Mayetta, KS May 31, 2006

Picture:  Across K-4 from Wabaunsee Lake, taking an ice cream break.

 I should have written this while it was fresh in my mind but I was too damn tired when I got home Wednesday evening.  340 miles on a REB will do that to you.  The day started out early at 8:30am and it was almost noon before I rolled into Mayetta.  Most of the ROMEOs were eating already but another late arrival and I sat together.  Great little cafe, $5.98 (tax included) for baked steak, fried potatoes with onions, corn, salad and drink.  I was too stuffed to try the pie.

  Haven't heard a count of the bikes that showed up but I'm thinking around 20.  Included in that was a 1942 HD with the tank gear shift and foot clutch.  Cool looking old bike, the guy made the short ride from Topeka.

  Some of us were going to ride the hills near Soldier, KS but after a mile or so riding North on US-75 we got spooked by the dark clouds and lighting so we did a 180 and headed South to ride home on K-4.  It's always a nice ride through the Flint Hills despite the detours.  The little convenience store/cafe in the picture was a nice break as the temperature was climbing into the 90s.  There was a nice view of the lake also, I wouldn't be surprised to see this as a lunch spot sometime.

 

  On the way back to made the K-99 to Alma, Old 10 Road to Alta Vista loop, some of the best riding I've seen in Kansas.  One of these days I'll stop and take a couple of pictures of the stone fences along K-99.  By the time we made a couple of detours it was 5pm when I got home.  It had been 170 miles since I filled up outside of Topeka so I'm thinking the REB is about ready to go on reserve.  Mileage is around 65mpg.  Not too bad considering what it is hauling around at 50-60mph.  The exhaust valve has been getting out of adjustment rather quickly so I'll be taking a look at that this weekend.  The windshield I ordered came in but I ordered the wrong handle bar size and will have to exchange it.

 

  Atlas Optical Don stopped by on his HD soft tail and visited a bit, what a beautiful bike but I would hate to have to polish all that chrome, ha, ha.

Bennington, KS May 24, 2006

Picture:  It ain't a motorcycle

  You just never can tell what you will find in some guy's garage.  I stopped by to pick up Neil this morning in North Salina for our ROMEO lunch in Bennington.  I was early and Bennington is only 17 miles away so Neil gave me a tour of his garage.  Very interesting stuff.  In addition to his KLR there was a nice looking Honda dirt bike, some old motors (useless stuff he said) and this very old and unusual looking tractor.  You will have to ask Neil about it if you are interested.

  Lunch at the Bennington Cafe was great.  Really small place and we pretty much filled it up.  Now some of these small cafes have corresponding small bath rooms, but this one was unique in that it had no bathroom, not for customers anyway.  You had to trek over to the convenience store to potty.  Not a big deal but different.  Since it was so crowded I got to sit with an friendly older couple (older than me) that filled me in on the goings on in town.  They were very interested in the motorcycles too.

  Taking a little side trip for pie and ice cream is apparently becoming a permanent thing and it was kinda cool riding in a group up to Longford. 

  Another good motorcycle day. 

Entry for May 23, 2006

Entry on 6-12-08, no photo, the damn light quite working after a few weeks anyway.    

Picture:  LED brake light....Off and On

 

Here is my new JC Whitney LED brake light in action.  I finally got around to taking a picture.  Rode the REB for a few minutes this morning, first time since the 12th.  This bug I caught really knocked me on my butt, I'm still not 100% but I'll be fine by Thursday when we leave for Georgia.

  Fortunately the ROMEO ride tomorrow will be a short one so I think I will go.

Entry for May 20, 2006

Today is an event in Marquette, KS that I had been looking forward to for weeks, Thunder on the Smokey http://www.ksmm.us/ksmm_calendar.html.  Thunder being motorcycles of course and the Smoky is a river that runs through Marquette.  It runs through Salina too, hence the Smoky Hill River Festival http://www.riverfestival.com/2004/.  We love our rivers in Kansas.

  Anyhow, as it turns out I will not be attending because I have been sick all week.  I'm better today but don't feel like getting out in the sun.  Maybe I'll make up for it tomorrow when the "Run for the Wall" http://www.rftw.org/ comes to Salina for the night.  I plan to ride around a look at all the Hogs.

 The only Ithing I've done on the REB this week is install a LED brake light.  If I feel like it today I'll take a picture.  Damn lawn needs mowing too.

May 13, 2006 Home at Last (yesterday any way)

                                 Picture:  Taking a break out side of Dover, KS 

571 miles of rain and wind on a Royal Enfield Bullet (REB) may no be everyone's idea of fun but it sure beats staying at home flipping channels.  It may not sound like much of a trip to a real road ranger but try it on a 500cc single.

