Friendship Riders of Iowa

Impromptu Gathering

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:25:00 +0000

Monday night, November 9th we plan to meet at the Mexican Restaurant on the square in Winterset. We have been there before and the food is very good.

Reminder, our chapter meeting will be Saturday, November 14th at Felix and Oscars in West Des Moines, at 6:30 p.m.

November Impromptu Get together

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:19:00 +0000

Monday, November 2nd, the chapter decided to have an impromptu gathering and check out the new Smokey Row restaurant that opened in Des Moines. It is just off 235 near Martin Luther King road. It is a corner shaped building. There is a lot of room in the restaurant with a small parking lot and some side street parking. We had a several come and we had a great time! The food was good and there were many choices of salads, sandwiches, coffees, teas, desserts and more.
We have had supper rides to the Smokey Row in Pleasantville and this is set up very similar.

River Boat view

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:17:00 +0000

Fall colors

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Steve and Connie rode out to Dubuque the 3rd weekend in October hoping to see some great fall leaves. Some had changed but not as many as expected. We stopped at the Field of Dreams film spot and checked that out. The weather was cool and windy.
We did a Riverboat ride down the Mississippi River on a Paddleboat cruise. It was chilly that day and the leaves were not as bright and colorful as we had expected. We did get to see some bald eagles flying over head.

We took a long ride as the weather began to warm up some and rode by Breitbachs Restaurant in Ball Town. It is now open although we didn't go inside to see what it looked like or to eat. The outside of the building looks a lot like it did after it burned the first time.
We did see a few colorful leaves and had a long ride over into the Wisconsin side and back down and across the river to Dubuque.
It seems like the leaves became more brilliant and colorful during the week after we got back from this trip.
Now in November, most of the leaves are gone or piling up in the yards to be raked and bagged.

Iowa's Best Tenderloin

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:50:00 +0000

Someone read in the newspaper that Goldies, in Prairie City, Iowa was voted as having the best tenderloins! So of course, we needed to go check this out!
Goldies is a very small ice cream stop that serves food. It has some tables and a few stools up to the counter. The tenderloins are very big and very good! Their ice cream is really good too!
The restaurant has been extremely busy more so than they every expected, since the article came out in the paper. We have been back several times and you may sometimes have to wait to find a place to sit, but the food is very good and worth the wait!

If you are 4 wheelin, go check out the Neal Smith Prairie/Wild Life refuge nearby. It is on gravel and you can drive through the park and see wildlife (unless they decide to hide from you). There is a large statue of a buffalo as you drive into Prairie City near the Caseys as you come into town.

Our first Chapter Meeting October 10th

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:32:00 +0000

We had our first fall meeting of GWTA Chapter H Friendship Riders of Iowa on Saturday, October 10th at 6:30 p.m. at Felix and Oscars in West Des Moines. We reviewed our agenda and discussed several different things in our by-laws, keeping them the same. We renewed our Chapter Registration.
We discussed our Christmas party and it will be in December. More info to come later. We are having elections at our November meeting. We did vote on our Chapter Family of the Year for 2010! Congratulations to Pam and Bob.. we feel you are perfect to represent us.
our favorite Beveridges! :)
We continue to use our blog as our newsletter, so if you have something to add, please get it to us so we can put it on the blog. If you checked out a new restaurant, if you went to a GWTA event, something about your family, a trip or ride...whatever you want to share...
Nebraska Fall Follies.. there is some confusion on the dates, some say the second weekend in November and some say the weekend of the 21st. Not sure how many will be going this year.
We have some snow birds that are anxious to leave since the weather has been cooler already!
We are going to do the blankets again for Operation First Response at a get together in January. More details on that later.
The next Chapter Meeting is Saturday, November 14th at 6:30 p.m. at Felix and Oscars.

September Supper Rides and Impromtu

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:26:00 +0000

Our September supper rides were fun. We had some that decided to 4 wheel it, but those of us that rode had a chilly ride but enjoyed the conversation and good time. We had several come to the Kin Folks supper and we had a great time!

