VAGABOND - MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND RIDE

Written by Chuck Mincks

Asst. Area Rep -- IA Chap L

Once again, Memorial Day weekend has passed us by--almost like it was never here.  It never ceases to amaze me how fast the time is flying by.  But, this year's Memorial Day weekend ride -- VAGABOND--will not soon be forgotten.  For the fourth year in a row, Vern Sands and Gary Williams planned a fun-filled three days of riding, chock-full of smiles and beautiful scenery.  The Vern And Gary's Annual Bike-ride On Nemorial Day (yeah, I know it is misspelled, but it’s the only way it fits....) was a great time had by all.  On Saturday, May 28, 17 riders on 9 bikes left the Marion Hardee's parking lot winding their way across eastern Iowa toward Sabula on the Mississippi River.  We crossed into Illinois, followed the Great Scenic River Highway north and into Wisconsin.  A loop just short of 250 miles brought us to our shelter at the Hidden Valley Lodge in Prairie Du Chien, WI.  Sunday took us on a winding, climbing and descending loop through many of the lush, green valleys that drain toward the Mississippi, the Wisconsin and the Kickapoo Rivers of Wisconsin.  We rode east to Sauk City, and then back west -- ending up again in Prairie for a second night.  Each night we drug some chairs into the usual circle for some story telling and just plain talking.  The one thing that keeps drawing us back to this group is it is made up of a bunch of darn' nice people.  On Monday, the final leg took us to the Lansing, IA bridge across the Mississippi and back south along the Scenic River Road on the Iowa side.  By the time we reached Cedar Rapids/Marion, we had nearly 750 miles for the three days.  We had a couple people leave and then rejoin us due to graduations, weddings and other events.  But we averaged about 15-17 riders throughout most of the trip. 

            Somewhere during the second day of this year's VAGABOND ride, it struck me that this area of the US could possibly support a future Gold Classic.  I have no doubt that AGWA riders from all over would fall in love with the many twisty, winding roads that exist in this glacial-carved part of the world.  In August of 2004, Joe Lopez passed through on his way to the West Coast, specifically to meet our newly formed IA Chapter L.  He spoke of spending some time and enjoying riding up and down the Mississippi.  Since that time, IA Chapter L has grown from just over a dozen to 36 registered members.  With Wayne Aten and others not far away, I think we should at least discuss this idea for a year in the not too distant future.  From the Great Lakes, to the Twin Cities of Minnesota, to the Great Mississippi River museum of Dubuque, IA, to the Great Arch of St Louis -- there is an astounding number of things to do and see along the Mississippi River basin of the upper Midwest.  While we may have a tough go at topping the "Dragon," we can supply the interested rider with any one of many scenic cruises -- some with a lot of twisty, tight turns, and others with wide-spread vistas of beautiful scenery.  For those big-city folks, I hope they will at least consider my idea.  I do not believe they will be sorry. 

            The Gold Classic is only about a month away now.  Sue and I are getting excited to hit the road and enjoy riding our Goldwing with our friends.  I have never cycled in West Virginia, and have not spent much time there driving in any capacity.  The one and only time I passed through was in a car on the interstate.  The maps look like we will have a full week and still only scratch the surface of some awesome mountain roads.  We have not had a vacation in some time and are really looking forward to this one.  If all goes well with the trailer hitch I have ordered, but not yet received by UPS (as of this writing) we should be pulling our new trailer for the first time.  I plan on practicing with it before hitting the open road, but it is the first one we have owned and are anxious to bring along a few of the niceties that we could not previously fit into an upper trunk-rack bag or elsewhere.  We were fortunate to find one on the Internet that someone in Waupun, WI was selling.  They had a 2000 SE in two-toned blue exactly like ours.  His had a California sidecar, and when he sold it the buyer did not want the 2000 SE Escapade trailer in the same paint scheme.  It was in mint condition with low miles and a price we could not resist.  So......we have taken the plunge and now look like really serious Goldwingers. 

            Hope you are all enjoying this warm weather that has finally arrived in Iowa.  As always -- be careful riding and watch out for the other guys out there that are not.  Sue and I hope to see you at Snowshoe Mountain and along the roads in between.  God speed to you all.