Sunday, September 22, 2013

The Tenderloin Ride

After a two year break, I finally was able to join the crew for the gathering in downtown St. Olaf, Iowa.  There may be other places on the edges of town that offer fine sandwiches, I don't know, but we go right into the heart of the city to the St. Olaf Tap for ours.

Never afraid of an excuse to ride-and-then-eat, the event was initially suggested by Scott from the Quad Cities area a number of years ago; this was my 3rd time.  We Sport-Touring.Net joiners from Chicago, southern WI, southern MN and central Iowa have found it both easy and worthwhile to make the trek to the rolling hills of northeastern Iowa.  We'd ride there anyway, food (or coffee) is just one more reason to get the bikes out of the garage.  Most of us make it a day ride, some a weekend.  Oddball and Bomber were on the weekend plan, both of them on Dual Sports looking for dust and dirt.

I left home at 8AM with 45 degrees and blustery, dark skies.  It wasn't until a half hour later that the low thin clouds gave way to bluebird skies though they were still very cool.  I stopped in Dover to meet up with Dave and Justin.

The RT100, affectionately known as Herr Fritz by its previous owner.


When Dave and I first arrived, there were motorcycles aplenty, various groups of rides and riders parked in front of the 'Tap.  We were scattered and for the most parked further down the street.  No valet parking required.


St. Olaf's famous Tap and new patio dining.  Oddball's Tiger out in front.


I believe the final count was 13 attendees; we've had bigger crowds and expected the same today.  Had the ST-Owners folks showed up, our count easily would have doubled.  Where was Ben??


What we came for.......


Breadman went for the "Large".....more of us stuck with the "Medium" versions.  We all wanted to confirm that the event would be documented for perpetuity.


Once finished with our sandwiches, there was plenty of time for discussion and for getting caught up.  This was my first chance this season to see many of these folks.  I saw Don at our Wildcat Rally over the Labor Day weekend.


Bomber was doing something......pretty sure I saw some fuses being fiddled with in the tool bag.



A good mix of brands and machinery......


The St. Olaf Auditorium and Opera House, built by the WPA in 1939 of native limestone.






Dave and I headed north from there, mixing big highways, back roads and some pretty fine gravel neither of us had visited before.


Tourists at the Yellow River State Forest Information Kiosk.


I really enjoyed my sandwich and seeing everyone again; I've been too long away from these people. 320 miles for me yesterday.....Herr Fritz seemed pleased to get out and stretch his legs once again. Hopefully we're all back on track for the annual Tenderloin Ride.


20 comments:

  1. What a great day for a ride.Was good to see you again my friend.Everyone seemed to be in a great and talkative mood too.
    Sheri says thanks for thinking of her.

    Scott

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    1. Scott,
      So glad you could make this one, I'll not forget our accidental meeting in Cassville or making Putt's funeral with you. Sorry that Sheri could not be there yesterday but she was doing god's work and I'm sure that was appreciated. I think we did pretty well together :)

      Next September if not before!

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    2. It seems my missing the last 3 years were a combination of life getting in the way like moving,my Dad having a stroke and a layoff were I work.I did not get laid off,but the cash flow sucked ass!
      Got a lot of life back under semi control.So it seems I'll have more time for riding.I know this Suzi DR is gonna eat my checkbook to death!
      We need to ride and spend more time together my friend.
      I had a great time and bored Sheri telling her it was great to see everyone again.
      Until next time my friend.
      Scott

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  2. The "large" looks almost too big to finish. Even the "medium" look like a lot of food! I see the I♥DeltaDiner sticker on one of the bikes.
    My longest ride to eat trip was about 100 miles each way. From our old place in Prescott, WI to Tep's Drive-In in Augusta.

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    1. Erik,
      The Medium has always been more than adequate; I've never even attempted the monster.

      I was hoping you'd notice Bomber's northern WI sign. The diner is right on the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail and the trail riders have little excuse for missing Todd's diner.

