'T BAD

BUGSY HEADING OVER TO CHECK OUT THE NEW TRIKE

After our break we headed north on HWY 35 through Patch Grove and back onto HWY 18 west.  We took 18 back through PDC and Marquette and then turned onto the Volney Road in Monona after a brief detour in town.  On through Volney and into Rossville and HWY 76 north.  Following 76 we entered Waukon and into Gus & Tony's where JoAnn joined us.  It was rumored that the Gelo gang got to eat free pizza.  I had about 130 miles on the Wing when I got home.

HOSPICE RIDE IS THIS SUNDAY
The Hospice Ride this year starts at the Winneshiek Medical Center.  There is a free will breakfast preceding the ride that starts at 11 AM.  I plan to leave Casey's at 9:30 that morning and eat breakfast before the ride. Anyone is welcome to ride along with me. We may either start the ride on our own or wait for the big group to leave at 11.  This is a good cause for us to support, so I hope we can get a good group of WNR over there Sunday.

NEXT WEDNESDAY
Since Dennis and Bob R will be up in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, jerking small mouth bass out of the lakes up there next week, you will need a new leader next Wednesday.  Have a good ride!

SATURDAY, JUNE 16...ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT NAKED RIB RUN
This is our second RTE run this summer going to the Bagley Hotel for their naked rib dinner.  If you plan to go and eat ribs, you will need reservations.  You can call Bob R (563-568-7277) by Friday and let him know how many for ribs.  We will leave Casey's at 4:30 on that Saturday afternoon for our ride to Bagley and should be eating around 6.  We will be back before dark.  GOOD GRUB!

WNR ON MEMORIAL DAY

To start off the day, we had several participants at the Memorial Day Observance at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon.

DAVID & SUZANNE BROUGHT JOHN S TO THE CEREMONY

BOB Z PATROLLING THE GROUNDS

JULIE PRESENTING THE QUILTS OF VALOR

BOB Z RECEIVING HIS QUILT

DALE GETTING ASSIGNED HIS DUTY

BOB Z HEADING OVER TO SHOOT HIS RIFLE SALUTE
EVERYONE THERE WAS GLAD HE REMEMBERED HIS GLASSES!

THE RIFLE SQUAD WITH BOB & DALE

DALE GETTING READY TO FIRE

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, BOB!

After the Memorial Day program fourteen of us gathered at Casey's for our annual Memorial Day ride.  It was 85 degrees when we left town and temps would reach into the 90's before we got back.  Nancy, Lois, David, and Al rode two-wheelers while Wayne & Sandy, Meryle & Mary, Dayton & Joan, and Bob & Julie were on trikes.  Dennis & Marlene rode in the yellow support convertible.

BETTER BRING ALONG SOME OF THAT POWERADE TOO, DAVID

GOOD TO HAVE NANCY WITH US AGAIN

SANDY IS DELIGHTED WITH THE WEATHER!

We journeyed north on HWY 76 to Eitzen and took Pool Hill Road down the hill to HWY 26 in New Albin.  We followed 26 to CR 14 near Mill Stone and took it west into Caledonia for a break.  Since it was very warm, I decided we needed to take more breaks than usual.

JULIE & DAVID SHED THEIR JACKETS

NANCY IS HAPPY WE STOPPED!

After our break we continued on 76 north to CR 10 heading west through Sheldon and Houston and turning west again on CR 26 past the very busy Money Creek Campgrounds and on into Rushford for our second break.  CR 26 is a very scenic back road.

AMPLE PARKING AT THE KWIK TRIP IN RUSHFORD

After our break in Rushford we took HWY 16 east to CR 25 north through Peterson.  CR 25 is another scenic back road in SE Minnesota.  It took us north to HWY 30, which I consider to be Minnesota's version of HWY 9 in Allamakee County.  After a short jaunt on 30 we were able to get on HWY 250 south and wound our way through Lanesboro and onto HWY 16 west.  After less than a mile on 16 we turned onto CR 21 heading north.  This part of Minnesota had apparently received a lot of rain on Friday night because we saw a lot of water still sitting in farm fields.  CR 21 took us north through the suburbs of Henrytown and on into Canton where we turned on to HWY 44 east and into Mabel for our final break.

AAAH!, A LITTLE SHADE

GETTING SOME "HIGH TEST" INTO THE HARLEYS

We then continued east on 44 to CR 8 (Locust Road) and followed it south to Bear Creek Road east and onto HWY 76 south just outside of Dorchester.  76 south took us back to Waukon where we had 167 miles on the trike when we pulled into the shed.  A very warm but scenic ride for Memorial Day!

After the ride we gathered at the Rotach's for our annual Memorial Day cookout.  We were joined there by Chuckles and Suzanne and Seth.

THE GUYS PARK IN THE SHADE

CHUCKLES....NEVER KNOWN TO MISS A FREE MEAL!

SETH CHECKING OUT THE PLANT LIFE

GALS RELAXING AFTER SAMPLING THE RUM

MORE RUM SAMPLERS

GOOD FOOD FOLLOWED BY GOOD CONVERSATION

Our next special ride is the Hospice Ride on June 10th.  This year it leaves from the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah and not from Spillville.  Also this year most of the riders will leave as one big group from the Medical Center at 11 AM.  There is also a free will donation breakfast at the center before the ride.  I plan to leave Casey's at 9:30 that morning, so anyone who wants to ride along with me can meet there.  This is a very good cause for us to support.

