Ride report April 29

[Klem]

Gee Whiz guys there isn't much to report. I drove in a steady shower/drizzle to get to Leonardville. There were four riders from k.c., one from Lecompton, Two from Manhattan, One from Salina, a driver from Abilene and myself. We had a nice chat and most of the guys on bikes were heading out for other destinations. Different reports on how much rain that had been ridden through. It must have been pretty spotty and depending on your route and luck told the tale. I didn't see a drop coming home but when I got here some old boy with a long beard and a big boat was rounding up my two Danes. Well not really but the drive had several inches of water standing.

Anyway we had a good time as always and I should have ridden. I just have this thing about riding in the rain. If I get caught in the rain it's fine, but to take a dry motorcycle out of the barn when it's raining just never made sense to me. Guess maybe I'm not a real rider. Talking with Richard I think we have decided to try again for a combined ride at Nelson's Landing, but maybe wait until June when the weather is more predictable. Good food and good service and enough room for about everyone that has been on a Romeo Ride ever.

Next week is looking like it may be to the south. Poor old Corwin is supposed to be back from Florida and has probably forgotten how to ride so we need something down his way to get him started again. So I'll get on the phone and check the weather and find us a place to meet, greet, and eat.

Don

[TOTOLee]

Don
Hay, I didn't have any problem with the mist. Walt and I went North then East for a picture of a old bridge on a gravel road.Then he went West and I went East to another gravel road and another old Bridge. I picked up 2 more pictures then South for home. Got in a little lite rain then. Got home a little after 5. I had a good ride.

[JerryM100]

After a couple of good posts from Don and Richard about the 'ride that almost was' to Leonardville I thought I would post a quick ride report from our experience going out there from Kansas City. I rode with Don H (who drove out there from Lee's Summit!). He showed up at my place in Overland Park at 7:30 am and we got underway about 8:15. It was a low overcast and 60 degrees so we thought - not too bad. Our route was thru Lawrence, then Topeka, then west on hwy 24 to Manhattan, then north to L'ville.

By the time we got to Lawrence the low overcast was down to the building-tops and we were in and out of clouds and fog. I thought we should probably put our rain gear on just in case before we got on I-70 for the ride to Topeka. Good thing as it started a light rain on and off, no big deal. But when we got on hwy 24 and headed west we were in and out of some pretty solid rains and consistent heavy mist. It was pretty miserable-looking for most of the 60 miles or so to Manhattan. Once we got into Manhattan and went north it was ok. We arrived about 11:00 after 138 miles (add 25 miles for Don's ride!).

We had a nice lunch and chatted about world events before we decided to leave. Ken K gave us a nice quick tour of Fort Riley and we visited the US Cavalry Museum and then we headed back. We took I-70 back and stopped in Lawrence for half an hour to let some strong thunderstorms move out from our respective homes ahead of us. By the time I got home about 5:00 it was clear and I think Don was ok too.

I have to agree with Don and Richard - it is very hard to get motivated to go out in nasty weather but after we got going and then got our rain gear on I was fine - never got a drop on me. The bike was a different story. I had just washed it last weekend so it was gleaming. Polished the tailpipe and waxed the windshield and everything. After a hundred miles or so in the sh!t it looks exactly like that. One lesson I learned was, in the future, if I have a choice between riding the back highways in the rain or the interstate, I will take the interstate (like Roger S did coming from Leawood). Highway 24 had a lot of dirt and mud on it from local traffic, farm trucks, and such so when we followed other cars or a large truck went by we got doused with a muddy blast of road grime. I'm sure the interstate would have at least been cleaner. I have never seen my bike so dirty.

So at the end of the day I logged about 315 miles (365 for Don H.) and built some more character. But as they say, a bad day riding is better than a good day working! No complaints here!

Jerry in KC

[Richard]

Jerry - You have my deepest admiration....but I have a cleaner bike!