Pat's New Vulcan

 

I was sitting in the basement playing around on the computer when I heard the sound of a big V-twin outside.  What fool would be riding around on this 31, feels like 22, degree, windy afternoon. So I goes outside and there is Pat climbing off this brand spanking new 900cc Vulcan with a big ole grin on his face.  He had just picked it up and couldn't wait to show someone.  I told him I hoped he wasn't going to invite me to go riding.  We settled for coffee.

Backing up a couple of days, on Wednesday I rode down to Lindsborg and had lunch with Richard and Joyce.  After lunch Richard and I braved the north wind and rode to Salina to check out the sale at Outlaws and to have a Frosty.  The 1100 Yamaha V-Star that Richard has his eye on was sitting next to the 900 Vulcan that Pat bought today.  Both are nice cruisers.

Yesterday I followed Richard and his 650 V-Star to Hutchinson where he parked it in the Suzuki dealers show room for him to sell on consignment.  Of course Richard had to take the scenic route down there, I didn't mind as I was warm and comfy driving his truck.  He wandered the back roads like a guy riding his favorite horse for the last time before putting it out to pasture.  Now he claims he wasn't really lost when he headed off in the wrong direction he just wasn't real sure where it was he wanted to go.  His nick name of "Wrong Road Richard" is well deserved.  I'm thinking of getting a pool up on how long long it will be until he is riding that new 1100.  I'm betting not too long.

Pat's New Vulcan

Blog from 360

I finally seem to have gotten all the entries from the 360 blog loaded to Multiply, minus the pictures.  It's just too much work to try and load all those pictures so I may never get them all put back in.  Some of the entries seem to be out of order but I guess I'm lucky to just get all of them. 

The temperature is over 50, I should be changing oil or putting up Christmas light but I just feel tired, maybe tomorrow.

Back Home

Got home from Virginia yesterday, 2400 miles round trip.  I'm tired, I want my own bed, my own recliner and my own computer.  Sound just like and old fart don't I?

Sure are a lot of deer this year, from Virginia to Kansas we saw many along the Interstates, both dead and alive.

When we left home there were leaves on the trees now they are all gone and some places still had snow on the ground.  I still have leaves to rake and oil to change in the bikes.  Time to put up Christmas lights too I guess.

Thanksgiving in Virgina

Beautiful Thanksgiving Day in Harrisonburg, VA.  The fall colors are picture like, the weather was spring like and the food with my son-in-law's family was fantastic.  The only problem was I had to settle for football and nap in the afternoon instead of riding some of the great motorcycles roads in this area.

Kansas Motorcycle Legend Passes

Stan Engdahl, a legend in Kansas motorcycle racing, passed away yesterday.  He started and ran the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, KS http://ksmotorcyclemuseum.org/. 

The picture on the left is my son-in-law, Stan and my daughter.  In the background a some of his many trophies.

 

 

The following is an e-mail that went out to the ROMEOs.

 Guys - Many of you have visited the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, Kansas. It was a living tribute to Stan Engdahl who for over 50 years raced his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Stan passed away yesterday while watching his city fire team fight a grass fire. He just collapsed and died on the scene it was reported. Stan was 79 years old and is survived by his wife of the home.

I was one of the fortunate ones who got to see Stan race as a young man when races were held in Dodge City over Labor Day weekend. It was a memorable time that I still recall with distinct pleasure. Everything about it just reeked of excitement to this youngster still in high school. When I moved up to Lindsborg in the mid 80's, races were still being held every Memorial Day at Kanopolis and I spent many an enjoyable hour out there when the wife would let me off. Stan, much older then, as was I, still racing and was still leading the field, riding with a vengeance as he always did.

I will miss Stan. I will miss his stories. I will miss his shuffle. I will miss his quick wit and soft speech. I never heard a bad word come from Stan's lips in all the time I have known him. Motorcycling has lost a friend in Stan Engdahl.

The little City of Marquette has lost more than it realizes! The best tribute we could pay to Stan is to visit often and see that 'his' Museum continues and flourishes.  Richard Kurtz

Life Just Happens

  I guess life is what goes on between motorcycle rides.  Yesterday I had a nice little ride on the REB and lunch with the ROMEOs, always an enjoyable experience.  In the afternoon my oldest daughter called to report that she had found a job after several weeks of unemployment.  All is right with the world.

  Then the phone rang.  It was my sister-in-law saying that she had taken Bob, my wife's brother to the emergency room.  He had been sick and missed some work but this was different, he had tightness in his chest.  Sure enough, SIL called back to confirm what we had suspected.  It was a Heart Attack.  He was rushed to a larger hospital in Hutchinson, KS where they determined the extent of the blockage.  This afternoon they will insert a stent/stint into the blocked area and if all goes well he will go home Friday.

  Bob is 60, physically fit, plays golf and softball, hunts, works out and just had an annual physical.  He is my friend, riding buddy, a world class welder and all round good guy, I pray for his rapid recovery.

 

 

 

 

 

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

Lindsborg, KS 11-07-07

After braving the gusty south winds on the short ride from Salina Randy, Neil, Marty and I (4 bikes 5 cylinders) entered Little Darlings only to find all the table being used.  Not to worry by the time we placed our order a table had freed up and took our place with the early arrivals.  All total there were around 17, some drove their trucks, one even walked in.  Richard and Joyce had the shortrider mileage at 1.7 miles and that included Richard getting lost once.

Little Darlings is a newly opened place that is trying to revive the buildings original drugstore look and menu.  The hamburger was terrific and they also have hot dogs, chili and some other things I don't remember.  The fountain drinks are unique in this day and age.  I topped off my hamburger with a real chocolate malt. 

We visited for awhile and took Burma road back to Salina.  The REB rode much nicer with the 30mph wind and it was a joy to hear the thump of the small single of the group.

Lindsborg, KS 11-07-07

Lunch at Little Darling's