Picture: We left pretty damn early
As you can see by the picture Neil and I left pretty early in the morning. All these guys I ride with are pretty patient with me and my slow REB but it does make for some long rides. It was 160 miles to Cambridge and the last 25 or so miles was some of the best riding I have seen in Kansas. Actual curves in the road, not just those mile corner turns although were plenty of those too.
About 16 ROMEOs turned out in the heat at a neat little cafe. Unfortunately I ordered a pork tender and it was one of those frozen, throw it in the fryer kind. The fries were great though and the two girls running the place were great.
We had gotten there early enough that tire kicking wasn't a priority out in the 100 plus heat so after hanging around in the cool as long as we could we headed off to Haysville so I could stop by the new Royal Enfield dealership. Richard joined us on his new used V-Strom 650. What a nice bike, I just hope his wife doesn't run over it when she finds out he has bought another motorcycle. Some guys have all the luck, I have to get by one just one.
The Enfield dealer didn't have one on display, he said he had sold the two he had and they are getting so popular that he has to wait for another shipment to come in before he can get more. He did let us go in the back and look at a military he was working on.
The shortest way home was right up old 81 through the middle of Wichita. Very interesting ride, saw several old style motels, some of Wichita's oldest restaurants and possibly a hooker or two. By the time we got through Newton I had seen enough traffic and the wide open road was welcome.
When I finally got home I heard that it was 108 degrees today (106.9 to 111 depending on the report). I had been drinking water but evidently got a little dehydrated cause I got some leg craps later in the evening. The new mesh jacket (Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0) worked great and was actually cool if I poured some water on my t-shirt occasionally. I even put my gloves back on cause it was better than having the sun beat on my hands.
The REB just seems to run better and better (knock on wood). Last year at this time I was having lots of problems with it dying at stop signs and the clutch would get awful sticky. Now about the only problem I have is getting the side stand up when I take off.
At 333 miles this was one of my longest rides (maybe the longest). It has convinced me to make the planned ride to the REunion in MO a two day trip.
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