Entry for November 30, 2005

  I've been back in Kansas since Sunday just beating a early winter storm.  The worst is mostly West of Salina but the weather has been crappy.  Fired up the Bullet Monday.  It started on the 3rd kick after sitting for two and a half weeks.   I left the battery on the float charger so it was OK.  You are probably wondering why I didn't use the starter.  I don't know, just wanted to see if I could kick it to life I guess.  Warmed it up and rode around the block in the snow.  I think it likes cold weather, it has never idled so well while warming up and it just seemed like it wanted to be ridden.  Not today, too damn cold.

  Brother-in-law, Bob is coming up tomorrow evening to help me put a nut on a bolt.  Who would think that it takes two people to do that?  Guess if you have a Royal Enfield Bullet you come to expect the unusual.

Entry for November 17, 2005

Picture:  The Old Enfield Rider and his First Grandson, Alexander

  While this post doesn't have a lot to do with riding motorcycles at this time I believe it appropriate to introduce a FUTURE motorcycle rider, my first grandchild, Alexander.  He was born November 13th.  Now does anyone know where I can find a little biddie helmet?

11/9/05 ROMEOs in Alma, KS

Picture:  I pulled off the road and up a hill into a pasture to get this Kansas vista.

The ROMEOs (Retired Old Motorcyclists Eating Out) met in Alma, KS for lunch today.  The Corner Stone Cafe is a cool little place in the back room of a grocery store in an old stone building.  The buffet was all home made and there must have been ten desserts, $6.50 all you can eat.

  It was almost too cold at 44 degrees but the last 17 miles made it worth while.  That was a little twisty two lane between Alta Vista and Alma through the rolling Flint Hills.  Great ride especially when you are used to the long straight roads that made up the first 80 miles of the trip.  Going back down that same road on the way home was even more fun with the wind at my back and the temperature now in the low 50's.

  I don't know how many more of these Wednesday lunch rides I will be able to make, today was about the coldest I care to ride.

Entry for November 04, 2005

Picture:  East of Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, North of Canton, KS

 Beautiful Fall day, nice little ride to McPherson.  Couldn't find anyone to have lunch with so had a hamburger at the DQ and went down to Wallace Chevrolet for a part for the S-10.  Always enjoy visiting with the guys in there, several came out to check out the bike. 

  Over to the Post Office to see if the new maintenance man needed any help but he wasn't there and no one knew if he would be back.  Glad to see that he is following in my foot steps.

Bought a pound of coffee at Java John's, www.javajohns.com, and headed for Canton.  Stopped in the Post Office there to see an old buddy who is the new Postmaster, what a pud job!  North with the wind now to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge but the information center is closed and the roads are dusty so I give up on getting a good shot of a Bison today.  The picture is three shots stitched together, really quiet out there with just the sound of oil wells thumping away.  Headed back to the house through Roxbury and Gypsum and up Old 81.  A little over 80 miles.

  It will probably jinx me to say this but I am starting to get over the fear of the Enfield breaking down on me and beginning to take it for granted.  It starts every time, runs without missing a beat and if I think ahead it will even stop where I want.

Entry for November 05, 2005

Pictures speak louder than words, the perfect use for a Royal Enfiled.

Entry for November 02, 2005

Picture:  Brother-in-law working on exhaust pipe bracket

  One of the most valuable tools in an Enfield rider's bag is a talented Brother-in-law.  Bob helped me (rather I helped him) install the footrest bar I was having trouble with.  It took a big persuader, a jack and some time but we got er done.

  Next project was making the header fit better which involved cutting the bracket, fitting the pipe just right and re-welding the bracket for a perfect fit.  All I have to do is spray on a little paint to cover the weld.

 

November 02, 2005 Lunch in Westmoreland, KS

Map:  This is route I took, North of I-70 going and South of I-70 coming home  

As I made my way across the rolling hills and vast prairies of North Central Kansas on my way to Westmoreland, KS I couldn't help thinking about the early settlers traveling in this area back in the 1800s.  They had to make do with what ever they had with them, if the wagon broke down they had to fix it the best way they could with what was available.  Things haven't changed too much since then, I'm riding along with not a house in sight, no cars for hours.  Just me and my Royal Enfield, like the pioneers, if something breaks I either fix it or walk.....Oh wait! what is that beeping sound?  Damn, the cell phone just went to roaming....what the hell am I going to do if I have trouble?..............oh yeah, fix it, sure just like the pioneers

  It was a 270 mile round trip, I left home at 9:15am and didn't get there until 12:30pm, most of the ROMEOs had already eaten.  I got hung up in Abilene with a guy that wanted to know all about the Enfield, he was quite knowledgeable so it was fun to talk to him.  Some bridge work going across the North end of Tuttle Creek reservoir made sure I didn't get them on time.  I got to visit a little with some of the rides then ate a bite and headed back home.  The South wind that I had enjoyed going up was a pure bitch going back.  Gusts up to 40mph made the three hour ride home a little less than enjoyable.  It was a warm 75 degrees though, no bad for November in Kansas.  I don't know how many more of these Wednesday lunch rides I will be able to make before it get too cold.

  There were 35 bikes today, all kinds even several scooters.  Those things are really slick looking.  The bike ran real well, I think I about have the carb tuned.