FIFTEEN TO VOLGA--MEMORIAL DAY RIDE & COOKOUT

Fifteen participants gathered at Casey's on Wednesday evening including two newbies--Al & Seth, both on two wheelers.  Also on two wheels were Florida Bob, Howard, David, Larry, Jim & Cathy, and Bob R.  Trikes were ridden by Meryle & Mary and Wayne & Sandy, and Dennis & Marlene rode in the yellow support convertible.  

GOOD SIZE GROUP ON A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT

HOWARD AND FLORIDA BOB "ON THE ROCKS"

DAVID CHECKING FOR POCKET CHANGE

It was 82 degrees and partly cloudy skies as we pulled out of Casey's and onto HWY 9 west.  At the stop at Breezy Corners we turned onto HWY 76 for a short jog and onto Forest Mills Road.  After about 5 miles we turned west onto Cherry Valley Road and on into Postville.  We cruised through the outskirts of Postville and onto HWY 18 heading east.  After a short sprint down 18 we turned south onto the Gunder Road and just outside of Gunder we turned south onto Agate Road and into Elgin.  After passing through Elgin we took CR W51 south again and through a very patriotic Wadena.  Just south of Wadena we turned east onto CR 24 (Bush Road) and followed it to CR C2W just outside of Volga.  We proceeded into Volga City and stopped at the Pit Lane Convenience Store there for a break.

LARRY TELLS HOWARD THAT HE REAR ENDED JIM'S BIKE AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT

FLORIDA BOB HAD TO REPLACE THE SECURITY BATTERY IN HIS HARLEY

AL KEPT UP WITH US

LARRY TELLS DENNIS NOT TO BACK UP ANY FURTHER

AL IS OK, BUT SETH HAS A SORE REAR!

After leaving Volga City we kept going east on C2W and onto HWY 53 and on into Elklader.  We passed through Elkader and onto HWY 13 heading north.  We turned off 13 onto 182nd St. and into Farmersburg where we took Golden Avenue north to HWY 18 just outside of Monona.  We then passed through Monona (the railroad crossing is a little smoother now) and took the Volney Road past Volney and into Rossville.  Outside of Rossville we turned onto HWY 76 north and on into Waukon where JoAnn and Bugsy joined us at Gus & Tony's.  I had just over 100 miles on the Wing when I got home.  Really a nice ride and good to have the Tweedy's with us.  Hopefully Al will join us again on our rides.

MEMORIAL DAY RIDE AND COOKOUT
Monday is our Memorial Day ride and cookout at the Rotach house afterwards.  We will leave Casey's at 1 after paying tribute to our vets at 10 that morning at Oakland Cemetery.  There is no parade this year.  After the ride  Bob R will be cooking brats for everyone, and there will be samples of Caribbean rum, but bring your own drinks and a snack, desert, or salad with you.  Everyone is welcome.  If you can't make the ride, you can still come to the cookout.  We should be back in town around 5. See you on Monday!

EIGHT ATE AT STEUBEN

Eight hungry WNR gathered at Casey's Saturday afternoon for a RTE to Jo's Kountry Bar in Steuben.  Meryle & Mary, Carl & Joyce, and Bob & Julie rode trikes, while Dennis & Marlene followed in the support convertible.

A HUNGRY CROWD GATHERS

MERYLE TELLS CARL ABOUT HIS FREE LUNCH AT HD

CARL WANTS TO KNOW IF THE BURGERS ARE GOING TO BE "GUNDER" SIZE

We departed Casey's at 4:30 under partly cloudy skies with the temp at 77 degrees.  There is a lot of road construction going on across the river, but since "all roads lead to Steuben", we knew we could find a way.  We took the Forest Mills Road past the Gelo Estate and on into Luana and then onto HWY 18 east.  18 took us through Monona, Giard, Marquette, across the river, into Prairie du Chien and to HWY 60 going east.  On 60 we went through Wauzeka and just outside of Boscobel, turned on to CR E heading north.  Scenic E led us into Steuben parked next to the city park in front of Jo's.

ALL ROADS GOT US HERE

DENNIS WONDERS WHY THE STREETS ARE SMOOTHER HERE THAN IN WAUKON

OUR DESTINATION

Jo's special on Saturday is a half-pound cheeseburger with a half order of fries, and that seemed to be the item of choice.  After eating we crawled out the door and mounted up again for the trip home.  CR E was just as scenic going up the hill to HWY 27.  We turned onto 27 heading north through Seneca and into Mt. Sterling where we picked up HWY 171 heading west down to the river.  At the river we turned north on HWY 35 passing through Ferryville and then across the Blackhawk Bridge into Lansing.  I hate riding on HWY 9 (the Terry E Branstad Memorial Highway), but the sky looked threatening, so we took it back to Waukon and missed the rain.  Hopefully Carl & Joyce made it back to Rossville without getting wet.

I know some people were unhappy that the "rubber" jar had not been replenished in Steuben, but the food was great and the ride was scenic.  I had about 125 miles on the trike when we pulled into the shed at home.

UPCOMING EVENTS
A week from Monday, the 28th is Memorial Day, and time for our annual ride and cookout at the Rotach house afterwards.  After paying tribute to our veterans, we will meet at Casey's at 1 PM for the ride and should be back in town for the cookout around 5.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and everyone is invited.

Sunday, June 10th, is the annual Hospice Ride.  There is a little different format this year, but more on that later.  Set that date aside, and maybe we'll ride as a group over to Decorah that morning.