March 14, 2006 Athens, GA

Picture:  Pam looking wishful at The Hog Pen

  A nice riding day in Athens, GA spoiled by Kansas like winds.  We didn't let that stop us though.  First stop was The Hog Pen, a mostly Harley like place that made custom choppers with non-Harley V-twins.  Interestingly enough they had a 1957 Trimuph in the shop looking for a wiring short.  it was a twin, looked to be about a 250cc in dark green military trim.  It appeared to be a daily rider and was no show bike.

  Next stop, Cycle World a huge harley/honda/suzuki dealership.  Tons of bikes and a friendly sales staff that had actually heard of a Royal Enfield. 

  Lunch was at a new bread store near downtown Athens.  Sandwitches, soup etc.  We got a few looks when we pulled up on the bikes and walked in with all the riding gear on.  They had a nice outside eating area so we could keep an eye on the bikes.

  And now believe it or not Pam has to get a root canel done.  Two hours in the dentist office and she is ready for more riding.  We cruised through downtown Athens and the University of Georgia Champus to a friends house to visit her new baby for a few minutes.  The week old baby girl gave me a new appreciation of my own extremely handsome grandson.

  The ride home about blew us out of the saddle.  Riding in traffic and wind can really wear you out.  Time for one of the son-in-law's home brews and to make plans for tomorrow.

Northern Virginia March 9, 2006

Picture:  A Handsome Pair of Royal Enfields

  Today was a unique riding experience for me.  I hauled the REB (Royal Enfield Bullet) to Sterling in Northern Virginia to meet up with Mike, another REB rider.  Mike and I got acquainted through Yahoo’s royalenfield group.  After unloading and admiring each other’s bikes for a bit we rode to a nearby pizza place and had a slice of great Italian pizza and even visited with the owner.

  This is the first time I have ridden with another REB and it was neat to hear all that dual thumping and valve clacking going on.  Our ride to historic Leesburg consisted of everything from empty residential streets to six lane, traffic clogged highways, to two lanes and gravel.  It was on one of the two lanes that a couple of State Police were checking driver’s license.  I wondered if they thought I had ridden from Kansas  They probably thought we were nuts to be taking a couple of antiques down the road that was turning into gravel 

  We took a break in an Irish style pub in the old downtown area of Leesburg then backtracked to Mike’s neighborhood Safeway for well deserved six pack of Guinness.  Loaded up (not with Guinness) now and only two and a half hours of traffic hell to get back to Harrisonburg.

   Although I have ridden in some traffic before today’s ride was an urban adventure that I will not soon forget.  A good motorcycle day.

 

Entry for March 10, 2006

  As great as yesterday was I got to vote for today's ride as my all time Best on a Bullet (BOB).  The neighbor lady up the street invited me on a little ride this afternoon, just under two hours and about 65 miles of the most fun curvers, twisties, hills and whoop de do's I have ever been on. 

 We started out by riding up a mountain to the Packsaddle golf course.  From the clubhouse you can see Harrisonburg and a great view of the ShenandoahValley.  From there I don't know where were went, I was having too much fun to care.  Jo rides a brand new Honda Shadow 600 and really knows the back roads around Harrisonburg.  The temp was around 75 and it could have not been a better day.

  That will probably be the last of my riding in Virginia, tomorrow Sue arrives and the weekend is filled with family things.  Monday I load up for Georgia while Sue stays here to babysit the grandson.

Riding in Virginia, March 7, 2006

Picture:  I don't think we are in Kansas anymore REB

  Took my first ride in Virginia today.  The first little ride was just to get gas and to see how the Bullet survived the two day ride in the back of the truck.  It was 40 degrees and clear as a bell when the big single fired up with the first stab of the electric foot.  I gave it a good warm up and headed for the gas station.  I could tell right away that riding in Virginia is a lot different than Kansas.............traffic, hills and curves.  The drivers here have the same annoying trait as back home, they don't really want to pass, they just want you to go faster than they do.  They think by riding your tail you will go faster, speed limit be damned.

  After lunch I set out on my first serious ride.  Massanutten ski resort is just a few miles away and after 10 miles of four lane craziness I turned off onto some very nice two lanes with an abundance of hills and twisties.  The resort itself appeared very nice even if the runs were all man made snow. 

  I took the long way home (def: he's lost) and I believe I probably saw more curves in two hours than I have seen in Kansas in the last two months.  Now if there weren't so many cars. 

  Tomorrow looks to be a little warmer so I think I will ride West and see what WVA looks like.

Entry for March 06, 2006

Picture:  Did I haul my bike to Virginia for this?

  Hey, that sounds like a good line for a country song.  After 1200 miles hauling the REB I passed up riding yesterday afternoon for some grandson time and woke up to this mess this morning.  Oh well things are supposed to improve tomorrow and Alexander can keep me entertined in the meantime.

Motorcycles in Melvern

Picture:  That's what happens when you get to a ROMEO lunch late.  You can't find a place to sit.

 A new record for the ROMEO lunch bunch, 45 (more or less) people showed up at the Whistle Stop cafe in Melvern, KS to day for lunch. 

 Three of us made the trip to Melvern from Salina, me and the REB(Royal Enfield Bullet), Pat and his Atlantic and Louie on a big Harley cruiser.  Louie was making a test ride with his luggage as he is heading for Daytona Beach  next week with some of the other ROMEOs.  Everyone slowed down for the REB as usual but we made good time, stopping in Council Grove for coffee at the world famous Hays House.  We were clipping along on schedule until my planned route suddenly ran out of pavement.  Since it would have taken too long to backtrack we braved ahead on the gravel/rock for about 3 miles until we hit the tarmac again.  There were already a bunch of bikes there and the cafe was getting full.  Look at the picture to see what the late comers had to deal with.  Richard finally did get to set down.    We had a long wait for lunch again, seems that we can pretty much overwhelm these small cafes.  My odometer read 280 miles round trip but Pat's Atlantic high tech electronic odo read 265.  I suppose my odo is as optimistic as the speedometer.  What ever the mileage it was a long trip on the REB and my back was sore by the time we got back. 

  Hopefully my next post will be about riding in Virginia.  I'll loading up the REB in the back of the truck and heading out Saturday.

Entry for February 28, 2006

Picture:  My new "business" card 

84 degrees in Kansas on the 28th of February!  You got to be kidding me!  I don't have time to mess with a blog, I'm out riding.

  Later.........Getting everything together for my big trip.  If you happen to stumble across my humble little blog and wonder what trip?  I am hauling the Royal Enfield Bullet (REB) to Virginia to visit my grandson and his parents and hopefully do a little riding.  I have met a guy, on YAHOO Royalenfield group, in northern VA and we may get together to ride.  That would be my first ride with another REB owner.  Then it is down to Athens, GA to visit another daughter and ride with her in Northern GA.  Also hope to ride with her Women on Wheels club one day.  On the way home I hope to meet up with another REB rider in Arkansas.  I think I'm getting excited!!