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The beginning of October is a great time for a camping trip, and 13 Ski Club members did so at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah for three days. The nights were crisp and the days warm. Steve Simmen set up his camp on the banks of the Trout Stream where we spent our evenings enjoying the campfire and conversation with a few toddies to help the mood. The campers had hors d'oeuvres on Tuesday evening before dinner. We were visited by hotel campers Dwayne Grote and Dave Brown.

Other campers were Cathy Dick, Bill and Jill Clark, Mary Jean Blaisdell in her cute little camper, Wendall and Jane Sents, Kathy Takes and Jack Kovar (in Jack’s vintage and rare Vixen), Chris Kalmar as my companion (your author-Kim Betts) Jim and Brenda Steinke in their new popup tent camper. Jack brought his gyroscope toy that we all were having fun playing with its quirky way of flying.

We were right on the bike trail and had a visit by bicyclists Dean Schmidt and Cathy Winch. Activities during the day included exploring by bike. Bill, Dwayne and Steve went fishing and made a few catches, and I heard that Bill and Jill had a trout meal.

This area of Decorah is noted for rocky ledges and cold springs. The bicyclists that weren't camping met us at the campground on Wednesday, and Jim Wittnebel was the leader of the Memorial Ride.

On a beautiful October 1st day, twenty-two of us bicycled the twelve-mile Trout Run trail in Decorah Iowa. The bicycle ride was held in memory of our friend Ron Saboe who was tragically killed in a bicycle accident earlier this Summer. Ron was a long time EISC member and an avid bicyclist and skier. We thank Mary Jean Blaisdell for the white ribbons that we pinned on our jerseys to help signify Ron. Ron’s wife Connie, her brother, and son Michael and finance Julia met us at the trail head start. We enjoyed the hilly scenic trail and taking some extended rest breaks at the trout hatchery and for lunch at downtown T-Bock's and Mabe's Pizza. After lunch, Cathy Winch and Dean Schmidt led us on a side trip to the beautiful Dunning Springs waterfalls and then on to the Pulpit Rock brewery. Others returned to the trail head start.

Late afternoon, the group gathered at one of Ron’s favorite places “Toppling Goliath”. Connie and family along with friends of the family met us there. We had dinner, sampled the drinks, and enjoyed conversation. Jim Wittnebel gave a toast to Ron. It was a great bicycle trip. RIP Ron.