We got back to Bayrd's this morning and managed to get some of the issues discussed. I was pretty much in a coma and the world kind of passed me by. I did manage to gather up enough attentiveness to set a time and place for our launch to Marquette. Owing to road construction and various road hazards we determined that going through Lindsborg would be the route with the fewest question marks. So we will be launching from the Roadway Inn @ 11:15.
TIME........12:00
Here it is
The Ranch House
109 N Washington
Marquette, Kansas 67464
(620) 755-9055
Facebook Page.....https://www.facebook.com/The-Ranch-Hous ... 563330627/
Web Page.............
Map site...........https://tinyurl.com/wd4hsez
During my ride prep this morning I learned something interesting. I had time so I hopped down to the gas station to feed my noble steed. Upon my return I got on my confuser just to make sure my financial matters were up to date and when I looked up my gas purchase I I noticed in addition to the aforementioned purchase there was an additional transaction charging me $1 from the gas station. Not only did this charge NOT show up on my receipt, it was a separate transaction. This DID raise my brow. I called the bank. They said it was a charge placed by the gas station. I called Quik Stop's 800 number. They said it was a temporary charge placed on card purchases just to insure that there was money in the account. I don't really understand how that works. They said that the charge would be credited back to my account once the transaction clears the bank. None of this showed on my receipt. I think that's a little shady that they can do that without the customers knowledge. None of that ever showed up on any of my bank statements either. I just checked with my bank and the $1 transaction has disappeared. The whole thing rubs me the wrong way that they can add and subtract from your account without telling you. OK, I'll get off of my soap box now.
This started to shape up to be a great riding day. This is the best time of the year for riding. Not beastly hot, but still T shirt weather. When I got the the Roadway Inn I was pleasantly surprised to find Norm Schmidt there waiting for the rest of us. Norm got away from riding after his friend D Morton's accident. I'm glad to see him back. I asked about D and norm said he's getting on well. Still walking with a cane, but considering the circumstances he's doing VERY well. By the time launch time rolled around we had gathered 8 bikes. Somehow the group had a collective lapse in judgement and appointed me to take the point. We fired up and I launched keeping an eye on the mirrors to see the group dutifully in tow. I encountered more recently regraveled stretches on 81 than I expected but it was long enough that it wasn't an issue. As we slowed down through Lindsborg I still saw the string of headlights in my mirrors. However by the time I got to the K4 turn they had vanished as if abducted by aliens.
I figured that they had turned earlier than I did and I'd join up with them on the south end of town. Arriving on the south side of Lindsborg their absence was palpable. The alien theory began to jell in my mind. Being the loyal and conscientious leader that I am I figured they could find their way to Marquette on their own. After all, it's only 8 more miles. So I motored obliviously on. As I was getting Fritz settled my loyal subjects rolled into town. I was told that some needed a gas stop. I must have missed the memo on that. Fritz settled with what little shade I could find him and went about getting the outdoor shots and losing count of the bikes for the 4th time. When I got that done I checked on Fritz and found he had gotten so tangled in the bike he had reduced his leash to an effective 18". I got him threaded through all the various passages that led to his dilemma and went inside to finish my shutter bugging. I finally settled in and ordered my standard double bacon cheese burger. The wait was long but the burger was worth it. I saved Fritz his share and after he enjoyed that we went on our tire kicking mission. I made the rounds of all the street side think tanks and finally it was time to mount up and head home. On the trip home I threw caution to the wind and took Burma road. My previous fears were put to rest as I encountered no difficulties all the way back. I collapsed in my chair, spent after another perfect day of riding, food and friends.
- Of course it's from my old home state of Wisconsin.