Summer Trip June 2014

Thursday, June 26, - Sunday, June 29, 2014. (click on pictures for full size).
Another Fossil Summer Motorcycle Trip has begun!  The meeting place was the IKEA parking lot in Bloomington after work.  Goal is to zoom around the hills of SW Wisc for a four day weekend. We are six Fossils strong: Keith, Lloyd, Greg, Steve, Jim and myself (Wayne).  The forecast was threatening rain but we are good right now.

After a quick scripture reading and prayer we were on our way.  Our immediate goal was RedWing, MN where our senior Fossil, Gordy, was busy preparing brats and baked beans for supper.  After a bit of confusion on which exit we would take off of US52 which separated us, we got there and had a great time with Gordy and his lovely wife, Mrs. Gordy, on their back yard patio.

As much fun as we were having, we still needed to pull away and get to our first night destination.  Also, the weather radar was threatening rain and the sun was threatening to set.
Steve and I wanted to camp so we headed to Perrot State Park near Trempealeau, WI.  We crossed the river immediately and enjoyed the famous winding road of State Hwy 35.  It was a beautiful ride as we watched the setting sun cascade through the advancing clouds and rain showers.  The showers were light and intermediate so we were able to set up camp relatively dry.

The rest of the guys stayed on the MN side as they had reservations in a motel in Winona.  Keith stayed in Red Wing at Gordy's house (Gordy is his dad).  The two of them would find us for breakfast in Trempealeau in the morning. 

FRIDAY:

It was raining as we found our way to the breakfast joint "Mrs. Sippys" (on the Mississippi).  Good to settle in with a warm coffee and omelets, dry off and hear our introductory session from Pastor Keith on our Christian study this weekend.

After breakfast we bid adieu to Gordy who had enough of riding in the rain and headed back home.  Then we headed south and east.  We needed to get south of Interstate 90 to get out of the crowds and into the good alphabet roads of SW Wisc.  I thought I had found a way to get around the LaCrosse/Onalaska "metropolitan" area to meet this goal, but I must have turned right when I should have kept on straight because we were soon into downtown Onalaska fighing traffic.  I pulled into a Harley dealer to try to figure out where we were.  This was fortuitous since Keith had borrowed a friends Harley and, as Harleys are famous for doing, something had rattled off and needed to be replaced.

While he was inside buying the needed farkle we figured out how to get out of town and finally were into some fun roads.  We were having a great time just taking whatever alphabet road looked interesting with the eventual goal of getting to Wild Cat Mountain State Park where there was a stellar look-out.  The main road to the State Park was under construction which was also fortuitous since that forced us to find a neat little county park to rest and plan our afternoon.

Then some more great roads and we found our way to Wild Cat Mountain;

It was now mid afternoon and time to figure out where we would sleep tonight.  After looking over the maps we decide to head further south and east to Richland Center.  There, after a much-needed DQ stop, us two campers found a private campground east of town to pitch our tents and the other four went together on a suite in a local hotel.  This would be home base for two nights.  Supper that night was at a steak house called "Russels".  The bible study continued in the hotel suite.

 

SATURDAY

Breakfast meeting place this morning was down the highway a bit in a little town called Spring Green.   A couple of places looked interesting for destinations today.  One was Frank Lloyd Wright's estate "Taliesin" and the other was "The House on the Rock".  And of course, all the spectacular curving roads.  I was interested in a tour of the Taliesin until I found out a ticket was $50.  So, we decided to head to The House.  Except for Steve.  Steve came here to ride so he was going to ride the twisties while we looked at the stuff.  Can't blame him for that.

.That afternoon, after the tour, we started hitting the alphabet roads again.  It was a beautiful day and outstanding roads.  We found our way to a little town called Mount Horeb just in time for a snack.  I remember saying to Keith; "I need to find some ice cream with some pie under it".  He was obliging and found us a pie shop right downtown.  Only problem was, it was closed.... kind of.  We were staring into the front door and wondering why it was locked when the waitress came to the door and said  "What's up?".  "We'd like some pie, please"  "Well we're closed".  The short of the story is that she took pity on us and opened the joint just for us.  We had a great time getting to know her and having some great pie.  Turned out she has had some troubles recently and we were able to share our faith in Christ with her and promised to pray for her.  Please pray even now as you look at her picture:

After our pie, it was time to start heading back to Home Base.  Supper was going to be brats on the fire at our campground.  Bible study was around the picnic table.  A great day.

SUNDAY

Sunday means it's time to head home already.  We found some breakfast and Steve was our guide.  He did a much better job than me in getting us past the populated areas around I90 and found some great twisty roads in the process.  We did not take the route in a leisurely fashion today.  Lunch was at a great BBQ place in Nelson called J&J.  Man that was good food!

(they carry odd named root beer)

So, this was the story of our Fossil Apostles Motorcycle Gang Summer Trip, 2014.  It was a great time, of course.  It is always good to re-acquaint with the Apostles, hit the road on two wheels and have great fellowship in the process.  And southwest Wisconsin never disappoints in scenery and great roads.

Thanks guys, it was a pleasure.

Fossil Wayne.

2014 Fall Ride

Hey Fossils, how about one last ride before the snow flies?

Saturday Oct 11.  Meet at Maple Grove Covenant Church at 9:00 AM.  Then zoom around a bit and end up at Larry's lake cabin near Cokato for brats/burgers off the grill.  Then (probably not very directly) home again with a stop at a DQ very possible.

Please let me know soon if you want to go so we can let Larry know how many to expect.

Grace and Peace through our Lord, Jesus Christ,

Fossil Wayne

six one to  tree six niner six six ninerx2

Summer Trip June 26th-29

Hey you Fossils.  Our summer trip is only one week out.  We leave on Thursday afternoon (26th).

