2009 Slimey Crud Run

Last weekend Rod, Mike, Jerry, Travis, Fred, and Randy went to Wisconsin for the Slimey Crud Run. The weather for the ride up was fitting for the run with temps in the 40's and drizzle for the better part of the day. The weather encouraged us to stop often which actually made for a good opportunity to see the sites. We made our first big stop at Breitbachs in Ball Town. The lunch buffet was fantastic with spaghetti soup, broasted chicken, shrimp, ham, and sausages in sauerkraut (we do like to find the good places to eat). From there we made a short ride up the Great River Road to take the ferry into Cassville, Wi. If you’ve never done this it was kind of fun and shortened up the ride since we would have either had to back track to Dubuque or gone north to Prairie du Chien.







Sunday the weather improved with temps in the 50’s and only an occasional sprinkle. It didn’t seem to deter too many people as it looked to be a decent crowd and there were a lot of bikes from the rare to the absurd. We hung around Pine Bluff until about 11:30 that headed off to Leland. Before we left Mike had the highlight of the trip as he got to meet and talk to Peter Egan. We managed to find some great back roads that were a lot of fun to ride in between the two stops. In Leland we ran into Gina, Bill, and a few other riders from Iowa City.







Riding home we again found some good back roads for the first part of the trip. Then we hit 151 to get back. To finish off the trip Fred, Jerry, Travis, and I stopped at the General Store in Stone City for supper. At Rod’s recommendation we got the Tadburger which is a ½ pound hamburger topped with a fried egg, and bacon. It sounds strange, and it may not be good for you but it also may be one of the best hamburgers we’ve had.

More pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42006287@N03/sets/72157622518021976//

Still more pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Oldkawfan/2009SlimeyCrudRun#//

Click on the icon for fryrandy to bring up the gallery, then double click on it to bring up the pictures.

New Hartford Motocross - September 20, 2009

I took a ride to New Hartford to on the 20th to watch the motocross races. It was some good racing and they have over 20 classes. I’ve been there twice and I keep looking at the over 40 class and think about resurrecting TT Racing. It’s probably a good thing I have too many other projects going so my bank account or lack there of keeps me from buying a race bike.

For more pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42006287@N03/sets/72157622360387255/

Randy

Formula 1 Race Sunday 9/27

F1 Pre-Race is on at 1:30pm. Late lunch at The Edge to watch it? Everyone is welcome.

Anamosa Hill Climb - September 13, 2009

You know the Anamosa hill doesn't seem that intimidating from the road. It’s a whole different look when you are standing at the bottom watching somebody try to make it to the top.

With the good weather there were record crowds and the riders put on show that disappointed almost no one. The only dissent we saw was one fan who commented "Get the f****** Honda off the hill so we can see the Harleys".

For more pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42006287@N03/sets/72157622363338572/

The Pace

I've been riding motorcycles for almost 40 years now. I've probably learned more in the last 7-8 years than I did the first 30+. Still it doesn't prevent having close calls (I've had 2 in the last week). It doesn't prevent the incidents like happened to the IC group last week. We still need to continue to learn every time we ride so that we can minimize the close calls.

This was floating around the group last week and got a good response so we wanted to make sure it got out to everyone.

http://www.ama-cycle.org/roadride/groupRideSignals.asp

Wednesday 9/16 Bike Night Cancelled

Bike Night for 9/16 will be cancelled. Anyone wanting to attend the visitation for David Ryan can meet in the Cedar Rapids Edgewood Road Super Target parking lot tomorrow. The plan is to leave the parking lot at 3:30 to arrive in Gladbrook around 5:00. It sounds like we will have people riding and driving so feel welcome to join the group.

Sad News

When we created the blog a few weeks ago it was to allow our group to share rides and good times on the bikes and with our fellow riders. We never gave a thought that we would have a need to use it to convey anything else.

I think that we are all in shock as we heard the news that one of our bike night regulars David Ryan lost his life in a motorcycling accident this last weekend in Wisconsin.

At times like this I often come back to a poem called “Parable of Immortality” by Henry Van Dyke.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, "There she goes!"

Gone where? Gone from my sight ... that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There she goes!” there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

While the original is about a ship I think it applies to our thoughts as we have lost someone we have known.

In the back of our minds we all know that the riding we love to do is very dangerous but we do it because of the feeling it gives us and probably more importantly because of the wonderful people we meet. David was definitely great company at our events and rides. All of our prayers go out to David’s wife and his two children at this difficult time.

As anyone gets information on funeral arrangements or memorials please click on the comments button below and leave a comment or contact me and I will update the post. Everyone please be safe.

Update: The funeral arrangements are posted below in the comments