October was to be impromptu rides but as the weather seems to be getting cooler and surprise! snow!! we only had one ride, still with some 4 wheeling.

Applefest in Woodbine

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:19:00 +0000

The last weekend in September, some of our members decided to ride over to Woodbine for Applefest. The temperatures were cool in the morning and we got a few sprinkles but when we got to Woodbine, the sun came out and it was a very nice day. The guys found a place to sit and visit and the girls took off up town and checked out the many gift and craft ideas at the craft show and checked out the flea market. We went back and joined the guys for the Chapter Z get together with really good food, entertainment and a camp fire.
We stayed at a motel and then worked our way back home going through the Loess Hills and back roads. It was a good weekend. We always enjoy it and we thank Chapter Z for their hospitality and great time!

Mrs Welaxn

Restaurant update The Rumor Mill is closed

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:55:00 +0000

In case anyone was wondering, The Rumor Mill in St Charles is closed. It opened the next day with a new owner and a new name. Eats and Sweets. They do have pizza but it is not prepared in the cast iron skillets... they said because it takes too long. yes, it did seem to take longer but they were really good pizzas and stayed hot to the last bite. Some have already tried the new restaurant and said the food was ok.

Will just need to find another restaurant that serves good pizza prepared in cast iron skillets.

Supper Rides and More

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Wow, September already? Where is summer? We had a few hot days, then some really cool days, and now Indian summer. Leaves on the trees are already starting to change? What is going on?
We have had some good supper rides and some great places to eat. We had a mystery ride on August 31st and went to Benchwarmers in Ankeny. They always have good service and good food. We always are very careful around the TV Stands on the walls there. Don't want to receive a concussion like Glen got one time.
Labor Day, was To be announced, but with everyone gone doing things with family, we didn't have a ride.

Some went to the Davis Rally... It sounds like several riders had some difficulties. Dave and Betty Oleson from Minnesota had an accident and Dave is not doing well. Betty was having wrist surgery today, Thursday...Sending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers their way.

Monday Sept. 14th was our first ride led by our ride captain, Bill since they returned. We had a great ride to Georgio's in Colfax and had a good group there. Since Bill and Dee will be gone on their anniversary, we gave Dee a sympathy card, and then them both a 50th Anniversary card. Dee laughed.. not sure what Bill was really thinking :) We love you both and missed you being gone a whole month.

September 21st we are going to Italian Village in Adel...if it rains as forecast, we can 4 wheel it.

Monday, September 28th, we are going to Kin Folks in Altoona. That will be the last of our official supper rides.

Saturday, September 26th is Applefest in Woodbine. This is a great time. I think some of us plan to go for the day. Chapter Z Nebraska usually does a ride and is a chance to connect with more friends.

October will be Impromptu rides if anyone wants to ride and the weather is good.
Colorama is October 9-11 in Harrison Arkansas this year.

Some of us are not going to be able to go. Our first fall Chapter meeting is Saturday, October 1oth at Felix and Oscars in West Des Moines at 6:30 p.m. We have several very important issues to discuss at this meeting.

Everyone be very alert and Be safe

Restaurant in Davenport

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:35:00 +0000

We love just going for a ride and ending up at a different town, sometimes state, just to try out a new restaurant. We rode with Darl and Melissa to Davenport, a weekend or so ago and ate at Thunder Bay. On Sunday's only, they have a Brunch buffet... you can have breakfast or lunch. The atmosphere reminds you of being in a log cabin, with fireplace, log furniture, and a canoe as a light over the table, (you would need to see it!) or an antler chandelier. The food was great, Breakfast buffet was REALLY good, and lunch side of buffet included smoked salmon, catfish and shrimp and more.
We rode the river road as far as Clinton and then headed back towards home on back roads. We were on some roads we hadn't been on before. The wind came up and was blowing pretty hard by afternoon.
Great ride and got home safely.

I love this great riding weather!

