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.