 Actually, had I know the weather was going to be so crappy I might not have made this little trip but when Neil (KLR-650) and I headed to Lindsborg Wednesday morning it looked like a nice day.  We joined up with Richard (scooter) and Gary (big Japanese V-twin) and commenced Richard's quest of towns that spelled ROMEO.  I think we made M and E before we hit the rain, after that I remember an R town and meeting lots of trucks on Hwy 54 going into Eureka, not much else.  Eureka was the lunch town for the ROMEOs.  About 16 of us made the rainy trip.  Lunch lasted a long time as we were reluctant to saddle back up in the rain.  Finally we could hold of no longer and 6 of us ventured to the next part of Richard's fantasy....ice cream at an old fashioned soda fountain in Hamilton, just a short ride Northeast.  Thankfully the rain slacked off as we rode North.  After ice cream the remaining riders followed Richard to Olpe This Counts as Two, KS.  Shortly before Olpe I peeled off East to ride in more rain to Iola, KS to spend the night with an old classmate from Galva HS.  He and his wife own a liquor store and he thinks I should try some of everything they have, I usually don't protest too much.  Had a nice visit, yada, yada.

  Thursday's forecast showed little chance of rain but high winds out of the NW as I ride to see Julie in Shawnee.  It was a pure bitch riding into 40mph winds for 100 miles but the REB is a gutsy little bike and we maintained a steady 55-60. 

 

  Phoebe was really glad to see me, she peed herself before she got calmed down.  Julie was glad to see me too but didn't pee.  Lunch with Julie, supper was broasted chicken from Hen House, nice visit............

 

  Back on the road Friday morning, first stop was the closest motorcycle shop to get a new face shield.  The other one was a scratched up mess from wiping of road spatter and rain.  Talked to a nice Scottish gentleman at the Honda shop about the REB and old bikes in general, he told me he had a Rebel and we lamented to lack of small bikes in the USA.

 

  I know this is getting boring but since I'm doing it mainly for myself tuff shit.  The ride back to Salina got interesting in Lawrence as they were having the NCAA National Road Championships, see here for story:(http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/may/12/bike_race_different/?sports) It was fun to watch them battle the wind as I rode along but because of the race my planned route was blocked.  Since there was a nice cop sitting there in his car I stopped to ask for directions.  Heading back the other way there was a bike race standing in the median holding his arm and surrounded by bike parts.  I u-turned to check on him and he assured me that help was on the way so left.  A couple of more detours on my planned route made for a long trip back to Salina and I finally pulled in about 3:30.  I battled West winds all day, not as bad as Thursday but strong none the less.  One of these days I'm just going to ride where ever the winds takes me and come home when it dies down.

 

    I talked to one other guy coming back.  In Topeka I stopped for gas beside a Yamaha shop and this guy comes tooling over to check out the bike.  He told me he had considered getting one but settled on a new V Star.  He was at the dealer's picking up his bike, trouble was they couldn't get the thing to run.  It was his first ride in 25 years so I could feel his pain.  I didn't take many pictures cause of the weather but all things considered it was a great trip.

First Overnight Tomorrow

Picture:  The REB all packed up for tomorrow's......

ride to Eureka, KS for lunch with the ROMEOs.  After lunch we are taking a 17 mile run to Hamilton, KS for pie and ice cream.  As for me, I'll see how lunch goes cause I damn sure don't need any pie and ice cream.  My plan is to ride over to Iola, KS after the ROMEO stuff and spend the night with an old high school buddy.  On Thursday I will head to Shawnee, KS (KC area) and bunk up with the oldest daughter and head back to Salina on Friday.

  I had intended this to be a training ride for a trip to Minnesota in June to attend the Royal Enfield importer's open house but that trip has been scrapped in favor of a cousin's wedding, wahoo!!

 

Lincolnville, KS May 03, 2006

Picture:  This cafe was so new they didn't even have a sign on the building.

  Pat called this morning and said he didn't want to ride in the rain, can't say as I blame him.  By the time I got on S. Ninth I was questioning my own good sense but I had been wanting to put my JC Whitney Mossi riding suit to the test so I pressed on to Lindsborg.  By the time I reached Lindsborg it had about stopped raining and I was still dry.  The suit worked fine as did the rain mittens, if I had a little bitty windshield wiper for my face mask I would have been set.

  I met up with Richard in Lindsborg and when we started for Lincolnville it was looking pretty decent.  The Chipped Cup Cafe had great service but the chicken fried steak was on the small side and was not "Explorer Style" (have Richard explain that to you). 

  Met another Salina guy, Neil, riding a Kawasaki KLR (I think).  I'm guessing about 20 riders showed up.  All things considered and good day.