Tour Master riding Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:23:00 +0000

On hot days, A lot of people look at us like we are crazy and ask us how we can stand to wear our full gear when riding! We wear our jacket, riding pants, and gloves, and full face helmet
(with the flip down sun shades :)

We have the Tour Master Jacket and pants that have zip out linings. They have a quilted liner, rain liner, mesh jacket, and an outer layer. The same set up for the riding pants. They are a very nice, multi-season riding gear.

What people do not realize is that the mesh jacket and pants are actually very cool. The air flows through the mesh and keeps you quite cool. You can wear shorts under the mesh pants.
We also have gloves that have mesh between the fingers and an air dam on the back of the glove, allowing air to flow through.

There is a guy that I work with that bought a riding jacket and full face helmet. He hit a deer on his bike one day and after seeing how his riding gear protected him, it made me a believer in wearing this to keep safe.

August Supper Rides and More

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:01:00 +0000

Monday, August 3rd, our supper ride was to Winterset to their Sports Page. We had 3 bikes and several drove (for various reasons). It was soooo good to see Don and LaVone there. She looks great and is happy to be out and about. Pam and Bob had made it back from Goldrush with many stories to tell as well. Patti was there back from their trip (Rick was out of town for work). Ask her about their Train ride, a package they had purchased at a Colorama auction. Bill and Dee, our newer retirees are off with their "camping train" on a month long trip somewhere in Colorado.

Sunday, August 9th is Iowa Chapter J's Fun Run... check out Iowa's site www.iowagwta.com
for details.

Remaining Monday night supper rides for August:

Next week, Monday August 10th we are going to Polk City Papa's Pizzeria
Monday, August 17th, LaCasa mexican in Indianola
Monday, August 24, Jimmy's BBQ in Boone

Iowa's GWTA Fun Fest (State event) is in Storm Lake Iowa, August 14th and 15th, with a fun run, food, auction and more.

Davis Rally is September 11, 12 and 13th, in New Hampton.
Don't forget Woodbines, Applefest, Saturday, September 26th. The town has quite a celebration and lots of friends to visit with.

Everyone please do safety checks on your bikes, tires, and trailors before taking off on a ride or long trip. It can save a lot of heartache and you can catch a problem before it is too late.
Everyone ride safe

July 27th Supper ride

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:56:00 +0000

Monday, July 27th, was our supper ride to Hickory Park in Ames. We had good weather and a good group showed up. It was so good to see Donna ride her own bike to the restaurant. Jerry and Jan met us there.
We continue to send healing thoughts to LaVone and Don.

Heard about Jay

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:53:00 +0000

After arriving home from our Goldrush vacation/trip, we heard that Jay Liniger from Iowa's Chapter J had an accident after blowing a trailor tire when he was in Arkansas. He is home recovering and we send our thoughts and prayers his way for a quick recovery.

Well wishes go out to anyone else that had difficulties to, at or on their way home from Goldrush.

Saturday, July 18th and then Home Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:38:00 +0000

We got up, had breakfast and headed south and west. We passed the Trail of Tears State park and then crossed into Missouri. We rode into the Mark Twain Forrest, up and around some hilly, winding roads. There were many trees totally uprooted and laying all over the hillsides. It looked like a tornado had gone through. At a small town gas station, we found out that they had a storm in May that had involved a lot of wind and strong wind. Scientists decided that it was an Inland Hurricane. Hadn't heard of that before.

We rode some great roads and saw some awesome scenery. We landed in Rolla MO for the night. We found a new Super 8, very nice place to stay. Rolla is part of Route 66 and there was a gas station and curio shop nearby.

Sunday, we are up and on the rode again, this time on our way home to Iowa. It was a great trip and we had a really good time traveling with friends, seeing new scenery and visiting and making new friends. Everyone made it home safely.

Friday July 17th Goldrush is Over

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:21:00 +0000

We needed to let the campers dry out so headed to breakfast. We ate at the Waffle House.. ask Bill about his "Most Embarrassing" moment...

We headed back to the campgrounds, folded up the campers. Jon and Rosalee headed to Tennesee to see "Elvis" and spend more time riding and enjoying the roads.

