With all of the weather forecasters predicting severe thunderstorms, we had a smaller group that expected head out this morning, to Anamosa for the annual J&P Cycle Open House. The weather however, did not prove to be a problem at all! In fact, it was an absolutely beautiful day!
We had 6 bikes and 10 brave souls head up route 61 to Maquaketa and then to Anamosa on Route 64. We arrived at J&P Cycles @ 10:00 on the nose! All I can say about the Open House is "WOW!" There are literally thousand of bikes at this event. Literally rows and rows and rows of motorcycles. Every type of motorized bike or trike is represented. Not only did we see every make and model known to man, there were many customized bikes as well. If you've never had the opportunity to attend this event, walking up and down the rows of bikes is reason enough to make the trip.
I'm amazed at how organized the Open House is run. I don't know if all of the folks working this event were employees or just volunteers, but there were folks to help you around every corner.
Since the weather was predicted to get nasty later in the afternoon, we only stayed at J&P until noon. That gave us plenty of time to visit the vendor booths, do a little shopping (Jan and I picked up a couple of T-shirts. Just what we need! LOL!), and take advantage of the free meal.
On the way home, we followed Route 64 all the way to Savannah, Illinois. Crossing the metal bridge in to Savannah is quite the experience! The trek back to the Quad Cities went without a hitch. We even got to stop for some ice cream in Thompson. I think that's getting to be a tradition on our trek home!
Again, Jan and I had a blast. We really enjoy riding our bikes with our Christian friends. Our next trip will be an overnighter to the Harley Museum in Milwaukee, on July 17th and 18th. Details will be coming soon!
We had 6 bikes and 10 brave souls head up route 61 to Maquaketa and then to Anamosa on Route 64. We arrived at J&P Cycles @ 10:00 on the nose! All I can say about the Open House is "WOW!" There are literally thousand of bikes at this event. Literally rows and rows and rows of motorcycles. Every type of motorized bike or trike is represented. Not only did we see every make and model known to man, there were many customized bikes as well. If you've never had the opportunity to attend this event, walking up and down the rows of bikes is reason enough to make the trip.
I'm amazed at how organized the Open House is run. I don't know if all of the folks working this event were employees or just volunteers, but there were folks to help you around every corner.
Since the weather was predicted to get nasty later in the afternoon, we only stayed at J&P until noon. That gave us plenty of time to visit the vendor booths, do a little shopping (Jan and I picked up a couple of T-shirts. Just what we need! LOL!), and take advantage of the free meal.
On the way home, we followed Route 64 all the way to Savannah, Illinois. Crossing the metal bridge in to Savannah is quite the experience! The trek back to the Quad Cities went without a hitch. We even got to stop for some ice cream in Thompson. I think that's getting to be a tradition on our trek home!
Again, Jan and I had a blast. We really enjoy riding our bikes with our Christian friends. Our next trip will be an overnighter to the Harley Museum in Milwaukee, on July 17th and 18th. Details will be coming soon!
Narcissa and I had a blast! Like Mike said the weather was great. Matter fact it was so nice my arms got sun burned and so did Narcissa. And we didn't feel a thing while we were getting fried. Speaking of fried, if you know Kim Hawkins, try to get a close up, and look closely at his forhead. Ha! We did time it right coming home and did get home about an hour before a down pour came through our neck of the woods. I think it still would have been a good time if we would have gotten wet. I used to ride bikes quite a bit when I was younger. Mainly dirt bikes with two of my last bikes being a 750 Suzuki, and lastly a full dressed Harley Hog. The Hog was stolen out of my driveway in broad daylight back in 1986, and it was the last bike I owned up until just recently (23 yrs.) when Narcissa and I purchased the Gold Wing. On the way home from J&P, we took highway 64 almost to the Illinois border. That road was and is a great ride for a bike. It is hilly and full of curves which for me as the driver I thought I had died and went to heaven. The hill sides that this road is on enables the bike rider to look out over a beautiful picturesque Iowa country side. Wow!! It was on that part of the road trip I realized how much I had missed owning a bike. I'm glad I'm back in the seat again, I love it, Narcissa loves it too. I wish I could talk everyone I know at Edgewood into participating in at least one ride. You'd be hooked for life more then likely. The best part of the ride really, at least Narcissa and I feel this way is, the Christian fellowship. No drugs, no alcohol, no foul mouths, just Christians doing what is "humanly" righteous and pure. You know where two or more Christians gather Christ is there as well so we had some very good company on this ride I'm telling you. Yesterday we enjoyed what our God and Father has provided in the way of scenery and riding bikes! Hope to see a good turn out for the Milwaukee run. Oh! I don't own a digital camera. If you read this comment and intend to participate in the ride and own a digital camera, please consider bringing it along. We need to be able to post some pictures of our times together. Later! Mark Nolen
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