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.

Mayetta, KS May 31, 2006

Picture:  Across K-4 from Wabaunsee Lake, taking an ice cream break.

 I should have written this while it was fresh in my mind but I was too damn tired when I got home Wednesday evening.  340 miles on a REB will do that to you.  The day started out early at 8:30am and it was almost noon before I rolled into Mayetta.  Most of the ROMEOs were eating already but another late arrival and I sat together.  Great little cafe, $5.98 (tax included) for baked steak, fried potatoes with onions, corn, salad and drink.  I was too stuffed to try the pie.

  Haven't heard a count of the bikes that showed up but I'm thinking around 20.  Included in that was a 1942 HD with the tank gear shift and foot clutch.  Cool looking old bike, the guy made the short ride from Topeka.

  Some of us were going to ride the hills near Soldier, KS but after a mile or so riding North on US-75 we got spooked by the dark clouds and lighting so we did a 180 and headed South to ride home on K-4.  It's always a nice ride through the Flint Hills despite the detours.  The little convenience store/cafe in the picture was a nice break as the temperature was climbing into the 90s.  There was a nice view of the lake also, I wouldn't be surprised to see this as a lunch spot sometime.

 

  On the way back to made the K-99 to Alma, Old 10 Road to Alta Vista loop, some of the best riding I've seen in Kansas.  One of these days I'll stop and take a couple of pictures of the stone fences along K-99.  By the time we made a couple of detours it was 5pm when I got home.  It had been 170 miles since I filled up outside of Topeka so I'm thinking the REB is about ready to go on reserve.  Mileage is around 65mpg.  Not too bad considering what it is hauling around at 50-60mph.  The exhaust valve has been getting out of adjustment rather quickly so I'll be taking a look at that this weekend.  The windshield I ordered came in but I ordered the wrong handle bar size and will have to exchange it.

 

  Atlas Optical Don stopped by on his HD soft tail and visited a bit, what a beautiful bike but I would hate to have to polish all that chrome, ha, ha.

Bennington, KS May 24, 2006

Picture:  It ain't a motorcycle

  You just never can tell what you will find in some guy's garage.  I stopped by to pick up Neil this morning in North Salina for our ROMEO lunch in Bennington.  I was early and Bennington is only 17 miles away so Neil gave me a tour of his garage.  Very interesting stuff.  In addition to his KLR there was a nice looking Honda dirt bike, some old motors (useless stuff he said) and this very old and unusual looking tractor.  You will have to ask Neil about it if you are interested.

  Lunch at the Bennington Cafe was great.  Really small place and we pretty much filled it up.  Now some of these small cafes have corresponding small bath rooms, but this one was unique in that it had no bathroom, not for customers anyway.  You had to trek over to the convenience store to potty.  Not a big deal but different.  Since it was so crowded I got to sit with an friendly older couple (older than me) that filled me in on the goings on in town.  They were very interested in the motorcycles too.

  Taking a little side trip for pie and ice cream is apparently becoming a permanent thing and it was kinda cool riding in a group up to Longford. 

  Another good motorcycle day.