Rick and Patti are still camping with their family. Bill and Dee, and we headed towards home, taking the entire weekend to get there. We headed back up through Louisville and then took HWY 62, a wonderful winding twisty tree covered road. Amazing, after the rain, the weather is much cooler. We heard that Iowa was having a record low as well.

We stopped at a wonderful restaurant that overlooked the Ohio River... lunch with an amazing view.

My new friend!

We went through Indiana, back into western edge of Kentucky and were ready to start looking for a motel... only to find none available for miles. We found out that Kentucky has a town named Sturgis, and Little Sturgis was beginning for the weekend. Bikers were everywhere and the nearest motel available was about 100 miles away, in Benton Illinois. We finally arrived about 9:30 p.m. thankful to have a place to rest.

Thursday, July 16th, 2009 Goldrush Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:56:00 +0000

This is the last day of Goldrush. Everyone was having such a great time checking out the scenery. Some members were going to the Convention center and doing things there. Some of us decided to do more riding. We had heard about a castle in the near by area, so were on the hunt for it. We found it. It is an amazing castle. Apparently you can stay in it over night for a handsome price.

We decided to continue to ride and ended up at Frankfort, the capitol of Kentucky, and of course had to have "Kentucky Fried Chicken".... we had grilled ;)

We found this horse farm, where they mow the fields so the blue grass can come in. Some amazing farms here.

We had a great time and by the time we got back we were all ready to sit and cool off in the shade. We went to Sams for supper, then back to rest at the camp grounds.

Rick and Patti's son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter arrived and camped with them, then were all going back to their house for a few days.

We had rain during the night so will let the campers dry a bit Friday a.m. before tearing down and slowly heading back to Iowa.

more to come....

Wednesday, July 15th Goldrush in Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Wednesday, we decided to go check out the Kentucky Horse park, just down the road from the campgrounds. Man of War was buried there, there was a Thoroughbred museum and a working horse farm. You could spend hours there. 2010, Lexington will hold the World Equine Fair, first time in the United States.

We took off for a ride and found some really nice roads, up and down hills covered with a canopy of trees. We saw some beautiful areas of Kentucky.

There were many farms with horses and either the white or black wooden fences surrounding the farms. We stopped to get a drink of water at a gas station and the raindrops started, so we returned to the campgrounds. The rain caught up and we holed up in the campers for awhile. The shower didn't last long and we soon were all out at the picnic table in the shade. We went to supper at SAMS, a truckstop restaurant with really good food. They also serve a local favorite, Kentucky Browns... a large plate of 1/2 sandwich of turkey, covered with bacon, cheese, onion and more.

Congratulations to Rick for winning a trophy at the Bike show.

Pam and Bob had left early to go on down to see family since they were so close.

We had a relaxing evening at the campgrounds and enjoyed visiting with others.

A couple of vendors from the convention center, had heard about our "giant" campers and came out to see our Bunkhouse. We had the 8 X 10 add-a-room set up with the camper and they were amazed to find out that we had a king size bed and air conditioner. They were from Alabama and said they had started the first GWTA chapter in Alabama. We enjoyed their visit.

While doing laundry, we visited with a couple from Canada that were vacationing and wanting to see horses. We also visited with a gentleman from Denmark that was traveling. He loved the motorcycles and said the people in the United States were so friendly, helpful and interesting.

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 Goldrush in Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:16:00 +0000

Tuesday a.m. was the Living Logo, some members went to do this.

We decided to go check out the country side.

We had breakfast and then decided to go for a ride. We headed out of town, with some U-turn practice out of the way :) We did find that at least in the area we rode, they do not really have gravel roads in Kentucky... some are very narrow and are tree covered, a lush canopy of trees overhead.

We went to the Daniel Boone National forest to ride. Beautiful hilly, winding, twisty roads, with lots of history in the area.

We passed tobacco fields, in various stages of growth. There were places in the trees where a green vine had invaded the area and totally covered everything in the area. Jon said it had been brought over from Europe as a ground cover but got out of control and can actually kill the trees and bushes that it covers.

