Galva, KS June 28, 2006

Picture:  1999 Ural sidecar outfit from Kansas City.

   Lunch today in Galva, my hometown, KS.  The Front Porch is a nice little place that Sue and I have eaten in a few times.  I guess I had written it off as a ROMEO site because of all the artsy-craftsy foo foo stuff they have for sale but the guys (and two wives) seemed right at home.  The food was good and the service great and now that I think about it I wished I had left more of a tip.  Oh well, I'll make up for it the next time we go there.

  There was quite the variety of motorbikes today, including a Ural sidecar rig.  The couple with the sidecar came from the Kansas City area.  There was also two old BMWs that drew a lot of attention.  The REB and I have been to so many of these lunches we hardly get a second glance.  The most unusually machine, however, was a 1965 Yahama 2-stroke of around 90cc.  I got to talking with the rider, who was from McPherson, and it turns out I had met him years ago when he brought a mutual friend to Salina to visit  The friends were Ken and Beth Bassett, our minister and his wife, from Panama.  Howard had worked in the CZ for a couple of years and he and his family attended the same church that we did when I was stationed there.  Small world.

 

  Pat finally got his scooter out of the shop and made his first lunch in awhile.  Neil rode his new V-Strom so three of us made the short ride from Salina.  We came back through McPherson, so I could get some Java John's coffee, then took the long way back to Salina via Burma road.  Just over 90 miles for the round trip and the temperature never got over 94

 

Entry for June 26, 2006

Picture:  Left side:  You wouldn't think it would take all this mess just to change a tire.  Right side:  No lift? No problem!

About half way through changing the front tire on the REB I almost decide that the tires that were on there could probably last another 1000 miles or so.  What a PITA.  The last time I did this job was the rear knobby on my 238 Kawasaki in Japan in 1969.  I think I must have been stronger then.  The REB is up in the bed of the truck cause you have to either tilt the bike or lift it to get the rear wheel off.  Tilting by myself wasn't an option so I came up with this bright idea, worked OK.  So anyway the REB has new rubber, we will see how the made in Taiwan Cheng Shin tires hold up.  It was apparent that they were not has heavy as the Avon's but they cost a third the price.

  Last Saturday, on our way to the cousin's wedding in Oklahoma City, we stopped in at a new Royal Enfield dealer in Haysville, KS.  Broadway Street Bikes is a small independent shop that looks they work on most anything.  The lady that owns the place seemed pleased that we stopped by just to check them out.  Her parents were there too, just hanging out.  They took Sue and I in the back and showed us the brand new Electra that had just been set up.  Her husband/mechanic wasn't there and she didn't know much about the bike but we visited with the parent for awhile.  Up in the little showroom they showed us pictures of themselves on big Indians taken back in the 40s.  They don't ride up front anymore but help out around the shop to stay involved.  I am always amazed at how motorcycles lower the age barrier. 

 

  Speaking of being amazed..........just south of Haysville on I-35 we got passed by a guy on a Big Dog.  This ole boy had a arse about three foot wide and must have been showing six inches of butt crack.  What a sight, ride on brother....

Geneseo, KS June 21, 2006

Picture:  Big doings in a little town.

   It wasn't all that hot for the first day of Summer but the South wind was really cranking up.  Heading straight into the blast I think has made me a convert to the windshield crowd.  I couldn't hear a damn thing except the wind blast but at least I could hang onto the grips and didn't feel like I was being pushed off the back of the bike.

  Neil and I got going about 10:30 for the short 45 mile run to Geneseo and the J & H Diner.  We found the diner OK even though the parking lot was empty because everyone had grabbed a spot of shade under some trees.  I found a spot next to a 70 something Triumph Bonneville with straight pipes.  Sounded pretty cool when he left.

  Lunch was plentiful and cheap, just the way ROMEOs like it.  They had us sign one of their cow shaped place mats, I counted twenty names but there might have been some that didn't sign.  One rider had come from Independance, MO.  Another guy was from California but I doubt he came just for lunch with us.

  An added attraction was across the highway from the diner, the guy that owns the mini mart had three old motorcycles in the back room (see pics).  The mini mart is also apparently in charge of the Geneseo Rendezvous & Show Races taking place August 4, 5 & 6.  They are trying to attract the Sturgis crowd.  The flyer is in the pictures if you are interested.

