We're set for a 10:00 departure from the Sleep Inn tomorrow. The weatherman is telling of a 30% chance of thunderstorms. But hearkening back to my flying days I don't worry much about 30% chance.
TIME....................11:00
Here it is.............. Main Street Pizza Cafe
100 S Main St
Inman, Kansas
(620) 585-2188
Facebook page........https://www.facebook.com/Main-Street-Pi ... &ref=br_tf
Map site.............http://bit.ly/1uLkbOc
6/29/16 WOW! What a great day! Last night the weatherman left me a little suspicious with a forecast of a 30% chance of thunderstorms. I know! I said I don't worry much about 30% but I'm not as dumb as I look. It's all an act for the government. But don't let them know. They may send me to a re-education camp. (If you just heard a crash, don't worry. It was just me falling off my soap box.)
I woke to a black and tan wiener dog standing on my chest staring me in the eye as if to say “The sun is up. Why aren't you?!?” Stumbling through my morning routine I noticed an overcast sky and wondered which way the weather was trending. Getting to my computer I managed to evoke all the necessary magic to make it give up it's secrets and I could check the weather radar. It looked astonishingly clear over the whole state. Despite the fog between my ears I was encouraged to continue preparing for the ride to Inman, even though at that point my heart wasn't fully in this adventure. By this time Leo was starting to put things together and giving me that anticipatory look. For an animal that can't show his emotions through facial expression, he does a good job of faking it. I got the trunk moved from the California to the Quota, made sure I had water for Leo, and made sure the sign in sheet was on the bike, and mounted the pet carrier. Returning to the house to do one more search for the elusive forgotten item, I had the camera, my phone, tooth, spectacles, testicles, watch and wallet. All seemed to be present. Leo charged for the bike, and was momentarily distracted by his sizable nose, but soon got back on track and I loaded him up. By this time Fritz was adding things up and started to voice his opinion of the unfolding events. He wasn't happy.
I fired up and pulled onto the abandoned mine field known as Willow Drive, still not fully enthused about the whole thing. It was still overcast and ever so slightly cooler than I would have liked. Cruising down 9th street I was pleasantly surprised to see that our city fathers saw fit to cut down some of the heat buckles in the road so I didn't get launched into the proverbial “Flying W” when encountering them. I pulled into Sleep Inn at #4 and got Leo settled so I could start snapping pictures. It didn't take long for bikes to start rolling in like it was Marquette. Unfortunately I was still feeling like the iron in my blood turned to lead in my butt. One of the trikes had a wire hanging and fortunately there was a zip tie on the scene and the repair was effected. There was some debate over who should take the lead. I plead ignorance assuring everyone that if they followed me they may wind up inn Dallas. Departure time sneaked up on us and we all mounted up and hit the road with Emory in the lead. I wound up #9 in a line of 16, which was fine with me as I usually like to be somewhere in the middle. Usually I find myself #4 or 5. As our armada of 16 bikes charged down old Hy 81 the clouds started to part, the chill left the air, and the angels sang as the sun shone down on us. That's what it took to get me charged up for the ride. By the time we passed under I135 I was getting wound into the ride and my bike was cruising along with a satisfied purr. Along the way we encountered Diesel Dave at an intersection waiting for us to parade by so he could join in and make our 17th bike. Before I knew it we were rolling into Inman. Arriving shortly before 11:00 which was their opening time, we were greeted by a sea of chartreuse shirted ROMEOs awaiting the opening of the doors. I was shocked to see so many bikes there and more rolling in. Before I could get a picture of all the hungry bikers on the street the doors opened and they all disappeared. With Leo settled and all the outside pictures taken I went in to find what appeared to be an over crowded venue but later learned that there was another room that afforded space for all. I had finished taking pictures inside and got in line to pay up and partake of the abundant buffet. I got seated and immediately dove head first into some of the best pizza ever. About halfway through my meal the place started to empty out and Richard joined me. Toward the end Richard noticed the cherry tort pizza. I thought he had reached pizza nirvana. Not being much for cherry I said he could go back and get mine. He thoroughly enjoyed that and I offered him my seconds on it too. By this time I was feeling like I'd swallowed a bowling ball and was in serious danger of slipping into a pizza coma. In case your wondering Leo wasn't left out. I saved him some pizza bones to enjoy. For the uninitiated, pizza bones are the pieces of crust that don't get eaten. Not that I didn't like the crust, but I couldn't leave Leo out. Richard and I pretty much closed the place. I paid my respects to the manager and she said we were welcome back any time.
While Leo enjoyed his pizza bones I loaded the bike and we headed home. The sky had completely cleared and the ride home was easy and very comforting. One thing I noticed while I rode the California over the last few days is that the Russel seat on the Quota has spoiled me and the California seat felt like a log. I'm going to have to save my pennies and get a Russel seat for the Cal.
All in all it was a great ride, great weather, and great food.
We had a great turnout with 53 bikes and a head count of 57 signed in. There was a four way tie for high miler between Louie Bigler, Gary Dohm, and John Crandell with Peggy Anderson at 105 miles.
We had riders from Salina, Minneapolis, Hesston, Hutchenson, Manhattan, Moundridge, Abilene, Wakefield, Chapman, Cuba, Junction City, Denmark, Culver, McPherson, Lindsborg, and Canton
We were riding Honda, Harley, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW, Kawasaki, Can Am, Ural, Cushman, Kymco, and Moto Guzzi.
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