Memorial Day is about over.

Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Nebraska State, Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) held a Rally in Fremont Nebraska. Roger and Mary McGarth and Carla and I had planned on going up Saturday and staying over for the Sunday events then finding something to do on Monday. The weather Friday night was terrible with storms here and up there both. Roger called EARLY Saturday morning and we decided because of the forecast we would postpone that ride 24 hours and leave Sunday morning. We did get to ride some Saturday afternoon and went over to Concordia knowing we would end up in Vining Kansas for supper. The weather had straightened out and the ride was outstanding. The food was great and we got home after dark with plans to meet east of Odell at 8AM the next (Sunday) morning.
The ride to Fremont was straight up US 77 and 130 mles. After arriving and signing in, Roger started signing up for the "Road Kill" event that was scheduled for 1 o'clock as part of the GAMES. As it turned out, we BOTH signed up for ALL of the Games consisting of, The Slow Race, The Ring Toss, (passenger puts a ring on a cone as they ride by) The Bike Wash, (passenger throws waterballoon up and over a rope as they ride under it. passenger has to catch balloon on the otherside of the rope. sometimes she (or he) misses and the rider, bike or both get soaked.) The Road Kill, (passenger scoops stuffed animals up off of the pavement with a fish net as they ride by).
Needless to say: 1. we didn't do this as good as the ones who have done it before. 2. There were a few who go to a Rallies all of the time. 3. no trophies for us. 4. we had a very good time trying and have decided to practice for NEXT time.
We had decided to stay at our daughter Stacy's new place (not the new place from last Nov. but the new place from last Friday. more on that later). Mary found a way to Lincoln that took us by a BIG lake that I can't remember the name of. I think we went west on US 30 and south on 79 . We stopped at the restrant (Parker's) on the Lake for drinks and a snack. The lake was only a few miles from Lincoln but by the time we got to Lincoln we could tell it was going to rain. Luckily we got the 15 or 20 miles through Lincoln and it had not rain YET. Stacy wasn't home but a quick call found she was on her way. We decided we would take her car to eat because it WAS going to rain. Roger and I put our bikes in the garage and started unloading Stacy's Explorer. (She had picked up more stuff from her old house for her new house) We had the car unloaded, the car in the garage and the garge door down. We had sat down at the kitchen table to talk when the wind came up and it started pouring down rain. We watched some of the neighbors shingles fly off of the roof. A loud bang turned out to be a lawnchair getting blown off of the rear deck of Stacy's.
The storm was over in 15 or 20 minutes so we got in the car to go eat. We saw trees uprooted and limbs in the streets but no houses damaged bad.
Dinner at Mulligan's and by the time we got back to Stacy's it was after 10 and time for bed.
Monday morning at 6:30 Roger, Mary and I walked about 5 blocks to a UStop gas station for coffee and a look at new Chevys on the walk back. By 8:30 Carla was about ready and Stacy had found out her Cable Guy wouldn't there to hookup the Dish till 10 so she could go to breakfast with us. We had our bikes loaded so we rode and Stacy drove to breakfast. By 9:45 and after Stacy took our picture we made an uneventful (but nice) ride home.
We had some tree damage in Marysville and Roger has emailed and said he had a big limb down in his back yard in Hanover.
It's 9:45PM now and Carla is gone. I bet she is in bed and Roger and Mary are too. They all have to be at work at 5:30 in the morning. I get to rest up while it rains for the next couple of days:-)
more pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/2008NebraskaStateHarleyOwnersGroupRallyFremontNE

Carla and I are just home from a Blackhawk dinner ride.