 

  Neil wanted to check out a road on the way to Ellsworth so we took a different route home.  The road turned out to be gravel and we weren't too interested to trying it with the clouds building in the SE so we just hit 140 and came home.

Entry for June 18, 2006 Father's Day

Picture:  New windshield

  OK girls, here is what I spent my birthday/father's day money on.  It showed up last Wednesday and I put it on right away but am just now getting to blogging about it. 

  I think I might like having a windshield, I've been out riding a few times in some strong winds and I can tell it keeps the wind off my chest.  I have to get used to the different areodynamic properties (who am I kidding? I've got a REB) though.  Since the shield is so low, only 14.5 inches, I get some wind in my face and instead of coming in straight on it is angled upwards.  Anyway, I think it looks pretty cool.

  Oh BTW, the remainder of the money will go toward the new tires I have coming.  This REB is getting to be a money pit.

Entry for June 14, 2006

Picture:  The green ROMEOs next to a green Kawasaki.  The photos from Tampa were taken by Jim Wimmer.

                                   Kansas Backroads

                                                                 Written 6-14-06

                                         On a back road north and west of Hillsboro

I love to ride the backroads,

To see what I can see.

The dirt and gravel backroads

Are like a boulevard to me.

With the south wind at my back,

And the crunch of gravel ‘neath my tires,

As I wander down the backroads,

I forget about life’s cares.

With the swaying of the trees,

And the waving of the wheat,

My view along the backroads

Is really hard to beat!

Now on any Wednesday,

A motley crew gathers, by the bunch.

They ride in from all directions,

For a small town Kansas lunch.

                                         By Jim Wimmer

                                    Finished at the Wednesday ride lunch at Tampa Ks

  Jim's poem capped off a great lunch at Granny's Little Grill in downtown Tampa, KS.  With 40 ROMEOs in attendance we filled the back room and overflowed into the front.  The special of roast pork, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, roll and desert for $6 was first rate and filling enough for even the hungriest ROMEOs.

  This little cafe is located in an old bank building and the large walk-in vault was in plain sight behind the counter.  The sign above the vault said Est. 1901, the same year that Royal Enfield built their first motorcycle (two years before HD for the history buffs).

  Since it was only about 45 miles over to Tampa there isn't alot to say about the ride.  Neil and I bucked the wind going and enjoyed having it to our backs coming home.  I found out that Neil has an new 1000cc V-Strom, guess he rode his KLR just so I could keep up.  Thanks Neil.

  I hope to be getting some pictures of today's lunch from Jim, the same guy that wrote the poem....check back later.

Entry for June 10, 2006

Picture:  The bagpiper from the group NeedFire

No motorcycles this weekend, it's Smoky Hill River Festival time http://www.riverfestival.com/2005/.  Good food, good music and hotter than hell.

Later in the evening.............Couldn't stand it any longer and rolled out the REB for an evening ride.  Temp is down to 92 so it wasn't too bad.  About 25 miles just plunking around the outskirts of Salina, Kansas, USA.  Bike and body just didn't seem to want to do over 50mph, really nice low RPM ride.

Entry for 666

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me...............

Yep, it's my birthday, 666, sign of the beast and all that crap aside it has been a pleasant day.  I've talked to my kids, read birthday cards and played with the REB all day.  What more could a man ask? 

I took the REB to run my errands this morning, about 16 miles just thumping around Salina.  I threw on the saddle bags and got a few groceries at Walmart, hauled a 12 pack of Guinness home on the luggage rack and just generally had a fine time.

Been doing some maintenance on the bike.  I got the chain replaced, changed the oil, put on the heavy duty clutch cable and stuck the turbulator in the carb.  I'll give a report on that little deal after I run it for awhile.  I also changed the transmission oil since I had to remove the outer cover to make the new clutch cable fit.  I put in my new magnetic drain plugs in the transmission and the engine.  There is also a magnetic on the oil filter shaft.  The thought just occurred to me.........I wonder if all those magnets will help trip the traffic lights?  Guess I'll find out.

Don't think I'll make the ROMEO lunch tomorrow, I just feel a real need to stay and do stuff around here.

Oh yeah, 64, if you must know.