Here is who is signed up to go:  Greg, Steve, Keith, Lloyd and myself.  If you know of someone else going, please let us know.

We are meeting on Thursday in the IKEA parking lot at 3:00 PM.  Our first night is at Trempealeau Wisc where there a nice state park or a motel near by.  Your choice, I'm camping unless it's raining.

The rest of the weekend is open to interpretation.  Anywhere we go down there will involve great roads.

Also, does anyone have a daily bible study to go through?  I can do another study out of First Timothy but don't want to hog the blessing since I did it last year.

See you on Thursday,

Fossil Wayne.

six one too  tree six niner   six niner six niner

Spring Ride 2014

Saturday, June 7, 2014  (click on pics for full size)
Plan was to meet up at 8:00 AM and head south and east to Nelson, Wisconsin where the best "BBQ joint in SW Wisconsin" would feed us some great smoked pork.  Then twisty alphabet roads and the required DQ stop.  As is often the case, the plan did not happen.  What's it say in Proverbs?: "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."

It was raining on Saturday morning and it was not suppose to stop until noon or later.  New plan: meet at noon and maybe head a different direction.  At noon it was still drizzling but the radar was promising that it should end soon.  We decided to go ahead and meet but to put the required DQ stop up front instead of later.  The DQ was nice and dry as we ordered our food and became acquainted with some new, young Fossils: Zach and Brandon.  We were 8 Fossils strong: Wayne, Lloyd, Greg, Steve, Rick S, Bill, and two previously mentioned.

By the time we were out of the DQ the drizzle had ended and the roads were starting to dry.  It looked like this plan might work!  Our scripture reading today was I Chronicles 29: Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

We did abandon any hope of heading all the way to Wisconsin since it was still raining that way.  Instead we headed north to the Mississippi and followed the "Dayton road" along the south shore until the confluence of the Crow river, then turned left and followed it south on various county roads.

Bill lead us back across the river and we were hitting some more twisties when suddenly Bill and I found ourselves alone at a stop sign.  We pulled over to wait and no one was coming.  "Wonder what happened?" I said.  "Don't know, lets circle back and look for them" was the reply.  They were about a mile back, everyone had their kickstands down and were loitering around on the shoulder.  We pulled into an intersection and found out that Steve's right foot peg had dropped off and they had already given up the search.  The grass was deep in the ditch and half filled with water.  No chance of finding it.  Steve got creative with his highway peg, an allen wrench and some purple duct tape.  We were back on the road.

We continued south along the Crow and pulled into a city park in Delano, MN.  Steve checked his watch and realized if he hurried he could make it to a local bike junk yard before they closed where he could buy a new, used foot peg.  Goodbye Steve.   A couple of other guys also had some afternoon commitments so also had to split.  Before they left we took this picture.  (Lloyd is not pictured as he was behind the camera):

We had now whittled our numbers down to only five Fossils.  At the gas station I had a great idea of finding a restaurant that would have a piece of pie.  There we could sit and talk.  Lloyd found one on his GPS and only had to do about a dozen u-turns before we got there (I'm exaggerating).  We had the joint to ourselves and though they didn't have any pie their chocolate cheese cake was worth the trip.   We had a great time re-living the day and days of lore.  The clock on the wall said 6:30 and I suggested we go home.  After Bill about had a heart attack that it was so late we realized the clock was lying and it was really only 4:15.  Still it was a good time to head home so we paid up and headed back up the river valley.  

Another great Spring ride in spite of the weather not cooperating.  

Thanks guys!

Summer Trip June 26-29

Hey guys, we are about a month out to our summer trip into SouthWest Wisconsin.  RU goin'?

We will be leaving the cities Thursday afternoon the 26th.  That night will be in a town that Steve S suggested on the Mississippi (what was the name of that town again, Steve?).   Because of the deer we'll want to leave early enough so we get there before dark .  The rest of the trip is open to suggestions.  Every direction we go down there is great.  We will be back Sunday evening the 29th.

Right now it is only Steve S and I signed up for sure so please let me know ASAP.  Also, do you want a motel room or a camp site?

(Also don't forget about the Spring Ride on the 7th)  RU goin'?

Grace and Peace,

Fossil Wayne

Spring Ride June 7

Northern Fossils will meet at MGCC at 8:00 AM.  They will meet up with Southern Fossils at the IKEA parking lot at 9:00 AM.  We will ride south and east and have lunch at J and J BBQ in Nelson, WI.  "The Best Ribs Place on the River": www.jandjbbq.com

We will then hit some more twisties and find our way home after the required DQ stop.

Right now it's just Steve S and me signed up to go.  Anybody else? 

Grace and Peace

Fossil Wayne

6 one2*tree69*six69niner

Summer Trip, Spring Ride

Fossils, voting is now closed and the winning weekend for the Summer Trip with five votes is June 28. We will leave town Thursday the 26th after work and be back Sunday evening the 29th.  Please make a vacation day request for Friday the 27th and mark your calendars.  You may forward this notice to any of your biking friends/family.

Destination is the "driftless area" of SW Wisconsin.  This area is filled with gorgeous hills, valleys and twisty county roads.  Exact itinerary and routes are to be determined.  Most of you prefer motels, some of us camping.  As usual, we will work it out. We will have a breakfast meeting in the next couple of months to talk it over.

Please confirm with me if you are planning on making the trip.

Also, don't forget that the Spring Ride is just a few weeks before that on Saturday, June 7.  Details also TBD but Steve S tells me of a great Ribs Joint near Nelson, Wisc which sounds great to me!

Hopefully some of the snow will melt by then!

Grace and Peace,

Fossil Wayne.

six one too tree six nine six nine six nine