This evening we ate at The Koester House Mexican Restaurant. The Blackhawk Motorcycle Club 3rd Tues of the month dinner ride started with the meal then we went for a 60 mile ride to BR, Cottage Hill, Barnes Hanover and Bremen. It was a real good ride but was a little cold since we where under dressed.
Last Saturday I rode with the Blackhawks to Marquette Kansas. We attended the Thunder on the Smokey Annual Motorcycle meet. Marquette is the home of the Kansas State Motorcycle Museum and Steve's British Motorcycle Museum. There where probably 4000 bike there Saturday and more Sunday.
Sunday morning at 6:30 I took off to Lincoln for a Breakfast ride with the Frontier H.O.G. chapter. About twenty bikes left Lincoln at 8 and rode to Auburn NE and ate at Darlings Diner. Great breakfast. After breakfast we split up and I rode east with Larry Starr, his sister and brother-in-law (I forgot their names already). We rode US 136 though Rock Port, Maryville and Bethany MO to I35. They went north to Iowa and back to Lincoln. I went south to US 36 and back to Marysville. Got home around 5 PM and logged close to 500 miles.
Yesterday (Monday) and today I have worked over at the shop and have done a lot in cleaning up the yard. Lots of junk and a couple old Blazers taken to the salvage yard. Westar Electric had tree cutters to remove limbs from around the power lines and those guys cut down 4 or 5 trees I had wanted taken out anyway.
Tomorrow it's back to Lincoln for the 425000 mile service and pickup my leather vest from the cleaners. I may ride a Demo bike to the cleaners while the bike is being done. I'd like to ride a Lowrider but hope I don't like it. (can't afford to trade)
This next weekend Carla and I are going with Roger and Mary McGath to the Nebraska State H.O.G. Rally in Fremont. It is a three day deal (Fri, Sat. Sun.) but we will spend Sat and Sunday there. We have rooms in Fremont Saturday night. Monday is Memorial Day so we may ride over to Omaha and go to the Zoo or do something. We're expecting showers off and on all weekend:-)

When is the last time you got a typewritten letter

I have received a typewritten letter from a Watch Repairman in Tennessee. He had written to say that a Studebaker Watch that we had sent had been restored to 100 point condition. The watch had taken 2nd place at the 2006 Studebaker Nationals. (It should take 1st at the next one).
I called George this morning to tell him "the check is in the mail". I ask him if he had typed the letter on a typewritter to make sure. He said he uses his typewritter all the time. He is 87 years old, maybe that has something to say about it......
Thought this was worth telling as I can't remember the last time we have gotten a typewritten letter.
Oh! Rode to Lincoln Tuesday eve for H.O.G. meeting. Yesterday rode to Lincoln for 40,000 mile service on bike. This afternoon I'll ride to Lincoln for a H.O.G. dinner ride and Stacy will ride with me to dinner. We'll go the "Big Dog" in Murdock, NE.
Oh! At the H.O.G. meeting Tues. night, I got two 1st place trophies for most winter miles. Sportster class and Open class. 6006 miles.

Greensburg KS, 1 year after Tornado

Yesterday, Sunday, May 4, 2008, Roger McGrath and I rode down to Greensburg to help dedicate a memorial for the victims who died from the tornado that struck the town one year ago. As it turned out President Bush was also coming to town so we got some double duty. President Bush gave a talk at the High School Graduation.
Roger and I along with another 500 (that's a guess) motorcycle riders and members of the American Legion Riders held flags for President Bush's motorcade.
It is close to 300 miles down there so I left at 6 AM and met Roger at the Pony Express corner at 6:15. It was 35 degrees in Marysville and 32 in Hanover so we had a COLD ride for a few hours. We got there about 11:30 and had a chance to ride around the town and look at the destruction still showing and see a local Car Show. Among the Shelby Mustangs, customs and street rods there was a car that really stood out. It was a small 1990's blue car that had been saved after the tornado, it was pretty well all beat up from the tornado but had a make shift windshield and no top and was entered in the show.
I saw 75 degrees on a bank thermometer somewhere on the way home. My NEW bike isn't new anymore as it rolled over 40,000 miles north of Salina. The ride overall was VERY GOOD and it was good to see a small town coming back to life and all of the support they have.
Pics. http://picasaweb.google.com/2007xl50/GreensburgKansasOneYearAfterTornado