We passed a building that had been used as a hospital during the Cival War. There was a fort that you could go see and so much more but ran out of time. We headed back to campgrounds to cool off, as the temperatures remained in the upper 80's with high humidity.

We enjoyed the coolness of the shade at our campsites.

There was so much to see and do at the convention center and to ride in the country side and see.

We visited with others in the campground and one of the GWTA members put together a group of us, about 25 GWTA members that were also camping there at the campgrounds, and we did a light parade for the campground. Other people that were camping sat in lawn chairs near their campers and along the road, and we covered the entire campground. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

Monday July 13th, Goldrush in Lexington, Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Everyone was up early and went to breakfast and then the Convention center. It was great to have CB's and between other GWTA members, help locate the Center. We parked in a parking ramp near the center. Registration went smoothly and we had a little time to visit before going in. Iowa sat together. Chapter H, Friendship Riders of Iowa, had 10 members present at opening ceremonies. We received the schedule of events and found that next Year, Goldrush returns to Billings, Montana.

Congratulations to our Region C Family of the Year, Doug and Michelle Sullivan and daughter-
for being selected as the 2009 National Family of the Year.

At opening ceremonies, Region C donated over $1,000.00 for Helping Hands.
We went and checked out the Vendors and the guys all drooled over the chrome and lights.
There was even the opportunity to do some crab racing, with some of the proceeds going to Helping Hands.
We decided to do a short ride back to the campgrounds.
The horse farms are amazing with either white or black painted wooden fences surrounding the farms and horses. The fields are mowed so the blue grass can grow. The horses are treated like Royalty... It was beautiful.
We went to the Man o War Harley Tailgate party... Good BBQ and saw the Bowwow girls perform in the parking lot.
There was a light parade and ice cream stop afterwards. Some members attended the ride.

Goldrush Lexington Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:42:00 +0000

Sunday, we were up bright and early and off again. We heard from Pam and Bob and they had arrived safely at a town ahead of us and were leaving later than we were.

We were amazed to see so many working oil stations pumping oil in both Illinois and Indiana. We had the time change as we arrived in Indiana. Cell phones changed but the GPS on the 1800's did not.

We were surprised at the change in scenery as we went south in Indiana towards Louisville Kentucky... We were on some very winding, hilly, twisty roads. Would have been much more fun to ride not pulling the campers.

Not likely to find ice in the tunnel when it is 88 degrees with 98 % humidity!

We arrived safely at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground and set up camp. It was a very shady nice campground. We were just setting the finishing touches, when Pam and Bob and friends arrived. We ordered Pizza and had it delivered to our campers and had a picnic, cooling off and relaxing. Tomorrow was a big day! Rick and Patti arrived and set up across the drive from us.

Goldrush 2009 Lexington Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:34:00 +0000

Goldrush was a great time. It was held in Lexington Kentucky from July 13 to the 16th.
Chapter H, Friendship Riders of Iowa had 10 members present at Opening Ceremonies.

We left early Saturday a.m., July 11th and traveled with Bill and Dee, Jon and Rosalee ( and their Hitchhiker... as far as Knoxville!) It was a very warm day as the day progressed. We skirted through St Louis and landed in Carlyle, Illinois the first night.

Picture of the Guys

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:47:00 +0000

OK, in the June post with the pictures.... The picture of the backs of Dennis, Jon, Steve and Bill looking out at the lake....

Don't you just wonder what the four guys are up to?

Mrs Welaxn :)

Members travel - Great Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:40:00 +0000

Our group loves to travel, many go to see children and family. Or just take a long weekend or a long ride to go out to eat!

Jan and Jerry go to Colorado and to see that beautiful grandbaby girl.

Don and LaVone are used to traveling but have had to put a hold on things for now until she is feeling and doing much better.

Bill and Dee, recent retirees, go to Missouri to see their kids and recently took a trip to New York to Americade rally, via their "train." Ask Bill about New York :) They returned in time to join us, go to Door County in Wisconsin and go to Region C in Chippewa Falls.

We have a wonderful group that support each other, visit, laugh and have a great time. Truly great friends!