      Not sure how far I've gone to eat but the Washington Island Coffee was about 425 across WI, not sure if that one counts but that was why we went. :) My next biggest one was to Dubuque on a Sunday morning, that was just a smidge over 200.....coffee was good. The Sport Touring folks are never quite sure what to think of the Helix.
      https://picasaweb.google.com/coopdway/2009_08_23#

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  3. A "large" or "medium" of what? Couldn't figure it out from the picture. But it looks like a great ride to eat opportunity.

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    1. Richard,
      The opportunity was paramount, the food very good. You're looking at a small town Iowa tradition, breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches. You'd think that they'd be tough and dry but not if they're prepared well and ours were yesterday. Dave had one that wasn't breaded, his email this morning confirmed what I thought in watching his disappear......it was good and is what I'll do next time, not that I'm against breading as a concept.

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  4. I enjoy it when starting out on a cool day and the clouds break up to blue sky. Even though the day is still cool the sun always feels so good on the gear.

    It looks like a great reason to get out and ride. 13 seems like quite the showing. More than what has been showing up around here lately. We've all been lazy.

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    1. Trobairitz,
      Those mornings make the ride extra special somehow and I agree with you. This time of year the sun can totally offset a cool wind; there's still that much power in it. I'll have to find an old photo of the biggest group down there that I've been part of. We filled the street in front but there were almost 10 guys from the Honda ST Owners group that joined the Sport Tourers.

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  5. What on Earth did you have? It looks like a schnitzel from an elephant or dinosaur. Beautiful trip. Good to get some more miles under the belt before the white stuff shows up again.

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    1. Sonja, they DO look like schnitzel don't they?? These are thinly cut pork loins. I'm hoping to sneak a few more 'events' in yet this year, in spite of too many other things I should (and need) to be doing on weekends.

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  6. Coop, I'm curious too. 'Sandwich' surely doesn't do justice to anything people would ride that far to eat. We need details, details! Closeups, ingredient lists, tasting notes, descriptions of the sides that work, those that don't... While you're at it, were there sounds from the diners that would help us understand? Grunts of delight, sighs of satisfaction, smacking of lips (only the nice sounds please)?

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  7. Well David, there are sandwiches and then there are sandwiches. Essentially the bun is there, only to be held down by the tenderloin. You can see the fried onions on the Large version, I had some of them as well on my more modestly sized Medium. Here's a link by people that I'm sure know more about "what's in there" than I do. I can tell you with confidence that yesterday's servings were very good. None of us wasted any time making our meals disappear.

    Scott's telling us on the forum that the 3rd weekend of Sept. might just be the official time for our gathering. We'd love to see a Vespa show up next year.

    A few years ago, I didn't think I was going to make it but buddy Rick saved the day, as well as kept us both from wasting away sans sandwich. Almost there on the dustiest road ever known to man, I had a flat tire and was having trouble getting it sealed.

    https://picasaweb.google.com/coopdway/2010_10_09

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    1. Oops, I was so excited I forgot the link.....
      www.101cookingfortwo.com/2012/08/iowa-breaded-pork-tenderloin-sandwich.html

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  8. .... I'v had one of those... mine was just a small coronary sized... not clogged arteries size or the big one.. massive cardiac arrest..call an ambulance size . But tasty... :)

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    1. You need at least a Medium to get a proper taste. I'll be ready for another one come September....maybe we'll head up there together from Elkader next August and not wait until September??

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  9. Ride to eat, I never miss out on those rides, infact just about every ride my friends and I do involves this at some point or another on the journey. Looks like it was a very good time!

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    1. Dar, I see no problem in having a little something when feeling peckish. :) Besides, if you ride all day, a guy/gal has to eat right??

      Looking forward to the next one.....

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  10. Yeah Doug.I think the 3rd weekend in September will be the annual Tenderloin Ride.I'd like to think Larry would be tickled pink to have this ride in his honor.

    Scott

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    1. 3rd weekend should be a good one Scott, next time I think I'll join the boys across the river at Wyalusing for the overnight 2 day version.....it's a great park.

      R.I.P. Larry.

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