Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Illinois river ride

We love visiting Cliff's sister and her husband.  It is amazing that a town the size of St. Louis has so many wonderful motorcycle roads within a short drive from the city; Pat and Charlene always have a new route for us to try when we're there.  However, we like to try and sneak in a ride to Mel's, wherever else we might go.


Once you cross the Mississippi River and get through Alton, Illinois, it's a perfect ride along the river.  You can make the ride as long or as short as you like, but we try to ride at least as far as Mel's, which is in the town of Hardin.


This is a bar we passed in Grafton, near the beginning of our river ride.  I personally think it's a bad idea to drive a motorcycle drunk, but I guess people do it all the time.  When we took our motorcycle safety course, we learned that a huge percentage of motorcycle accidents involve alcohol.
There are bars and restaurants all along this highway (Illinois 100) with bands playing and people enjoying life.  There are many places where you can take a ferry across the Mississippi back to Missouri.


As we rode toward Hardin, at least a dozen classic cars about the same vintage as this one passed us.


When we reached Mel's, those cars were in the parking lot.


Cliff especially liked this one.

3 comments:

  1. There is a biker bar near where we camp. It's called the Iron Pony and they have the greatest food there. We've had dinner there loads of times. One thing I've found out about the bikers is that they have the largest hearts around. Most of the time when we see a large group parked there it is because of a charity event they are doing. They give lots to worthy causes. I've seen them order a pepsi and not beer many times.

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  2. Looked like everybody was getting in one last hoo-rah ride/drive before the bad weather set in.

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  3. I haven't been on a motorcycle in years. But everytime I read about you and Cliff going for a ride it makes me nostalgic. I bet that river ride was beautiful. I would have been tempted to take the ferry across. Love the vintage cars and truck too. Looks like a good time was had by all. Take care.

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